As the earliest gospel, Mark's writings offer a brand new kind of Jesus. Beyond oral narratives and retold stories, Mark's work brought his first-century readers a completed, coherent message a gospel. He opens his account of Jesus' life and ministry by designating it once and forever as "good news." Just as Mark's account of Jesus' life is the briefest version of the four, he seems to have an editor's knack for finding the most succinct way to get his message across. Jesus' mission and message are surely and summarily gospel tidings "Good News" for everyone.

The opening verse of Mark's gospel appears to have been even shorter than most modern translations prefer to present it. In the earliest versions, the defining phrase "Son of God" is absent. Although the addition of this title appears…