Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’” vss. 14-15
Mark 1:14-15
According to Mark, the first gospel written, Jesus had been in Judea, near where John was baptizing, and when John was arrested he headed north to Galilee, his home territory, and began his ministry. Though he seems not to have baptized anyone, his message of “Repent and believe in the good news,” was similar to that of John. For him the good news was that “The kingdom of God has come near.” It’s important to note his verb use. He doesn’t say that the kingdom will come, but rather that the kingdom has come near. In other words, the kingdom had arrived; all the people had to do was open their eyes and see it! And that’s how it still is for us. The kingdom of God is here and we can actually glimpse and experience it. That’s a far cry from those who say we have to wait until we die to see God’s kingdom. How sad it must be to live with no sense of God in the present! The people Jesus preached to saw the kingdom in him and what he did. We see the kingdom in the light-filled lives of his followers and in their actions, and what a beautiful sight it is!
Thought for the Day: Where have I seen God’s kingdom today?
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