As we journey through our yearlong series through the Sermon on the Mount, we come to a pivotal moment in the ministry of Jesus. Before delivering the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus announces a life-changing message: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near." These words set the tone for everything that follows and offer a profound invitation to experience God's transformative work in our lives.
Good News: Repent!
When we hear the word "repent," it's often accompanied by images of harsh judgment or fiery sermons condemning sin. Yet, Jesus frames repentance as an integral part of the good news. In biblical terms, repentance isn't about shame or condemnation; it's about turning around (from the Hebrew word shuv) or changing your mind (from the Greek word metanoeo). Jesus is inviting us to turn from our beliefs about how the world works and what it means to be human, and embrace a radically new way of life under God's reign.
Why is this such good news? Because the Kingdom of Heaven isn’t about escaping earth; it’s about God’s reign breaking in, and
bringing renewal, justice, and restoration to our world. It's God's revealing himself as King, and bringing heaven to earth. It’s an opportunity to leave behind the broken systems of the world and align ourselves with God's wisdom, love, and peace.
The Kingdom Has Come Near
The Jewish people of Jesus' time longed for the Kingdom of Heaven. For centuries, they endured oppression under empires like Egypt, Babylon, and Rome, holding onto the hope that God would one day restore His rule on earth. When Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of Heaven had come near, it was a declaration that God was stepping into history to make things right.
But this Kingdom wasn't what they—or we—might expect. It wasn't about political power or military conquest. Instead, Jesus embodied a Kingdom that values humility over pride, service over dominance, and mercy over vengeance. To be part of this Kingdom, we must let go of our old ways of thinking and living. It requires a complete transformation—a turning of the heart and mind to align with God's purposes.
A Story in Search of an Ending
Jesus didn’t come to rewrite the story of Israel; He came to complete it and illuminate it. The Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures, builds anticipation for the day when God’s Kingdom would be fully realized. It ends on a cliffhanger, with the final words of 2 Chronicles inviting God's people to “go up” and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. But this sentence is left incomplete. In the original Hebrew, King Cyrus' edict is cut off part way through and reads as "The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up." It's as if to say, "The story isn’t over yet." Who can "go up" and build the temple?
Enter Jesus. As Matthew begins to record Jesus' most famous sermon, makes a point to say, "When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside, and sat down." Matthew paints a picture of Jesus as the fulfillment of this unfinished narrative. Matthew presents Jesus as the One who can build the ultimate temple. But instead of building a physical temple, Jesus Himself becomes the meeting place between God and humanity. His life, teachings, death, and resurrection unveil what it means to live under God's reign.
The Invitation to Turn Around
The call to "repent" isn't just for the crowds who first heard Jesus' message. It's for us today. We are still invited to turn away from the power plays, backstabbing, and egos of the world's kingdoms and toward the peace and purposes of God's Kingdom. It’s an invitation to reevaluate our priorities, our relationships, and our understanding of what it means to follow God.
As we prepare to dive deeper into the Sermon on the Mount, let’s take this call to heart. Let’s examine where we need to turn around, to realign our lives with the values of God's Kingdom. The good news is that the Kingdom of Heaven isn’t far off—it has come near. And because of Jesus, we are invited to be part of it.
Comments