It is "at hand"...

Matthew 4:12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

This chapter begins with the temptation of Jesus by Satan in the wilderness. We might call it the "initiation" rite into ministry.  Jesus did not begin in His hometown, or the City of David, or even the religious center of Jerusalem. He began where some of the worst characters lived: Galilee.  In such a dark place His bright light was all the more apparent. What is interesting to note is that Jesus picked up right where John had left off, with the in-your-face call to repentance.  But now, the kingdom was not coming, it was at hand - right there before them.  The call to change could no longer be put off. Rather than being offended, Jesus' hearers responded in droves; it's what they needed to hear and to do: repent. Maybe that's what needs to be heard more today.