t'
To be your God. I am the Lord your God."

Philip leaned over and whispered to Simon, "Do you think he will dare
say anything about founding a new kingdom?"

"I have never heard him here before," answered Simon, "but he will say
what he thinks."

After Jesus had repeated two prayers of thanksgiving, the minister of
the synagogue brought a heavy scroll to the desk. A man from the
congregation read some verses from Leviticus; then several other men
read short passages.

The people stirred expectantly when Jesus stood up. Again Philip was
impressed by the clear and convincing manner of his speech. "Listen to
the words of the Prophet Isaiah," Jesus said.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has consecrated me to preach
the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release for captives
and recovery of sight for the blind. He has sent me to set free the
oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord's blessing." Jesus
rolled up the scroll. Every person in the synagogue waited to hear what
he would say.

"This very year," declared Jesus quietly but firmly, "is the year that
Isaiah is talking about. You do not have to wait any longer for God to
come to you. The words of Isaiah are true right now; God is here. The
prophets tell you about a great day, but that day is not far in the
future! God can be your King now! He can defeat every evil power. He
will rule you if only you will open your hearts to him."

Philip turned to Simon. He was disappointed. "What can he mean by that?"
Simon did not answer. He was waiting attentively for Jesus to go on.

"You think you are oppressed and poor," continued Jesus. "But I tell you
that you will never win freedom by fighting and by shedding blood. Only
the truth of God can make you free. Only his eternal treasures can make
you rich! It is useless to depend on earthly things: moths destroy
clothing; rust destroys iron; thieves steal money. Fire will burn down
barns. Do not spend your lives getting things that pass away. Rather,
store up treasures in the Kingdom of God. Only God's Kingdom is truly
real. Only in his Kingdom are you truly free. Only his treasures make
you really rich!"

"But how shall we get this Kingdom? That is what I want to know!"
whispered Philip hoarsely to Simon.

"He will tell you," answered Simon.

"You spend all your time getting ready for a Kingdom that is far away,"
cried Jesus. "You do not have to wait for God's Kingdom. God is here
no