Mark 1:15, “Jesus came, saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye, and believe the Gospel.”
This formed the burden of Christ’s earlier public ministrations. (1) The words were addressed to Jews, whose moral and religious condition at that period were most corrupt. (2) “The time” for the Messiah’s appearance and “of reformation” (Heb. 9:10) was fulfilled: the new dispensation was about to dawn, “the Kingdom of God was at hand.” (3) This the Baptist had declared; and Jesus continues the message that His imprisoned forerunner could no longer deliver. He bids His hearers abandon their erroneous notions and corrupt practices, and receive His testimony concerning Himself and His mission. His theme, therefore, was the attitude of mind and heart which the impending change of dispensation demanded. Spiritual Faith and Repentance are not contemplated.
