The Kingdom Of God In The Days Of The Lord On Earth

by Chamings, A. R. G. | Category: The Kingdom Of God | May 1957

"Thy Kingdom come." So the Lord taught His disciples to pray, when one of them, having observed Him praying, besought Him, "Teach us to pray" (Luke 11. 1-8). Luke, in both the Gospel and the Acts, invariably writes of the Kingdom of GOD, and in this study of the subject, it has seemed advisable to restrict references to the Kingdom (during the Lord's early life), almost exclusively to Luke's gospel (Revised Version), so that like shall be compared with like.

We note therefore that this prayer, like that of another occasion recorded in Matthew 6. 9-13, is to be addressed to "Father" by those who are "disciples," whose desire is the coming of "Thy Kingdom " - the Kingdom of God. We ask, "Who was the King, who the subjects and where was the Kingdom for which prayer was to be made?"

Already the point has been reached in the Lord's ministry on earth, where, having come unto His own people, they had "received Him not" (John 1.11). Hut this did not alter the fact that the individual heart, which had responded to His invitation "Come unto Me," could pray "Thy Kingdom come," and, with like-minded submissive spirits, could add, "Give us day by day our daily bread."

It is a rewarding study to trace in the Gospels firstly the coming of the King, secondly the individual and collective recognition of His presence, and thirdly those laws of the Kingdom which bound its subjects together in life and action.

From the declaration of the angel to Mary (Luke 1.26-38) to the superscription written above His Cross by Pontius Pilate, "this Jesus" was marked out as God's King, the Lord's Anointed. Nathaniel (John 1. 46-49), echoing the thoughts of others, had queried, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? "little knowing, as he asked the question, that, some 30 years before, the angelic messenger had announced in Bethlehem to the shepherds (Luke 2.11), "There is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is CHRIST THE LORD," and that this same Person now came from Nazareth.

The Christ, the Messiah of Israel, had come, and, despite such pronouncement and prophetic fulfilment, men knew not the time of their visitation (Luke 19.44). So unostentatious was the manner of His presentation to His people that, it would seem, even John the baptizer, cousin of the Lord after the flesh, "knew Him not" until that day when he beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven and abiding on Him (John 1.31-84). And henceforth the words of the Father Himself were to re-assure the faltering disciples, "Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased " (Mark 1.11).

It was the admission of the fact that He was "Christ a King" (Luke 23.2) which was so execrable to the Jews at His Crucifixion. It was this very realization and confession which marked out Peter as the one favoured of the Father, when to the Lord he declared, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God " (Matthew 16. 16-20). This profound and fundamental recognition goes far beyond all other appreciations of the Blessed One. Here, to mortal man, was revealed a SAVIOUR, which is CHRIST THE LQRD, and no less an acknowledgment is required today of him, for whom and to whom God looks, who is "poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at My Word " (Isaiah 66.2).

Was it possible that from among the fallen sons and daughters of Adam such could and may be found who would find a place in the Kingdom of God? We might well question that this could ever be, were it not for the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus, who though rich, yet for our sakes became poor that we "through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8.9). The Gospels tell us of those whose hearts were so touched by this fact that they entered the Kingdom owning the authority of One who "emptied Himself." And blessed above all women was Mary, the mother of Jesus, and privileged among men was Simon called Peter. It is not without significance that these two are the first named man and woman of the divine record, after the Lord's ascension into heaven (Acts 1. 13, 14).

Mary, first to learn the imminence of the coming Saviour and King, then at the foot of the Cross of the thorn-crowned One, is a woman to emulate. Great though her exaltation was to be ("the Mother of my Lord," as said Elizabeth) yet, if she rejoices, it is in the fact that He to whom she should give birth is "God my Saviour," whom henceforth she will serve. And what He said and did she kept in her heart, quietly following Him with the other women, ministering to Him, and, as we last read of her, finding a place in that community of subject people in the Church of God in Jerusalem.

How different was Peter! Impulsive and strong-willed, he is withal a man of genuine humility of spirit. At times he goes off "fishing" though in his inmost being he says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6.68). And this was true in varying measure of those disciples who had left all to follow Jesus.

Others, too, there were, to whom the Person of the Lord was altogether lovely." Simeon had lived only for the day when he should receive into his arms the body of the infant Jesus, and, having seen "the Lord's Christ," is now content to depart in peace, saying, "for mine eyes have seen Thy Salvation... the Glory of Thy people Israel" (Luke 2. 25-82).

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, at first disciples secretly, became true subjects of the Kingdom as they grew in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and they reached the acme of their experience when they recognized and acknowledged their King. They, too, receive Him into their arms. But it is theirs to handle His precious body, dead and crowned with thorns, and, "looking for the Kingdom of God" (Luke 23.51; John 19.88-42), they, too, bow their hearts to Him, their Saviour and Lord.

