In HIS Kingdom
When Jesus of Nazareth first appeared in Galilee, he proclaimed the “Kingdom of God” – “Repent, for the kingdom is at hand.” In his ministry, God’s reign began to invade the Earth. But his realm was and is of an entirely different nature to the political systems of this world. On more than one occasion, he refused THAT kind of political power, especially when it was offered by Satan who tempted him with “All the kingdoms of the world.”
According to the Gospel of Matthew,
for him to attain absolute power, all the Messiah needed to do was “render
homage” to the Devil and acknowledge his overlordship. Most remarkably, Jesus did NOT
dispute Satan’s “right” to dispense political power, though he refused it all
the same. Instead, he submitted to the path of the Suffering Servant of
Yahweh. His ministry would culminate in his death on a Roman cross - (Matthew
4:8-11, Luke 4:5-7).
 |
| [Photo by Harry Miller on Unsplash] |
In this fallen world, the price of political power is submission to Satan’s authority. According to him, the kingdoms of this age “have been delivered to me and I give them to whomever I will.”
Although he was appointed by
God to rule over all the nations of the Earth, Jesus refused this satanic
offer. Scripture confirmed his calling to reign over the nations, yet he rejected
the kind of political power valued so highly by the rulers of this age.
However, how could God’s designated king reign over rebellious nations and peoples without the military and
economic might of the State? - (Psalm 2:6-8).
In the four gospel accounts, rather
than resort to the political means of this age, Jesus embraced the way
of the Cross. In the “Kingdom of God,” true victory is achieved through self-denial
and sacrifice, and “greatness” is measured by acts of mercy for others, especially
one’s “enemies.” Rather than threatening or dominating other men, Jesus
“gave his life as a ransom for many.”
However, the temptation in the
“wilderness” was not the end of Satan’s political intrigues. Following
his rebuff, “the Devil departed from him until an opportune time.”
ONGOING TEMPTATION
After miraculously feeding a
multitude in Galilee, certain members of the crowd planned “to come and
seize him to make him king.” But Jesus walked away at the very point the
mob was determined to crown him, and this turned many minds against him.
The Son of Man would not become
the militaristic messiah hellbent on destroying Rome that so many of his
contemporaries craved. The closer he came to his death, the more the fickle
crowds rejected him as their Messiah. A “Suffering Servant” did not fit
their concept of royalty and kingship - (Luke 4:13, John 6:15).
Before his execution, Pontius
Pilate inquired whether Jesus was “the king of the Jews.” He did not
deny his kingly position, and he responded to Rome’s representative - “You
say that I am a king, and for this, I was born.” But he qualified his
kingship by stating that “my Kingdom is not FROM (ek) this
world - (John 18:33-36).
This did not mean that his domain
was strictly “spiritual” or otherworldly, or that his messianic program was
nonpolitical. However, the source of his sovereignty was other than the political
power that characterizes and dominates the existing world order.
His death on the Cross is the source of light and redemption in this world, not the might of Rome, and his Kingdom is ruled by the “slain Lamb,” not Caesar.
Pilate found no fault in him,
but at the instigation of the Temple authorities, the crowd demanded that he
release Barabbas instead, a man described in the gospels as a léstés (Greek)
or “brigand.” The priestly leaders of Israel preferred a violent
political revolutionary to the Suffering Servant of Yahweh.
 |
| [Photo by Joseph Sintum on Unsplash] |
WAY OF THE CROSS
Contrary to the expectations of
his contemporaries, Jesus “took on the form of a slave” and became “obedient
unto death, even death on a cross.” Because of his choice, God bestowed on
him “the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” - (Philippians
2:6-11).
His followers are summoned to live
by the very same mindset displayed by Jesus when he gave his life as a “ransom
for many.” Their choice is between the cruciform and rough pathway of Jesus,
or the expedient and smooth highway of Satan. The Lord declared that when he was
“lifted up” on the cross, he would “draw all men to me,” not by seating
himself on Caesar’s bloody throne.
The Nazarene is summoning all
men and women to “deny themselves, take up the cross,” and follow his
example and thus reflect his light in this dark world. The way of the Cross is the
only one that leads to citizenship in the Kingdom of God. All men who refuse to
emulate his example are “unworthy” of him and unfit for his Father’s Kingdom.
RELATED POSTS:
Comments
Post a Comment