Serving the Poor and the Persecuted
Dr. Stephen Rasche

Jesus’ Public Ministry Begins: The Kingdom of God Proclaimed
Jesus’ “hidden life” ends and his public ministry begins with his baptism in the Jordan River by John. Jesus’ proclamation that “the kingdom (or reign) of God is at hand” is the key to his mission and ministry.
But what is this kingdom, and how does Jesus bring it about?
The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The Paschal Mystery of Jesus... stands at the center of the Christian faith because God's saving plan was accomplished…...
What does God "look like"? Jesus says simply: "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father... I am in the Father and the Father is in me"…...
As author C. S. Lewis noted, Jesus as he's revealed in the Gospels is either God, a lunatic, or a liar. Jesus differs from all other religious founders…...