And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ - Matthew 10:7 (ESV)The Kingdom of God is at hand? The Kingdom of Heaven is near? What was Christ speaking of? Was He speaking of physical proximity, chronology, spirituality, or what?
It's also interesting to reflect upon the way Christ was treated by a few select few people and the heavens them self. There were a select few whose conduct generated mighty songs. The Magi from the East bearing gifts fit for a King. There were the few disciples that immediately bowed down in His presence. Then upon Jesus death there was "Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight" - John 19:39 (ESV)
The point is there were a few that recognized Jesus as King. Many mocked Him for claiming to be King of the Jews, but when asked about His Kingdom by Pontius Pilate, Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world." John 18:36 (ESV)
The Kingdom of God is at hand, and indeed it has come. Not to its fullest measure, but it is here. It is very near you. It is on your heart and in your mind, and the moment you die you will face it for eternity. The King has already come and purchased your entry. And we turn to celebrate the birth of this King and His Kingdom in this season of the year.
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” - Luke 1:31-33 (ESV)
Listen to the audio sermon, "My King Who Died for Me".
Note: Please be aware of the fact that we do not know Christ' birth date. December 25th is not the correct date. I am sure of that, but not sure exactly what date or season is correct.
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3 comments:
Jesus birth was a mighty ocasion.If it was not so important why as we read in Luke 2:14 did the angels sing and rejoice at his birth.This is an ocasion that should always be celebrated and more important than a date theory what is important is that everybody know-believer and unbeliever- that the king of kings was born on this earth!
Amen! Let all of heaven and earth testify ...
Every instance in the new testament when Jesus either proclaimed, or commanded others to proclaim that the "The Kingdom of Heaven is near, or at hand", he used the same verb for near. In Koine it is Ἤγγικεν, pronounced "angiken." The lexical definition of this word is: "I bring near, or I approach; in the neuter form: to approach and to bring near." The most interesting thing about this verb is that rather than being in the present, past, or future tense, it is in the perfect tense. Which describes a completed action that happened in the past, but with continuing effects that are still felt/ being experienced. It seems as if Jesus is declaring that the Kingdom of Heaven has already been brought near, and it continues to be near.
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