The Book of Matthew is the one printed at the beginning of the New Testament, and as such it is often considered the first Gospel. Yet here, at the beginning of Mark, the second Gospel in the Bible, it says that this is the beginning of the “good news” of Jesus the Anointed. It helpfully adds the phrase ‘son of God’ at the end. Here begins the Gospel of Jesus the Christ.

This verse is like a title page in a book, and not expected to present any narrative information beyond telling you what the story is about. And yet, it tells so much! Because the “Son of God” isn’t a random descriptor, but something used at the time this book was written to describe a single person – the Emperor of Rome. In Latin, the title “Christos” has been co-opted to specifically reference the Emperor. 

Do not wonder to whom this Good News belongs. It belongs to Caesar.