When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9.36
The verse that precedes verse 36 says, “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.“
What is the Good News of the Kingdom? Maybe it would be better to separate the question into two questions. What is the Good News? What is the Kingdom?
We at Sanctuary say Jesus came to teach a new way to live and a new way to love. The Sermon on the Mount gives us a description of how Jesus people live and love. Jesus teaches how Jesus people deal with anger, and worry. How Jesus people handle persecution and betrayal. Jesus even teaches Jesus people how to pray. You know the prayer. Gosh, you might even know the song!
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from the evil one.
When you are praying the prayer and get to that part about the kingdom, what do you pray? What images come to your mind? And what about the part that you pray “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? What do you think about during that part of the prayer?
The prayer puts the Good News in the context of the Kingdom. The Good News ushers in the livable reality of the Kingdom – on earth as it is in heaven.
The Good News of the Kingdom is just as available today to everyday ordinary Christians like you and me. “On earth as it is in heaven” is our reality.
Let’s put Matthew 9.35-36 together.
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Reflection:
- In your own words, define the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
- What would you like to see or experience “on earth as it is in heaven”? What does the “Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,” desire for you to experience on earth as it is in heaven?
- “On earth as it is in heaven.” How might you fully live into this truth today?
Pray through the truth of Matthew 6.9-13
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from the evil one.
