The question "What was the good news that Jesus shared with the people?" is one that most Christians never ask. Try asking this question to those who are considered well-versed in the life of Jesus, and you'll find that they are unaware of this. Over the past 2000 years, many things have been spread in the name of Christian gospel, but none of it is the good news that Jesus shared with His people.
When we search for the answer in the pages of the Bible, we find a simple answer in a single sentence—"Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near." For many years, this writer has been searching for the meaning of this. Despite searching through the writings of many theologians, a satisfactory answer was not found. Finally, it was only recently that I was fortunate enough to discover it. That is what I am trying to share here.
Jesus traveled everywhere with this message. Not only that, He sent His disciples to the different parts of the region with this same message. Jesus desired that everyone should hear and understand this good news. He instructed His disciples to continue sharing this message with everyone. What was this news? What is its significance?
According to the gospels, both Jesus and John the Baptist shared the same news— "The Kingdom of God is near." What did they mean by the term "Kingdom of God"? What did the people who heard it understand by this term?
In the gospels, we can find numerous parables from Jesus about the Kingdom of God. However, it is not easy to gain a clear understanding of it from the Bible. Many lectures and studies on this subject can be found on YouTube, and when listening to some of them, it becomes evident that even they do not have a clear understanding of the Kingdom of God. Moreover, each person's understanding differs from that of others.
The Context of the Good News
Jesus announced good news to the people. This was a communication—an exchange of ideas. When an idea is communicated, we understand its meaning based on the context. The answers to the questions "Who, to whom, when, where, why, and how?" define the context. We need to understand the context of the good news that Jesus shared. We need to understand the political, social, economic, and religious conditions of that land. We need to understand their worldview and their view of life.
- Who? Jesus
- To whom? To the people of His land
- Where? In Israel
- When? In the first century
- Why? To tell them something they were unaware of, something that would make a significant difference in their lives.
- How? By traveling on foot, speaking to people both alone and in groups.
With these points in mind, we can begin to investigate the meaning of the message Jesus communicated. Now, let us try to understand the political, social, economic, and health conditions of that time.
The people lived in great fear and suffering. In their own land, they were slaves. The Roman Empire denied them freedom. They had no freedom to maintain their religious beliefs or to practice their religious rituals. There is an incident recorded in the Gospel of Luke (13:1) where Pilate's soldiers mingled the blood of some Galileans with their sacrifices in the temple. The government constantly feared that the people might revolt at any moment. Government spies roamed around in disguise. This is likely one of the reasons why Jesus used parables and stories in His teachings.
A large portion of the people's income was forcibly taken by the government, and another part was forcibly taken by the temple. They struggled to live on what was left. The gap between the rich and the poor widened. Many Lazaruses lived off the crumbs that fell from the tables of the rich. Many people who lost their means of livelihood turned to theft. Remember the robbers in the story of the Good Samaritan. The gospels also tell of a man who, unable to repay his debt, sold himself and his family into slavery.
Plagues were rampant in the land. Leprosy patients wandered about. We read about hundreds of hopelessly sick people waiting for the water to stir in a pool. Mental illness was also widespread. They were called demoniacs and lived in graveyards and other such places.
Key Points to Remember:
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The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are synonymous. While Mark and Luke use the term "Kingdom of God," Matthew predominantly uses "Kingdom of Heaven."
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Heaven and the Kingdom of Heaven are not synonymous. Heaven refers to another realm separate from the earth, a realm of only goodness. The term "Kingdom of Heaven" refers to a transformation that is to occur in this world. It likely means that our world will be transformed into a realm of goodness like heaven.
The world is a combination of heaven and earth. Heaven is ruled by God. Earth, however, is not under God's rule. If God does not rule the earth, then who does? Satan. This was a belief widely held at that time.
Refer to:
- Luke 4:5-6
- John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11
- 1 John 5:19
- 2 Corinthians 4:4
- Ephesians 2:1-3, 6:12-13
These verses indicate that people at the time believed that Satan was ruling the earth. We must also consider the prayer "Deliver us from the evil one," where the evil one is understood to be Satan.
What did people understand by the term "Kingdom of God"?
When God begins to rule the earth as King, the earth will become the Kingdom of God. Currently, Satan is ruling the earth, and they hoped that God would remove Satan from power and take over the rule of the earth.
It was the suffering in their lives that led them to conclude that God was not currently ruling the earth. They believed that a rebellious angel, originally entrusted by God to oversee the earth, had turned against Him and become Satan. This idea is not clearly present in the Old Testament but can be found in the apocryphal books written after the Old Testament. By the time of Jesus, this belief was strongly rooted in people's minds.
