It is very interesting to note that we could deduce and induce how Jesus' audience understood his announcement, or gospel, that the kingdom of God is about to come. Like what scholars have mentioned, they must have understood this announcement as referring to the coming of their King, the Messiah, to establish God's rule over Israel and more importantly for them, over the Gentiles. That is why they naturally, be it his followers, skeptics or enemies, asked whether Jesus was the Messiah. And indeed he was, although he always veiled his identity until the final moments. This could also indicate that he knew all along his purpose, or the Father's way, was to die on the cross. He did not want to reveal his identity fully in order to deny his audience from mistakenly forcing him to become a political king, and to a revolt that would undoubtedly lead to disaster as how it played out in Jewish history.
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