“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36)
God Sent His Son
The controversy over the status of Jesus started even at His birth. When men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, they said they were there to offer gifts to the one born king of the Jews. This sparked a reaction from Herod that eventually led to the deaths of male children in the vicinity in the hope of wiping out the threat.
It’s only fitting that by the end of His earthly ministry, before His sacrifice, His status as King would come into question. It was a charge that the Jews were hoping would be enough to cause upset in the Roman Empire to make the death penalty certain. Jesus’ response to Pilate’s question, however, reveals what the real issue was about.
Jesus’ message from the start of His ministry was about the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ acts of service were indications of what the rule of God looked like. Jesus’ teaching revolved around the rule of God. Everything was pointing to the rule, and Jesus embodied the rule in action, making Him best suited to rule.
The threat that the Kingdom of God poses was far greater than the Roman Empire. The rule of God would overwhelm and dispose of the kingdom of darkness that had influenced and corrupted every other rule. This is why the threat was more about principalities and powers than anything else, and the mission of Jesus was to establish a rule that would be in contrast to all the kingdoms of the world. The rule of God expresses a life and light-centred approach to things. The reconnection with God would see dependence on Him guide the way people related, so there were expressions of mercy, purity and the pursuit of peace.
The victory on the cross and the importance of the resurrection made it pivotal for all who believe in Jesus to understand that this is about living His life by His resurrection power to live to the standard required in God’s rule. This doesn’t depend on self-determination; it now depends on the Spirit of God that is given to those who accept the need for Him and His rule. Being filled with His Spirit is not just about a happy feeling inside; it’s about the power within to celebrate and operate in the Kingdom.
This power was evident in how the early church developed, which was a lot more about pointing to King Jesus as Lord of all than any other affiliation or loyalty. This devotion led many to be challenged and opposed, persecuted, and martyred. They gave their lives because their eyes were on a Kingdom and King far greater than anything the world has to offer.
So God sends us
The call to follow Jesus for us is a call to acknowledge Him as the Lord and Saviour. It is wonderful to know that our sins are forgiven. It is brilliant to know that we have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness to the marvellous of the Son. These truths are wonderful to absorb and meditate on. That, however, is part of the process.
The other part of the process revolves around living out the affiliation and loyalty to the Kingdom of God above every other rule. This is about priorities, which is why the king says that the cure for anxiety is to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. The pursuit of that priority shapes every action we take. It affects all areas of our lives, determining how we work out our relationships and what message we share with others.
Our challenge is to see what it means to be sent in this way today. What does it look like in our relationships, work activities, serving, and conversations? How can we establish clearly that the offer is that Jesus is Lord and Saviour? How do we express that on the individual and communal level?
As the Father sent the Son, He is sending us.
For His Name’s Sake
C. L. J. Dryden
Shalom
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