The Gospel Of The Kingdom

The Gospel of the Kingdom

Mark 1:14-15

“When you hear the bells ringing out at Christmas, think of the reason why Jesus was born. Dream not that He came to load your tables and fill your cups, but in your mirth look higher than all earth-born things. When you hear that in certain churches there are pompous celebrations and ecclesiastical displays, think not for this purpose was Jesus born. No, but look within your hearts, and say, for this purpose was He born: that He might be a King, that He might rule through the truth in the souls of a people who are by grace made to love the truth of God,” Charles Spurgeon. (i)

As you consider the life and ministry of Jesus, what comes to mind? What was His purpose for coming to the earth? Was He merely a man who lived a good life, having an unnatural ability to expound the Scriptures and supernaturally perform miracles; or, was He more than a mere man with exceptional ability? Our text today reveals much about this Jesus and the reason for His coming to earth in the form of a man. He came with purpose – a purpose ordained of God, the Father before the foundation of the world.

Mark’s Gospel is one of the synoptic Gospels, along with Matthew and Luke. These Gospels reveal the same accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry. Mark was written to a Gentile audience, possibly to the church in Rome. He presents Jesus as the Servant of the Lord. The key verse is Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. This servant of men humbled Himself, being obedient to the death of the cross to redeem the fallen.

The focus of our text today is the Gospel of the Kingdom. The main point of the message is: We must respond to the Gospel of the Kingdom. One might ask, why must we respond to the Gospel of the Kingdom? We must respond to the Gospel of the Kingdom because of the following reasons.

I. Because of a Present Reality (15) – The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. This was very early in Jesus’ ministry. He had just been baptized of John and spent forty days in the wilderness being tempted of Satan. Yet, at this early moment, Jesus declared the time is fulfilled. What exactly was Jesus speaking of? What time had been fulfilled? We know that Jesus came with purpose, to provide the atoning sacrifice for sin, and yet He knew He had to reveal Himself as the Christ, the promised Messiah. The time of God’s promise for a Messiah had been fulfilled. Christ had come as the prophets of old had promised. Gal.4:4-5 – But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Through the words of Jesus, and the declaration of the time being fulfilled, we are reminded of the promise of God and His sovereign plan. Since the beginning of time, and especially since the Garden of Eden, God has been directing the course of history toward an ultimate conclusion. Sin had entered the heart of man, and thus humanity inherited the sin of Adam, our father in the flesh. God’s glorious creation had been marred by sin; it is now corrupt and destined for destruction. Sin required a sacrifice that God alone could provide. This sacrifice would atone for sin and provide the means of redemption and restoration to God. The atoning sacrifice came in the Person of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. John 3:16-17 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The present reality is that the time has been fulfilled. The fulness of time has come. God’s Son came to earth, just as He promised. He offered Himself the atoning sacrifice for sin. Redemption has been provided. All the saved are given eternal life in Christ. There is no need to look for another. Jesus was the promised Messiah. He is the Savior of the world. 1 Tim.2:5-6 – For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. “The good news is that sin has been dealt with; that Jesus has suffered its penalty for us as our representative, so that we might never have to suffer it; and that therefore all who believe in him can look forward to heaven. The only true gospel is of the one mediator (1 Tim. 2:5–6), who gave himself for us,” J. M. Boice. (ii)