The Life of Jesus Christ - Chapter 2 - John the Baptist and Jesus begin their work - Part 11
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An online Bible Study course by Barrie Wetherill about the life of Jesus. This book is in EasyEnglish Level B. Use the links below for other online Bible Study books and commentaries that will help you. Or go to the Word List, which explains words with a *star.
Easy English Bible homepage | Matthew (commentary) | Mark (commentary) | Luke (commentary) | John (commentary)
The Jews read the Bible and the *prophecies in it. They had fixed ideas. They thought that the *Messiah would be a military leader. He would defeat the Romans. He would establish their nation.
Jesus came to do far more than that. His *kingdom would be the *kingdom that pleased God. It would be a *kingdom that was right with God. For this, Jesus needed new men and new women. He would change people completely by his *Holy Spirit. Then they could belong to the *kingdom.
When Jesus came for the first time, he came to die for *sinners. He offered to forgive them. He offered a new life. He came to give men and women the power of the *Holy Spirit. This would change their lives.
The work of Jesus set up the *kingdom. He established it by his death on the *cross. And when he came alive after death. The *resurrection was like an order to make the *kingdom grow. The *Holy Spirit gave power to the people of the *kingdom on the Day of *Pentecost.
From then until now the God’s good news goes round the world. God is calling people to come into the *kingdom. This is the *Kingdom of God. It gives people joy, peace and security. The call is to *repent and believe the good news about Jesus. The *kingdom has already begun in our world. But it will come completely when Jesus comes for the second time. He taught more about these things just before he went to die on the *cross.
Until Jesus comes again, God's call goes out round the world. It is for each one of us. We must *repent. We must obey Christ. We must ask him to be our *Saviour and *Lord.
Many who heard John the Baptist and Jesus did not do this. They kept their own wrong ideas. They pleased themselves. They enjoyed their *sins. Many people today are like this. May God in his *mercy, help us to be really sorry. May God help us to obey him. There is still time to be in the *kingdom. Then our lives will please God.
Reading: Matthew 3, Luke 3 & 4
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