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From then on Jesus began to preach, 
"Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near."
Matthew 4:17 CSB
From then on...from when? 
It seems to point back to v12 when Jesus heard that John had been arrested. The one who was making a way, preparing people for Jesus, was now arrested. 
And this seems to trigger a change in what Jesus has to say. 
He says that now is the time to change.
The word used here, repent, is "metanoeo" which means to change my mind, change my inner purpose. 
And why does Jesus start telling people to do that?
Because the Kingdom of Heaven is close, what you've been waiting for, hoping for is actually right here. 
Jesus says "it's me".
And for that to be a reality for you, to see the Kingdom, to really see me it's going to take a change in thinking, a change in being, a change in heart. 
A change in allegiance.
Something shifted in Jesus ministry when John was arrested and he moved to the beach (see v13), and he says out loud now, "I'm here, the kingdom you've been waiting for, hoping for, is here, maybe not how you expected or wanted, so adjust your thinking, adjust your heart, I'm right here".
#wordsofJesus
#redletterBible
#thekingdomisrighthere
#whatinmeneedstoshift

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