20 December | Youth
«From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”» Matthew 4:17
The central theme of Jesus' ministry is the kingdom of God. This expression appears fifty-five times in Matthew, fourteen times in Mark, about 40 times in Luke and five times in the gospel of John. What exactly is the kingdom of God? Most Bible scholars believe that the kingdom refers to God's rule in our hearts and relationships. It is not exactly a place, but a lifestyle.
Jesus came to Earth to reveal God and destroy sin. He was a “live God” walking among the people, inviting them to obey. God became a citizen of the world, walked with men, ate their food, slept in their homes, entered their lives and loved people one by one. Jesus came to demonstrate what God is like.
The kingdom of God is intertwined with the acts of Jesus. In fact, Jesus' actions are the visible expression of the kingdom of God. Do you want to know what the kingdom of God is like? Look at Jesus and what He did. Who He walked with, where He walked, what He did and how He lived among men shows us the nature of His kingdom.
Just so there is no doubt, who is the King of the kingdom of God? Jesus Christ. But the kingdom that Jesus announced was not the popular kingdom of strength, power and authority that the chosen people expected. Israel's hope was that the Messiah would come, sit eternally on the nation's throne and restore His kingdom forever. However, Jesus announced an inner kingdom in which His subjects would act with humility and love. He came to establish a new kingdom based on complete trust and dependence on God.
Jesus did not come to establish a new religion, but to restore a broken relationship. The battlefield is the heart of every human being. There is a constant conflict within us between good and evil. When we give our lives to Jesus, it means that a new King rules on the throne of our hearts. Jesus stated that the kingdom of God has arrived. Indeed, where the King is, there His kingdom is also. I hope you enjoy the pleasure of having Jesus reign in your heart today.