Mark 1:14-16
“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
It’s almost as though John’s arrest was a signal for Jesus, a sign that it was time for his ministry to begin, and he comes back from the Jordan to his home territory to begin preaching in earnest. The core of his message is plain, “The kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” What he was saying wasn’t so different from what John had proclaiming–it’s just that the scene had shifted and it doesn’t appear Jesus did any baptizing. Like John, he attracted big crowds…people were hungry for change and everyone was looking for God’s rule to be established. It was incredibly good news and Jesus preached with conviction. And, as people drew near, listened, and believed, they sensed that what he said was true. In Jesus God’s gracious rule was becoming real. It’s what happens when we repent and turn away from old destructive patterns of living! Repentance carries with it the seeds of hope. As we change, we begin to see that things can be different and we actually catch glimpses of the Kingdom of God. It was true for those crowds huddled along that ancient Galilean shore and it’s true for us too…and it all begins with a desire to repent.
Thought for the Day: If I were told to repent, what would I do?
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