“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15 NIV

John the Baptist ministry prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus. As we read in Matthew 3:1-2, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. KJV” John the Baptist fulfilled prophecy from Isaiah 40:3 that says, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. KJV”

Before beginning his ministry, Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness. There, he overcame temptation by God’s adversary, Satan. When Christ heard of John’s imprisonment for condemning Herod’s marriage to his brother’s wife, Jesus withdrew to Capernaum, a city on the shore of the sea of Galilee. This fulfilled prophecy from Isaiah 9:2 which says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death. WEB”

The Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand

In Galilee at Capernaum, Jesus began to call sinners to repent and believe the good news of salvation from sin, forgiveness and reconciliation to God. Matthew 4:17 records this saying, “From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ WEB” Mark’s gospel account agrees with this chronology and the message of repentance from sin. 

The first direct quote of Jesus in Mark’s gospel is this statement made along the Sea of Galilee. Picking up where John left off, Jesus proclaims, “The time has come!” This puzzled the Jews of the time because they thought that prophecy indicated a Messiah that would establish a new political order on earth. In contrast, Jesus came proclaiming God’s spiritual kingdom. Saying, “repent and believe,” Christ calls the faithful out of the sinful rebelliousness of the world and into obedience to God. 

Cleanse Me From My Sin

Belief in Christ brings sinners to salvation. Faith establishes peace with our Creator through the good news of forgiveness of sin. As we read in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. WEB” Also, we read the plea of King David in Psalm 51:1-2 which read, “Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin. WEB”

The cleansing of our sins is the good news. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, fully kept the law, and answered the prayers of the psalmists. In his brief time here on earth, Christ fulfilled the word of God. As he said to his disciples in Luke 24:44, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled. WEB” To sinful men and women today, the message is still the same, “Repent and believe the good news!”

Yesterday’s Devotional: A New Heaven