The Bible and other early Christian documents contain some particularly well known and valuable words spoken by Jesus on the subject of prayer: You may recognise these words as part of The Lord's Prayer.

"Your kingdom come: Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven"

Your kingdom come

The Biblical writings about Jesus' ministry are called the Gospel writings; the word 'Gospel' meaning 'Good News'.

People today often sum up the 'Good News' as "God loves you" or quote: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (from John 3:16)  However, in the Gospel writings themselves, the Good News is summed up as 'The kingdom of God is at hand' (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14b-15)  Jesus' mission was to 'preach the good news of the kingdom of God' (Luke 4:43).

Jesus' mission came at a time of great Jewish expectation: God would surely send their Messiah to liberate them from the rule of the Romans?! Their Holy Temple in Jerusalem was almost restored: the time was surely right for God's Anointed King to rule from the Holy City?! For the pious, religious, righteous Jew there was hope - not for today but soon...! Meanwhile, the here and now was a time of testing: Are you worthy to enter the kingdom on that imminent day? Those who were well regarded might feel they had a chance, if they stuck to the religious rules but those who were disregarded - like the tax collectors and prostitutes - stood no chance of a place in God's kingdom: not a hope! Among the Jewish people, very few would have a sense of certain hope in entering the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God was beyond them: beyond their here and now, and beyond the level of righteousness they could attain.

But Jesus came with a message (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14b-15): The time is now: 'The kingdom of God is at hand! Some people couldn't see beyond their preconceptions and presumed Jesus was going to lead a revolt; even that Jesus himself might be the Messiah they were expecting. But the words and actions of Jesus showed a different meaning to his message and his Messiahship.

Jesus spoke of God's kingdom being here and now (Luke 17:20-21) - at hand - within your grasp. The kingdom of God is any place where God's rules are being obeyed - where His will is being done. If the ways of heaven are enacted on earth then in those actions we glimpse God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven: The prayer 'your kingdom come' runs parallel to the prayer 'your will be done on earth as it is in heaven'. Every time Jesus healed a person they witnessed the kingdom of heaven on earth.

The message that the kingdom of God is at hand was good news to people who needed hope not just for a day in the future but hope that would help them where they lived, in the here and now. "Pie in the sky when you die" is not the Gospel message! In Jesus, God came from beyond and broke through into the here and now of people's lives. He showed how God's rule - His will - His kingdom - can impact our lives for the better: so that we can have the lives He intended us to have! (John 10:10)

The kingdom of God comes with great power: It impacts situations, places and lives and transforms them. Above all we see this in what Jesus did on the cross: He took the worst place - the place reserved for punishment of the deepest wrongs - the place of pain and hatred and hopelessness - the place of death - and he transformed it! - to a place of glory and victory and celebration! - to a place where the kingdom of God is victorious over all things - not just a future victory but a victory over past wrongs, future failings and all the grit and grime of our here and now:

It's not beyond us, out of reach, hard to grasp - the kingdom of God is at hand! - that is the good news!

Your kingdom come Lord! Don't wait until the end of time but let your kingdom be established and grow and flourish (Mark 4:30-32) in the here and now!

Your will be done

Throughout his ministry, Jesus prayed a prayer that influenced every decision he made and every desire he had: "Father: Your will be done".

Mark 1:35-38 , Luke 5:16
As he started his ministry, Jesus became very popular very quickly. After early prayer, Jesus placed the will of Father God above the will of the people: He acted upon the prayer "Your will be done" - not theirs but Yours!

Matthew 26:36-44
At a place called Gethsemane, Judas betrayed Jesus, leading to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. Jesus had gone to Gethsemane to pray before his arrest. He prayed repeatedly "May Your will be done." - not mine but Yours!

Matthew 6:9-10
During his ministry, Jesus taught people to pray the same prayer as he prayed:
"Father: Your kingdom come: Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
It's central to the Lord's prayer. It was central to Jesus' life and it should be central to every human life: when the desire of the Christian heart connects with the mind of Christ, we're praying.it

I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your law is within my heart.
Psalm 40:8

Explore the meaning of life - Is this Good News for you?
Check out the Alpha Course, available worldwide:

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. - Matthew
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God:
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:
Repent and believe the good news!" - Mark
Before sunrise the next morning, Jesus got up and went away to a solitary place where he prayed. Simon and the others who were with Jesus went to look for him.
When they found him they said "Everybody is looking for you!"
Jesus replied "Let us go so that I can preach in other villages also: That's what I came to do!"
Jesus would withdraw into solitary places in order to pray.
Then Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to his disciples "Sit here while I go over there to pray."
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. Sorrow and anguish came over Jesus so he said "I'm almost crushed with sorrow. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Jesus went a little further and fell on his face, and prayed: "Father, if it is possible, let this cup be taken from me; though not my will but yours be done."
Jesus returned to the disciples and found them asleep so he said to Peter "What, were you unable to keep watch with me for one hour?! Keep watch and pray that you won't fall into temptation: The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
He went away a second time and prayed "My Father, if it's not possible for this cup to be taken from me; if I must drink it then your will be done."
Jesus returned and found them asleep again: They couldn't keep their eyes open.
He went away a third time and prayed the same words.
Pray in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God should come, he replied "The kingdom of God isn't coming in a way that can be observed. Neither will people be able to say "Here it is!" or "It's over there!" No: The kingdom of God is right here in the midst of you"
The thief comes only to steal, to kill and destroy.
I came so that they may have life - life in all its fullness!
Jesus said to them "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also: That's what I am sent to do".
And Jesus said "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall we compare it with?
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is the smallest seed of all:
But after that, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out huge branches;
so that the birds of the air may nest in its shade.

to explore the feature guide
or to return.