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“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 4:17
Do you want to know how amazing God is?
Last week, I was struggling with the inability of today’s society to trust and follow the examples that Jesus Christ left us with. In our life we are purposed to grow and learn and become more Christlike, in our actions, in our words and in our spiritual journey. Becoming more Christlike requires that we study and better understand the Messiah. It requires that we accept Him as Lord and Savior, and acknowledge that He is who He says He is – the Son of the Most High God. We must recognize the Holy Bible as the Word of God, and accept that the words contained there-in as truth. Last week I began looking at the words of Christ and what they meant to me. On Sunday, Pastor Randy Harvey (www.thecrossing.cc) preached his sermon on Matthew 4:17, which just happen to be the next words from Christ following the temptations in the wilderness that I discussed last week.
Jesus Christ walked this earth for 33 years and yet His ministry upon this earth was less than 3. He was human and God at the same time, in the same place and existence. We know little of his life between 12 and 30, but it is mentioned that he was the son of the carpenter Joseph, and thereby a conclusion may be drawn that he followed in his handicraft as a carpenter through those years. As any Jewish boy of that era, he would have spent significant time in the Synagogue with his father, learning and memorizing the scriptures from the scrolls.
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, and then tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40 days (see last week’s posts). He then went on to Nazareth, the home city of his parents; Joseph and Mary, where he proclaimed fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah. This brought him rejection from those in Nazareth, and foretold the rejection he would receive from the nation of Israel in due time. Jesus left Nazareth and went on to Capernaum where he spent a significant part of his life over the next 3 years. In his first statements to the people of Capernaum he proclaims that the “Kingdom of God is at hand”.
The Israelites had been 400 years without a prophet or a sign from God. Living on their faith and strong beliefs passed on from generation to generation, these people in Capernaum on that day witnessed firsthand the unveiling of the Messiah, the King, the Anointed One. By His authority, He proclaimed to the masses, what you have waited for has now begun. In His words He preached repentance for the sins of mankind. Turn from your wickedness and come from the darkness into the light. Choose to seek the Kingdom first, rather than the ways of the world.
The message to you and I has not changed. Jesus has ushered in the Kingdom of God amongst mankind. He has demonstrated the purity, the righteousness, the love and sacrifice of a life in the new Kingdom. Just as the people of that day had longed for a King, a Messiah, to save them from the persecutions of this world, how much more are we the same. We must repent, turn from our sinful ways, and follow His teaching, His words and His actions to become more Christ-like. In doing so we become more aware of His Kingdom that is around us and what our part in that Kingdom is. He is our one and only King, worthy of our praise, honor and glory. We are His subjects, meant to serve and worship Him alone.
Last week, I was struggling with the inability of today’s society to trust and follow the examples that Jesus Christ left us with. In our life we are purposed to grow and learn and become more Christlike, in our actions, in our words and in our spiritual journey. Becoming more Christlike requires that we study and better understand the Messiah. It requires that we accept Him as Lord and Savior, and acknowledge that He is who He says He is – the Son of the Most High God. We must recognize the Holy Bible as the Word of God, and accept that the words contained there-in as truth. Last week I began looking at the words of Christ and what they meant to me. On Sunday, Pastor Randy Harvey (www.thecrossing.cc) preached his sermon on Matthew 4:17, which just happen to be the next words from Christ following the temptations in the wilderness that I discussed last week.
Jesus Christ walked this earth for 33 years and yet His ministry upon this earth was less than 3. He was human and God at the same time, in the same place and existence. We know little of his life between 12 and 30, but it is mentioned that he was the son of the carpenter Joseph, and thereby a conclusion may be drawn that he followed in his handicraft as a carpenter through those years. As any Jewish boy of that era, he would have spent significant time in the Synagogue with his father, learning and memorizing the scriptures from the scrolls.
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, and then tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40 days (see last week’s posts). He then went on to Nazareth, the home city of his parents; Joseph and Mary, where he proclaimed fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah. This brought him rejection from those in Nazareth, and foretold the rejection he would receive from the nation of Israel in due time. Jesus left Nazareth and went on to Capernaum where he spent a significant part of his life over the next 3 years. In his first statements to the people of Capernaum he proclaims that the “Kingdom of God is at hand”.
The Israelites had been 400 years without a prophet or a sign from God. Living on their faith and strong beliefs passed on from generation to generation, these people in Capernaum on that day witnessed firsthand the unveiling of the Messiah, the King, the Anointed One. By His authority, He proclaimed to the masses, what you have waited for has now begun. In His words He preached repentance for the sins of mankind. Turn from your wickedness and come from the darkness into the light. Choose to seek the Kingdom first, rather than the ways of the world.
The message to you and I has not changed. Jesus has ushered in the Kingdom of God amongst mankind. He has demonstrated the purity, the righteousness, the love and sacrifice of a life in the new Kingdom. Just as the people of that day had longed for a King, a Messiah, to save them from the persecutions of this world, how much more are we the same. We must repent, turn from our sinful ways, and follow His teaching, His words and His actions to become more Christ-like. In doing so we become more aware of His Kingdom that is around us and what our part in that Kingdom is. He is our one and only King, worthy of our praise, honor and glory. We are His subjects, meant to serve and worship Him alone.
© Sondove Enterprises, 2013
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For more Daily Thoughts go to: http://sondove.blogspot.com
If you would like to be added to the email distribution please click here: Daily Thoughts
The kingdom of Israel was looking for a Messiah to save them from the persecution (and occupation) of the Romans. Yet Jesus introduced the "kingdom of heaven," which would include disciples (of the king) who were persecuted on account of him. Nevertheless, they could rejoice because their reward would be great in heaven (Mt. 5:10-12). Jesus' kingdom of disciples would be different from all the kingdoms of earth, including the kingdom of Israel.
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