“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” — Mark 1:15

Life is full of news. Our smartphones give us constant news updates, from geopolitical conflicts halfway across the world to sales events from companies we follow. Much of the news we see on a daily basis is irrelevant to us and can be ignored. 

But sometimes, we get news that demands a response. We learn that tickets for a highly anticipated concert are about to go on sale. We are told the date of a baby shower and invited to RSVP. Maybe a significant event happened near your city that you need to be aware of. In a similar way, the news that Jesus shares about the kingdom of God demands a response.

It is worth looking at some of the details Mark includes at the beginning of his Gospel. Mark starts with these words: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). The word “gospel” itself means “good news.” And “Christ” (or “Messiah” in some translations) means “Anointed One,” a reference to a future descendant of King David who would take His seat on David’s throne and rule forever. 

A few verses later, we read about Jesus’s baptism. As Jesus is coming out of the water, God says, “You are my beloved Son” (Mark 1:11), words taken from Psalm 2:7, which describes a King from David’s line who would rule over not just Israel but all nations. 

What Mark is showing us is that the promised King from David’s line has arrived. The reason, then, that Jesus says that the “time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15) is that He, the King, has come. 

But is Jesus saying God’s kingdom is present? Or that it is coming soon? Is it here or near? The answer is both! When Jesus ascended to heaven after His death and resurrection, He was enthroned as King (Acts 2:32–36). But as Christians, we wait with eager expectation for Him to return and wipe away every last trace of sin and its effects. So the kingdom is here, but we also wait for it to arrive in its fullness.

What should be our response to this news about the kingdom? Jesus tells us: “Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). Believe that He is the King sent from God to rule over the world, and reorient our lives around this truth. Repent of—or turn away from—the ways we have rebelled against God, preferring to live our lives on our terms rather than His. 

When a new ruler comes to power, it is always news. It could be bad news if the ruler is harsh and unjust. But as we will see throughout this study, Jesus is a kind, wise, and just ruler. And He is committed to our good. That this is the kind of King whose kingdom will one day fill the whole world is good news indeed. May we respond appropriately to this news each day of our lives. 

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This blog is an excerpt from the study, Forty Sayings of Jesus | Knowing Jesus Through His Own Words. Grab a copy of this study, study the words of Jesus each day for forty days, and let Jesus’s voice guide you into a richer life with Him!

Additional Resources for Celebrating the Good News of the Gospel:

Forty Sayings of Jesus Bible Study		Haggai Bible Study		Fullness of Joy		Why Did Jesus Have to Die?
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