But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Mark 9:32

Here’s the downside of Jesus speaking in parables – when he starts talking plainly to his disciples, they don’t understand.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the good news.’ Mark 1:14-15

I’ve often spoken about this text, and the idea of “at hand” – meaning something you can reach out and take hold of.

The other day I used that image with a bunch of eight and nine year old kids, and one of them said that to him, “at hand” sounded like something you were always reaching for, but was just out of your grasp, and so you keep moving towards it and it keeps moving away, leading you forwards. He acted this out, rather than putting it into words, so the language is mine, but the image is his. And I will now be rewriting my stock sermon in the light of this insight….