After the Bible class had ended, I began gathering up my things to leave when the prison’s chaplain came out of his office. He motioned me over and asked in a hushed voice, “Would you be willing to talk to the inmate in my office? He just found out that his mother passed away and he’s asking to speak with a pastor.” “Sure,” I responded, and followed him back into his office.
Perry was sentenced to several years in jail. During his first year, he noticed how some Christian inmates had comfort and peace which he did not have. Wanting this same comfort and peace for himself, he picked up a Bible. Thinking it was just another book, he decided to skip to the end and just read the conclusion. So, in his quest for peace, Perry began reading the book of Revelation.
On one occasion, a group of Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. In reply, Jesus told them, “The Kingdom of God is not coming in a way you can observe, nor will people say, “Look, here it is!’ or ‘Look, there it is!’ because the Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21 EHV). Jesus was teaching that the Kingdom of God is spiritual in nature and includes all of his believers of all time.
A little more than a week before his death and resurrection, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the last time. While on the way, Jesus told his disciples, once again, that he would be “handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law, and they will condemn him to death. They will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, flog and crucify him. On the third day he will be raised.” Matthew 20:18-19 (EHV)
God had a job for Jonah. He told Jonah, “Get up. Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach against it, for its people’s evil way has come up before me.” Jonah 1:2 (EHV)