The people were convinced that if a good and just God were ruling the earth, their lives would not be filled with such suffering. They believed that Satan, who opposed God, was currently ruling the world. There was no doubt in their minds about this.
What is the solution to this problem?
The solution is clear: the one whom God appointed to rule the earth is rebelling and acting irresponsibly. God must remove him from power and appoint someone else who will obey Him.
They firmly believed that God would appoint someone to rule the earth in place of Satan. During that time, kings and others were appointed through anointing with oil. The new ruler was called the "Anointed One," or Messiah, which in Greek is Christos. They also used the term "Son of God" to refer to the king as God's representative.
The word "Yeshua" means "Yahweh is the Savior," which became "Joshua" and later "Jesus." The word "Hosanna" is related to this, meaning "Yahweh, save us." It is a cry for deliverance from the reign of Satan into God's rule.
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the people cried "Hosanna," hoping that He would establish God's kingdom. Their plea was "Yahweh, save us," with the belief that Jesus was the king who would establish the Kingdom of God.
They believed that Satan, who was opposing God, was ruling the world, which was why their lives were filled with suffering. They hoped that God would remove Satan and appoint a new ruler in his place. They called the new ruler "Messiah" and the kingdom that was to be established "The Kingdom of God."
Satan, who opposes God and rebels against Him, is currently ruling the world. That is why there is so much evil in the world, and why our lives are filled with suffering. People hoped that God would remove Satan from power and appoint a new king, according to His will, in Satan's place. This new king was called the Messiah. The kingdom that would be established by this new king was referred to as the Kingdom of God.
Just as Satan, who now rules the world, was once an angel of God, the new king to be appointed in his place would also come from heaven. There were two prevailing thoughts on how the Messiah would come to earth and take power:
- The Messiah would descend to earth from heaven, flying on the clouds of the sky with a host of angels.
- The Messiah would be born on earth as a human child through a human woman. He would be anointed as the king of the world once he reached adulthood.
The belief that the Messiah would be born as a human child was very strong. The prophecy of Isaiah, which said, "A virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace," strengthened this belief.
People were eager to know which of the babies born each day might be the Messiah. They also wondered whether any leader who rose to power might be the Messiah. Many people suspected this of various individuals who lived before Jesus. Some even asked John the Baptist if he was the Messiah.
At that time, the Pharisees were religious leaders with great influence over the people. They taught that the Kingdom of God was delayed because people were not properly observing religious customs and laws. They pressured people to strictly observe the Sabbath and other religious practices. They even believed that healing the sick on the Sabbath, as Jesus did, was a violation of the law. Not only did they fail to ease the people's suffering, but they made it even worse.
It was in this context that John the Baptist appeared with the good news that the Kingdom of God was near. People saw John as a prophet and believed that what he said would come true. They believed that Satan would soon be removed from power and the Messiah, sent by God, would take over the rule of the world.
News that Brought Both Joy and Anxiety This news brought joy to the people, but also a great deal of anxiety. While it was joyful to hear that God would soon rule the world in place of Satan, the thought that weighed heavily on people's minds was the coming judgment. Once the Messiah took power as king, his first act would be to conduct a great judgment. He would divide people into two groups: those on his right and those on his left. He would place Satan, his followers, and those who supported Satan on the left and cast them into eternal fire.
The Messiah would then establish God's Kingdom on earth with those on his right, the righteous ones. People were deeply anxious about where they would be when the Messiah came and divided them. They asked themselves, "Where will I be when the Messiah divides the people?"
They sought answers from anyone they thought might know. Many asked, "What must I do to enter the Kingdom of God?" We read in the Gospels that many asked this question to Jesus.
When people asked the Pharisees, their response was likely something like this:
- Abraham was beloved by God. We are descendants of Abraham, so we will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. This means we will surely be on the right side.
- Observing the Sabbath is a commandment that God gave through Moses. Everyone who properly observes the Sabbath will certainly be on the right side. Even if someone is a descendant of Abraham, if they do not observe the Sabbath, they will end up on the left side.
People also asked John the Baptist who would be on the Messiah’s right side. His answer was different: claiming to be descendants of Abraham has no value, and religious practices like observing the Sabbath are not of great importance. What matters is doing good to others. Those with two coats should give one to someone who has none. Those who do good will be on the Messiah’s right side.
John the Baptist emphasized that it is not religious rituals, but compassionate actions toward others that matter. This was a very bold stance, one that no other leaders of the time had taken. Jesus found this teaching very acceptable and had great respect for John the Baptist.
