Jesus launched his public ministry with these words: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”1 In so saying, Jesus announced a radical newness in the mission of God.
When the new comes, there is often resistance to change. New eras create new opportunities. But as Jesus will say in the next chapter of Mark’s gospel: “No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”2
It is vital as we seek to discern God’s voice and follow Jesus that we evaluate our lives and commit to the inevitable changes that mark the newness to which he calls us.
Mark’s gospel opens with a series of stories that demonstrate Jesus’ power and authority. Jesus’ actions were not common practices for religious leaders of his day. They were paradigm-bending and boundary-breaking. His actions embodied the message that he preached: A new era has dawned, the long-awaited time of God’s salvation is here. Realign your lives around it, and put your trust in my message.
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