When you hear or read the word “gospel,” what comes to your mind? For me, it was just another way of referencing ‘Jesus saves’. That would be true—well, sort of true, anyway. Would that make the gospel of the kingdom of God and Jesus synonymous? When the word ‘Jesus’ is used, does it also mean kingdom? Or could it mean more, something broader than Jesus? The word “gospel” means good news and the only thing.
Luke 4:43 records a strange statement from Jesus during a fervent healing ministry when the disciples found Him in prayer. They told Jesus that people were waiting for Him, but He told them, “I must preach the good news [“gospel”] of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” Luke 4:43, (ESV). Was Jesus’ assignment or purpose to tell them about Himself being crucified and rising again for them? When Jesus sent the twelve out to minister in various towns, He told them, “… proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Matthew 10:7 (ESV) If He intended them to preach “Jesus saves”, He would have told them that. He intended for them to preach about the Kingdom of God, not a gospel about Jesus. So, what is the kingdom?
The kingdom of God comprises a condition where there is an authority figure, a ruling king. This king was Jesus (God), where there is “righteousness, peace and joy” and whatever He wants done is done. Any situation where God is King and His will is done is ‘good news’ compared to the culture found on this earth where independence prevails. It’s true, Jesus’ death and resurrection opened the door to God’s kingdom, but that kingdom’s vastness goes beyond both Jesus and the Father. Without doubt, our trinitarian God is the only one who can make that life possible, but one would be very hard pressed to say Jesus, the Spirit or Father, was the kingdom. The kingdom is a benevolent, governmental condition, His spirit domain.
With this in mind, how can we approach a conversation about the kingdom and Jesus? Is the single, defining factor our complete surrender, not merely acceptance, to His daily rule over our lives rather than a prayer for forgiveness?
It can be likened to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He spoke in glowing terms to the crowd of marginalized people of that time, of “Blessed” life in the kingdom. What He doesn’t say is this ‘Blessed’ life comes through authentic surrender to the King of the Kingdom. He left that up to the crowd to desire that life enough to seek it. That is why Jesus later said in Matthew’s version of that sermon, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 (NLT2)
I have been intrigued with how Jesus reflected His Father’s approach to working with humanity. He put out on the table the way to experience a righteousness that would exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 5:20). Then, rather than manipulating them, He allowed them to take the initiative and diligently seek it. Jesus described that ‘seeking’ when He said, “And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. Matthew 11:12 (AMP) This begs the question, how violent have I been about seeking His kingdom to come in my daily life?