January 26, 2020                                                                  Text:  Matthew 4:12-25

Dear Friends in Christ,

            What’s in a kingdom?  That is a question we are going to answer today.  Christians may have a little different distinction on what a kingdom is, especially if they know their Bible, but the word kingdom does not always bring forth good thoughts.

            Go back to the Dark Ages, when kings ruled many kingdoms.  The common man and woman had no voice in their government and many times no freedom.  They lived at the whim of their rulers.  It was like living in a dictatorship.  Wouldn’t that be bad news?

            For us, with Jesus as our King, and living in the kingdom of heaven that can’t really be bad news, can it?  This morning, let’s consider . . .

“WHAT’S IN A KINGDOM?”

            When Jesus begins preaching and says in our text, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” this is good news.  The Jews had a hard time with His words because they were living under an awful kingdom led by King Herod.  Herod had just put John the Baptist in prison and soon would have his head.

            This is typical of many kingdoms.  Power corrupts.  Kings take advantage of their subjects.  Kings can use and abuse and even execute their victims just to derive some sick pleasure.

            On top of that, even in the best of circumstances, kings can restrict the freedom of their people.  Israel’s kings would levy taxes and make laws when they felt like it.  A king’s word is final.  There may be advisors but that is all they are.  People must be willing to do what the king asks.  Absolute loyalty is required.

            We rebel against that.  We all want to be our own kings.  We all have our little fiefdoms, places and people we want to control.  We don’t even want the best King – God Himself – to rule over us.  His royal law describes life at its happiest and most harmonious, but we would rather go our sinful way and latch on to what looks good and what feels good.  We want control of our destiny.  We live in a democracy politically and we want that in our spiritual lives.

            What’s In A Kingdom?  In the kingdom of heaven something that is very, very good.  The kingdom of heaven is set apart in every way from the bad kingdoms.  Jesus didn’t reign for the glory or pleasure.  He didn’t come to sit on a cushy throne in Jerusalem or Rome.  He came to the backwaters of Galilee.

            Jesus came to bring light to those in darkness.  During the European Dark Ages, those people were literally in the dark with the feudal system.  Everyone was serving for the benefit of a higher lord.  At the top of the pyramid was the king.  Unlike those kings, Jesus came that the lowest of people, like those in Galilee, might see God in His true light, as a loving Father.

            Jesus does call us to service, like he did the disciples in our text, but serving Him is an honor that leads to eternal glory.  Behind the “Follow me” was Gospel, Good News, because Christ was saying, “I have chosen you to be with me, to be mine.”  Jesus uses His almighty, kingly power not to subdue us, but to conquer our enemies – diseases, demons, and death.

            Isn’t this better than being our own kings?  The kingdom of heaven is ruled by grace – God gives that which we don’t deserve.  Let’s be honest, we stink at being our own kings.  Our self-rule just leads to empty lives of broken relationships, climbing and not reaching, exacerbating our problems.  We reach a dead end when we control our own eternity.  Thankfully we don’t need to.  Jesus fulfilled the law for us His followers and He purchased for us real freedom by His death on the cross.

            What’s In A Kingdom?  A lot more than you thought.  But what a blessing this kingdom is.  This kingdom, we now live in, is truly heaven!

                                                                                                            Amen.