The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Jesus proclaimed and explained the kingdom of God — God’s rule over all things. In the Old Testament, God established his kingdom politically under David. When the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem, the prophets continued to speak of the reestablishment of the kingdom of God under the coming Messiah (Isa 9:6 – 7). When Jesus came to earth, he preached that the kingdom of God had arrived (Mt 4:17; 5:3; Lk 11:20). With Jesus’ coming, God’s redemptive rule has freed men and women from Satan’s power. When Jesus cast out demons, he demonstrated the reality of the kingdom. And through his parables, Jesus described what the kingdom was like (Mt 25).

What we know from Jesus’ own accounts of the kingdom is that, from an earthly perspective, it turns worldly values and priorities upside down. In God’s kingdom, the poor are rich, those who mourn will be comforted, the meek are powerful, and seekers, mercy-givers, peacemakers, and those who are persecuted are the ones who will inherit the kingdom (Mt 5:3 – 12). Jesus’ ministry on earth ushered in the kingdom; the coming of the Spirit (Ac 2:1 – 13) brought it into a new phase; and someday, when the dead in Christ are raised and Jesus comes again to establish his earthly kingdom, it will be fully realized in all of its splendor, justice and perfection (Rev 22:1 – 5).

Jesus, I thank you for your kingdom—a safe, just, peaceful place where love reigns. Help me to live a life that draws others toward your kingdom. Amen.