"Let Your Kingdom Come"

If Jehovah God himself directed you to do something, how would you respond?No matter what he asked, would you be eager to heed his direction?  Surely you would!

Sometime after the Pentecost of 32 C.E., three of Jesus' disciples -Peter, James, and John-had just such an experience.  (Read Matthew 17:1-5.) Gathered with their Master on "a lofty mountain,"  They saw in a vision a preview of Jesus as a glorious  heavenly King.  The vision seems so real that Peter tried to take part in it.  While Peter was speaking, a cloud formed over them.  Then Peter and his associates plainly heard what only a handful of humans have ever been privileged  to hear-Jehovah's own voice.   After affirming that Jesus was his Son, Jehovah said pointedly: "Listen to him."  The apostles heeded that divine direction. They listened to what Jesus taught, and they urged others to do the same. - Acts 3:19.

Those words -"Listen to him"-were recorded in the Bible for our benefit. ( Romans 15:4) Why?  Because Jesus is Jehovah's spokesman and every time Jesus opens his mouth to teach, he shared what this Father wanted us to know.  (John 1:1. 14)  Since Jesus spoke  more about God's Kingdom, the heavenly Messianic government made up of Christ Jesus and his 144,000 co-rulers, then he did about any other subject, we do well  to examine this vital subject carefully. (Revelations 5:9, 10; 14:1-3; 20:6)  First, though, let us examine why Jesus said so much about God's Kingdom.

The Kingdom is close to Jesus' heart.  Why can we say that?  Because words are a window into the heart-that is, our words reveal what is truly important to us.  Jesus himself said: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)  At every opportunity, Jesus opened his mouth to speak about the Kingdom.  There are over 100 references to the Kingdom in the four Gospels, most of them in statements made by Jesus. He made the Kingdom the theme of his preaching, saying:  "I must also declare the good news of the Kingdom  of God to other cities, because for this I was sent." (Luke 4:43)  Even after his resurrection, Jesus continued to speak about the Kingdom to his disciples. (Acts 1:3)  Surely Jesus' heart overflowed with appreciation for the Kingdom, impelling him to speak about it.

Next time: Continue with "Let Your Kingdom Come

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