Fully Devoted: JesusSample

Announcement, Invitation, and Ethic

Last week we noted that Jesus’ first sermon begins with a call to repentance. But what was the reason He attached to that invitation? 

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15 NIV

The Kingdom of God has come near. Jesus’ mission—His ministry—was to introduce a different kind of kingdom than anything the world had ever seen or would expect. And the manifesto of this upside-down and backwards kingdom is called, by most, the Sermon on the Mount. In this message, Jesus describes who God is, who we’re meant to be, and the difference we’re called to make. 

But what even is the Kingdom of Heaven? Well, a kingdom is simply a people ruled by a king. And heaven is not a magical land up in the sky—it’s the realm where God rules. So the Kingdom of Heaven is the people of God living under the rule of God. Simple enough. But again, this kingdom is built differently. 

Kingdoms of this world are usually born out of military conquest and announced by a conquering king. The Kingdom of Heaven was announced by a humble, Jewish rabbi who was born under the shadow of the Roman Empire. 

The kingdoms of this world value the significant, the superior, and the self-actualized. But the Kingdom of Heaven prioritizes the last, the least, and the lost. 

The kingdoms of this world operate on a self-centered axis, while the Kingdom of Heaven is others-focused. Where one seeks revenge and retaliation, the other is marked by an enemy-loving, extra-mile-walking kind of love. 

This new kingdom is marked by a new command:

“Love one another. As I [Jesus] have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 NIV

What would it look like to live in this kingdom? To hear the announcement, accept the invitation, and live by its ethic? Well, the rest of the gospel accounts are essentially a preview of exactly that. Jesus continues to announce the present reality of heaven and invites people to participate in this very different kingdom, and everyone around Him grapples with those ramifications. 

Jesus, being God, sees and foresees the many variations of responses to this kingdom He’s announcing. And He actually tells a story about them. Three of the Gospel accounts—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—record Jesus’ presentation of this particular metaphor. And there’s a pretty significant reason why.

A large crowd gathers around Jesus and He sets up a scene in their minds by talking about a farmer who goes out to sow his seed. Some seeds fall on the path, some on rocky ground, some among the thorns, and some on good soil. Each of these different kinds of terrain produces a different result. The seed on the path is quickly eaten by birds. The seed among the rocks can’t grow any roots, so the young plants wither and die. Any seed that falls and grows up among the thorns is eventually choked out. And lastly, the seed that actually lands on good soil produces a significant harvest. 

All right, cool. Seeds and plants and crops. What does this have to do with the Kingdom of God? The disciples were wondering the same thing. Jesus explains it this way:

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke 8:11-15 NIV

The rule and reign of God taking root in history is crazy good news, but what Jesus is showing us is that not everyone embraces it. Some hear the announcement of the Kingdom and it goes in one ear and out the other. Some hear the announcement and accept the invitation, but when the tension of its countercultural ethic becomes too much, they give up. Others hear the announcement, but, before accepting the invitation, anxiety or influence intoxicates their hearts and leads them a different way. But there are some who hear the announcement, accept the invitation, and embrace the ethic—even when it’s hard.    

Aside from brilliantly describing the human condition, Jesus’ parable begs two questions of every listener: Will we receive the truth He offers? And if so, how will we respond? Will we be a people who hear the announcement, accept the invitation, and embrace the ethic of God’s Kingdom? Will we grapple with all the ramifications of Jesus’ mission to bring heaven to earth? Or will the seeds of the Kingdom remain dormant inside of us? 

Journaling Questions

• What verse or passage stands out to you the most from today’s reading? Write it in your journal.
• In your own words, explain the Kingdom of God. 
• What are some of the biggest differences you see now between God’s Kingdom and the kingdoms of the world?