At that time, John the Baptist was well-known throughout the land, while Jesus was just beginning to be recognized. However, John had heard of Jesus’ wisdom and greatness. One day, John sent his disciples to Jesus to ask whether he was indeed the Messiah. After they left, Jesus spoke to his disciples about John with great admiration, saying that John was a great man and there had been none greater born of women than John the Baptist.
After praising John, however, Jesus added: "Even though John is a great man, the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he." What did Jesus mean by this?
It becomes clear from this statement that Jesus had a very different view of the Kingdom of God than John the Baptist. But at that time, few people understood the difference. Even the writers of the Gospels seem not to have fully grasped it, as they recorded that Jesus preached the same message as John. For the past 2,000 years, has anyone understood this difference? Based on my limited research, I haven't found anyone who has. This is the distinction we are attempting to understand here.
What was Jesus’ view? How was his thinking different from John the Baptist’s? Understanding this difference was not easy, and very few people seem to have attempted it. Only a handful may have grasped it, but none of their writings have survived.
Most people were concerned with the question of whether Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. Some believed he was, while others did not.
Many people directly asked Jesus if he was the Messiah. Ultimately, Jesus was crucified for the charge of treason, accused of claiming to be the king and calling for rebellion against the Roman Empire.
Let’s return to the question of how Jesus’ thinking was different from John the Baptist’s.
People believed that although God was the king of heaven, He was not the king of the earth. They believed Satan was ruling the earth. Heaven was filled with love, joy, and peace because God ruled there. The earth was filled with hatred, conflict, and unrest because Satan ruled here.
They believed that Satan, who had been appointed by God to rule the earth, had rebelled against God and turned into Satan. They also believed that God would remove Satan from power and appoint someone obedient to God as the ruler of the earth. Then the earth would also come under God’s rule.
Although they believed this would happen in the future, no one knew exactly when. Prophets reassured the people that Satan would soon be removed and the new king sent by God would take power. All they could do was pray with all their hearts, hoping that it would happen soon. They cried out, "Hosanna" (which means "Lord, save us"). The people felt utterly helpless.
John the Baptist brought good news: God’s rule would soon be established. As soon as the new king appointed by God took power, he would conduct a judgment. He would divide people into two groups—those on his right and those on his left. Those on the left would be cast into the fire, while those on the right would join him in establishing his kingdom.
After hearing this, the people asked the pressing question: "How can I ensure that I will be on the Messiah’s right side at the final judgment?"
The Pharisees suggested that to ensure being on the right side, people must strictly observe the Sabbath and other religious practices. John offered another path: repent of your wicked ways and turn to a life of goodness. As a symbol of this repentance, be baptized in the Jordan River. Many people believed John and came to him to be baptized.
Among those who came to be baptized was Jesus. This indicates that Jesus found John’s teachings acceptable. While being baptized as a symbol of his repentance toward a life of goodness, Jesus had a vision of God. Instead of returning home afterward, he went to a deserted place to spend 40 days in solitude, without eating, in deep meditation. He felt as though he was in a battle with Satan. Jesus understood that Satan claimed to be the ruler of the earth and demanded to be worshiped by all its inhabitants. But Jesus rejected this claim, saying that only God is worthy of worship. Satan had not been appointed by God, and unfortunately, many people on earth had elevated Satan to the position of king.
The Good News Jesus Announced Jesus returned to the people with a new message: God is the true ruler of the world. God has not appointed Satan as the king. It is people who have accepted Satan as king by obeying his will instead of God’s.
Therefore, we do not need to wait for God to remove Satan from power. We are the ones who accepted Satan, and we are the ones who must reject him. When we turn away from Satan and return to God, we will be part of God’s kingdom.
To a people who had been helplessly waiting for a future kingdom of God, Jesus gave a clear direction. Whether we enter the Kingdom of God or not is not God’s decision—it is ours. Reject Satan’s rule and accept God’s rule. That is all it takes.
Jesus gave clear guidance to the people who were helpless and lost, waiting for a kingdom of God that would come someday in the future. It is not God, but we ourselves who decide whether we will enter the kingdom of God or not. Abandon Satan's rule and accept God's rule, and that is enough.
This is what people said up to the time of John the Baptist: Someday in the future, God's rule will come to earth. It is God who decides when it will happen, and it is also God who will decide whether we will be part of it. When we think like this, we are left with uncertainty, anxiety, and fear.
