The Kingdom (Reign) of God

"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
                                                                                     --Mark 1:14-15

After his baptism and forty days of testing and clarification in the wilderness, Jesus returns to his home region of Galilee to begin his ministry among the people.  It is a vulnerable time:  John the Baptist, who had immersed not only Jesus but countless others in the baptismal water of the Jordan, has been arrested by King Herod for sedition.

Jesus is returning to familiar territory, but he  comes back different than he was before he left.  He carries the new names from God:  Son; Beloved; God's Pleasure.  The forty days in the wilderness have clarified his priorities in life, as well as his own deepening senses of identity and purpose.  He has made a number of clear choices.

Now, as he enters Galilee, his announcement to God's people is one of change.  The time is ripe, Jesus says; the divine cup is overflowing, and God is very, very near!  The time to open up to the transforming power of God's love is now.

The reference to time being "fulfilled" is Kairos.  Kairos means "the right time," a "critical and decisive time," where God is acting--right now--in human history.  God's presence becomes visible and immediate in the person and ministry of Jesus.

Jesus announces the kingdom of God.  The biblical word, basileia, can be better translated as "reign" or "realm;" "dominion" or "authority."  What does it mean for us to live right where we are, but under God's authority,  and within the realm of God's love?  We might think of the Realm of God as:
--the Reign of Peace
--heaven come to earth
--living in God's presence
--"God-with-us."

The Gospel of Matthew calls this "the kingdom of the heavens," with the "heaven of God" coming to earth.  Jesus teaches us to pray that, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

The Gospel of John speaks of the kingdom of God as something we can "see" and "enter into" when we share the life of Jesus (see John Chapter 3!).

The image above is of Jesus' Communion Table--The Shared Table--where a place has been set for all of us, and where life together in its fullness is celebrated.

The Circle of people in the picture below is from the Tri-Faith Initiative in Omaha, Nebraska.  A United Church of Christ congregation, Countryside Community Church, has built its sanctuary on a common campus with a synagogue, Temple Israel, and a mosque, The American Muslim Institute.  Each congregation practices its particular faith with great intention, while treating and living with each other as neighbors.  A sign of the kingdom of God among us, perhaps?


Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 29, 2020 at 1:21 PM

    Who would have thought that Omaha, Nebraska would be so open minded? Great job Omaha! Shame on me for being close minded about who live there.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Deb LiebenowJanuary 31, 2020 at 5:09 AM

    Your never too old or too young to learn more about God's Kingdom. Sharing our love of God and being kind to one another keeps the Kingdom of God alive and within our hearts. Thank you Scott, your class rocks!

    ReplyDelete

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