Some there were, alas! who, though they loved the Lord Jesus, failed to enter the Kingdom. Circumstances, the lust of other things and the hindrance of friends and possessions, so influenced them that they failed to submit to His claims as "absolute Master and Proprietor." They went back, they walked no more with Him, they entered not in, for He asked 6f them nothing less than that they should leave all and follow Him. And to those who followed Him He said, "Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12.82).

We see, therefore, that, whilst individual hearts bow to Him, the longing of the King is to have a subject people, and precious it is to trace in Luke's Gospel the fulfilment of His desire in this little flock. Before the first of them, Peter, leaves all and follows Him (Luke 5.10, 11) the King is already preaching the good tidings of the Kingdom of God (Luke 4.43). Presently the twelve are chosen, whom also He named apostles, upon whom He lifted up His eyes

and said, "Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the Kingdom of God" (Luke 6.18, 20).

Henceforth they, and certain women, are to accompany Him as He proclaims to others the good news and to them it is given, "to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God" (Luke 8.1, 2, 10). Presently He entrusts to them the great message, sending them forth to preach the Kingdom of God, and in due course, on their return, hears their report (Luke 9.1, 2, 10).

At last comes the day of the revelation of the King in His glory. Peter, who has declared Him to be "The Christ of God," is to be among those greatly privileged to "see the Kingdom of God," and in the Mount of Transfiguration "when they were fully awake they saw His glory" (Luke 9.27, 32).

The number of the King's subjects increases and soon the Lord is able to appoint seventy others, whom He sends forth two by two. They also bring to every city and place the message that, "the Kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." They also return with joy, telling Him that "even the demons are subject unto us in Thy Name" (Luke 10. 1, 9, 17).

"In that same hour" the Lord, also rejoicing, answered that He had "beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven." The devil who had sought to usurp the throne of God, now finds in the humble followers of Jesus of Nazareth those to whom authority is given "over all the power of the enemy." "And," Luke writes, "turning to the disciples, He said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see ... and to hear the things which ye hear" (Luke 10. 18-24).

He, who, alone, had stood up in the synagogue of Nazareth and poured out "words of grace," the like of which had never been heard on earth before; who continued preaching "the good tidings of the Kingdom of God to the other cities also," now has such a following that "both the Pharisees and scribes murmured" (Luke 4.16, 43 and 15.2). He reminds them that "the law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the Kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it." The Kingdom of God was to be taken away from them and given to "the little flock "-" a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Matthew 21.48).

The Laws of the Kingdom may briefly be stated in the Lord's own words (which immediately follow Peter's attestation in Luke 9.20),

"If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and

take up his cross daily, and follow Me " (Luke 9.23).

To follow may be to follow afar off, to sit warming one's self (Mark 14.54), to curry favour with the world-His enemies. But He will have no divided allegiance. He who would acknowledge His Kingship must renounce all other, for "no servant can serve two masters"(Luke 16.13).

These are laws of the Kingdom, amplified in the Faith, and none of them may be ignored.

How precious, the first and oft-reiterated command, to that first-named follower, Peter, with all his failings, "Fear not (Luke 5. 10). Is it not fear, and specially the fear of man, which draws us away from following after Him and hinders us from obeying His commandments-which are not grievous? (1 John 5.3). "Love one another," He says, "abide in Me," "keep My word," "seek ye the kingdom of God and His righteousness "-and then follows His precious promise, "These things shall be added unto you" (Luke 12.31).

What laws, and what a kingdom!

We have considered the King, the subjects of the Kingdom and the laws during those few precious years of the incarnation of the Son of God. Well-nigh incredible it has seemed to us, that "the Creator and Upholder of all things" should have chosen so strange and small a band of followers to be with Him in His earthly sojournings. And yet of these same He could say in prayer to His Father, "They have kept Thy word," ... "they are not of the world," ... "and these knew that Thou didst send Me." And for us, so far removed from that day, He also prayed-" for them that believe on Me through their word " (John 17.6, 14, 20, 25) "Ye are they which have continued with Me," said He, "and I appoint unto you a kingdom" (Luke 22.28, 29). And of the Kingdom he spoke, during the period of forty days after His resurrection when

"He also shewed Himself alive after His passion by many proofs" (Acts 1. 3).

Shall we not imitate these who "through faith and patience inherit the promises" ? May it be granted unto us that we also "show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end" (Hebrews 6.11, 12), and may our daily prayer be, "Thy Kingdom come"!

"Take, Lord, Thy rightful place within,

And there supremely reign;

That never more oppressing sin

Dominion may obtain.

Rule now 'midst subjeet hearts, 0 Lord,

That so this sterile earth

May one green spot for Thee afford

In all its scene of dearth."

Chamings, A. R. G. | May 1957
The Kingdom Of God