While Matthew and Luke begin their narratives with biology (Jesus’ birth), and John begins with cosmology (“the Word was with God”), Mark begins his gospel by looking backward and forward at the same time: recalling biblical tradition and revealing some “good news” — the gospel itself.

Like Genesis (and later John), Mark’s fitting first word is “beginning” (“arche”), letting his readers understand that this new thing that was revealed through Jesus Christ is part of the same God-designed activity that has been ongoing since the beginning of all things. This new work Mark identifies as “the gospel” (“euangelion”) is not Mark’s presentation of a written history. Rather, the gospel is “Jesus Christ, the Son of God” himself: his life, his message, his presence, his doings. As Mark continues t…