BibleProject | What Gives You Hope?Sample

Hope in the Good King

Gospel means “good news,” and in the ancient world it’s always connected to the announcement of a new king. The Gospel of God’s Kingdom, then, is the good news that God’s promised king is here; his Kingdom is arriving. Why does this matter, though? Isn’t the Gospel about Jesus dying for sins and then resurrecting?

In the New Testament, notice how Jesus is preaching his Gospel long before his crucifixion or resurrection. He’s not focusing on that in his early ministry. Instead, he’s saying that God’s ancient promise to send a good king and set up his own kingdom on Earth is happening. It’s becoming real! The King (Jesus himself) has arrived—good news!

Notice how this Kingdom of God begins with acts of healing and generous provision. He’s founding an amazing new world on the basis of loving care for humanity, not on the basis of military power. Our world’s normal kingdoms usually find strength in victorious violence, but God’s divine-human Kingdom begins and expands only with the infinite power of love.

That’s especially good news today if you’re a human being experiencing the pain caused by average rulers and so-called authorities. Those listening to Jesus’ Gospel announcement soon learn that he himself is now the true ruler over all creation, the only real authority over any of us. We have hope in God himself as King Jesus, the incorruptible one who rules with love and uses his power not to coerce or destroy people but to heal each of us and set us free.