The Euangelion

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” -Mark 1:14–15

If asked to explain the gospel in its simplest form, I doubt many of us would explain it as Jesus Himself did. We often hear John 3:16 preached, but Mark 1:14-15, Jesus' own summarization, isn't near as common. The word for gospel in Greek is euangelion, which means good news, but not in a spiritual sense as today's understanding of the word gospel is. Actually, it was more commonly used in a political sense. For example, the word euangelion was used by Caesar Augustus, who was considered to be a divine savior, who brought his own gospel to Roman people. He was even mentioned in the Bible, as the ruler during Jesus' birth.

"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered." -Luke 2:1

There was an inscription found on a Roman government building dating back to 6 B.C. that gives us insight into Augustus's euangelion, his own gospel.

The most divine Caesar . . . we should consider equal to the Beginning of all things . . . for when everything was falling (into disorder) and tending toward dissolution, he restored it once more and gave the whole world a new aura; Caesar . . . the common good Fortune of all . . . The beginning of life and vitality . . . Whereas the Providence which has regulated our whole existence . . . has brought our life to the climax of perfection in giving to us (the emperor) Augustus . . .who being sent to us and our descendants as Savior...

I'm sure you're trying to figure out why I'm giving this other gospel so much airtime, and it's because context is important. The political climate is important. The government in power is important. Jesus was born into this climate, and as it shaped His life, so it should shape our reading of His biographies, the four gospels. Or should I say the euangelion. If it isn't clear enough yet- the roman people worshipped their governement (among many other things). Their leader was literally their god and savior. The beginning and climax of life, the restorer of the world. Finally! Peace has been granted! Perfection achieved! The good news has come, and we can finally have prosperity in this land!

There's a huge difference between the gospel of Jesus and the gospel of Caesar, however. Well, there's many, but here's one. Caesar's peace and providence that he brought to his people was purely from the world. Compared to Jesus of Nazareth, who said:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." -John 14:27

The Greco-Roman world worshipped their leaders like gods (because to them, they were), but the second the economy went south, peace was gone. Their object of worship had failed them. But here's the good news about Christ- His peace doesn't look like the type the world offers. It doesn't take the shape of dollar bills, coins, a denarius, large houses, or financial prosperity. Instead, peace is found in His Spirit. It's found in Him Himself, not what He says He'll give us. That is something Caesar never promised, because, of course, he couldn't. Despite popular belief at the time, he was just a guy, who died at the age seventy-five, and who remains dead. If you don't believe me, go visit the Mausoleum of Augustus, where he's buried. It has 4.2 stars on Yelp.

Now, with this historical context in mind, let's revisit the verse I opened with.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” -Mark 1:14–15

It makes sense for someone of political power to claim to bring good news like this. But here, we have a carpenter from a shady little town, someone who, by the world's standards, held no power, but in actuality, held all the power of Heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). He wasn't using a stable economy as a reason to trust in Him, showing off His glory through gold and silver. Instead, we have a humble Man, with a gentle and lowly heart, saying the time is fulfilled, that the Kingdom is already at hand.

What? How could that be? It didn't look fulfilled. He didn't look like anyone special. For someone claiming to have the same sort of news as Caesar, He certainly didn't appear prominent enough for that.

Jesus may have used the same term- euangelion -but the news He offered was one of a different kind, for a different kind of Kingdom. A true, eternal Kingdom. A Kingdom where the wealthy go to the back of the line, the greatest among the citizens are a servant to all, and dying meant finding true life. Caesar may have used savior-type lingo, but that's where the similarities begin and end, because Jesus the King, is on the throne. His Kingdom is at hand. Repent and believe. Unlike generations of leaders promising good news, Jesus brought much more. He brought truth.

How ironic that Jesus died upon a Roman execution device- the cross. He was killed by people living under the illusion of another, much lesser, gospel...but He revealed His power over it in defeating it, once and for all. After Jesus "breathed His last" (Luke 23:46), a Roman commander, a centurion, immediately reacted.

Now when the [Roman] centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” -Luke 23:47

He praised God. Not some random Roman god, but the God, capitol G. And the Greek word translated as "innocent" here is also translated as Righteous One, which is how Stephen, the first martyr of the christian faith, described Christ (Acts 7:52). It was a reverent term.

Jesus' glory was proclaimed upon a vessel meant for shame, and what was meant for death brought abundant life. What was meant as a plot to destroy the euangelion Jesus proclaimed, instead amplified it and fulfilled it. The cross was a megaphone for truth, shouting louder than all the other gospels that had come before it.