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The four gospels in the New Testament emphasize that "The Kingdom of God" is central to Jesus's ministry. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus begins his public ministry with, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). Similarly, in Matthew 4:17, he declares, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Luke 4:43 records Jesus saying, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to the other towns also because I was sent for this purpose.” Although less frequent in John's Gospel, references to the kingdom are still present as seen in John 3:3 and 5 where Jesus tells Nicodemus about being born again to see or enter the kingdom of God.
Many parables begin with “the kingdom of God/heaven is like,” and numerous teachings address entering this kingdom (e.g., Mark 10:14-15). The gospels frequently summarize Jesus’s ministry as preaching the good news of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23; Luke 8:1), even noting that after his resurrection, he spoke about it for forty days (Acts 1:3).
John the Baptist preceded Jesus in preaching about God's kingdom. As stated in Matthew 3:1-2, John preached repentance because “the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Despite differing lifestyles—John's ascetic life contrasted with Jesus dining with tax collectors—their messages were consistent. Both emphasized repentance and living a fruitful life marked by generosity rather than greed (Luke 3:10-14).
John's message differed from Jesus's primarily because John announced that a king was coming (Matthew 3:11-12), while Jesus arrived as that king. John identified himself as a friend of the bridegroom (John 3:29) and acknowledged that he must decrease while Jesus must increase (John 3:30).
Despite his role in heralding Jesus’s arrival, John did not fully understand all aspects of Jesus’s mission. This is evident when he questioned whether Jesus was indeed bringing God's promised kingdom while he remained imprisoned (Matthew 11:2-3). In response, Jesus pointed to his miracles but did not mention releasing captives, indicating that while healing had begun, suffering would continue until his return.
Jesus commended John despite his confusion. He declared there was no one greater born of women than John but added that “the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28). This suggests John's greatness lay in preparing for a reality he only glimpsed before his death.
Jesus's followers now have an even greater role post-resurrection. They proclaim not just that God is coming but that He has already come and brought forgiveness through His death. They declare His authority over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18) and call for obedience to His teachings.
Following John's example means recognizing our role isn't to be king but to point others towards Him. We should acknowledge that God's kingdom advances in unexpected ways fulfilling divine promises now while we await its ultimate fulfillment at Christ's return.
Questions regarding Bible or theology can be directed to Pastor Brian at Theology@WeAreFaith.org. Additionally, emails can be sent to join weekly blog post updates.
