And So It Begins

Bethlehem Baptist Church

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

• v.14-15 give us an overview of what is happening and coming.
• John the Baptist gets arrested and imprisioned by Herod Antipas because he spoke against Herodias (the wife of Herod’s brother Philip) because Herod was having an affair with her.
• Jesus however is now beginning His ministry.
• He has returned from the wilderness and is ready to begin teaching and preaching.
• He picks up where John the Baptist left off bringing a message of repentance…but there is more.
• Jesus says “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand”
• There is now a new and better way for people to know and follow the Lord.
• Isaiah 40:3 says, “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
• There is a shake up happening…things are about the change. Things won’t ever be the same.
• When Jesus says “The time is fulfilled” He means prophecy has been fulfilled and to prepare yourself for anything because we are about to cause a stir.
• Churches love shake-ups right?
• Churches love when things change right?
• Churches love when traditions go out the window and new ideas take root right?
• NO!!!!!
• Jesus is on the scene now and He is going to change how religion works.
• Jesus says “The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
• Jesus is here, the kingdom is now at hand and Jesus is bringing a message and you better put your ears on and hear it.
• The old ways of doing religion is ending and it’s about giving your heart to the Lord
• Repenting for your faults, failures, and sins against God.
• Actually being sorrowful for what you have done and seeking forgiveness.

• Jesus had to begin…he had to start somewhere and sometime discipling those who would carry on the mission out into the mission field.
• We are no different in our Christian walk. We have to start somewhere and that begins with believing in Jesus, the mission, and our role in the mission.
• Jesus said “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
• The time is now and to believe in the Gospel which can be summed up simply like this:
• Admit you are a sinner who needs to repent
• Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and in His birth, death, & resurrection
• Confess that Jesus is Lord and receive salvation found in no other Name