Mark 1:14

¹⁴ Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

When we carefully examine the above passage, we find that Jesus chose Galilee to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Galilee was a place filled with different kinds of people. The people in Galilee during Jesus’ time were the descendants of Judean immigrants who identified as Galilean, Judean, or Israelite. They were also known as “Judean Galileans”. 

Jesus Christ chose the right place to proclaim the gospel. Just like today there were mixed cultures in Galilee. That is the reason Galilee is called the Galilee of Nations.

Jews – The majority of the population was Jewish, but the region also included Judeans, Idumeans, and people who converted to Judaism. 

Gentiles – The region also included Phoenicians, Greeks, Arabs, and other non-Jewish people. 

Pagans – The region was surrounded by pagan peoples, including the Phoenicians, Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Palestinians. 

Just like Jesus Christ preached the gospel, those who have received Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and have the confidence that they have been adopted into the family of God are given the opportunity to proclaim the gospel to others.

Preaching or proclaiming the gospel is the act of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with people. It is a way to communicate the power of God to transform lives, and to save people. 

Here are some tips for preaching the gospel:

• Start with prayer: Recognize that only God can save people. 
• Know your audience: Consider who you are speaking to. 
• Use scripture: Draw from the Bible to support your message. 
• Explain the bad news: Make clear that death leads to judgment. 
• Share the good news: Explain how salvation through Christ Jesus is the only way to escape eternal judgment. 
• Call people to faith: Urge people to make contact with Jesus Christ. 

The above steps are not as easy as one can think. It can take months to years for one person to come to the saving knowledge of grace. Our Lord is a long suffering and patient God. He will draw them close one step at a time. It’s a daunting task. Christ accomplished it so can we with His grace and mercy.

John 16:33b

but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Lord Jesus Christ overcame the world and so can we. For Jesus is our strength and our salvation.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!