What does "at hand" mean? (Matthew 3: Mark 1; Luke 3)

Matthew

3:2

What does it mean if the kingdom of heaven is “at hand.” John the Baptist said, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” To me, “at hand” means that it is near. Or, that it is soon. Or nearby. It could be that the kingdom of heaven is coming to earth. I think, for a lot of my life, I have translated this in my brain to be, “repent, because judgment is coming soon. However, I don’t think it’s that.

For the people John was preaching to, it wasn’t that the second coming was soon, or that judgment day was approaching quickly. I believe that John was preaching that the kingdom of heaven is available to each of us. It is within reach.

When we repent, we are living worthy to be in the kingdom of God. Judgment day isn’t when we are judged, it’s today. We are a living, breathing, up-to-the-minute assessment of our righteousness and willingness to repent.

If we ask ourselves, “what am I willing to do,” that is a judgment. Are we willing to:

• Repent quickly when we make mistakes?

• Serve rather than relax?

• Learn more instead of be satisfied with what we know?

• Treat others with charity?

• Give up wealth and choose heavenly treasure instead?

• Follow promptings from the Spirit quickly and completely?

• Replace our will with God’s?

I could list a thousand questions about what we may be wiling to do. Our willingness to choose the right in every choice is our judgment. It is based on how much we have chosen righteousness in all of our years. God is not going to list every thing we have done right and wrong throughout our lives in some type of heavenly tally. However, all of our past choices affect what we are willing to do this day. All of our past choices affect how much we know about the gospel. All of our past choices affect how selfless we are. All of our past choices affect how humble we are. Our character is constantly being built by every action we take - good or bad.

So, the kingdom of heaven is always at hand. How close we are depends on our willingness to continually repent.

3:3

“And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” John was peculiar. John didn’t care about what was popular. He didn’t worry about fashion. He didn’t blend in. He wasn’t intentionally attempting to stand out. I think he just didn’t care about the things of this world.

He cared about preparing the way for Christ. That’s it. He didn’t care about what he wore or even what he ate. We can’t all be like John but we should be more like him. We should care less about the things of this world. I’m guilty of this. I love my cool shoes and new suits and comfortable house and fun trips and fast car. John wasn’t distracted by any of that.

3:8-9

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” All members of the Church have a birthright but none of us will be saved based simply on our birthright.

Picture an eldest son when his father dies and he inherits a birthright. If he abandons his mother and sisters and does nothing with that birthright, what good is it to him? We should view our birthright as a responsibility, not a free ticket to salvation.

For us to become like God is based on our choices - not our position in society. The distinction between the righteous and the wicked is repentance. That’s it.

Those who are not bringing forth the fruits of repentance aren’t repenting. I can’t simply repent internally and not demonstrate any evidence of that repentance. There must be fruits for there to be true repentance.

The Pharisees and Sadducees literally thought that their membership in the house of Israel is what saved them. They were wrong and we are also wrong if we believe that our membership in this Church is what saves us.

3:13-16

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:” John knew his place and humbly suggested that Jesus should be the one baptizing.

Christ was an example in all things, including baptism. It is an example of Christ’s commitment to showing us what we must do. He had no other reason to be baptized - other than to provide an example. It also shows Christ’s willingness to be humble and submit to God’s commands. A lesser leader may have felt offended to be the Savior and then be baptized by another. Christ did not have pride and didn’t feel like any act of righteousness was beneath him.

It’s interesting that folks have read verse 16 and taken from this that the Holy Ghost appeared in the form of a dove. I don’t get that. It sounds like he descended like a dove. If I told you that I floated down like a dove, you wouldn’t assume I was an actual dove…

3:17

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” It’s fascinating to me that so much of the Christian religion believes that Christ and God are the same person. This would be a very weird event in light of that belief. Why would a person claim fatherhood over a being who is himself? Also, was God pleased with himself? It doesn’t make sense.

Mark

1:14, 16-18, 20

“Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.” For Andrew and Peter to immediately follow him is amazing.

Mark doesn’t include the part of the story where Christ asked Peter to cast his net again. Perhaps it was that miracle that convinced them to drop their nets and follow him. Perhaps they had heard Christ preach before. In verse 14, we learn that Christ was in Galilee preaching the gospel. Maybe they heard one of his sermons and became convinced.

Either way, they “straightway forsook their nets.” That was the way they earned their living. They weren’t rich people. They likely didn’t have large savings or were independently wealthy. It was a big leap of faith.

We have the benefit of knowing about the last 2000 years and I believe all of us would drop our jobs and follow him if he asked us. But put yourself in their shoes. He’s a new preacher who isn’t what you expected for a Messiah. For them to give up their livelihood and follow him demonstrates their faith and closeness to the Spirit.

