The opening words of Jesus’ preaching set the stage for all that is to follow. John’s arrest and delivery to his fate are the signal to Jesus that his own destiny is about to be realized in a way not unlike that which befell John (see 14:21). At all events he knows the right time has come. A sermon on “Jesus’ first words” gives a good opportunity to stress the interfacing of indicative (stating what is) and imperative (calling on people to act). The second depends on