Repent and Believe the Good News

Is anyone here a Marvel fan?

Do you remember how Avengers: Infinity War opens. There’s no recap. No slow build. No gentle reintroduction to the characters. The movie starts in chaos—loss, threat, and a villain who is already winning. From the first few minutes, you realize this story is urgent. Decisions have consequences, and waiting is not an option. Marvel throws you straight into the conflict because delay would weaken the impact.

Mark writes his Gospel the same way. He doesn’t give us a soft opening—he drops us into a moment where heaven has invaded earth and a response is required immediately.Mark does not tell the story of Jesus slowly. He doesn’t warm us up. He doesn’t ease us in. He doesn’t give us time to get comfortable.

Mark uses the word “immediately”more than forty times in this short 16 chapter Gospel—not as a stylistic quirk, but as a theological statement. When Jesus shows up, things start happening right away. Demons come out immediately. Sick bodies are healed immediately. Disciples leave their nets immediately. Crowds respond immediately.

Why?

Because the gospel is not passive. It does not wait for perfect conditions. It does not ask permission.

Mark is writing to believers under pressure. They are in a world ruled by Rome, where Caesar claimed to be lord and his reign was called “good news.” Mark counters that claim from the very first verse. He announces that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and when this King arrives, delay is no longer an option.

Every “immediately” in Mark is a reminder that the Kingdom of God moves with urgency. God is not scrambling—but He is decisive. When heaven breaks into earth, it does not crawl—it confronts.

And that’s exactly how Mark opens his Gospel. No manger. No genealogy. No childhood stories. Just a voice crying in the wilderness, a King stepping onto the scene, and a call that still rings today:

“Repent and believe the good news.”

Because when Jesus arrives, the question is never if you will respond—

The question is how quickly will you respond.

Let’s Begin.

Mark 1:1–15 NIV

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— 3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

When Mark opens by saying, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” the word gospel is the Greek word euangelion. In Mark’s world, that word did not mean a religious message or personal encouragement. It was a public announcement—used for declaring the birth of a king, the victory of an army, or the arrival of a new ruler. Euangelion meant that something had happened that changed reality, and everyone was expected to respond. By using that word, Mark is making a bold claim: this is not advice, not philosophy, not inspiration—this is an announcement that Jesus is King, and His arrival demands allegiance.

This morning I will give you 5 truths about the Gospel.

1. The Gospel Arrives with Authority

Many scholars believe that Mark was the first Gospel written. He was making a declaration. In the first three verses of his Gospel he is quoting both Isaiah and Malachi to show that this moment was planned, promised, and prophetic.

Every writer knows to bring validity to the story you need to have good sources and there were no better sources for Mark’s day than two Old Testament prophets.

Mark also makes two declarations that for many would seem controversial. Mark declares that Jesus is the Messiah, saying that Jesus was the Christ. And he says that Jesus is the Son of God, giving Jesus divine authority.

From the beginning, there is authority in what Mark is saying and he is making it clear to everyone, this is not a self-help message. God is not offering suggestions, but God is announcing a King and His name is Jesus.

2. The Gospel Confronts Us with Repentance

Next, Mark introduces an odd character. He is not someone we see for very long, but he has a very meaningful impact in the story.

Verse 4 says…

Mark 1:4 NIV

4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Has anyone ever come up to you and asked if you want the good news or the bad news first? I always want the bad news. Tell me the bad news and get it over with.

When John calls people to repentance, the Greek word used is metanoia. That word doesn’t mean feeling bad, being embarrassed, or making promises to do better. Metanoia literally means a change of mind, but not in a shallow sense—it’s a change of thinking that leads to a change of direction. It’s turning around. It’s abandoning one way of life and stepping into another. In Mark’s Gospel, repentance is not an emotion; it’s a decision. John isn’t asking people to clean themselves up—he’s calling them to leave the old road entirely and prepare for the arrival of the King.

I don’t want to call this the bad news, but it was something that the people of John’s day didn’t want to hear. They didn’t like change and they didn’t want to change what they were doing. They didn’t want to repent. Why should I repent?

But then John gives them the good news or the Gospel. Look at verse 7.

Mark 1:7–8 NIV

7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

You mean there is someone else.

John is not the Savior, he is just the signpost.

A signpost doesn’t draw attention to itself—it points beyond itself. Its job is not to be admired, but to be obeyed. A signpost tells you where to go, warns you when to turn, and lets you know when you’re headed the wrong way. You don’t stop your car to praise the sign; you respond by changing direction. That’s exactly how John the Baptist functioned—never the destination, always pointing people toward the One who was coming.

John was telling them to repent because the good news is here to bring hope and peace and joy and comfort.

When you repent it is not feeling sorry for yourself. It is a change in direction because the direction you were headed in was not good. You needed a direction change.

God confronts sin not to shame us, but to save us. You don’t have to continue in the hell that you are living in. You can repent and change direction and receive the love and forgiveness that Jesus has for you. That’s what John was calling the people to do.

You cannot cling to old ways and step into a new kingdom.

3. The Gospel is Confirmed by Heaven

Look at the declaration that was made from Heaven when Jesus comes on the scene.

Mark 1:10–11 NIV

10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Notice here in this moment, the trinity is present. You have Jesus the son who is being baptized or commissioned for service. You have the dove that represents the Holy Spirit descending onto Christ and you have God the father speaking.

Let me clarify something for you.

