God is pleased, not because the Jordan River is great (it's not); not because Jesus is from an important town (He is from the sticks); not because Jesus has done anything great yet. God is pleased because the creation is being made new, not with greatness or power, but in grace.
"While the Gospel of Mark is the shortest, it is the most direct; it reveals that the true Son of God is found not in our desires for power, but in the God who comes in humility to amaze us all."
New growth requires broken ground. In Jeremiah, we experience the heavy work of God's Law uprooting our self-reliance, making way for the Gospel to plant us securely in His grace.
Mark chapter 7, where we discussed textual criticism, how Jesus contrasts God's commands with human traditions, and that true defilement comes from the heart, not external rituals, as seen in His teachings and His interaction with the Syrophoenician woman.
Just as taking in a panoramic view can remind us that everything will be okay, Revelation 7 and the promises of God invite us to step back and behold the ultimate beautiful picture.
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When the world feels frozen in a bleak winter, God shows us the almond branch. He is awake. He is on the move. Jesus took the destruction upon Himself on the cross so He could plant the breath of new life in you!