The Second Call

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (NASB) Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15

Jesus came declaring the good news that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Jesus uses the perfect tense of EGGIZDO for the phrase “is at hand.” The perfect tense means that it is a completed task. That is, the kingdom was already near because He was there. This is exactly what Jesus told the Pharisees later in His ministry.

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (NASB) Luke 17:20-21

The kingdom of heaven is also called the kingdom of God in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The kingdom has always existed in a spiritual sense. It has existed since the time of King David (Ps. 45:6; Heb. 1:8) because God reigns in the invisible world. The kingdom will physically exist on this earth for 1,000 years at some time in the future (Rev. 20:1-4), and will then continue forever in the new heaven and new earth. It is eternal. Now it is a hidden kingdom, but in the future we will see it. The kingdom is also called the kingdom of Christ (Eph. 5:5) because it will be given to Jesus. So the King of the kingdom was present in Capernaum and the preacher was declaring, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Your King is here!

Peter and Andrew. Can you imagine Jesus preaching that message in the synagogues and in open areas? Stop and imagine people stopping to listen and then speaking with Him. But Jesus did not spend all of His time preaching and healing. On at least one occasion this One who had been rejected, the Light of lights, the King of kings came seeking some teachable men who already believed in Him. So in verse 18 the Holy Spirit turns on the camera and sound, so to speak, and we see Jesus walking.

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (NASB) Matt. 4:18-19; Mark 1:16-17

As Jesus is walking we can imagine hearing the sound of the waves and the birds above our heads. Apparently, Jesus is by Himself and somewhere along His walk He finds the two fishermen that He is seeking, Peter and Andrew.