The Kingdom Movement

A Literary & Pastoral Study Guide to the Gospel of Matthew

The Inspiration of Matthew,

by Caravaggio

On the King's Errand

Devotional Reflections on Matthew's Gospel

Jesus’ Herald:  Mt.3:1 – 6

^3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ² ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ³ For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the LORD, make his paths straight!’’  ⁴ Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; ⁶ and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

          My family and I love Disney movies.  In the movie Aladdin, the magical genie (played by the hilarious Robin Williams) trumpets his announcement:

Make way for Prince Ali

Say hey! It's Prince Ali

Hey! Clear the way in the old Bazaar

Hey you!

Let us through!

It's a bright new star!

Oh Come!

Be the first on your block to meet his eye!

Make way!

Here he comes!

Ring bells! Bang the drums!

Are you gonna love this guy!

Prince Ali! Fabulous he!

Ali Ababwa

Genuflect, show some respect

Down on one knee!

Now, try your best to stay calm

Brush up your Sunday salaam

Then come and meet his spectacular coterie...

And in marches Aladdin, newly made over as Prince Ali, coming to the palace to meet Princess Jasmine. 

          The scene reminds me of the common practice in other times and places when a royal figure sent out a herald to announce his coming.  That is who John the Baptist was.  He was the herald.  Jesus was the coming king.  And John the Baptist’s job was to announce to Israel that her Messiah was coming, to prepare their hearts for him. 

          John’s announcement was that the ‘kingdom of heaven’ was at hand.  And although most Jews mistakenly thought of the ‘kingdom of heaven’ as simply Jewish liberation from the Roman Empire, still there was a correct sense God would once again be Israel’s king.  He would even be her ‘husband’ again (Isa.54).  This ‘kingdom of heaven’ therefore meant personal renewal and spiritual life as well – it wasn’t merely ‘political’ in that sense.  It was a relational commitment on the part of Jews towards the God of Israel.  Every Passover, which was a Jewish holiday marking their independence day from Egypt centuries ago, Jews would light candles, feast, read Scripture, and say, ‘We have no king but God.’  That was their preparation.  They nurtured hopes and dreams for God to become king. 

          God had promised to Israel that this day would come.  Through his prophet Isaiah and other prophets, God foretold His own personal coming.  So when John the Baptist quoted Isaiah 40 and said that he was crying out from the wilderness, it triggered excitement.  ‘Make way!’  Jews flocked to hear this herald, and prepare themselves.

          John the Baptist struck a peculiar figure.  He wore camel hair and ate locusts.  He reminded people of the old prophet Elijah.  This seems to have been intentional on John’s part.  For Elijah was rough and tumble man himself, who lived in the wilderness and was fed by ravens (1 Ki.17:5 – 6).  Elijah anointed a successor, Elisha, who was a greater prophet than he.  Similarly, John the Baptist knows that this will be even more true this time.  John’s successor will be the Messiah, the prophet who is also the king, the one through whom God becomes king over Israel once more.

          Have we prepared our own hearts for Jesus?  Have we prepared ourselves for his reign?