Luke 17:20-21–Next month, at Easter, many people will observe Jesus’ death and resurrection. That holiday pairs with Christmas, a date when many celebrate Jesus’ birth. Our calendar revolves around the beginning and end of Jesus’ life but includes no special times to recognize his ministry. That gap reveals the tendency to interpret his life in terms of his birth, death, and resurrection. However, we should notice that the gospels dedicate considerably more time to Jesus’ ministry than his birth and death. In fact, two of the four gospels do not even record Jesus’ birth. While volume alone does not determine significance, it does contribute to how we assess importance. Given the weight the gospels give to the long middle section of Jesus’ ministry, we will take the next three weeks to explore the message of the kingdom driving Jesus’ ministry. This lesson begins that series by noting that Jesus’ ministry announced the arrival of God’s kingdom in the world.
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