Scripture

“From the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.”

Observation

Jesus says that John the Baptist was the greatest person that ever lived, but the least person in God’s Kingdom is greater than him. The Kingdom of Heaven is advancing forcefully, but violent people are trying to attack it.

John is the Elijah foretold by the prophets. The people rejected John’s message because he did not engage in eating and drinking. But the same people criticise Jesus, accusing Him of being a glutton and a drunkard.

Application

The Kingdom of Heaven is forcefully advancing, and forceful people are laying hold of it.

There are two ways of interpreting the Greek of this verse .

The translators of the New Living Translation have opted for the negative interpretation that violent people are attacking the Kingdom in its inexorable growth, trying to stop it.

Another interpretation is that violent or forceful people can gain entrance into the Kingdom by being bold.

The truth is that both versions are true. Wherever the gospel has been preached, people have tried to destroy God’s work. This is sometimes through violence and persecution, and at other times through undermining and ridicule. But the Kingdom of God advances to every part of the world.

Opposition to those who believe in Jesus is inevitable. They crucified Jesus, so why would His disciples expect any other response?

The Kingdom of God is growing everywhere. The followers of Jesus are, as people say, on the right side of history.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the knowledge that your Kingdom is advancing, that more and more people are following you. Amen.

Scripture

“Are you the Messiah we have been expecting or should we keep looking for someone else?”

Observation

Jesus sends out His disciples and goes around the towns in that region Himself preaching and teaching.

John the Baptist is in prison. He sends some of his followers to ask if Jesus is the Messiah, or whether they should look for another. Jesus tells him that His ministry is validated by people being healed, the dead are raised, and the Good News is being preached to the poor .

Jesus then asks the crowd what they expected to see in John. He is a prophet but more than a prophet; he is the one who prepared the way for the Messiah.

Application

The question every single person has to answer is the question John asked: “Is Jesus the Messiah, that is the Son of God, or not?”

The answer we give to that question determines our life’s direction and our eternal destiny.

Jesus says that whoever confesses that He is Lord will be saved, but those who deny that He is Lord will be condemned to the fire of hell.

If we acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, then He has the right to command every part of our lives. To say, “Jesus is my lord,” means that I am not Lord, nor is any other power that would seek to control my life. I must yield to Jesus in all things.

Prayer

Jesus, I declare that you are Lord of my life. Thank you for saving me. I pledge myself to follow you and to obey you in all things. Amen.