Opposition & Proclamation
Jesus began to proclaim the Kingdom of God following the arrest of John the Baptist, an incident that foreshadowed the opposition he would face throughout his Messianic mission, resistance that would culminate in his own arrest, trial, and execution in Jerusalem. His ministry commenced in the villages of Galilee. Unlike the prophets of Ancient Israel, his work did NOT begin in or concentrate on the city of Jerusalem, though it certainly ended there - (Matthew 4:13).
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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.
- (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. Nonetheless, he entered synagogues
in 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).
JOHN’S ARREST
To one and all, he announced the “Good News”
of the Kingdom. The time to repent and believe the Gospel had arrived. While Mark
does not define the “Kingdom of God,” the phrase summarizes the
teachings of Jesus in his Gospel account.
The ministry of the Messiah began after
the arrest of John by Herod Antipas. According to Like’s gospel, he was
arrested for criticizing Herod over his unlawful marriage - (Luke 3:19-20).
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus departed
for Galilee after John’s arrest. This was not to escape Herod’s jurisdiction since
Galilee was part of his domain. The text states only that he went there to
proclaim the Gospel - (Matthew 4:12-17).
Matthew points to the arrival of Jesus in Galilee as the fulfillment
of the messianic passage found in the Book of Isaiah, and so, his
ministry began on a strong note of fulfillment - (Isaiah 9:1-2).
In Mark, the Greek verb rendered “delivered
up” is theologically loaded (paradidōmi – Strong’s #G3860). Mark
repeatedly applies it to the “handing over” of the faithful for abuse by
religious and governmental authorities.
The Baptist also was “handed over” for
arrest although this was in accordance with the plan 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, Mark indicates that his ministry did not begin until the ministry
of John terminated. The preparatory work of the Baptist was finished, so the
work of the “Coming One” now commenced.
The historical context of John’s arrest
means that the Gospel began in
adversity. John withdrew to the wilderness to administer a baptism
of repentance. In contrast, Jesus began his mission by traveling to the
populous regions in Galilee where he proclaimed the “Good News” to all
who would hear.
TIME OF FULFILLMENT
Upon arriving in Galilee, Jesus announced that
the “appointed time” was fulfilled. This represents the Greek
term kairos or “season, time, the opportune time” (Strong’s - #G2540).
And the verb rendered “fulfilled” is in a perfect verb 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 now “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 and is “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 rendered “Kingdom” can be translated as “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.
But, although the arrival of the Kingdom is
“Good News” for many, it also signaled impending doom for others. A
person’s destiny depends on how he responds to the Gospel. To enter the kingdom
requires faith and repentance.
“Repentance” is a turning away from
something, while “belief” is a turning toward something else – faith in the
Gospel and the one who inaugurates, pronounces, and establishes it is the
only proper response to the message of the Nazarene.
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