At hand

Let’s put it in reverse and move backwards to check out Matt’s 10.7.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

What, exactly, does at hand mean?

• Does it mean It is here?

• Or does it mean almost here?

I was under the impression that there were instances in the Gospels where Jesus actually said it is here here. But perhaps that was just two different languages and a handful of different versions that got me thinking that.

Jesus taught us to pray that the Kingdom would come.He tells the 12 here to proclaim it is “at hand”, and apparently as a result of it being at hand, they are to do four things:

• heal the sick

• raise the dead

• cleanse the lepers

• cast out demons

Later, when John sends his disciples to try to get a straight answer from his cousin, Jesus tells them (11.4) to tell their leader:

• the blind receive their sight

• the lame walk

• lepers are cleansed

• the deaf hear

• the dead are raised up

• the poor have good news preached to them

He’s got something additional here—good news being preached!

But he subtracted the casting-out demons part. Hmm.

Hmm because, when the Pharisees get bent out of shape because Jesus cast out a demon,

Jesus seems to point to that very act as the proof of the pudding that the Kingdom has arrived (12.28).

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

I am still confused, but I don’t feel so bad now. Because you are probably as confused as I am by now. Good to have the company.

But you know, and I know, that there is nothin’ wrong in not having all the answers.