世界需要一位真正的君王，整本圣经都在宣告和指向这个事实，而很多故事、话剧、史诗、神话、和童话，也以不同的版本来表达这个主题。这个世界已弄得一团糟，它失去了它真正的统治者；它本来有极大的潜力，可惜它却一败涂地了。我们仍然在等待世界真正的君王显现，他要把各种不同和交织一起的盼望与期待、应许与潜力凝聚在一起。
在新约圣经中，我们看到耶稣降临这一幕。祂到来“传道”，传道的意思是“宣告、传达君王的文告”。圣经的中心信息，是宣告和公布来自君王的真正好消息，这个好消息说，在耶稣里，天国已经近了。
天国是什么？简单来说，天国就是任何由神作王的地方－由神掌管、由祂塑造人的生命和治理世界的地方。耶稣到来体现和宣告这个国度，祂不是寻找投他一票的人或慷慨解囊的政客，祂乃是呼召我们来尽忠于祂：“来，跟从我。”祂让我们有份参与拓展祂的国的事工：“我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。”
今天，祂仍然不断在呼唤我们：“天国近了，你们应当悔改。来，跟从我。”
主神啊，祢的国降临的盼望令人振奋，惟愿这盼望能赢取我们的心和掌管我们的生命，好叫世人都认识基督是王。阿们。
马太福音 4:17-23
17从那时候，耶稣就传起道来，说：“天国近了，你们应当悔改！”
18耶稣在加利利海边行走，看见弟兄二人，就是那称呼彼得的西门和他兄弟安得烈，在海里撒网，他们本是打鱼的。
19耶稣对他们说：“来跟从我，我要叫你们得人如得鱼一样。”
20他们就立刻舍了网，跟从了他。
21从那里往前走，又看见弟兄二人，就是西庇太的儿子雅各和他兄弟约翰，同他们的父亲西庇太在船上补网，耶稣就招呼他们。
22他们立刻舍了船，别了父亲，跟从了耶稣。
23耶稣走遍加利利，在各会堂里教训人，传天国的福音，医治百姓各样的病症。
"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'" - Matthew 4:17
The world needs a true king. The whole Bible proclaims and points to this fact. Many stories, plays, epic poems, mythologies, and fairy tales echo some version of the theme too. This world is messed up; it has lost its true ruler; it has tremendous potential but falls terribly short. We are all waiting for the world's true King to be revealed, to pull together all the diverse and tangled strands of hope and longing, promise and potential.
In the New Testament we come to the arrival of Jesus on the scene. He comes "preaching," a term that means "to herald, to make a royal proclamation." The Bible's core message is a royal proclamation and announcement of truly good news. This is the news that in Jesus, the kingdom of heaven has come near.
What is the kingdom of heaven? It is, most simply, wherever God is King—where God is in charge, shaping people's lives and ruling the world. Jesus comes to embody and announce that kingdom. He is not a politician seeking someone's vote or generous donations. He is the King calling us to true allegiance: "Come, follow me." He makes us participants in his kingdom's advance: "I will send you out to fish for people."
He continues calling today: "Repent. Come. Follow me. The kingdom of heaven has come near."
Lord God, may the thrilling hope of your kingdom's coming win our hearts and rule our lives so that the world may know Christ as King. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
