As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. (Matthew 10:7-10)

The kingdom of heaven is near. This is the same message that John the Baptist proclaimed. But his was prophecy. Jesus brings something more.

The kingdom of heaven is eggizo - at hand, close, approaches. It is a verb. There is a sense of two objects being brought together, two bodies each approaching the other. The most common use of eggizo is in the carpenter's craft of joining corner-pieces.

Is the healing, cleansing, and more related to the joining of the heavenly and earthly kingdoms? Is this the act of joining? Or is this outcome of joining? Or is it a mistake to see a direct relationship?