Kingdom in Adversity
Jesus started proclaiming the Kingdom of God after the arrest of John the Baptist, an incident that foreshadowed the opposition that would characterize his own ministry. Palestine consisted of three territories - Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, and the latter included a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles. His ministry commenced in the villages of Galilee. Unlike the prophets of Ancient Israel, his mission did NOT begin or center in Jerusalem, though it certainly ended there - (Matthew 4:13).
Though unsure of who he was, many men responded
enthusiastically and flocked to hear the Nazarene. In contrast, the religious leaders
associated with the Temple were offended by his teachings, methods, and deeds.
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| [Photo by Daniele Buso on Unsplash] |
- (Mark 1:14-15) - "And after John was delivered up, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God and saying: The season is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and have faith in the gospel.”
Jesus was neither a Pharisee nor a scribe, nor
was he a member of the priestly class. He had no direct connection to the
Temple, and he did not have any rabbinical training.
Nevertheless, he entered the synagogues of
Galilee to preach the imminent Kingdom of God. In doing so, he astounded all those
who heard him, “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the
scribes.”
On his own initiative, he called disciples
to leave their homes and livelihoods and follow him. Jesus had authority over
demons and diseases, and he exercised sufficient authority not only
to heal lepers but to remain free of ritual impurities after touching them - (Mark
1:16-45).
To one and all, he announced the “Good News”
of the Kingdom. The time to repent and believe the Gospel had arrived. While the
Gospel of Mark does not define the “Kingdom of God,” the phrase summarizes
the teachings of Jesus in his Gospel account.
JOHN’S ARREST
The ministry of the Messiah began after
the arrest of John by Herod Antipas. According to Like’s account, he was
arrested for criticizing Herod over his unlawful marriage - (Luke 3:19-20).
In Matthew, Jesus departed for
Galilee after John’s arrest. This was not to escape Herod’s jurisdiction - Galilee
was part of his domain. The text states only that he went there to proclaim the
Good News of the Kingdom.
His arrival in Galilee was in fulfillment of the messianic prophecy in the Book of Isaiah, and so, his ministry began on a strong note of fulfillment - (Isaiah 9:1-2, Matthew 4:12-17).
In Mark, the Greek verb rendered “delivered
up” is theologically loaded (paradidōmi – Strong’s #G3860). It
is repeatedly applied to the “handing over” of the faithful for abuse by
religious and governmental authorities. John also was “handed over” for
arrest, though it was per the will of God. The references to Jesus
being “delivered up” also allude to the fate of Isaiah’s ‘Suffering
Servant’:
- “Because his soul was delivered to death, and he was numbered among the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many and was delivered up because of their iniquities” - (Mark 9:31, 10:33, Isaiah 53:12).
By coordinating the start of his mission with
John’s arrest, the Gospel of Mark shows that it did not begin until the ministry
of John had concluded. The preparatory work of the Baptist was finished, so the
work of the “Coming One” commenced. The historical context of John’s arrest
meant that the Gospel began in
adversity.
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| [Storm - Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash] |
TIME OF FULFILLMENT
Upon arriving in Galilee, Jesus announced that
the “appointed time” was fulfilled. This translation represents the
Greek term kairos, meaning, “season, time, the opportune time” (Strong’s
- #G2540). The verb rendered as “fulfilled” is in a perfect tense, signifying
a completed action. His announcement echoes a passage in Daniel:
- (Daniel 12:4-9) – “Close up the words and seal the book until the time of the end… And I heard but could not understand, so I said, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things? Then said he: Go your way, Daniel; for closed up and sealed are the words until the time of the end.
Prominent in Daniel is the theme of God’s
sovereignty and the promise of the future vindication of His saints. According
to Jesus, that time was “at hand.” Hence, the promised kingdom arrived
in the person and ministry of the Nazarene. This is why despite opposition from
Satan and the religious authorities, his proclamation was “Good News” –
(Daniel
2:44-45, Daniel 7:13-14, 7:27).
The term “Kingdom of God” means the
rule and sovereignty of God and something more than geographical jurisdiction.
The Greek word translated as “Kingdom” can mean “dominion,” “realm,” or
“reign.” In short, the dominion or reign of God over all things administered
through His Son – (Daniel 7:13-14).
How did individuals respond to the proclamation
of the Kingdom? First, Jesus called them to “repent.” Second, he summoned
them to “believe” the Good News. Like the Baptist, he proclaimed the
imminence of the “Kingdom,” and its approach necessitated repentance and
faith. Sadly, many in Israel would react to the “Good News” with hostility
as they did to John the Baptist, especially the religious leaders in Jerusalem.
However, although the arrival of the Kingdom
was “Good News” for many, it also signaled impending doom for others. A
person’s destiny then and now depended on how he or she responded to the Gospel.
To enter and inherit the Kingdom required faith and repentance.
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