Introduction
The kingdom of God is a vast and significant concept among believers. Many Christians believe in the existence of a kingdom where righteous souls find eternal rest after death. Thus, numerous evangelists center the gospel in God’s kingdom to spread the good news and convert more people into Christendom. The description of God’s kingdom varies among various books in the New Testament. Given the differences in authorship and period of the gospel books, each author’s version contains slight variations in what God’s kingdom means and entails.
Traditionally, Christians believed that God’s kingdom was heaven, the Creator’s dwelling place where He reigned over humanity, controlling and judging their actions on earth. Ultimately, righteous believers will go to heaven and live peacefully for eternity. However, the modern church has expounded on the concept of God’s kingdom through exegetical analysis of the different gospel books, explaining the meaning of God’s kingdom. This essay focuses on the Kingdom of God as presented in the Gospel of Mark to gain an in-depth understanding of its evangelical meaning and how it can be applied to Christian life today.
The Kingdom of God in Marks’s Gospel
Marks describes his book as the beginning of good news and God’s kingdom through Jesus Christ. As the description suggests, the kingdom of God is closely associated with the existence of Jesus, his teachings, and the practice of discipleship. Mark’s gospel suggests that the kingdom of God exists in the present and will also come in the future when Jesus returns. The present refers to the time of authorship, where Jesus Christ represents the kingdom. In Mark 1:15, Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news!”
Consequently, Jesus’ teaching in Luke 11:2, “May your kingdom come,” reveals the existence of God’s kingdom, which is bound to be revealed in the future. According to Cranfield, Jesus promises the crowd that they will witness the kingdom of God before they are aware of it. Hence, the transfiguration, death, and resurrection of Jesus established God’s kingdom on earth, while the coming of the Messiah will bring the future kingdom of eternity. Thus, Mark’s gospel gives evidence of God’s kingdom on earth and hope that Christ will return to take His people to heaven.
Mark portrays Jesus as a teacher, and among the four gospel books, his narration contains numerous parables and stories that Jesus uses to explain the meaning of God’s kingdom and what it takes to be part of it. Jesus explains the existence of the kingdom in the parable of the mustard seed, illustrating how God’s kingdom will grow from his disciples and spread beyond borders. A mustard seed is among the smallest seeds on earth, and demonstrating how it grows to a big tree shows the magnitude of God’s power.
Aside from gradual growth, God’s kingdom is independent and will continue to grow to the end of time, regardless of external forces. The parable teaches Christians that one’s faith has the potential to grow and develop, regardless of its initial level of development. Christians should practice patience and encourage one another in spiritual growth, which enhances the likelihood of entering the kingdom of God. God’s kingdom is for the patient and unrelenting, like the disciples, and will witness his coming to redeem the world.
Jesus compares God’s kingdom to seeds to emphasize its growth from a small establishment to something great. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus explains that faithful believers who pay attention to God’s word and follow Jesus’ teachings, regardless of life’s challenges, will enter His kingdom. Jesus is the Sower, and the seeds are his message to Christians. Some seeds fall on hard ground, and when the Sower plants them, birds feed on them. Other seeds fell on rocky patches and thorny bushes, where they sprouted and died due to the lack of soil to support growth and the presence of weeds that hindered effective growth.
Lastly, some seeds fall on good soil, which is productive, leading to the growth of healthy plants. The various types of soil represent the qualities of Christians that determine their entry into God’s kingdom. When Jesus starts sowing, he marks the beginning of God’s kingdom by planting the seeds. However, each seed grows according to a Christian’s faith, representing the growth of God’s kingdom.
The parable of the Sower shows how individuals respond and expand the kingdom of God. Many individuals hear the gospel, but few truly acknowledge and follow its teachings with commitment. The seeds that fall on the path represent people who hear the word and dismiss it immediately.
The birds are like Satan, influencing the minds of nonbelievers by eating the word of God before it takes root. The people in this category include those who lack complete faith in God and only occasionally hear the word of God. Since they do not acknowledge God’s presence and the good news, they cannot attain the kingdom of God.
The seeds that fall on rocky ground and thorny patches are like Christians who listen to the word and heed Jesus’s teachings when necessary. Christians in this category believe in God but have other preoccupations that hinder total commitment to serving God and expanding his kingdom. The preoccupations include riches, work, family matters, and activities that take one’s time entirely.
Apart from possessions, the people in this group include those who forget God in times of challenge. Jesus wants Christians to persevere despite challenging situations since God is in control. Finally, the seeds that fall on productive soil are faithful believers who follow Jesus’ teachings and exhibit true discipleship qualities, such as spreading the gospel and leading righteous lives.
Like the seeds, the believers expand God’s kingdom through growth and productivity in the church. Jesus encourages all Christians to be like the excellent soil by listening, practicing, and persevering despite life’s challenges and discouragement. Therefore, to expand and belong in God’s kingdom, one should completely trust God and lay their burdens and possessions before the heavenly king.
God’s kingdom is not an earthly one, but rather an inner spirituality and a relationship with God. He wants Christians to embrace Him apart from worldly things, such as work and family responsibilities. Thus, the kingdom of God offers eternal life to believers who are poor in heart and spirit. In Mark 10:17-30, Jesus explains the conditions for inheriting eternal life when a man approaches Him, asking about the requirements for obtaining eternal life.
According to Jesus, one must obey and follow all commandments to gain God’s favor. Nevertheless, a Christian must let go of all earthly possessions to enter God’s kingdom. Jesus says, “Sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven”.
