在开始衪的事工时，耶稣宣告说：“日期满了，神的国近了！你们当悔改，信福音！”这个时刻是何等令人震动甚至危险的，我们这样说并没有夸大其词。
在耶稣那个年代，人们时常（在暴力之下）被提醒，他们只有一个国——罗马，只有一位君王——凯撒。每当有新的罗马皇帝登基，便有使者被差派到全国各地，宣布这个称为“好消息”的报告。
在这里，耶稣也大胆宣告：“神的国近了！你们当悔改，信福音！”我们明白这个信息为什么是如此激进，是会被政权排斥的。然而，对听到的人来说，它确实是好消息。但他们很快便会发现，耶稣的到来，不是要推翻罗马政权，衪乃是要引进神的国；神的国不属于这个世界，然而它却管辖这个世界。神的国的特质是仁爱、怜悯、赦免、新的开始、服侍。跟随耶稣就是成为神永恒国度的国民。
与耶稣第一次宣告时一样，这个好消息在今天也同样是反主流文化的。这是我们奉耶稣的名去传讲的好消息：君王耶稣已降临，衪藉衪的名带来新生命！衪以双手托住这个世界！来跟随衪吧！
主耶稣，今天惟愿我的耳朵能够以新的角度来接收你的好消息。感谢你邀请我进入你的国！阿们。
马可福音 1:1-15
1神的儿子，耶稣基督福音的起头。
2正如先知以赛亚书上记着说：“看哪！我要差遣我的使者在你前面，预备道路。
3在旷野有人声喊着说：‘预备主的道，修直他的路！’”
4照这话，约翰来了，在旷野施洗，传悔改的洗礼，使罪得赦。
5犹太全地和耶路撒冷的人都出去到约翰那里，承认他们的罪，在约旦河里受他的洗。
6约翰穿骆驼毛的衣服，腰束皮带，吃的是蝗虫、野蜜。
7他传道说：“有一位在我以后来的，能力比我更大，我就是弯腰给他解鞋带也是不配的。
8我是用水给你们施洗，他却要用圣灵给你们施洗。”
9那时，耶稣从加利利的拿撒勒来，在约旦河里受了约翰的洗。
10他从水里一上来，就看见天裂开了，圣灵仿佛鸽子降在他身上；
11又有声音从天上来说：“你是我的爱子，我喜悦你。”
12圣灵就把耶稣催到旷野里去。
13他在旷野四十天，受撒旦的试探，并与野兽同在一处，且有天使来伺候他。
14约翰下监以后，耶稣来到加利利，宣传神的福音，
15说：“日期满了，神的国近了！你们当悔改，信福音！”
"The time has come…the kingdom of God has come near." - Mark 1:15
When Jesus launched his ministry, he announced: "The time has come. . . . The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" It is hard to overstate how startling and even dangerous this moment was.
In Jesus' day, people were often reminded (brutally) that there was one kingdom—Rome—and there was one king—Caesar. And whenever a new Roman emperor rose to the throne, messengers were sent throughout the empire to announce it, calling it "good news."
So here was Jesus, declaring with boldness, "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" We can see why this was a radical and politically dangerous message. But for the people who heard it, it really was good news. As they would soon discover, Jesus did not come to topple Rome but to usher in the kingdom of God, which is not of this world but nevertheless rules over it. This kingdom is characterized by love, mercy, forgiveness, new beginnings, and service. To follow Jesus is to become a citizen of God's eternal kingdom.
This good news is just as countercultural today as when Jesus first announced it. And this is the message we get to proclaim in his name: Jesus, the King, has come, bringing new life in his name! He holds this world in his hands! Come and follow him!
Lord Jesus, may I receive your good news with fresh ears today. Thank you for inviting me into your kingdom! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
