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Kingdom At Hand

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”1

Imagine Israel welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem, he riding on a donkey as prophesied, the crowds going ahead of him laying palm leaves, these and those who followed shouting, "Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"2 Feel the excitement as they welcome the son of David, the son of man, as prophesied of, a saviour. Hear the excitement grow as Jesus goes into the synagogue and reads from the scroll of Isaiah proclaiming he is anointed to set the captives free, to liberate those who are oppressed. One can hear it, yes, the kingdom of God is at hand. 

"and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country.
And he taught in their synagogues, being honored by all."3

 This excitement spilled over throughout all the surrounding country! He received honor as an earthly king would, they welcomed him. They did not see him weep overlooking Jerusalem before he entered. He goes to Nazareth and after they heard him they marveled at his words, but they said, "is not this Joseph's son?" Jesus says to them, "and you will say, Physician heal yourself." And is not this what they said of him, and if you are a king save yourself? Jesus then says something profound, he was not here to save all Israel.4 "And they were filled with anger in the synagogue hearing these things."5 They ran Him out of town leading him up a hill to the edge of a cliff to throw him over.6 But he escapes miraculously as it is not yet his time. "but he said to them, and also to the other towns, to preach the good news is necessary of the Kingdom of God because for this purpose I have been sent."7

"indeed the works that the Father have given me, I should complete them, the same works which I do bear witness concerning me, that the Father has sent me."8 

Jesus establishes, in his works, that it is those who have faith, believe in the words of the kingdom, these will be set at liberty, and will have eternal life. His works point to him being of the Father, and if they honored the Father they would honor the son.9 But as Jesus said they did not seek to honor the Father.10 Because His words do not abide in them, "the One the Father has sent to you, you do not believe." Then he said to them, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life."10 These Jesus said receive the honor of men, and the love of God doesn't abide in them. But those of the Father will honor the Son.

"And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick."11

 The works of Jesus bear witness, but also the signs, things that Moses wrote about. Jesus would be lifted up as the serpent was, so that all who look upon him will be saved. Jesus is the Rock, that living water springs forth, all that drink will have everlasting life. This great multitude gathered because they saw the signs Jesus had performed on the sick. He then gives them another sign of Moses, he miraculously feeds the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish. When the people saw this sign, they began to say, “Truly this is the prophet who is to come into the world.”12 And they wanted to carry him away to make him king.

"realizing they were about to come and make Him king by force, Jesus withdrew again to a mountain by Himself."12

 The Kingdom of God at hand. Jesus could have allowed himself to be made king, this earthly kingdom was not the purpose he came to fulfill. The people had welcomed him as a king, excitement grew as he proclaimed he was there to set them free, yes, we can hear them say, free at last, free from Rome! They see the works and the signs and accepted Jesus as the son of man, king, and even as the prophet. He told them that if they look to him they would be saved, yes, this is what liberty is all about, a king would save them. But then Jesus gives them another sign, he is the bread from heaven that gives life. But wait, now, is he claiming to be the Son of God! This the people question, what sign will you give us, what works will you perform? Here we see the chasm that all men must cross to enter the Kingdom of God, from the earthly to the heavenly.


"Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life, and we  believe and understand that you are the Holy One of God.”14

Here many turned away, truly they did not believe he was the Son of God. This belief is in the Son of God, Jesus is he who gives life and entrance into the Kingdom of God. Here the way gets narrow, believing is having faith in the Holy One, the Son of God. Those who enter the Kingdom of God come by faith and understanding through the words of Jesus, we believe and understand that you are the Holy One of God. We see three important elements to entering; he is the Door, the Door opens by believing (he is the Word and author of faith), and lastly it is a kingdom at hand, a heavenly kingdom not an earthly one though he wants His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were satisfied"15

They "ate of the loaves and were satisfied," such represents an earthly perspective and satisfaction; food for the stomach or stomach for the food; earthly purpose or heavenly purpose. Many of the people wanted an earthly kingdom, with an earthly king, but Jesus makes clear this is not the Kingdom of God at hand, and many of them turned away from Christ. Many today walk away because they seek earthly things; an earthly kingdom of land, wealth, and honor. They love such things more than God and reject the Son of God, though amazingly they still search the scriptures looking for eternal life. They continue to seek an earthly king and messiah, though the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Heaven Is Here

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