The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

The Son of God's first Disciples,
join Him as being out form among them.

The next day after John stood, with two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, John saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, What seek you? They answered him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwell you? He said to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was named Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, said, you are Simon the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

But before we go further, I want to increase our understanding of the revelation of John's work, I want to look at what Jesus says about him and how John the Baptist effected the knowledge and understanding of the kingdom which had by then been inaugurated or begun. I look first at John's synoptic gospel and then Luke's.

John 3:23-24, 25-30, 31-36, 4:1-3 John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison.

Then there arose a question between John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you barest witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all come to him. John answered, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I decrease.

He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that came from heaven is above all. And what He has both seen and heard, that He testifies; and no man receives His testimony. He that has received His testimony has set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure to him. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He that believes the Son has everlasting life: and he that believe not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him. 

  

John 4:1-3 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.

Luke 7:18-23, 24-35 The disciples of John showed him of all these things. John calling two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Ask Him are you he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come to Him, they said, John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, Are you he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour He cured many of infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Then Jesus said to them, Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in Me.

When the messengers of John were departed, He (Jesus) began to speak to the people concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went you out for to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. This is of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, which shall prepare Your way before You.(Numbers 12:6; Malachi 3:1, 2-5, Matthew 11:2-19 [10], Mark 1:2, Luke 1:76; Isaiah 40:3 Haggai 2:6-7; Daniel 2:44-45, 7:22-25) For I say to you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. All the people that heard and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But some of the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of Him.

The Lord said, Whereto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned for you, and you have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and yet you say, He has a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and you say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children.