Jessica Guinn Mark 1:28, “And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.”
While I was in college completing my degree in Business Marketing at Liberty University, my course of study included several classes on Advertising. We live in an ad-driven world. Companies pay millions of dollars each year as they vie for the biggest, brightest ads on every major television station, radio slot, social media outlet, newspaper column and billboard in town. Fork out the cash for a 30 second slot on the Super Bowl, and you’ve just earned yourself prime real estate.
Why do we spend so much on advertising? Because it makes people talk. By and large, the best form of advertising has always been and will always be word of mouth.
How does this relate to Scripture? I’m glad you asked! The Gospel of Mark is extremely fast paced. More than any other Gospel, Mark focuses on the ministry of Jesus in action. One instance right after another, Mark is recalling all of the miraculous works that Jesus performed following His baptism by John the Baptist.
Shortly thereafter, Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee and calls out four fishermen to forsake their nets and follow Him. As the five men arrive in Capernaum, Jesus begins teaching in the synagogue where He is confronted by a man with an unclean spirit. Jesus, having all authority, casts out the spirit much to the astonishment of those around Him. (Just as an interesting side note—according to v. 24, the demonic spirit knew Jesus, called Him by name, and knew that He was the Holy One of God. Think about that)! The witnesses that day saw that even the unclean spirits recognized the authority of Jesus and obeyed him, or hearkened to His commands. What an amazing thing to behold!
So, those in attendance did what you and I and anyone else would have done. They went out and told everyone they knew of the wondrous work they saw Jesus perform.
Here’s my favorite part! Verse 28 says, “And immediately his fame spread abroad through all the region round about Galilee.” And there you have it—one of the first recorded cases of Word of Mouth Advertising.
Jesus performed many more miracles, several of which are listed in the book of Mark. One other in particular is found in Mark 1:40-45 where we read about Jesus cleansing a leper. In verse 45, it says that the leper went forth, “and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter…” To publish in the original Greek means to become a herald as a public crier, a preacher, to proclaim (especially divine truth).
How long has it been since you published the things that God has done for you? Have you blazed His name abroad, (started a fire), so that others could learn of His goodness and grace upon your life? Have you spread His fame by speaking His name throughout your home, community, and to those who will listen that might not know about our Lord?
You see, another thing I have learned about advertising is that if you love something, you can sell it. As Christians, we have the greatest product ever put on the market, because it has already been bought and paid for. All we have to do is be willing to spread the fame of Jesus to all of those who will hear!
I challenge you this week to seek out one friend that you can tell about Jesus and what He has done in your life. Next week another, and the next, another. One by one, day by day, let’s spread the fame of Jesus!
While I was in college completing my degree in Business Marketing at Liberty University, my course of study included several classes on Advertising. We live in an ad-driven world. Companies pay millions of dollars each year as they vie for the biggest, brightest ads on every major television station, radio slot, social media outlet, newspaper column and billboard in town. Fork out the cash for a 30 second slot on the Super Bowl, and you’ve just earned yourself prime real estate.
Why do we spend so much on advertising? Because it makes people talk. By and large, the best form of advertising has always been and will always be word of mouth.
How does this relate to Scripture? I’m glad you asked! The Gospel of Mark is extremely fast paced. More than any other Gospel, Mark focuses on the ministry of Jesus in action. One instance right after another, Mark is recalling all of the miraculous works that Jesus performed following His baptism by John the Baptist.
Shortly thereafter, Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee and calls out four fishermen to forsake their nets and follow Him. As the five men arrive in Capernaum, Jesus begins teaching in the synagogue where He is confronted by a man with an unclean spirit. Jesus, having all authority, casts out the spirit much to the astonishment of those around Him. (Just as an interesting side note—according to v. 24, the demonic spirit knew Jesus, called Him by name, and knew that He was the Holy One of God. Think about that)! The witnesses that day saw that even the unclean spirits recognized the authority of Jesus and obeyed him, or hearkened to His commands. What an amazing thing to behold!
So, those in attendance did what you and I and anyone else would have done. They went out and told everyone they knew of the wondrous work they saw Jesus perform.
Here’s my favorite part! Verse 28 says, “And immediately his fame spread abroad through all the region round about Galilee.” And there you have it—one of the first recorded cases of Word of Mouth Advertising.
Jesus performed many more miracles, several of which are listed in the book of Mark. One other in particular is found in Mark 1:40-45 where we read about Jesus cleansing a leper. In verse 45, it says that the leper went forth, “and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter…” To publish in the original Greek means to become a herald as a public crier, a preacher, to proclaim (especially divine truth).
How long has it been since you published the things that God has done for you? Have you blazed His name abroad, (started a fire), so that others could learn of His goodness and grace upon your life? Have you spread His fame by speaking His name throughout your home, community, and to those who will listen that might not know about our Lord?
You see, another thing I have learned about advertising is that if you love something, you can sell it. As Christians, we have the greatest product ever put on the market, because it has already been bought and paid for. All we have to do is be willing to spread the fame of Jesus to all of those who will hear!
I challenge you this week to seek out one friend that you can tell about Jesus and what He has done in your life. Next week another, and the next, another. One by one, day by day, let’s spread the fame of Jesus!
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