Time is fulfilled

John the Baptist was arrested by Herod and imprisoned in the fortress of Machaerus. The reason for his arrest was John’s strong condemnation of Herod marrying his brother Philip’s wife. With this, John’s role as the herald came to an end. (1) Jesus, realizing that the time had come, returned to Galilee and began His ministry. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 9 (ref. Matt. 4:14-16). (2) Jesus’s message was, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.” The arrival of the Messiah occurred just as prophesied in the Old Testament. In Galatians 4:4, the Apostle Paul wrote, “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.” (3) “The kingdom of God has come near” signifies that the time of the Law is drawing to a close, and the time of grace is beginning. The arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, marked the dawn of a new chapter in human history.

Repent

Furthermore, Jesus declared, “Repent and believe in the gospel.” Repentance and faith are crucial for entering God’s kingdom that Jesus brought. (1) The Jewish people needed to abandon their attitude of seeking righteousness through their customs, laws, and rituals they had practiced. This was what the meaning of repentance. (2) Moreover, they needed to believe that the time of grace was dawning and that reconciliation with God and peace could be attained not through the righteousness of the Law but through faith in the Messiah. Repentance and faith remain essential truths even for us today. Let’s remember what time it is. “For He says, ‘At a favorable time I listened to you, and on a day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is ‘a favorable time,’ behold, now is ‘a day of salvation'” (2 Cor. 6:2). Just as the arrival of Jesus marked a new beginning in human history, welcoming Jesus into our hearts, no matter who we are, opens a new chapter in our lives. Have you recently felt spiritually stagnant? If so, seek spiritual renewal through repentance and faith.