Do you ever wonder what it was that got Jesus’ ministry – his mission – off the ground? In Chapter 4 of Matthew, from Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” version, we get a glimpse of focused purpose: “God’s kingdom was his (Jesus') theme . . . he also healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their lives.” Wow. The “Good News,” as we’ve come to know it, isn’t mentioned and “heaven” isn’t the concern. People came to Jesus to experience his kingdom now.
It seems that folks’ immediate concern was not heaven but in living a different, better life now. That idea, that Jesus can give them a way out, a fresh start, a second chance at their life, brought people to him. And they found the anticipated Kingdom of God embodied in the Man Jesus. That discovery is Good News – Rejoice, for the Kingdom is Here!
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