Jesus Introduces the Kingdom of Heaven 

Jesus spent four months training his first six apostles. He let John the Baptist pave the way, and John generated a lot of interest for one who was greater. Hearing of John’s imprisonment, Jesus decided it was time to begin his public ministry. He spoke in the synagogue for only the second time during these months of waiting. On the Sabbath, Jesus read spiritual passages from Scripture and then explained his spiritual concept of the kingdom.

He emphasized that his kingdom is based on spiritual rebirth and inner transformation, accessible through faith and moral integrity, rather than through socio-political upheaval or conquest. Despite explaining that this kingdom transcends traditional religious practices and societal distinctions, fostering divine righteousness and communal well-being, the response was mixed; a third accepted, a third rejected, and a third dismissed it as incomprehensible.

Rome was a kingdom, and the Jews were subservient under their rule and taxed without recourse. The Jews wanted to govern as a chosen people as they interpreted the Scripture. Jesus was not a warrior or a king. He did not seek power, and now he was introducing spiritual concepts to those who were looking for a political leader or a Messiah. They were waiting for a Moses who could perform miracles and lead the people out of servitude. Jesus already knew that he would not fill that role.

Jesus would keep the term kingdom, as that concept was set in everyone’s mind as the promise of a better world. As he later taught his disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come; your will be done," he also would try to persuade them to abandon the term "kingdom of God" in favor of the more practical equivalent, "the will of God," but he did not succeed. In his introduction, his approach would be to divide the term 'kingdom’ into denoting those on earth and the one in heaven; the physical from the spiritual. This is not what the Jews came to hear, but it clearly differentiated his mission from their immediate concerns. They would only need to realize that his kingdom was a direct path to a better world.

Jesus gave his second sermon in the synagogue at Capernaum on Sabbath, June 22, 26 CE, introducing the Kingdom.

The scene was set about ten days after John’s imprisonment and shortly before the apostles went out on their first preaching tour. Jesus was working in Zebedee’s boat shop when Peter brought him news of John’s arrest. When Jesus heard, he announced that the Father’s hour had come. Peter rushed out and gathered the apostles and went to get Jesus. But Jesus had gone elsewhere to pray and did not return until that evening. The next day, Jesus sent his brother James to request the pulpit. The ruler was pleased to have Jesus again willing to conduct the Sabbath service.

Jesus began reading from the Scriptures: “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy people. Yahweh is our judge, Yahweh is our lawgiver, Yahweh is our king; he will save us. Yahweh is my king and my God. He is a great king over all the earth. Loving-kindness is upon Israel in this kingdom. Blessed be the glory of the Lord for he is our King.”

When he finished reading, Jesus described the promised kingdom that he came to represent. He conveyed that his kingdom is not of this world but founded on the spiritual acceptance and inner transformation of individuals. Unlike earthly kingdoms driven by power and dominance, Jesus's kingdom thrives on the principles of divine righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. He taught that this kingdom doesn't materialize through physical conquests or social and political upheaval but emerges within the hearts of those who choose faith over skepticism and moral integrity over expedience. He stressed that entry to this kingdom requires the simple yet profound act of faith, akin to the trust and openness of a child, underscoring that spiritual rebirth transcends traditional religious practices and societal distinctions.

Instructing his followers, Jesus clarified that the kingdom of heaven is not concerned with temporal power or racial and social divisions. Whether Jew or Gentile, all are called to seek perfection through service, echoing his teachings that true greatness in his spiritual kingdom comes from servitude – a stark contrast to the worldly desire for dominance and recognition. He envisioned a community where all members, unified in spirit, strive for personal growth and collective well-being, mirroring the familial and inclusive nature of divine love. This kingdom, he explained, grows silently and steadily within one's soul, much like a seed transforming into a mature plant, indicating that spiritual development is a gradual and ongoing process.

Further elaborating on the nature of this kingdom, Jesus assured his followers of its eternal essence and transformative power. Entry into this spiritual realm guarantees liberation from worldly constraints and offers joyous salvation that leads to eternal life. Unlike earthly realms defined by borders and governed by fallible rulers, the kingdom of heaven offers a profound sense of freedom and fulfillment, accessible through the sincere embrace of God’s infinite love and mercy. Jesus emphasized that this divine rule is an everlasting dominion where all who enter will ascend to a glorified existence with the Father, ultimately becoming co-heirs in the infinite and all-encompassing realm of God.

Before Jesus commenced his public ministry, he unequivocally declared the nature and intent of his mission. In this address, he unambiguously identified himself and clarified the spiritual essence of his kingdom, explicitly stating his disinterest in political upheavals such as the overthrow of Roman rule. He thoroughly delineated the concept of a spiritual kingdom, distinct from earthly empires.

The audience, captivated by his words, felt a profound disorientation. His message of divine goodwill stood out as a departure from their traditional religious experience. Many of the listeners encountered Jesus' teachings for the first time, evoking a wide range of responses. One-third accepted his message, despite the lofty ideals that occasionally eluded their full comprehension. Another third flatly rejected it, believing that traditional scriptural interpretations were immutable and incapable of yielding deeper, spiritual meanings. The final third found the concepts incomprehensible, dismissing Jesus as delusional.