“And now you know the rest of the story!” That’s the way Paul Harvey closes those dramatic monologues which keep your mind on tiptoe as you discover the fascinating life details and historical quirks of notable people and events. Paul Harvey is a craftsman with words and pulls us to the edge of our seat to learn the rest of the story.

Mark, our Gospel writer, does the same thing - but for “the beginning of the story”, not the rest of it.

A visitor to the Grand Canyon looked at that mighty panorama of God’s craftsmanship and said, “Man, something happened here!” That’s what Mark’s Gospel is saying, and that’s what you say as you get into it.

You read the Gospel of Mark, and you get the impression that Jesus has come to take charge of the world. He has come to release you from whatever holds…