Christ Proclaims Good News

Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 4:16-21; Mark 8:27, 29, 31

GOLDEN TEXT: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”—John 10:10

THE ministry of John the Baptist did not continue long after the ministry of Jesus began. John had said of Jesus, “He must increase,” and of himself he said, “I must decrease.” (John 3:30) This was a true prophecy, for John was soon imprisoned and later beheaded. Jesus did not “increase” in the sense of attracting multitudes to be His followers while He was in the flesh. Some, however, did believe in Him, and throughout the entire Gospel age the work of selecting His body members, the church, has gone forward. In this sense Jesus has increased during the present age, and throughout the Millennium He will continue to increase, for all things in heaven and earth are to be gathered into and under Him.—Eph. 1:10; Isa. 9:7

Jesus’ ministry was a proclamation of the Kingdom message. He announced that the Kingdom of heaven was at hand. It was not then due time for the Kingdom to be established in power and great glory, but it was “at hand” in the sense that its development had begun. Jesus, the King, was present and the selection and testing of His co-rulers had commenced. The spoken word of the Master was made the more effective by the miracles which He performed as illustrations of future Kingdom blessings.—John 2:11

The Gospel of the Kingdom, as Jesus proclaimed it, included His teachings relative to the manner in which the Kingdom class would be developed as well as the obstacles which would be put in their way by Satan. Note, for example, the lesson of the wheat and the tares, which was in reality a prophecy concerning an effort of Satan to destroy the true Kingdom class by promoting the growth of a counterfeit class illustrated by the tares.

In the synagogue at Nazareth the Master read Isaiah 61:1-3 and indicated that it was Jehovah’s commission to Him. By the power and authority of God’s Spirit He was to proclaim a message which would mean glad tidings to the meek, liberty to the captives, and opening the prison to those who are bound. He was also to proclaim the “acceptable year of the Lord.” Jesus did not quote that part of the prophecy referring to the “day of vengeance” because it was not then the due time for it.

The Gospel of the Kingdom has always been one of cheer and comfort. It has given hope of release from the great prison-house of death. It has also included an invitation to follow in the Master’s footsteps of sacrifice, assuring believing ones that if they present their bodies “a living sacrifice,” they will be acceptable through the merit of Christ. (Rom. 12:1) Thus the acceptable year of the Lord has been proclaimed.

The commission of Isaiah 61:1 applies to the body members of Christ even as it did to Jesus, the Head. At this end of the age, Christ’s body members have the additional responsibility of proclaiming the “day of vengeance,” because we are now living in that day. This, however, does not mean the pronouncing of vengeance, nor, any attempt to execute vengeance. This is not the prerogative of any member of The Christ while still in the flesh. We proclaim the day of vengeance simply by explaining the meaning of the world’s troubles, that the “time of trouble” is a judgment of the Lord to prepare the people for the blessings of Messiah’s Kingdom. Thus it is a message of comfort to those who are made to mourn by the trouble.

Jesus’ ministry attracted a great deal of attention. It was inevitable that it should, for not only was it true that He spake as never man had spoken before, but He backed up the spoken word by miracles. The common people heard Him gladly and the religious leaders of Israel feared that if He were allowed to continue His work unhindered the whole world would go after Him. This was more than their pride and ambition could tolerate, so they plotted to kill the Prince of Life.

While the Master’s immediate disciples seemed convinced that He was the foretold Christ, the public in general held rather vague opinions concerning His identity. They were sure that He was a man of God, and a great prophet, but whether He was John the Baptist raised from the dead, the promised Elijah, the Prophet Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets, they did not know. Opinions varied.

But there was no doubt in the mind of Peter. God had blessed him with a clear vision on this point, and when asked by Jesus, Peter was quick to respond, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Thus did the apostle express a great fundamental truth of the Gospel. It is upon this Rock that the church is built. No one can be a member of the true church unless his life conforms to this truth, for the church constitutes the body of The Christ.

One of the conditions upon which we may be members of this Christ company is that of suffering and dying with Jesus. He told His disciples that He must suffer and die. Peter rebuked the Master for being willing to expose Himself to danger; but later he, too, learned that suffering and death in the ministry of the Gospel is the way to glory, honor, and immortality.

QUESTIONS:

What is the Gospel of the Kingdom?

Did Jesus proclaim the “day of vengeance”?

Why was it necessary for Jesus to suffer and to die?

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