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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_1:14-15
14Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Mar_1:14-15 These two verses are a summary statement. Mark often uses this technique (cf. Mar_1:14-15; Mar_1:21-22; Mar_1:39; Mar_2:13; Mar_3:7-9; Mar_6:7; Mar_6:12-13). These summaries convey several theological truths
1. Jesus was popular and many came to hear Him preach/teach
2. Jesus was powerful, exorcizing demons and healing people
3. He transferred His power to His disciples (i.e., the mission trips of the Twelve and the seventy)
4. the purpose of Jesus' proclamation was repentance and faith
Mar_1:14 "John had been taken into custody" John was imprisoned (i.e., paradidômi, which is used twenty times in Mark for "turned over to the authorities") by Herod Antipas because he continued to publicly condemn Herod's marriage to his brother's ex-wife (cf. Mar_6:16-17).
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▣ "Jesus came into Galilee" The Gospel records Jesus' ministry geographically in Galilee, in Judea, in Galilee, and in Judea. Jesus left southern Palestine when John was arrested (cf. Mat_4:12; Luk_4:14-15; Joh_1:43). Ministry in the predominantly Gentile northern Palestine was a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 9. No one expected anything spiritually significant to begin in this region, far removed from the Temple (cf. Joh_1:46) and the first to be defeated and exiled by the Mesopotamian powers (i.e., Assyria and neo-Babylon).
▣ "preaching the gospel of God" This use of the term "gospel" must be qualified. At first Jesus' message was similar to John's. The full gospel of Jesus will not be complete until after His life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension. Mar_1:15 gives the content of Jesus' early preaching. What John preached was personally embodied in Jesus of Nazareth (cf. Joh_14:6).
Mar_1:15 "'time is fulfilled'" This phrase is introduced by hoti, which usually denotes a quote and is common in Mark. This reflects Peter's memory of Jesus' words. This is perfect passive indicative, which has prophetic/messianic significance (cf. Eph_1:10; Gal_4:4; 1Ti_2:6; Tit_1:3). The passive voice reflects God's activity in and control of time and history.
▣ "'the kingdom of God'" This refers to God's reign. It is both a present reality and a future consummation. In Matthew's Gospel this is usually referred to as "kingdom of heaven." These phrases are synonymous (compare Mat_13:11 with Mar_4:11 and Luk_8:10). The kingdom arrived when Jesus was born. It is described and embodied in Jesus' life and teachings. It will be consummated at His return. It was the subject of Jesus' sermons and parables. It was the central theme of His spoken messages.
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NASB, NKJV "is at hand"
NRSV "has come near"
TEV "is near"
NJB "is close at hand"
This is a perfect active indicative, which implies that the kingdom was a past reality (cf. Mar_1:1-3) as well as a current reality (cf. Mat_12:28; Luk_11:20; Luk_17:21). The phrase "the time is fulfilled" parallels this phrase and emphasizes the reality of God's prophetic word now becoming a historical event. The "New Age of Righteousness" was inaugurated at Jesus' birth, but not fully known until the Passion Week's events and not fully empowered until Pentecost.
Although the Kingdom has truly come, there are also NT texts which imply that its complete manifestation is future (cf. Mar_9:1; Mar_14:25; Mat_26:29; Luk_22:18; Act_1:11; 1Th_4:13-18). What we do with Christ now determines our eschatological hope (cf. Mar_8:38).
▣ "'repent'" See Special Topic on Repentance at Mar_1:4.
▣ "'and believe in the gospel'" The parallels in Mat_4:17 and Luk_4:14-15 do not have the same summary.
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