Sunday Sermon 2/26/12

"Calque" is an English word borrowed from the French where it means "to trace" or "to copy." The word "gospel" is such a word. It is a literal translation of a phrase in Greek meaning "good news" or "good tidings" into Old English "god-spell" ("good"--not "God"-- and "word"), which became "gospel." While it refers to the collections of the four evangelists' writings, specifically it means the redemption of man's sins through Christ's sacrifice. It first appears in the New Testament in Corinthians, presumably written before the earliest gospel, Mark, where it appears for the first time among the evangelists, in today's gospel.

It is a rather striking writing, describing Christ's forty days and forty nights in the desert with remarkable simplicity and precision. Compared to the other versions (which, according to theory, followed) it is positively laconic. And scary.

The description follows Christ's baptism by John the Baptist where The Spirit descends over Him and a voice from heaven says, "Thou art my beloved Son." The Spirit then drives Christ into the desert where He is tempted by Satan, He is "with the beasts" and "angels ministered to Him." When John is captured, Christ returns "preaching the gospel"; and again "repent and believe the gospel."

Immediately, immediately, after a heavenly voice confirms Christ as the Son of God He is driven by the Holy Spirit to the desert and is tempted. Christ is tempted! Then He lives with beasts and angels. The scene is staggering and horrifying, but so simple and accepting in its presentation. Mark, a contemporary of Christ, writes this astonishing beginning of Christ's public life with the eye of a man convinced by Christ's later life.

The scene is expanded by Matthew and Luke into a drama, a debate between good and evil, but this version is so much better, chilling, stark and believing. And in the end, Christ returns from His confinement and, with John on the block and with Golgotha looming, announces He has/is "good news."