Mark 1:14-28   Jesus began preaching in Galilee, Mark tells us,  and His message was this: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." 

This is good news indeed!  Hundreds of years passed by.. with the promises that God would set up His kingdom.. and now Jesus makes the proclamation.. It was near.. "at hand".. and the people needed to get ready!  First, they needed to repent.  The same message that John had been preaching was repeated by Jesus.  It is vital.. if we want to enter God's kingdom.. that we turn away from all sin.. leave all the rebellion, all the lies, all the hatred... everything that is unclean or impure.. must be behind us completely.  We must come to Him with "clean hands and pure hearts".   The second thing that Jesus tells us to do is "believe"!   We must trust that the message is TRUE!  We need to be persuaded that the Good News is just as Jesus said.. the Kingdom of God has come.  The King Himself was bringing it to earth!

Mark then, gives us a snapshot of the King as He begins to reveal Himself and His Kingdom. 

Jesus calls people to follow Him:  He calls Simon and Andrew; James and John.  He calls them as they were working on their fishing boats. He calls them out from family and friends and their livelihood... and they follow Him.   Jesus called them by name.. just as He calls each of us.  It is a personal invitation and we either follow Him or we are left behind.  Ever think of Zebedee?  The father of James and John was left behind. (v20)

After this, Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath.  "He entered the synagogue and began to preach." He preached with authority.  He taught them in a way unlike anything they had heard before.. amazing them. He taught them about the Kingdom of God and it was so powerful that the demons cried out. "What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are - the Holy One of God!"

Jesus silenced the demon and sent him out of the man that had been oppressed by it.  The message of the Gospel and the demonstration of God's power over the demons.. brought about a new interest and excitement about this man called Jesus! 

This is the same Jesus that we call Lord and Master.. we want to know Him more.. to see Him through the lens of Mark's writing.... To know Him as the King who has brought the Kingdom of God "near".. Who has in fact.. brought the Kingdom of God here.. in us... who repent and believe this Good News!  We want to know Him as the One who speaks with all the authority of Heaven.. and Who overcomes every scheme and power of Hell. 

Father in heaven, we rejoice in the Savior who calls us to follow Him, Who stands even now at Your throne interceding for us.. who knows our names and our hearts.. for our names are written on His hands.. Praise the Lord ! We thank You for such a great salvation and ask that You accomplish all of Your purposes for us today.  In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.