Have you ever wondered if Jesus knew how his life would unfold once he started sharing the gospel? From the start people’s ideas of how the Messiah would fulfill scripture was twisted. The Jewish people, God’s chosen people, believed the promised Messiah would come to save them from the oppression of Earthly kings in a military style. They assumed their ideas and expectations of how a kingdom should be run would transfer to God’s kingdom on Earth.
Hoever, Jesus turns the whole earthly concept of kingdom upside down! He reveals God’s kingdom plan is full of love, grace, and mercy. God’s kingdom provides every person with an equal opportunity to serve Him and to live in His kingdom on Earth and into eternity, not just those of Jewish blood.
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. Deuteronomy 10:17 NIV
Instead of living in a castle with an entitled life, Jesus explains God’s blessings for the citizens of God’s kingdom in his Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5:3-12 MSG
3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.
10 “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.
11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
I am so grateful Jesus chose to bring the kingdom of God down to this earth. Jesus took the time to explain how it looks. He showed us how to live in God’s principles and experience the abundance of His love, grace, forgiveness, and healing. Jesus lived and died so we could start living in God’s kingdom from the time we ask Jesus to reign in our hearts and lives into eternity.
Jesus was tortured, and yet, he chose to die for you and me because he believed we were worth dying for. It is hard to fathom how the Lord of the Universe would love us so much but he does. His love did not end at his death. Jesus shows us in his resurrection we can never be defeated by death.
As we look at the loving sacrifice of Jesus this Easter, we must also realize there could be no resurrection without his sacrifice. This same principle is true for those who choose to follow Jesus. We must lay our sinful flesh thoughts, words, desires, and actions at the scarred feet of Jesus. When we partner with Jesus, we can live in his abundance in his kingdom on earth. We can live knowing that when our imperfect bodies die, we will be resurrected in a new perfect body with him in heaven for eternity. Blessed be the name of Jesus! Live in his promise and abundance!
If you want to know more about Jesus, study God’s word or contact me.
