The Footprint of the King

We are apt to say we do not know a lot about the Kingdom which Jesus will bring. When Jesus identified himself with the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-3, he gave his observers a footprint to follow. Whether he also quoted Psalm 146:7-9 we cannot know. However, from that day forward Jesus demonstrated his personal compassion for the very ones mentioned in both of those passages and other Old Testament footprint texts.

Some make the mistake of thinking Jesus’ miracles were precedents for all time. While he did give the same empowerment to the Apostles to signal the beginning of the era of the Church, he did not establish any works of that nature for the centuries beyond the Apostles. Rather, he sent the members of his Church (not a preeminent clergy) to come alongside the same people in need and to use their giftedness and resources at hand to bring comfort, encouragement, and the Gospel. His criteria for the admission of surviving mortals into his Kingdom at the end of the Tribulation is telling.

We may safely gather that this footprint will identify the overall character of the Kingdom when Jesus comes to reign in person. In all quarters he will personally direct the ministries of his citizens in a still fallen world which will still fall on hurting souls.

That is why, when John the Baptist began to have doubts, Jesus sent this message.

Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:

• The blind see,
• The lame walk,
• Lepers are cleansed,
• The deaf hear,
• The dead are raised,
• The poor have the Gospel preached to them.

There was the footprint of the King for any who wanted to track him; and there it remains to be followed by those who trust him.

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