The
Kingdom of God Is Like…
Mark
1:14-15
The kingdom of God is a central theme—probably the central theme—of Jesus’
ministry. He said other things—did other
things, but, understanding its importance, he always returned to the
kingdom.
He
tried to get his disciples to understand what the kingdom would be like. He said, “This is the way the kingdom
works: If you want to be great, you have
to become a servant.” Then he showed
them what he meant.
He
tried to get the crowds who followed him to understand what the kingdom would
be like. He began many of his parables
with the words, “The kingdom of God is like…” then used images and metaphors
that were so familiar to his blue-collar followers that they couldn’t miss his
meaning.
He
tried to get Pilate to understand what the kingdom would be like. He said, “My kingdom is not of this world,”
but Pilate couldn’t comprehend.
His
final message to his inner circle was an attempt to help them understand what
the kingdom would be like. At the Last
Supper he said, “There’s more than enough room for all of you in my Father’s
house. I’ve got to go away, but I’ll
return. You know where I’m going, and
you know the way.” When
directionally-challenged Thomas didn’t understand, Jesus said, “I am the
way. I am the truth. I am the life. If you do what I’ve been telling you, the way
to the kingdom will be clear.”
Mark
wastes no time introducing the kingdom theme.
Less than a third of the way through the first chapter he quotes Jesus:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the good news.” Immediately—right at the beginning of his
ministry—Jesus calls people to come into the kingdom.
How
do we find the kingdom of God? Listen to
Jesus.
“The
time is fulfilled.” The time is
now! The kingdom isn’t something to
anticipate happening sometime in the future.
It is here. “The kingdom of God
is at hand.”
Samuel
Shoemaker puts it this way: “Eternal life doesn’t begin with death; it begins
with faith.” We don’t have to wait for
the kingdom—we shouldn’t wait for the
kingdom. It’s all around us, waiting for
us.
Jesus didn’t come to prepare us for the kingdom. He brought the kingdom with him.
“Repent
and believe in the good news,” Jesus says.
“Realize you’ve been heading in the wrong direction. Turn around.
Be sorry enough to quit doing the things that separate you from
God.” As Shoemaker says, it’s a matter
of faith. Believe the kingdom is
accessible now. That’s the good news. Is
there any better news?
Tony
Berrington says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is the reign of God and the rule of God
in our lives, which actually means the personal presence of Jesus.” Jesus says, “I am here, and so is the
kingdom. Follow me and I’ll lead you
into it.”
In
the early years of Christianity, new believers made their confession of faith
with the words, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”
It’s a simple statement, but one packed with meaning. If Jesus was Lord, then nothing or no one
else was—not Caesar, not worldly goods, not family or friends. Nothing could stand in God’s place.
The
same is true today. The kingdom of God is…Jesus is Lord.
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