James and John also left their nets and followed him. Because Zebedee had servants in the ship, It seems like they may have been wealthy. They left a good situation to be homeless following Jesus. I don’t think we consider what these men gave up. They were spiritually prepared to meet the Savior.

1:21-22

“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” Have you ever met someone who just naturally had authority?

I’ve met people who just had an aura around them. It may be expertise or wisdom or experience - but some people have a natural ability to draw others to them. I’ve met humans that have this power. I can’t imagine what it was like to hear Christ speak. He wasn’t making things up on the fly - he had thoroughly learned the principles he was teaching. I’m sure some of his instruction was done by heavenly beings. He had no doubt what he was saying was true. It’s no wonder that others felt his authority.

1:23-26, 34

“And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.” There are a few interesting points:

1. The evil spirits knew Christ. They don’t have a veil over their minds. Why would they? The veil is part of the plan of salvation - which they rejected. They were curious about what Jesus was going to do with them - even destroying them.

2. Christ didn’t want them speaking. He certainly didn’t want disembodied, evil spirits bearing testimony of his divinity. That would not be an appropriate way for others to begin a testimony. In verse 34, we read, “And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.”

3. The pronouns bounce around. The spirit refers to himself as “we” and “us.” Mark uses a singular, masculine pronoun. I don’t know what that means. Later on in Mark 5, Mark does the same thing and quotes the evil spirit, “My name is Legion: for we are many.” Here, Jesus casts them into multiple swine. So, it sounds like evil spirits don’t have separate identities. They don’t look at themselves as individuals - perhaps as a group only. Interesting how we are facing a problem in society where “group identity” is confusing people… Instead of seeing myself as Eric, I am a white, middle-aged American. There’s something bad about losing our individuality. I wonder if this issue was part of the war in heaven…

1:27

“And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.” It looks like the people were looking for authority. Earlier, they commented that he spoke with authority. Now, he is commanding with authority. Their church leaders had been “faking” it for so long that someone with real authority stood out for them. They could perceive and FEEL a difference.

Of course, the religious leaders would use this against him, saying that only the power of devil could control devils. It’s amazing how people can twist things.

It’s always been frustrating for me to see folks who can’t see the obvious truth right in front of them. Our own personal biases can shift things so dramatically. I have to believe that there are some principles or topics or people where I am the frustrating one. Which ones of my many biases blind me? Which blind you? It’s an interesting and scary thought.

1:30

“But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.” We learn here that Peter had a wife. Often I picture the disciples as single people who were okay living as nomads. In Peter’s case, he’s leaving a wife and a home. It was a sacrifice for him to leave her and follow Jesus. He wasn’t just leaving the fish.

Also consider the sacrifice of Peter’s wife. It wasn’t just the disciples who sacrificed, it’s their families. This is true for any member of this church who has a time-consuming calling. Certainly, the spouse shares in that calling.

1:40-42

“And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” The leper had faith. There was no question whether Christ could heal. It was a matter of would he.

This is a good example for us when we ask for favors from the Lord. We should not question if it’s possible for God to bless us in some way. It’s just a matter of whether it is God’s will.

Luke

3:5

“Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth.” John was saying that everything that Jesus taught would be different. He would teach something that was completely foreign to them - especially those who were living an orthodox lifestyle based on the law of Moses.

Also, those in high positions would be brought low and those with low stations would be exalted. Things were going to change, Christ was a rebel. To those who had powerful positions, he would be viewed as a threat.

3:6, 8

It was new to talk about how all people would be saved - regardless of their ancestry. “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. “And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” This was a problem for those who believed that their chosen status meant that they were superior. Rather than view their birthright as a responsibility to all people, they thought it meant that they were elevated above others.

John had straightforward words for them, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” He was making the point that REPENTANCE was the key principle, not BIRTHRIGHT. What they DID as a result of their knowledge was what was important - not the knowledge itself.

Being born into the right family will not save us. Being a member of the true church isn’t going to save us. How many members believe that? How many feel superior to others because of our membership? We need to take to heart what John said to the Pharisees and Sadducees. We cannot be like them. Our membership is a responsibility, not an honor.

3:10-11

John’s answer to people’s question is very telling. “And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” What they needed to do had nothing to do with the rituals of their religion. They didn’t need the priesthood or special permission. They didn’t need to be inside the temple. They simply needed to be kind to each other. They needed to be selfless.

We sometimes complicate our purpose in this life. We must focus our effort on the two great commandments. John was focusing on the second in these verses. If I were to study for hours and then get into the car and be critical and mean to everyone we meet, we’re a modern-day Pharisee.

3:17

“Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” Christ’s teachings are an infinite sorting. We must realize that we sort ourselves by what we are willing to do. If we know what Christ taught, our choice to follow Him or go another way is completely up to us.

Again, he’s not sorting. We sort ourselves based on the standard that he taught. God and Jesus are united in their desire and efforts to help us choose well. But, it is always up to us to choose (sort) ourselves.