1:14–20 Linking the beginning of Jesus’ ministry with the arrest of John has the effect of associating Jesus with John’s ministry still more plainly than indicated in the preceding passages. This is especially so in view of the partial similarity of their messages. In 1:4 John comes “preaching … repentance” and here in 1:15 Jesus utters a similar message.

There are, however, important differences between Jesus and John given in the passage before us. Here Jesus is said to proclaim that the kingdom of God has drawn near and that the day of fulfillment (the time) has come. This conviction that God’s chosen time had come is similar to the Baptist’s sense of urgency and his belief that he was called to prepare Israel for the day of God’s salvation (1:4–8), but Jesus’ words reflect the convict…