Mark 1:14-15

 Just believe! The Kingdom of God is at hand…

Holy Spirit, the very heart and power of the Trinity, resides in believers here on earth.

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying,  “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Mark begins his account of Christ’s ministry with events after John was put in prison, as do the other synoptic Gospel writers. John is the only writer who informs us of a number of events that took place before John the Baptist’s imprisonment.

Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God. It was the subject of much OT prophecy, and the theme was familiar to Jesus’ listeners. Repent, and believe are both acts of faith. When a person accepts the only true and worthy object of faith, that person readily turns from inferior substitutes. NKJ Bible.

As soon as John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus emerges from the wilderness to declare the arrival of God’s kingdom on earth. In this context, the Greek word used here, kairos, indicates a period of time predetermined by God. The Greek word used here, basileia, can denote a geographical territory or the reign of a particular monarch. The kingdom of God refers to God’s reign over all of creation and humanity. Jesus’ teaching in Mark reveals that members of the kingdom of God are marked by childlike humility, concern for the poor, sacrificial service, and love for God and neighbor. 

The language Mark uses to describe God’s rule demonstrates its dynamic character: The kingdom comes, it grows like a seed, and people can enter it, but only by responding to God’s will. Yahweh is described as enthroned in heaven and in His temple in Jerusalem. It is this reign that Mark’s Gospel affiliates with Jesus. Jesus’ ministry involves the cleansing of Yahweh’s temple (the symbol of His earthly presence), and Jesus Himself is the epitome of that presence: His body is described as God’s temple. The ot also affiliates God’s reign with the Davidic dynasty in parallel, later in Mark’s Gospel, a crowd proclaims that Jesus has inaugurated David’s kingdom.

There are obvious examples in history before this time of Yahweh reigning on earth, such as when Israel was established in the promised land or when Yahweh’s temple was built in Jerusalem. However, God’s full reign—as seen in the garden of Eden shortly after creation—had not existed since sin entered the world. God’s presence on earth has arrived in the flesh in Jesus. Jesus is saying that since that has occurred, it is only a matter of time until the justice and order that mark God’s reign are in place over all the earth. Since Jesus announces the advent of a new kingdom, belief in the gospel entails allegiance to the new king, Jesus. Faithlife Bible.

Psalm 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their strength in the time of trouble.

Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Mark 9:1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”