26. The gospel is about –

1. A King: The gospel is not about a philosophy (a belief that acts as a guiding principle for behaviour) or a myth (a widely held but false belief or idea) or a legend (traditional story regarded as historical but not authenticated) but about an authentic person in history called Jesus Christ. ‘The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.’ – (Mark 1:1) At his birth, the Magi from the east came in search of him, asking, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?” – (Matthew 1:2) Years later, when the Jews arrested him and brought him before Pilate, he was asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” … Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a King …” – (John 18:33-37) ‘Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.” But they shouted, “Crucify him! … We have no king but Caesar.” – (Vs 14-16) ‘Pilate had a notice fastened to the cross. It read: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews’ – (John 19:19-21), which was indeed his true identity!

2. His Kingdom: For many the gospel ends with Jesus and salvation from sin, not realising that he also came to establish his kingdom on earth, for if he is a King, he should be having a kingdom as well! Speaking of his kingdom, Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world … But my kingdom is from another place.” – (John 18:36) The Prophet Daniel had predicted that in the last days, “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed … It will crush all other kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” – (Daniel 2:44) God has set on earth a kingdom that we can flee to and find refuge because ‘this world in its present form is passing away’. – (1 Corinthians 7:31) That’s why Jesus said that ‘this gospel of the kingdom be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.’ – (Matthew 24:14)

3. The Kingdom’s power: The goodnews is also that the Kingdom which God has set up is so powerful that the ‘gates of Hades will not overcome it’. – (Matthew 16:18) ‘From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it.’ – (Matthew 11:12) That’s why he instructed his disciples to ‘stay in the city until they have been clothed with power from on high’ – (Luke 24:49) because it takes power to forcefully advance the kingdom! Talking alone doesn’t advance the kingdom because ‘the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power’ – (1 Corinthians 4:20), by which Paul meant the demonstration of the power of the Spirit. So he said : “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.’ – (2:4) Having understood the power in the gospel, Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” – (Romans 1:16)

The Gospel is about a King called Jesus, and his Kingdom and the incomparable, all surpassing and eternal power of the Holy Spirit who is forcefully advancing the kingdom of heaven on earth. Amen.