Series Introduction:
For the Easter season, this Daily Bible series for the Jesus. All About Life campaign focuses on the eternal truth that Jesus has come to bring us life, and life in all its fullness. This special 17-day series has been commissioned with a different author for each day, from all around Australia and with roles spanning leadership in Christian organisations and churches, authors, teachers and speakers. As you read, reflect and pray, be reminded of the truth, light and life Jesus brings, especially in the events leading up to his death and glorious resurrection.
Reflection from Grant Thomson:
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‘After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”’ Mark 1:14-15, The Message
There were 400 years between the prophet Malachi and Jesus appearing. That’s 400 years of silence, with no prophetic voice and no sense of God speaking something new or fresh, just the people of God relying on what was done in the past.
Then Jesus came and begins to preach the message of the Kingdom of God, the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God. Many at the time were looking back to the past, and they were looking back with a frame of reference to what God might have done in the past.
They were expecting that incoming kingdom would look like a military kingdom or a political kingdom with power and with influence and with wealth. But Jesus preached a different kind of kingdom.
Jesus was talking about a kingdom of salvation, a kingdom of the Spirit of God, a kingdom of God, redeeming and saving people from every nation, tribe and tongue. A kingdom where Jesus is Lord, a kingdom that is ushering in the new thing that God is doing, not just here, but ultimately for eternity.
And at Easter, our message is this: Jesus is all about life, and anybody – if they repent and simply believe – can enter into the Kingdom of God.
Prayer: Right here right now, Lord, in Jesus’ name, I pray that people would hear this message and understand that they simply need to repent and believe to enter into your Kingdom. Thank you, God, for all that I have in you and for all that is contained in the kingdom. Help me – and all other people who hear this message – understand that Jesus, you are all about life and the Kingdom of God is here.
Author bio: Grant is the CEO of Bible Society Australia, a movement committed to opening the Bible to all people everywhere by all means possible. The mission is outworked through several distinct brands: Bible Society, Koorong, Eternity, Centre for Public Christianity and Acorn Publishing.