Moreover, the kingdom that Jesus proclaimed is a kingdom of love, justice, and peace. These three values have to be internalized, grasped, accepted. Until their opposites--hatred, injustice, and war--are voluntarily removed from human hearts individually and in groups of humans, the kingdom will not yet be established.

In advancing this revolutionary objective, therefore, Jesus began with a call to personal conversion. He preached a gospel that encouraged a reduction to zero of hatred, injustice, and war in the hearts of those who believed in him. If the barriers to the coming of the promised kingdom--hatred, injustice, and war--were reduced to zero in individuals and groups, the reign of God (a kingdom of love, justice, and peace) would prevail. And so we pray, "Thy kingdom come."

This is the revolution Jesus set out to achieve.

His revolutionary doctrine is also spelled out in the fourth gospel where we see an example of servant leadership (washing the feet of his disciples) and hear a call to "love one another as I have loved you" (to the point of willingness to lay down your life for the other).

Before his time (in what is called the Old Law) there was an ethic of reciprocity--do unto others as you would have them do unto you, love others as you love yourself. In the New Law, the good news proclaimed by Jesus before he died, he established an ethic of renunciation--find your life by losing it, put others' interests before your own, lay down your life for your friend.

He explained love as sacrifice. He showed that it is indeed better to give than to receive. He demonstrated that non-violence is the strongest force of all. This is revolutionary doctrine that has been "at hand," but not yet grasped, and proclaimed, but not fully heard, since Jesus walked the earth.