Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be as deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” Then he said: Listen, O house of David!
“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15) These are the first words spoken by Jesus in Mark’s Gospel, and they are presented as the core of his message. (So too in Matthew’s Gospel; see Matthew 4:17.)