The Kingdom of God
“The Kingdom Proclamation”
Mark 1:14-15
Watch on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j229bA9ECY
Like the children's drawing puzzle, many people have been trying to connect-the-dots in their lives. Their lives and understanding of Christianity have been a series of unconnected dots, but without a key to guide them, as to the right color to draw, or without the numbers to connect-the-dots, the picture ends up making no sense.
In today’s church, we have all these talking points. We talk about salvation, repentance, redemption, heaven, hell, and other prominent themes of the Bible, along with practical advice taught in God’s word. But people still get confused because these are singular points with no connecting thread.
And this is the reason for this new sermon series, “The Kingdom of God,” and our message title today, “The Kingdom Proclamation.”
The writer of Hebrews says we’re receiving an unmovable kingdom, and that while everything else around us is being shaken to its core; we have a kingdom that is unshakable. Therefore, we are to serve God being full of grace and godly fear (Hebrews 12:25).
It’s important, therefore, that we understand what this kingdom is, and that we live within it, so when life gets out of control, we can stand on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Only then when the wind and waves of life, or as I like to say, “the wind and waves of outrageous fortune,” which Jesus calls trials and tribulations, come against us, we can survive and thrive, firm in our belief and hope.
This morning we’re looking at what Mark gives us at the very beginning of his gospel. It’s a kind of synopsis of the entire message he’s unfolding. And in our passage, he introduces it.
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14-15 NKJV)
Mark’s gospel begins with this announcement saying, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1 NKJV)
He then gives us a glimpse of the ministry of John the Baptist, who was the last of the Old Testament prophets, and the forerunner and herald of the Messiah’s, Jesus, arrival. As John's ministry was closing, Jesus came not preaching repentance, although it was an integral part of the message; rather, He came preaching the Kingdom of God, and thenthe need for the people to repent and believe.
That is what I want to call our attention to because it is a perfect summary of Christianity and what it stands for, as well as the message of what the Gospel is all about.
The reason I’m starting with this message as one of the first teachings in this series is not because this is where Jesus started, which in itself should be sufficient, but also because there’s nothing that is so desperately needed in our world today as the simple direct statement of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We’re living in days and times of great confusion, which the church is partially responsible for. The church has mistakenly believed that the more modern we make Christianity, the more it will gain acceptance. But with the overall decline in church attendance, along with a decline in new believers, what this reveals is that these modern ways and techniques don't work.
And that’s because it’s sounding more and more like modern humanism, and people have had that in spades. Sadly, our uniqueness is gone. We’re supposed to be a bride for the most glorious Bridegroom in the universe, and then inviting others to join us into the glorious event of the wedding feast of the Lamb.
It is therefore important, if not downright urgent, that we be clear about our approach to the Gospel, because if our initial approach is wrong, everything else that follows will be wrong as well.
When thinking about this new modern approach to evangelism with its performance centered approach, there is something the Lord says that stands in direct contrast, and is in direct conflict, with this approach.
In the book of Jeremiah, this is what it says, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (Jeremiah 16:6 NKJV)
Unfortunately, we’re no different, because their response to God was, “We will not walk in it,” and neither do we.
But take a moment and think about this with me. If we are setting out on a journey and we want to go to a certain place, we’ll never arrive if we’re on the wrong road. The time to be careful is at the beginning, and at the very first step.
The reason so many reject the gospel is that they have a wrong view of it and thus, they know nothing about Christianity.
Their problem is that because we live in an age of technology and scientific knowledge, and because everything is changing so fast, they try to chart the course for their lives on the fly. They say the Bible is old knowledge and no longer relevant.
But I wonder how can we navigate the waters of this world without a chart, without a map?
We’re living in a time of crisis and great confusion. We’re living in a world where disaster can strike at any time, and where we can come to the end of our own journeys at any moment. So, people ask if there’s a chart or compass to help them navigate these treacherous waters, one that will give them assurance of heaven?
There is such a guide, and it’s the Bible and its proclamation of the Kingdom of God.