When Jesus steps into the waters of baptism, He is stepping into a place meant for sinners, not for Himself, He is God. He has no sin to confess, no repentance to perform—yet He chooses to stand where we stand. Long before He carries our sin to the cross, He identifies with our condition.

This moment shows us that salvation doesn’t begin with our effort to reach God, but with God’s willingness to come to us. And it’s here—before a miracle is performed, before a sermon is preached, before a demon is cast out—that the Father speaks: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus is affirmed not for what He has done, but for who He is. That’s the order of the Kingdom. Authority flows from identity, not performance. And if that’s true for Jesus, it changes how we understand our own standing before God. Our standing is not earned by what we do, but it is secured by who we belong to.

And so, if God confirms Jesus, which He did, then we must submit to Him.

4. The Gospel Advances Through Conflict

Look at verse 12. It says…

Mark 1:12 NIV

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,

Or

Mark 1:12 NKJV

12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.

Right after heaven opens, right after the Spirit descends, and right after the Father’s voice affirms Jesus, Mark tells us something unexpected: “The Spirit immediately drove Him into the wilderness.” The word “drove” is forceful—it means to push, to compel, to send with urgency. In other words, the same Spirit who rested on Jesus at His baptism now leads Him straight into isolation, hunger, and confrontation with Satan. This reminds us that obedience does not always lead to comfort—it often leads to testing.

Mark uses his favorite word again: immediately. There’s no delay between affirmation and adversity. No buffer between spiritual high and spiritual battle. The Spirit does not lead Jesus away from conflict; He leads Him directly into it. Not because God is cruel, but because victory must be established before ministry is displayed. Before Jesus ever casts out a demon in public, He faces the enemy in private. Before crowds follow Him, He stands alone.

This teaches us something essential about the gospel: it doesn’t avoid spiritual warfare—it exposes it. Following Jesus does not remove resistance; it reveals it. And testing does not mean you’re off course. It often means you’re right where God wants you. The wilderness is not a sign of abandonment; it is a place of preparation.

Mark tells us that Jesus emerges from this season ready to proclaim the Kingdom. The victory over Satan comes before the announcement of good news. And that’s the confrontation for us today: following Jesus is not safe—but it is victorious. God may lead you into places that strip away comfort, but He never leads you into places where His power cannot sustain you.

5. The Gospel Demands a Response

When Jesus begins to preach, His first words are not comforting—they are clarifying: “The time is has come.” In other words, God’s moment has arrived. History has been moving toward this point, and now there is no more waiting, no more delay, no more postponement. The window is open. The opportunity is here. And Jesus follows that announcement with another declaration: “The Kingdom of God is near.” Not distant. Not someday. Not after you get your life together. The reign of God has come near—close enough to reach, close enough to respond to, close enough to reject.

Then come the commands. Not suggestions. Not invitations. Commands. “Repent and believe the good news.” These are not two separate steps; they are one unified response. To repent is to turn from the old way of life, and to believe is to step fully into the new one. You cannot cling to sin and trust the Savior at the same time. Repentance without belief leads to despair. Belief without repentance leads to deception. Jesus calls for both—because eternity is at stake.

This is where the gospel confronts us. Not with condemnation, but with urgency. The gospel does not simply inform us—it interrupts us. It demands a decision. You don’t just hear the gospel; you answer it. Neutrality is not an option when the King is standing in front of you.

Mark never asks us to admire Jesus from a distance. He calls us to follow Him with our lives. From the opening verse to this moment, everything in this Gospel moves fast because the stakes are high. The good news is good because it rescues us—but it rescues us by changing us.

So the question today is not, “Was this message challenging?” The question is, “Will I respond?”

Will I repent—turn from the life that cannot save me?

Will I believe—trust the King who already gave His life for me?

Because when Jesus arrives, He does not wait. And when the gospel is preached, delay is dangerous.

The Kingdom is at hand. The time is fulfilled.

Now is the moment to repent and believe the good news.

If you’re here today and you know—deep down—that you are not right with God, this moment is for you. This is not about church attendance, religious effort, or trying harder. Jesus didn’t say, “Improve and believe.” He said, “Repent and believe the gospel.”

That means turning from the life that cannot save you and placing your full trust in the One who can. The Kingdom of God is not far away—it is at hand. Right now. And delay is dangerous, because tomorrow is not promised.

If you sense the Spirit confronting your heart—don’t resist it. That conviction is not condemnation; it’s mercy. It’s God calling you out of death and into life.

If you’re ready to turn from sin and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I want you to respond boldly. Not because movement saves you, but because obedience matters. If that’s you, step out and come forward. This is your moment to repent and believe the good news.

Now, there are others here—you are already following Jesus. You’ve repented. You believe. But if you’re honest, you’ve grown cautious where you used to be obedient. Comfortable where you used to be surrendered. Delayed where you once responded immediately.

Mark’s Gospel reminds us that following Jesus was never meant to be safe—it was meant to be faithful. The call to repent and believe isn’t just how we enter the Kingdom; it’s how we continue to walk in it.

If you’re a believer and the Spirit is calling you back to urgency—to deeper obedience, renewed devotion, or wholehearted surrender—I want you to respond as well. This is not about guilt; it’s about alignment. Come and say, “Lord, I don’t want to follow You at my pace—I want to follow You at Yours.”

If that’s you, step forward. Let this be a moment of recommitment, clarity, and fresh fire.