For the World // Kingdom Come
Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom of God. But it was not the kind of Kingdom anyone expected. Or for that matter, it wasn’t what the religious people wanted. They had in mind the kind of Kingdom and the kind of King they wanted, and this wasn’t it. But God loves us and knows exactly what we need, and Jesus embodied all of it. As he announced the Kingdom of God, it angered powerful people and he ended up dying a sacrificial death on the cross. But in three days he fulfilled his own prediction—he came back to life under his own power, and declared death and sin defeated! He proved that his Kingdom HAS come, and it is an everlasting Kingdom that knows no end. YOU are invited to belong. The Kingdom has come for you.
Jesus didn’t come to expand on the Old Testament law, the old way of doing things. He didn’t come to elaborate on what we already had, to clarify misunderstandings, to preach great sermons, or teach how to handle life. The angel told Mary she would give birth to a son whose kingdom would know no end. It was clear. This was something totally new. The old system was for the Jews—the new Kingdom was for the whole world. It was shocking, but Jesus was insistent—everyone is welcome!
Message Notes
Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you…so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.
Luke 1:1-3…you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High…he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!
Luke 1:31-33Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Luke 3:15-16Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”
Luke 4:5-7
Jesus wasn’t coming to make a deal for the kingdoms of this world.
Jesus was bringing an upside-down kingdom.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
He wasn’t trying to improve on the old or expand on the old.
He came to make everything new.
A new covenant—sealed with the blood of the King who died for his subjects.
A new commandment—love, not law.
A new movement—for the whole world, not just a few.
And that’s why Palm Sunday started the week that Jesus died.
They didn’t understand.
As he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace.”
Luke 19:41-42
The way to peace is the coming of the new King.
Bottom Line
Jesus came to make everything new, the Kingdom of God is for the whole world.
Action Steps
Evaluate where you are—are you old Kingdom or new Kingdom?
Do you believe that God’s grace is for the whole world, even the ones you have a hard time accepting? Do your actions support what you say? Spend some time with Jesus on that subject this week.