Let’s consider this proclamation.
“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.” (Mark 1:14 NKJV)
The word “preaching” is interesting. Its origin was in Rome and the cult of emperor worship. When a son or heir was born, a proclamation was made, and it was called “preaching.” ??There are two things found in the “preaching.”
An Official Announcement
To preach was to make an official announcement that an heir was born, when he came of age, and then when he ascended to the throne. This is what Jesus came doing. He came preaching, announcing, and proclaiming that the Kingdom of God had come, and with that kingdom came the King, which was Jesus Himself.
Now those who were doing the announcing, the “preaching,” weren’t to make it up as they went, nor were they to give uncertain announcements like, “We’re not sure, but rumor has it…” Instead, they were to give a definite and a specific message about the kingdom and the coming king.
And this is what Jesus came doing, and what the apostles did afterwards, and what the church should be doing.
This is the opposite, however, of what’s happening in modern Christianity. We invite people on a quest to discover the truth, and those who come are seeking and searching. People are on a journey to discover the truth. It sounds so wonderful. People like this idea because it appeals to their spirit of adventure.
And this fuels their criticism of evangelical Christianity and Christians. It's that we’re too certain that our way is the truth. It’s exciting to search and investigate, but the problem is that very few ever want to arrive. They’re more interested in the journey than the destination. They are ever seeking truth, but never finding it.
Life, however, is not a game. It is serious, and it is real. But God hasn’t invited us on some noble quest to discover the meaning of life; rather, He has given to us the truth for an abundant life, which is only found in what Jesus came preaching and proclaiming.
And we are now heralds, ambassadors if you would, of this same truth as we’ve been called to preach the gospel.
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14 NKJV)
Guess what? Paul’s not talking about pastors only, he’s saying every believer is a preacher. Unworthy as we are, we’re all heralds of this wondrous truth. Therefore, we’re not called to give our theories or ideas; instead, we're given a message from the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and we’re to announce and preach it with authority.
The message is that Jesus and His proclamation of the Kingdom has answered all of life’s questions and solved all of humanity’s problems. Further, humanity can find rest and peace for their souls through Jesus Christ, and the Kingdom of God He brought with Him.
Jesus said, “Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NKJV)
When we step into the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ, when we die, we’ll pass from this life into eternity and have heaven to look forward to.
We can be like Paul, who said, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV)
The second thing about preaching is that announces the plan and purpose of God.
Announces God’s Plan and Purpose
In verse 15, Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15a NKJV)
The time spoken of by the prophets has now come to pass. This has been the great message of the Bible, that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives and for this world.
Through the prophet Jeremiah the Lord said, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
Humanity has done its best to improve the world’s condition but has come up short. Humanity has failed to make anything better, even with all our modern conveniences. The immensity of the problem is staggering, and while science has helped to alleviate sickness and disease, it has also made it worse. Now we can kill others and ourselves in more humane ways.
The truths that humanity has touted have likewise failed. These truths are always changing to fit society's needs and desires, which means they weren’t truths to begin with.
However, into all this confusion comes the Kingdom proclamation, the message that God has a plan and purpose. It is to deliver humanity from its slavery to sin and death. And saying, "The time is fulfilled," means that the time of our redemption has arrived.
The message of the Bible, and therefore of the church, is not to urge us to search for the truth; rather, it’s about proclaiming God’s truth, because while humanity is in a constant state of flux, God remains the same. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever, the Bible says in Hebrews 13:8.
Through the prophet Malachi, the Lord said, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6 NKJV)
God, therefore, has devised a plan to deliver men and women out of their failure and sin and become citizens of The Kingdom of God. And God made this plan known to humanity all along.
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.” (Hebrews 1:1-2 NKJV)
The Old Testament is where God reveals His plan and purpose through the prophets. He took Abraham and turned him into a great nation, and through this nation He would speak to the world. He took Moses and gave him the Law, which is humanity’s tutor to bring salvation through Christ (Galatians 3:24).
