ching: The King Steps Forward
Scripture (KJV)
Matthew 3:15
“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.”
Mark 1:15
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Luke 4:18–19, 21
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord… And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
Teaching
The Gospels record three key sayings at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry that reveal the nature of His mission.
First, at the Jordan River, He told John the Baptist, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15). In this moment Jesus explained why He, the sinless One, submitted to baptism. He did not need cleansing from sin, but He chose to identify Himself with sinners. He stepped into the muddy waters of baptism to stand with those He came to redeem. This act foreshadowed His death, burial, and resurrection. His baptism was not about Him being “saved”—He is the Savior. It was about obedience to the Father’s plan and public identification with humanity.
Second, after John’s imprisonment, Jesus began His ministry in Galilee with this proclamation: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). Here He announced that God’s prophetic clock had struck its appointed hour. Centuries of prophecy, including Daniel’s seventy weeks, had converged in Him. The kingdom was “at hand” because the King Himself was present. The only proper response was repentance and faith. Repentance (metanoeite) means a change of mind — turning from unbelief to faith in Christ. Believing the gospel is the positive response: trusting Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, who gives everlasting life to all who believe in Him (John 20:31). Notice that Jesus did not add works, perseverance, or reform as conditions for eternal life. He called for faith alone. Eternal life is the free gift (John 3:16). The kingdom, on the other hand, includes reward and rulership that depend on discipleship and perseverance (2 Timothy 2:12).
Third, in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from Isaiah 61 and declared: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor… To preach the acceptable year of the Lord… This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:18–19, 21). With these words, He made a direct Messianic claim. He announced His mission: to preach good news, heal the brokenhearted, deliver the captives, restore sight to the blind, set at liberty the oppressed, and proclaim God’s favor. Then He declared that the prophecy was fulfilled in Him. What for centuries had been read as hope for the future was now present reality in Him. This was more than a Sabbath reading; it was the King’s unveiling of Himself as the Anointed One.
When we take these passages together, we see a divine sequence: Identification (Matthew 3:15), Proclamation (Mark 1:15), and Fulfillment (Luke 4:18–21). Jesus identified Himself with sinners, He proclaimed the arrival of God’s kingdom, and He declared Himself the fulfillment of Scripture.
Illustration
Imagine a kingdom that has waited centuries for its rightful king. Decrees have been promised and written down. Generations have memorized the words. Every week in the synagogue those promises were read aloud. Then one day the King Himself enters. He takes the scroll, reads the ancient decree, and announces, “This is about Me — and it takes effect today.”
That is exactly what happened in the waters of the Jordan, in the towns of Galilee, and in the synagogue of Nazareth. The King stepped forward. He stood with His people in baptism, He proclaimed that God’s time had come, and He declared Himself the fulfillment of prophecy.
Applications
Personal: Jesus identified Himself with you in baptism, carried your sin at the cross, and calls you to identify yourself with Him in faith and obedience. Begin each day affirming: “I belong to Christ. My life is not of this world but hidden in Him.” Live out of the righteousness you already have in Him, not striving to earn what He has freely given.
Family: Teach your children that Jesus is not merely a figure of history but the fulfillment of prophecy. Show them that God kept His promises perfectly in sending Christ, and He will keep His promises still. Remind them that baptism is not salvation but a testimony of belonging to Christ. Share how Jesus continues to heal the brokenhearted and bring freedom even within your home.
Work/Community: In conversations with others, do not present Jesus as just a moral teacher or example. Speak of Him as God’s anointed King, the fulfiller of Scripture, and the Savior who gives everlasting life by faith alone. Let your life display urgency and integrity, showing that the kingdom of God is real and that His promises are sure.
Reflection
-
Do I live as one already clothed in Christ’s righteousness, or do I still try to earn what He has already given?
-
Have I truly believed His promise of everlasting life, resting fully in Him alone?
-
Do I understand the difference between the free gift of eternal life and the inheritance of kingdom reward?
-
If Jesus declared, “This day is this scripture fulfilled,” how should this day be lived in my life?
-
Where can I join Christ’s mission right now — bringing good news, healing, and freedom into the lives of others?