The Kingdom Of Heaven

Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “ The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:  The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4: 12- 17, NKJV.

Heavenly Parent, please speak to our hearts as we enter the study of Your Word today. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

The first phrase of our Scripture today, does not seem to have much in common with the last statement, does it? At the very least, not at first glance. We usually equate the kingdom of heaven with perfection. Perfect peace! Perfect people! Perfect place! Yet Jesus just hears that John is in prison, and He begins to preach, that the “kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Does one thing have anything to do with the other?

In one of our devotionals a few days ago, we emphasized the fact that, “God’s ways are not our ways.” So therefore, we may not always understand the way God does things. First of all, the fact that our Scripture says “when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,” does it mean that Jesus was not aware of what was going on in John’s life? I do not think so.

Do you remember when Lazarus was sick and his sisters Mary and Martha sent to tell Jesus,  ” ‘ “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” ‘ ” (John 11: 3b), what Jesus did? Observe:  “when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was” (6). They had a crisis, Jesus did not. He knew that, things are not always the way they seem. He could say with authority, He could say with certainty, ” ‘ “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” (11b). He knew that ” ‘ “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (4b)! The secret is in knowing what is His will!

Yes friends, what might look like the end, to you and me, might very well be a glorious beginning in the eyes of Him who is the “Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 1: 8a). What might seem to be a closed door, might just be the open door that you were hoping for, in the hands of Him who said, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it” (3: 8a).

So do not be alarmed at His Words, learn His will. Then you will understand how Jesus could preach that the “kingdom of heaven” was “at hand” – even when the prison gates, were closing in on His cousin, and would eventually lead to his death!

We will say more tomorrow.

NOTE:  My regrets for the absence of our devotionals during the past three days.