THE FATHER AND THE KINGDOM

One way to approach the message of the Kingdom is to divide the “sayings of Jesus” into distinct parts: First, is all that is said about his Father and then His Kingdom. This is, of course, the basis and context of all the teachings, parables, and examples of Jesus (i.e., Matthew 13 and the seven parables of “the kingdom is like…” and ‘the last discourse’ in John 13-17, where he mentions the Father some 60 plus times). It seems that Jesus had two over-riding principles and thoughts continually on his mind: His Father and His Kingdom. Perhaps the Father and His Kingdom should take priority in our thinking.

We can be easily swayed by many great themes and stories from scripture but if we are to stay in the teachings of Jesus we will need to stay in the gospels that overwhelmingly tell of the Father and the Kingdom. That is a powerful place to spend a great deal of our time.

You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom. Jesus