Advent 2025: Sun 7 Dec
Mark 1.14-15 Good news!
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’
John has now been imprisoned. Mark does say more about this later, but for now, the important narrative is about Jesus. He has come out of the wilderness, and his theatre of operation is Galilee, an inland region which has Lake Galilee (it’s not a sea) on its eastern border. This lake features in these early chapters of Mark and the other Gospels.
Jesus has a message to proclaim. The time has come – after centuries of waiting for the promised Messiah Jesus has stepped out onto the scene. John was the warm-up act, preparing people even though they wouldn’t have known quite what was going to come next.
The kingdom of God has come near. This is not like one of those astronomical events when planetary bodies align (if you just happen to be standing in the right place on earth to see them) – they align for a moment only and then move off on their separate ways. The kingdom of God has come near and it is staying! The kingdom of God is a perfect state in which absolutely everything aligns with Father God’s will – we pray for God’s kingdom to come on earth in the Lord’s Prayer. Well, it’s here – taste and see!
Repent – don’t say sorry while harbouring an intention to do the same wrong things again – turn away from them completely. Jesus has just announced Good News – repent and believe it. Jesus didn’t go around accusing people of sin. He didn’t use an iron rod. He invited people to join him in the kingdom.
If you were Father God, would you have sent your Son to the world at that particular time?
Do you think of the Kingdom of Heaven as something that is to come, or is here now?
How might Kingdom life change our neighbourhood, our society, our world?
How would you describe the Good News to someone who asked you?
Father God, I want not only to be part of your kingdom but also to draw others. I pray for compassion, boldness and wisdom in every encounter and conversation I have with others. Amen.
Mary expresses her fears about the child she will soon be bearing as she journeys toward Bethlehem. Is she up to the task? She looks to God to sustain her.
Paul