Some good news is better than others. When I hear the St. Louis Cardinals won a close game against the Chicago Cubs, that’s good news. But when I hear from an old friend I haven’t talked to in years, that’s truly good news.

Jesus began his public ministry by traveling throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23).

What good news did Jesus announce in all those houses of worship? The Kingdom of God is near, and hope dawns on the horizon. To prove his point, Jesus restored as he preached.

Jesus healed people sick from pain, seizures, debilitating illnesses and demon possession. He didn’t just mend a few ankles. Jesus cured epilepsy and stage 4 cancers, freeing people from crushing, incurable diseases. Why? Because a new kingdom—the kingdom of God—broke into the world.

The prophet Isaiah predicted this coming kingdom: the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2).

Jesus began to teach the values of this new kingdom, which we read in Matthew chapters five, six and seven—the Sermon on the Mount. Such a divergent kingdom brought ideas we continue to wrestle with today. Love you enemies? What was counter-cultural in Galilee remains counter-cultural today.

This good news (or gospel) reminds us the kingdom of God is here. Among us and around us. The good-est news is that the kingdom in its full splendor arrives soon.

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

Photo by Oliver Hihn