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The Near Kingdom - Mark 1:14-15

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After this, John was put into prison. Jesus went into Galilee and told people the Good News from God. Jesus said, "The right time is now here. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!" (ERV)   Full Text

Key Thought

Mark wants us to see that Jesus' baptism by John, Jesus' temptations in the wilderness, and John's arrest lead to the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Jesus goes to Galilee, the place of ministry in Mark's Gospel. He begins to preach "God's Good News" about the nearness of God's Kingdom. This nearness of the Kingdom and this presentation of Good News mean people must respond by turning away from their sins. God's will must reign in our hearts if we are to receive this Kingdom. God's Good News must call us from our sin if we are to experience the power of this Kingdom in our own lives. So the question comes to you and to me: have I welcomed the Good News and turned from my sins?

Today's Prayer

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Holy and righteous Father, God of mercy and grace, I believe that your Son has brought me your Good News. I believe you want to have the power of your Kingdom reign in my heart and to be seen in the fruit of righteousness produced in my life. I gladly offer you my heart, soul, strength, and mind to show you my love for you and my desire to honor you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Today's Verses in Context

At that time Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the place where John was. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. While Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the sky open. The Holy Spirit came down to Jesus like a dove. A voice came from heaven and said: "You are my Son and I love you. I am very pleased with you." Then the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert alone. Jesus was in the desert 40 days. He was there with the wild animals. While Jesus was in the desert, he was tempted by Satan {(the devil).} Then angels came and helped Jesus. After this, John was put into prison. Jesus went into Galilee and told people the Good News from God. Jesus said, "The right time is now here. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!" Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee. Jesus saw Simon and Simon's brother, Andrew. These two men were fishermen, and they were throwing a net into the lake to catch fish. Jesus said to them, "Come and follow me. I will make you {a different kind of} fishermen. You will work to gather people, {not fish}." So Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee. He saw two more brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat, preparing their nets to catch fish. Their father Zebedee and the men that worked for him were in the boat with the brothers. When Jesus saw the brothers he told them to come. They left their father and followed Jesus.

— Mark 1:9-20 (ERV)

 

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.
 
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The believers were scattered everywhere. Every place the believers went they told people the Good News. Philip went to the city of Samaria. He told people about the Christ. The people there heard Philip and saw the miracles he was doing. They all listened carefully to the things Philip said. Many of these people had evil spirits {from the devil} inside them. But Philip made the evil spirits leave them. The spirits made a loud noise when they came out. There were also many weak and crippled people there. Philip made these people well, too. The people in that city were very happy because of this. But Philip told the people the Good News about the kingdom of God and the power of Jesus Christ. Men and women believed Philip. They were baptized.
Acts 8:4-8, 12 (ERV)

So I tell you: Live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do the evil things your sinful selves want. Our sinful selves want things that are against the Spirit. The Spirit wants things that are against our sinful selves. These two different things are against each other. So you don't do the things you really want to do. But if you let the Spirit lead you, then you are not under law. The wrong things our sinful self does are clear: doing sexual sins, not being pure, doing morally bad things, worshiping false gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, having jealousy, being very angry, being selfish, making people mad at each other, making divisions, having envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now like I warned you before: The people who do these things will not be in God's kingdom.
Galatians 5:16-21 (ERV)

We encouraged you, we comforted you, and we told you to live good lives for God. God calls you to his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:12 (ERV)


 
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