Forsaking earthly positions brings Christians closer to God because they will depend on God to provide for everything. When the man turns to leave in disappointment, Jesus tells his disciples that it will be difficult for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom and compares the difficulty to a camel passing through the eye of a needle. Rich men give more importance to their wealth than to the almighty God.
Since all creation, including human life, comes from God, He expects total obedience and respect from a man. However, most men who possess riches are boastful and have less acknowledgment of God, hindering a good relationship. Earthly riches encompass money, careers, material possessions, and fame, which confer personal privilege and may foster arrogance.
Consequently, human beings tend to respect influential and wealthy individuals, giving them an inflated ego that can lead to sin. Thus, entering God’s kingdom and receiving eternal life requires letting go of all riches, which may lead one to sin against their will and hinder a good relationship with God. Apart from giving up worldly possessions, Jesus states that Christians must forsake worldly attachments to enter the kingdom of God. Like material possessions, earthly relationships may lead to sin, such as loving someone more than God. Furthermore, abandoning worldly attachments reveals vulnerability and the need to form spiritual friendships with God, thereby nourishing the soul and heart, and ultimately leading to righteousness.
The heavenly father demands undivided attention, which means dedicating one’s life wholly to the work of God. In Mark, Jesus says, “No one who has left home, brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children, or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age. The present age signifies God’s kingdom to come, and Christians will receive eternal life if they renounce early possession and attachments to follow Jesus and spread His good news to all people.
Consequently, Jesus states that the kingdom of God belongs to those with the qualities of a child. Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Children are often meek, obedient, vulnerable, and pure of heart, qualities often associated with true believers.
Childlike, Jesus expects total dependence on him for material and spiritual needs, like a child depending on its parents. Furthermore, childlike means being ready to forgive and forget, sharing, and being cleansed from the world’s pleasures. Thus, the kingdom of God is for those with pure hearts and innocent minds, like the children.
Application
Today, God’s kingdom is in the church and among Christians, while the kingdom to come is heaven, where believers will live eternally. In the Lord’s Prayer, Christians pray for the kingdom of God to come, demonstrating their anticipation of eternal life in the promised land. Meanwhile, Christians are responsible for establishing and expanding the kingdom on earth.
Since Christians are the disciples of God’s kingdom, Christians can expand the church through evangelism duties and convert more people to Christianity. Jesus encourages believers to share the gospel and expand God’s kingdom on earth, demonstrating true discipleship. The Great Commission of Jesus to his disciples encourages believers to spread the good news to all people and cross borders to ensure that no one is left behind in the journey to God’s kingdom.
The teachings of Jesus about wealth and God’s kingdom encourage Christians to relinquish material possessions, which can limit one’s relationship with God. Today, worldly pursuits dominate many people, and the pursuit of wealth is often seen as a symbol of power, a good lifestyle, and societal influence. Individuals have become greedy, taking and possessing wealth in crude ways that are sinful before God.
On the other hand, many people worldwide suffer and live in poverty, needing help to better their lives. Sometimes, the circumstances are dire, leading to death and chronic illnesses that require financial aid to recover. As Christians, sharing with these people is a blessing, accumulating treasures in heaven. One does not have to be rich to help, as forsaking earthly possessions means giving out however little to help others. Christians with surplus possessions and financial resources should be willing to donate and help others more to increase their chances of going to heaven.
Additionally, Christians should not let their earthly possessions dominate or trample over others, such as careers and fame. Instead, those in a good position should help others below them to have better lives. Influential people should use their power to promote unity, equality, and care for the poor and weak, which shows righteousness. Giving up material possessions and family relationships, and using power for the greater good, shows a detachment from the physical world and creates a spiritual connection with heavenly beings, leading to a sense of eternity.
The parable of the Sower teaches Christians to take God’s word seriously and revere God regardless of circumstances. Today, people face challenges in all aspects of life, such as financial difficulties, family issues, educational struggles, and social hardships, which occupy their minds and cause them to forget about God’s existence. Some Christians’ faith is hindered by society’s expectations, such as possessing material wealth, peer pressure, and lifestyle competition.
Jesus warns against loving the world more than God’s kingdom, saying it is better to have heavenly treasure than material things on earth, which are temporary. A Christian should care about God more, pray without ceasing in good and bad times, and spread God’s word to expand the kingdom. Christians can accomplish productivity by reading the bible daily and praying for God’s guidance and wisdom. Just as the lantern shares its light with others, Christians should share God’s word with others rather than keeping it within, which expands God’s kingdom. Believers can share the word through door-to-door evangelism, inviting friends for fellowship, and ministering to populations that do not believe in God or the kingdom.
Conclusion
The kingdom of God is a term with a complex meaning, encompassing the work of Jesus on earth and His glorious return to take the people of God. During his ministry, Jesus established God’s kingdom on earth, and after his death, he commissioned the disciples to continue his work and expand the kingdom. Mark’s gospel narrates various aspects of God’s kingdom, such as the growth from a small to a great institution.
Through the parables of Jesus, Christians can understand the meaning of God’s kingdom, how it grows and develops in Christianity, and the qualities that guarantee eternal life in the kingdom, such as being childlike and forsaking material things for the sake of God’s kingdom. Since today’s church represents the kingdom, Christians should convert more people to Christianity by evangelizing beyond local borders. Welcoming more people to church enhances discipleship and establishes a solid foundation for God’s present and future kingdom.
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