God revealed it all, and the message that is found within the Bible is His plan and purpose to bring humanity back into a right relationship with Him.
Therefore, if Christ has accomplished this through His death and resurrection, then humanity doesn’t need to gain truth; instead, what humanity needs is the truth God has already provided.
We don’t need a new truth. We need to know the truth that’s already given, because God doesn’t change. He’s holy and righteous; the Father of light in whom there is no variableness, there is no shadow of turning (James 1:17).
And the same goes for humanity. Humanity hasn’t changed either. People are no different today than they were at the beginning. We are still morally corrupt, lustful, and full of evil desires, no matter how advanced we think we are. The problem with humanity is the same today as it has always been, and that is, sin.
And so, God had been acting throughout our history to bring about His plan to deliver us from our sins, and it all centers upon the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
What this means is that our salvation doesn’t depend on our thoughts or discoveries; rather, it’s dependent entirely upon what happened 2,000 years ago when Jesus, the Son of God, was born, died upon the cross for our sins, and then rose the third day from the grave. And from this, He gives to all who believe in Him the living hope of our own resurrection and eternity with God in Heaven.
This was the turning point of all history. And so, it doesn’t matter what age we live in, what matters happened 2,000 years ago and the Kingdom of God that is available because of it.
So, the preaching of the gospel doesn’t invite us on a quest to discover the meaning of life. Rather, it says, “Look at what God has already done to deliver us from sin and death and into His glorious Kingdom, therefore repent and believe.”
Further, Jesus didn’t say that the Kingdom was about to come. Instead, He said that it had come. And “A Kingdom is wherever the King is.”
Throughout history, God had been promising He was going to do something special, even back in the beginning when he told Eve that her seed, the Messiah, would crush Satan’s head. Even in the beginning, God had been preparing humanity for this coming event.
And God prophesied this concerning the coming of John the Baptist.
Jesus said, “This is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’” (Matthew 3:3 NKJV)
This is the good news, the announcement that the King and the Kingdom have arrived.
The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God in our lives. It means the Lord has come and has defeated the enemy of our souls, Satan and the evil he brings, and how the glory of God now shines on and through those who believe. ??Therefore, as we gather, there should always be an air of anticipation and expectation.
Years ago, Michaela and I spent a couple of days at the beach. In the room next to ours, there were these kids who got so excited at seeing the seagulls land on their balcony or flying close by that they shouted out with glee and ran and got everyone else to come and look.
This is how excited we should be at God's proclamation of His kingdom. And in our joy, we should find others to show them what we have found. Our church, therefore, should be filled to overflowing, because we should be so excited and want to bring others to hear the good news, the gospel message.
All of humanity are slaves to sin and are in misery, unable to break free. But here comes the King who can break the bars of their jail cells and break down the gates of Hell, setting them free. Shouldn’t we get excited and rejoice and tell them the good news?
When Jesus went into His hometown of Nazareth, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and read from the scroll of Isaiah.
He read, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” (Isaiah 61:1 NKJV)
And then He said, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)
Conclusion
Jesus said that the Kingdom of God has arrived. The day of release, pardon, renewal, and new life are right here and right now. The day of God’s grace has arrived.
The message is, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)
We need to get back to the basics and go back to the baby lying in a manger who died on the cross to deliver us from sin and death and rescued us so that we can be right with God.
This is the crucial act of humanity’s history because we cannot enter God’s kingdom on our own, but only by our faith in Jesus Christ. It is only by God’s grace based upon our faith that we can become righteous through His righteousness.
Paul said, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation…For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21 NKJV)
The time is fulfilled; the Kingdom of God has come. So, we don’t have to set out on some noble quest to find the meaning of life; instead, we need to follow the King’s announcement.
Jesus ended His proclamation saying, “Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15b NKJV)
We need to stop searching for the truth and believe the truth found in God’s word and in Jesus Christ.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
This has been and still is God’s plan for humanity. This is the Kingdom Proclamation.
