Jesus the King by Timothy Keller
Week 2: Chapter 1 — The Dance
Read Chapter 1 of Jesus the King. Primary text: Mark 1:1–20.
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Mark wastes no time — within just twenty verses, Jesus is baptized, tempted, and calling his first disciples. Keller uses these opening moments to introduce one of the book's most important concepts: the inner life of the Trinity.
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.At Jesus's baptism, the Father speaks and the Spirit descends — a rare moment when all three persons of the Trinity appear simultaneously. Keller uses the phrase "the dance" (drawing on C.S. Lewis's imagery of the Trinity as a kind of eternal dance of self-giving love) to describe the relationship within the Godhead. What is the significance of this image? How does it change the way you think about who God is?
2.Keller points out that the Father declares Jesus "my beloved Son" before Jesus has performed a single miracle or preached a single sermon. What does it mean that Jesus's identity is rooted in the Father's love rather than in his accomplishments? How does that challenge the way most of us think about our own identity?
3.Mark summarizes Jesus's entire message in one sentence: "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news." Keller unpacks this carefully. What does "the kingdom of God has come near" mean? Why is repentance the appropriate first response to good news rather than just to bad news?
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