icon__search

At the Feet of the Teacher | Introducing the Kingdom - Mark 1:1-15

July 7, 2024 • Sara Jane Nixon • Mark 1:1–15

As the Gospel of Mark begins, Jesus proclaims challenging Good News: “The time has come…The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news! God’s reign on earth, proclaimed by the prophets and hoped for by the Jews, has begun in the ministry of Jesus. The proclamation of Jesus demands a comprehensive response. We respond, in part, by “believing the good news,” accepting that what Jesus says is true and committing our lives to this truth. But Jesus calls for repentance, not just belief. To repent is to change one’s mind completely, to embrace a new way of life. As we accept the Good News of God’s reign, we put ourselves under his sovereignty. We worship, not merely through verbal communication with God, but by offering ourselves to him in obedience to his Word.