But Jesus said this: It is God who always rules the world. The responsibility of ruling the world on God's behalf has been given to humans. But humans have surrendered that authority to Satan. It was not God but humanity itself that placed Satan on the throne. The reason this world feels like hell is due to the irresponsible actions of humanity. We can transform it into heaven by reclaiming the power we gave to Satan and surrendering to God's authority.
According to Jesus, we are already living under God's rule. There is no need to wait for a kingdom of God that is coming in the future. We don't need to live in confusion, crying out to God to save us. Just like the prodigal son, who abandoned his cruel master and returned to his father, we must abandon Satan and turn back to God.
Among those born of women, no one greater than John the Baptist has arisen; but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. I tell you the truth. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been seizing it by force (Matthew 11:11-12).
John the Baptist is still outside the kingdom of God because he is waiting for a kingdom that will come someday in the future. However, many people who heard Jesus’ words have already entered the kingdom of God. Those who have entered are greater than John the Baptist, who remains outside.
Everyone who entered the kingdom of God did so by force—not because God brought them in, but because they themselves took the initiative to enter. All the prophets and the law prophesied until John (Matthew 11:13). All of them were saying that the kingdom of God would come in the future. Jesus, however, did not prophesy this. Since the world is already under God's rule, there is no need for such a prophecy.
When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus answered: "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; neither shall they say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ for behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21).
To the question of when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replies that it is something that is already here and not just a future event. So the question itself is irrelevant.
The prevailing view in Jesus’ time seems to have been that of the Pharisees, which went something like this: Our lives are full of suffering because Satan rules the world. Only God can remove Satan, and when the Messiah sent by God comes and takes over the kingdom, we still face the possibility of being placed on the left side of judgment and cast into the lake of fire. The solution is to make God’s mind favorable to us. They suggested several ways to change God’s mind: crying out for salvation, observing religious laws, and seeking refuge in Judaism under the promises given to the patriarchs.
John the Baptist didn’t differ fundamentally from the Pharisees, except he didn’t agree with their solution. He taught that we should act humanely toward our fellow beings.
Jesus’ view, on the other hand, was fundamentally different. He taught that the cause of our suffering is not Satan, but ourselves. Therefore, the solution is not something God must provide but something we must work toward. Our problem is that we have turned away from God, and the solution is to return to Him.
The Pharisees and John the Baptist taught that the way to solve the problem is by changing God's mind to be favorable toward us. But Jesus taught that it is not God's mind that needs changing, it is ours.
Jesus illustrated his idea clearly in the story of the prodigal son, where God is shown to have unconditional love, just like the father in the story. Just as the father loves his children, God loves humanity. People who recognize God’s love, like the prodigal son, will return to God with repentance and align themselves with Him. Those who fail to recognize God’s love, like the elder son, will justify themselves and judge both God and others.
Let's Take a Look at Our Own Time
These three approaches show how people dealt with their circumstances at that time. Let’s compare them to today’s world.
Just like then, today humanity’s life is full of suffering, and people are not free. The gap between the rich and poor is widening. Diseases, mental health problems, and even suicides are increasing. Yet, most people still believe that someday the world will be transformed into heaven.
Like the Jews, many today are waiting for a Messiah. Christians believe that Jesus will come again as the Messiah. Muslims believe in Jesus' return too. All three believe that there will be a final judgment after which the earth will be transformed. Many groups, with various beliefs, are trying to convert others to their way of thinking, believing that their particular path is the solution to the world’s problems.
Even communism, influenced by religion, believes that someday the earth will become a classless heaven. The Pharisees’ stance is mirrored in modern ideologies, which often use power to implement judgment now, punishing the wicked and protecting the righteous to bring heaven to earth.
Just as the Pharisees sought converts, modern ideologies and religions seek to increase their numbers, each dreaming of a heaven where they are in control.
Voices calling for humane treatment of others, regardless of their beliefs, can still be heard in isolated places, and these represent the position of John the Baptist.
But the voice of Jesus is nowhere to be heard. If Jesus were alive today, he would say: There is no need to wait helplessly for a future heaven. The world is already under God's rule, and God loves us unconditionally. We can return to Him with repentance, not to fix others but to fix ourselves. Let’s stop blaming others and God for our problems and start taking responsibility for them ourselves.
Conclusion Using the context of Jesus’ time, we have tried to understand our current world. Today’s religious groups and political ideologies stand where the Pharisees once did, waiting for a future good time and afraid of judgment. Those who call for humane behavior toward others, without distinction, stand in John the Baptist's position. Sadly, there is no one in the position of Jesus, as taking such a stance requires extraordinary courage—those who do will likely face crucifixion just like Jesus.
John D. Kunnathu
