For some time now I feel like I have been paddling on the edges. I am going to stick my head above the parapet and speak. As a follower of Christ it is beholden of me to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom. I cannot get away from it!
Over these last few years it has been highlighted to me by the Spirit of God that I am a mouthpiece of this message of the good news of the kingdom of God. Firstly the kingdom of God is summed up in the person of Jesus Christ. Not only that but what he brings is the message. The message is to be proclaimed, embodied and demonstrated through the life of a people and a person who is part of a people group also known as the church.
As I wrote that a reference in my mind from the Bible comes to me. I am not even sure what it says so I look it up. It has obviously become so much part of my life that I am unaware at times of how the scriptures have taken hold. The reference was:
Mark 1:17 (LEB): 17 And Jesus said to them, “⌊Follow⌋ me and I will make you become fishers of people.”
I have come to a point in my life where I realise I am nothing. Even the good things which I thought I have accomplished however big or small they are, are nothing. My boast is like Paul says:
1 Corinthians 1:27–31 (LEB): But the foolish things of the world God chose in order that he might put to shame the wise, and the weak things of the world God chose in order that he might put to shame the strong, and the insignificant of the world, and the despised, God chose, the things that are not, in order that he might abolish the things that are, so that all flesh may not boast before God. But from him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “The one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”
A funny little story. Whilst gardening I saw a moth which captured my attention. I couldn’t remember the name of the moth. It took me a while to find it but when I did the name of the moth struck me – as a message! Yet another reminder? I have had this many times before in different ways.
Herald relates to news. Often newspapers have this as a title following on from the place where the paper comes from, eg. The New York Herald. A newspaper is supposed to carry news. The herald points to the gospel of the kingdom.
A herald:
Verb
Cambridge online dictionary
to be a sign that something important, and often good, is starting to happen, or to make something publicly known, especially by celebrating or praising it
Noun
to announce or signal that something is approaching
This is what this article is about. It’s about living that through proclamation, embodiment and demonstration – PED, hence writing about it.
The gospel of the kingdom like Frank Viola writes and speaks about cannot be summed up in a short sentence or summarised easily. Somewhat like trying to describe a person.
Jesus Christ embodied the message and he calls those who follow him to do the same.
He sent me to proclaim release to the captives…
Jesus of Nazareth
This kingdom is already in heaven but it has not fully come into being on earth. This is why Jesus tells his followers to pray in this manner.
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as in heaven...
They are not only to pray but to live out the message. The body is meant to embody. Jesus needs a body to express the good news of the kingdom and he also needs a bride to show how beautiful the message is. This is a mystery and it’s also mystical yet it’s also real. The Father wants a place where he can dwell and a family whom he can love and them him in return.
What is the gospel of the kingdom message? It is the person of Jesus Christ. Try summing him up and all that he has accomplished and live out of that!
Not only are heralds those who tell a message they carry the message within themselves. They are the embodiment of the message.
Something else about herald’s can be found in the word heraldry that which symbolises the message through pictures and imagery demonstrating the importance of that which they carry.
The link under the photo of the Herald moth leads to an article about the biology of the moth yet also the meaning behind the Latin name of the moth. The first part of the Latin name is mainly to do with the shape of the moth. The second part of the name is more of a puzzle and not certain. Judging by the patterning on the moth I would agree with what Linnaeus may have thought. It is something to do with it being like a stately robe or vestiture. I like that.
The idea of the herald as a messenger and the herald represented by the moth puts me in mind also of one of my favourite passages in the Bible about being ambassadors. The Apostle Paul is writing as one but seems to imply that Christ’s followers are also ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:20–21 (LEB): Therefore we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as if* God were imploring you through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him.
We are as humanity estranged from the Father hence why Paul writes about reconciliation in earlier verses. We are like the guy who squandered his inheritance yet went back home and the Father came running to embrace him. If we don’t feel like that we may be like the older son who complains to his Father about his brother. The Father says to him. All I have is yours. The story is in Luke 15
To summarise then:
- The message is more than we can sum up in a few words. It is life changing.
- The message is to be shared, demonstrated and embodied.
- The message is both a noun and a verb.
- The message is lived out through a people.
- The message has and is changing the fabric of reality.
Spread the word. The message is here to stay. If you want to read more about the message read about it here where it is spoken of as The Word, (logos).
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”