The book of Acts begins by telling the reader what Jesus did for the forty days that He was on the earth between His resurrection and His ascension. It simply says that He with His apostles, “to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). The text states that Jesus was “speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” What sorts of “things” do you think He spoke concerning the kingdom?
Perhaps He spoke of the immeasurable value of His kingdom, as He once did when He told the parable of a man who found treasure in a field, and “for joy over it” sold all that he had to buy the field (Matt. 13:44). Surely His apostles needed to remember that!
Perhaps He spoke of the citizenship of His kingdom, as He once did when He told the parable of a great supper, to which all persons near and far (of all demographics) were invited (Luke 14:15-24). Surely they needed to hear that again!
Perhaps He spoke of the labor required in His kingdom, as He once did when He told the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, who all received the same wage for their hard work (Matt. 20:1-16). The apostles needed to remember that!
Perhaps He spoke of the timing of the coming of His kingdom, as He often did by saying it was “at hand” (Matt. 4:17), would come in that generation (Mark 9:1) and was “not many days” away (Acts 1:5). They needed to know that!
Perhaps He spoke of the laws of His kingdom, as He often did by emphasizing that man must “do” the will of God (Matt. 7:21), for His word would be the standard of judgment (John 12:48). Surely the apostles needed to remember that!
Perhaps He spoke of the entrance into His kingdom, as He had before, emphasizing that unless one is baptized (“born of water and the Spirit”) that “he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The apostles needed to know that for sure!
Perhaps He spoke of the eternal destiny of His kingdom, as He emphasized in the parable of the tares that only those who practice righteousness in His kingdom will be gathered to the Father (Matt. 13:37-43).
No doubt, “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” of which our Lord spoke during those 40 days included “things” He had already taught concerning the kingdom and “things” which the apostles would go forth and preach (and write about in our New Testament). The establishment of His kingdom in the first century and our citizenship therein is the central purpose of His coming—no wonder He spent 40 more days speaking about it! Do you know and love His kingdom?