Tidings From Judea
The sermon shares tidings from Judea about a person preaching the kingdom of God and performing incredible miracles.
Clement of Rome preaches about the spreading of the good news of God, detailing how a report about a certain One in Judæa, preaching the kingdom of the invisible God and performing miraculous signs, gradually grew and spread throughout the world despite efforts to silence it. This One, believed to be full of the Godhead, healed the sick, raised the dead, and performed countless miracles, leading to gatherings and inquiries about His identity and purpose.
Text
And, not to discuss such matters to you in a long speech, while I was occupied with such reasonings and doings, a certain report, taking its rise in the spring-time, in the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, gradually grew everywhere, and ran through the world as truly the good tidings of God, being unable to stifle the counsel of God in silence. Therefore it everywhere became greater and louder, saying that a certain One in Judæa, beginning in the spring season, was preaching to the Jews the kingdom of the invisible God, and saying that whoever of them would reform his manner of living should enjoy it.
And in order that He might be believed that He uttered these things full of the Godhead, He wrought many wonderful miracles and signs by His mere command, as having received power from God.
For He made the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk, raised up the bowed down, drove away every disease, put to flight every demon; and even scabbed lepers, by only looking on Him from a distance, were sent away cured by Him; and the dead being brought to Him, were raised; and there was nothing which He could not do.
And as time advanced, so much the greater, through the arrival of more persons, and the stronger grew--I say not now the report, but--the truth of the thing; for now at length there were meetings in various places for consultation and inquiry as to who He might be that had appeared, and what was His purpose.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Spread of the Gospel - A Report from Judea - The Message of the Kingdom
- II points: - The Miracles of Jesus - Healing the Sick - Raising the Dead
- III points: - The Growth of the Movement - Meetings for Consultation - Inquiry into Jesus' Identity
Key Quotes
“For He made the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk, raised up the bowed down, drove away every disease, put to flight every demon;” — Clement of Rome
“And as time advanced, so much the greater, through the arrival of more persons, and the stronger grew--I say not now the report, but--the truth of the thing;” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- The message of the kingdom is worth sharing with others.
- Faith in Jesus can bring healing and restoration to our lives.
- The truth of God's word is worth investigating and discussing with others.