Key Episode Scripture: Matthew 3-4 and Luke 3-4
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17 ESVUK)
The King is coming. The King is here. The King is coming again.
Anticipation was ripe for the one who would fulfil all that was promised. All that was promised for Israel. All that was promised for humanity. Under the subjection of the Romans and having endured centuries of affliction and opposition, the people of Judea were keen to see if the promised Messiah would emerge from the lineage of David to take the throne as the King of the Jews to inaugurate a new season of liberation from the foreign oppressors and a golden age of God’s covenant people.
Humanity was under the siege of sin, and as empire after empire rose and fell, so came each age of the promise of something better, only to deliver something worse. The earth groaned for the revelation of the Son of God, who would come to take away the sins of the earth.
More than Noah and the clean slate initiative, Moses and the covenant renewed, Caleb and Joshua and the scouts’ report, David anointed and overcoming intimidation, Elijaha at man’s end and Jonah delivering the Doomsday message, Jesus fulfilled all that was promised about a Saviour, faithful covenant-keeper, good news giver, prophet, and King. He personified all that God looked for in a man – in a human. To fulfil everything, the Father knew He could trust the Son. He could trust the Son because He knew the agreement from eternity past. What was to be achieved in the ministry of Jesus Christ would have seismic consequences for God’s chosen people and for all people.
We can appreciate that in hindsight, but the report of His account in service to God involves episodes where efforts were made to stop Him from fulfilling His mission. From the beginning, the efforts were clear to do everything possible to end things even before they began. That which was designed to thwart Him prepared Him for the opposition and resistance He would face on His journey to Calvary and the empty tomb.
We are free to worship and serve God in the right relationship because Jesus made access possible. He did so by faithfully carrying out the mission—carrying on the message about the kingdom’s primacy and understanding who He is and why He does what He does – carrying on the ministry that demonstrated the rule of God in action. He carried on the membership drive by inviting people to become Kingdom apprentices and learning about the mission, message, and ministry.
The King who was promised arrived. The King who arrived served and overcame efforts to stop Him. The King who overcame has left a message, ministry, and mission for those who become members of His family to carry on. As we see how He was prepared for the mission, we can gain insight into its nature, the King’s character, and the Kingdom’s value. We appreciate this all the more today, knowing that the King will return and look for those who are about His business for His glory.
Next, we will outline the two perspectives on the King and His Mission Prep.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
Life With CD 
Kingdom apprentices – and everyone, but everyone is invited. How many will accept an invitation like that? How many will run with it as if it’s the best thing they could be doing in the whole wide world? Sadly, not so many, perhaps – but what an opportunity! I’m all agog for the next post…
Ahhhh this is it, dear Chris. This is it. Kingdom Apprentices lifted straight from a great blog post I read recently by a fella you might have heard from. One, Chris Jefferies! Thanks again for the inspiration and taking the time to leave a message over here. We gonna keep on doing what we doing in the knowledge that it will spark more outstanding Kingdom Apprenticeships for the glory of the King.