Creator, Father, King #164

Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

PEOPLE FLOCKED INTO THE wilderness in droves.

By the dozens, hundreds, perhaps even the thousands, they left their homes all over the Judean countryside and even Jerusalem to see him—the extraordinary man in the scratchy camel-hair outfit.

“Let’s go! He’s preaching and baptizing at the Jordan River again! Rumor has it he even eats locusts dipped in honey!”

His name was John, son of Zechariah, the priest. John proclaimed God’s message fearlessly, like no one they had ever heard before. God hadn’t spoken through a prophet since the days of Malachi, more than four hundred years earlier. Clearly God was speaking through John. But something else was on people’s minds: Could this be the long-awaited Mashiach—God’s promised Messiah from the Davidic kingly line?

No. John admitted as much. But he was the forerunner to the Messiah, announcing his arrival (Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 40:3).

“Repent of your sins and turn to God,” John declared, “for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (today’s verse).

What’s It Mean?

John the Baptist’s words sparked much anticipation and confusion among his original audience. At that time, the Jews had been living under foreign rule for more than six hundred years. They were certainly ready for the Kingdom of Heaven to break through in the form of a political/military messiah who would crush their Roman overlords and restore the nation of Israel.

But the Kingdom of Heaven has nothing to do with politics, armies, or earthly matters at all. That’s why John said, “Repent of your sins and turn to God”—and not “Take up your swords and spears”—“for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a physical kingdom, but a spiritual one. The Kingdom of Heaven—far greater than any earthly domain—is a matter of the Holy Spirit’s work as he regenerates sinful human hearts to saving faith. To be part of the Kingdom of Heaven, you must repent of your sins and turn to God by trusting in the Savior he provided—his Son, Jesus Christ.

As John was ministering in the wilderness one day, he saw Jesus coming toward him. “Look!” he said. “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). God’s Son, the true Messiah, gives us access to the Kingdom of Heaven!

Now What?

Jesus referenced the “Kingdom of Heaven” many times in many different contexts. Read through the Gospel of Matthew to find them!

Did You Know?

John the Baptist was eventually arrested and beheaded by King Herod (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29).