Lesson 352 - Junior
Memory Verse
"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2).
Notes
John's Home
In the barren, rocky, hill country of Judæa along the west coast of the Dead Sea, John the Baptist was born to humble parents. Perhaps from his home he could see Mount Nebo and the Jordan River, and beyond them the city of Jericho. Near by was the brook Cherith where Elijah had been fed by ravens during the famine. John may have visited some of these places made sacred by the prophets of God. The same power, authority, and zeal manifested by Elijah were found in the heart of John. His habits of life and manner of dress, too, resembled those of Elijah. His food was wild honey and locusts [MAT:3:4]), which perhaps were sun-dried and may have tasted something like shrimp.
His Message
John was the privileged one to announce Jesus' coming. Like a loud megaphone, his voice must have re-echoed in the hills; and the people of Jerusalem, Judæa, and those living along the Jordan River banks thronged out into the country to hear John preach. Eastern monarchs always send out a herald to clear away obstacles and make way before them. So John's duty was to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus to the earth. "Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain" [ISA:40:3]; [ISA:40:4]). His duties did not include the construction of six-lane freeways and levelling off hills, but he was bringing people back to obedience, teaching them to remove pride and hypocrisy from their lives and to repent of their sins.
A ten-word sermon brought conviction to the people who confessed their sins and were baptised of John in Jordan. What was the important message that John preached? "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" [MAT:3:2]).
Object Lessons
What was meant by "the kingdom of heaven"? Much is spoken in the Bible concerning this, and it is important that we understand it. Jesus used the following illustration to try to describe it: (1) a grain of mustard seed; (2) leaven hidden in meal; (3) a merchant man; (4) a net cast into the sea; (5) good seed; (6) treasure hid in a field [MAT:13:31-47]); (7) a householder [MAT:20:1]); (8) a king who made a marriage for his son [MAT:22:2]); (9) ten virgins who went to meet the bridegroom [MAT:25:1]). Daniel described it as a great stone [DAN:2:31-45]); and other Old Testament writers also refer to it.
To some boys and girls this may seem confusing, but we want to open our eyes, our ears, and our heart's door and learn what it means. We do not want to be like the blind men in the fable who tried to find out what an elephant looked like. One felt of his tusk and said he now could understand that an elephant looked like a spear; another felt of the leg and he said that he must be like a tree; still another fell against the elephant's broad side and said that the elephant must be like a wall. But we are not blind; our vision is not so narrow that we can read only part of the Bible " we have the whole Word of God and there we can find the answer to the question: What is meant by the Kingdom of Heaven?
Jesus often used "object lessons" to teach the people what He meant. He spoke of the mustard seed which, He said, is the least of all seeds, but it grows into the greatest of herbs and becomes a tree, and the birds of the air lodge in its branches. Jesus said this is like the Kingdom of Heaven.
Travellers who have visited the Holy Land tell us that the species of mustard to which, no doubt, Jesus referred is still growing abundantly in Palestine and sometimes reaches to great heights. It is not hard to understand that when the "curse" shall be lifted from the earth and when the plants and trees shall grow more freely and more beautifully, that even the mustard tree will grow and grow until it reaches an immense size.
The King and the Kingdom
A kingdom is a dominion or realm with a king, a palace, a throne, the royal family, the officers, and the people or subjects who obey the king. When Christ the King comes back to reign upon the earth, His Kingdom shall be established in Jerusalem and "the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" [ISA:40:5]). The saints who come back with Christ shall rule with Him [REV:2:26-27]; [REV:5:10]), as we learned in Lesson 342. This righteous government with Christ as King will cover the whole earth. Isn't that like a tree that grows and grows until it fills the whole earth? or like the stone, told of by Daniel, that filled the earth?
Its Growth
The Gospel Dispensation, which includes the days in which we now live, is the first stage of His Kingdom. First the voice of a lone preacher, clad in a crude clothing of camel's hair [MAT:3:4]), was heard in the wilderness. THEN JESUS CAME! Many people were delivered from sin and twelve Apostles were chosen to preach the Gospel. They went out, and the news spread fast by word of mouth. Down through the years, faithful ministers, workers, and missionaries have ever been found who have proclaimed to souls in darkness the good news of salvation from sin. "The gospel must first be published among all nations" [MAK:13:10]), before Jesus comes, and this is being accomplished in these last days. Every truly born-again Christian has a desire to tell others of Jesus; and in these days, with modern equipment, the Gospel is going forth speedily.
The automobiles, ships at sea, and planes in the sky are used to help carry the good news of salvation. Although John's voice has long since ceased to echo out in the Judean hills, yet the voice of the true preacher of righteousness is still heard. The Apostolic Faith church has a part in spreading the Gospel through the open-air meetings held on city streets. Prisons, hospitals, and homes for shut-ins are visited; isolated people upon remote islands have the Gospel carried to them by ship; ships in harbours are visited and seamen brought to church; children are brought to Sunday School where the Word of God is taught. Gospel literature is sent free of charge to many foreign lands as well as to every state in the Union. Thousands of people are receiving these papers and tracts and finding deliverance from sin and healing for sick bodies. Many other means are employed in an intensive effort to carry out the command of Jesus: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" [MAK:16:15]).
Good Tidings
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation" [ISA:52:7]). Those who spread the Gospel are carrying good tidings, because the word "gospel" means "good news." Are you a bearer of good news? If not, why don't you begin today and sow seeds of kindness, love, and salvation, and see how quickly the little seed will spring up. You may help the "mustard tree" to grow and grow, until Jesus comes to catch away those who are ready to meet Him. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" [MAT:24:14]). We believe the end is very near!
Questions
1. Whose voice was heard in the wilderness of Judæa?
2. Why was he sent? What was his message?
3. What was his food? his clothing?
4. What Old Testament character did he resemble?
5. Give three illustrations given by Jesus to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.
6. To whom was the Gospel to be published?
7. How may we help to spread the Gospel? Are you doing it?
8. What did Jesus say of John the Baptist?
9. How do we know that the end is very near?