They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. (Mark 1: 27-28)

Matthew begins his gospel with geneaology and the Christmas story. Luke begins even earlier with predictions that John the Baptist will be born. John reaches back to the beginning of the universe.

Mark starts with action. John the Baptist appears and proclaims. Jesus is baptized and is tempted. Jesus begins his ministry by saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." Jesus calls his first disciples.

Then Jesus begins healing. One after another great numbers are healed. Even 2000 years later we are, like those in the synagogue, amazed. Mark reports that they kept asking one another about this healing. Other translations use debate or dispute instead of ask.

When God acts we are often left amazed. Even when we experience the action directly, we are likely to be uncertain of what we have experienced. Mark does not try to explain, he chooses simply to report the action and result.

God is acting today. This very moment God is acting in and through the lives of many millions. We may ask about it. We may debate and dispute the meaning of the action. But Jesus also calls us to action: repent and believe.