Day 15
Jesus’
Message: the kingdom
Read: Matthew 13:1-52
Two gospel expressions
“Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” represent the same idea. Matthew
writing for Jewish readers speaks of the “Kingdom of Heaven”, Mark and Luke use
the “Kingdom of God”, it’s easier for their non-Jewish audience’s
understanding.
Jesus' message and idea of the Kingdom was new and
very different:
·
The Kingdom is already here. Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is among you,” now
he had come the Kingdom was here. The mighty works he was doing were signs of
the breaking in of his Kingdom. Following Jesus meant entering his Kingdom.
·
For Jesus the “Kingdom” is the rule of God in human
hearts, rather than a territory with definable borders. People not property; people who follow and
acknowledge Jesus as Lord. With Jesus the Kingdom is a spiritual rather than
material reality.
By
his “Sower story” Jesus indicated the kingdom would be able to be resisted, was
unobtrusive and co-existent with evil (13:3-23). His’ “Mustard seed story”
shows the Kingdom would begin small, but spread throughout the world (13:31-32). The Kingdom involves sacrificial cost and
total commitment, but is more than worth it, as the stories of “the Treasure
and the Pearl” tell (13:45-46). The “Weeds
and the Net stories show while the Kingdom is here, but not fully clear and
distinctive until the day of judgement (13:24-30, 36-43; 13:47-52).
The
good news of the Kingdom is; “God has
come to save the world, heal creation and to bring the whole of life back under
God’s perfect reign.” Jesus’
declaration that the Kingdom is here shows God’s desire is for His rule to be
extended to every area of life on earth.
Ponder
Point
(reflect)
- Jesus
is King of the Kingdom and head of the Church
Consider (respond)
- How
does my being a member of Christ’s body (the church), and citizen of God’s
Kingdom connect?
Pondering today's ponder point:
ReplyDeleteKingdom and church integrate in the person of Jesus. Thinking they are separate entities is just plain “theological schizophrenia” (aka “dopey delusion”). Since I love Jesus it is normative to love and passionately participate in both.