God's kingdom is near

Read Matthew 3:1-3

.

This is where Matthew’s Gospel really begins. The Christmas story, in both Matthew and Luke, is a much-loved prologue. But it’s not an essential part of the story as Mark’s Gospel makes clear by omitting it. Mark launches straight into the ministry of Jesus with this declaration: “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk.1:1).

.

Mark goes on immediately to write about John the Baptist, the promised messenger who would prepare the way for the Messiah (i.e. the Christ). Matthew and Luke both follow Mark, recognising that this is the real starting point of the good news (the gospel) about Jesus.

.

John’s message prepared for the coming of Jesus in two particular ways. He announced that “the kingdom of heaven is near” i.e. the king was about to arrive. And in view of that, a particular response was needed: “Repent”.

.

Repentance is more than being sorry; it contains also a resolve to behave differently by living under God’s kingship. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus will spell out what that means in practice. So we too do well to prepare for that. “Let me be ready for my Lord’s coming, and put away all that would grieve his Holy Spirit” (Spurgeon).