In an earlier study, Space, Time, and Matter, I discussed these things from God’s perspective. We understand space and time in more scientific terms, but, when we think of God, we need to take a different approach. It’s not that our understanding is wrong; it’s more a matter of them being more meaningful in connection with God. In this study, I hope to enlarge upon my earlier study in an effort to further express what it means for Jesus to reign through us, and what it means for us to reign (Revelation 5:10; 20:4) through him.[1]
During Jesus’ public ministry, he was redefining space. In other words, God had returned to his people (Malachi 3:1), but not as they expected. No doubt, they expected some kind of miraculous event, like the Cloud that covered the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 40:34), or the Cloud that filled the House of the Lord that Solomon built (1Kings 8:10-11). Nevertheless, God came and dwelt in the tabernacle of flesh (John 1:1, 14), thus redefining space, vis-à-vis flesh of Jesus’ person became the new Temple of God (Philippians 2:6-7), built without hands (Acts 7:48; cp. 1Kings 8:27), upstaging the Temple at Jerusalem. Thus, Heaven and Earth were joined together in the body of Jesus, just as Heaven and Earth were joined together in the Garden of Eden, the place where God communed openly with man (Genesis 2).
Shortly afterward, the Spirit that had anointed and equipped Jesus for the work of the Kingdom of God, poured out from the Lord to anoint Jesus’ disciples (Acts 2:1-4) for that same work, and, in doing so, made them an extension of the new Temple of God (1Corinthians 3:16; 1Peter 2:5). Thus, we, the Lord’s disciples in each generation, reclaim the world in his name through preaching, and he is with us in all our labor for him in this world. We, too, have become the place, where Heaven and Earth connect, the place, through which, the living God reclaims the Earth as his own and establishes his sovereign authority.
Of course, unbelievers (Andy in Dr. Wright’s list of worldviews) are quick to agree that the Bible does claim Jesus is King, but they deny anything has changed. “Look around you; all things continue as they have always been (cp. 2Peter 3:3-4). Wherefore, Billy apologizes, concluding change will be evident upon the Lord’s return, when Jesus is enthroned in Jerusalem! Yet, God sitting on a literal throne in Jerusalem or any other place upon this Earth, has never been his plan (viz. Genesis 1:27). Therefore, Chris, pointing to worldwide movements of change reasons that Jesus is, indeed, enthroned in Heaven and rules the Earth, and it is a matter of the Church getting behind those movements and doing the work of God. Yet, as Davie points out, every worldwide movement isn’t, necessarily, of God. For example, the Nazi uprising in Germany was a worldwide movement and was the cause of World War II. It was, certainly, not of God. Moreover, unbelievers like Gamaliel in the Book of Acts came to the Apostles’ rescue, when their lives were in danger (Acts 5:34-39), and a Roman centurion rescued Paul, when he, certainly, would have been killed by the Jewish pilgrims in Jerusalem (Acts 23:12-24).
“What is Jesus up to?” If we are to take the Bible seriously, Jesus does, in fact, reign over the Earth. However, not only is his Kingdom enlarged through the preaching of his disciples, but unbelievers, as well, are sometimes used for his purposes, vis-à-vis saving the lives of his own disciples, or doing great works that often make it easier for the Gospel to go out into all the world.
The fact is, Jesus is not acting as one of the kings of this world. His methods are different (Isaiah 55:8; cp. Matthew 20:25-28). Therefore, if he is, indeed, reigning over this Earth, we need to look for him with different eyes. Space, itself, is different with respect to Jesus. We will not find him in temples made of hands (Acts 7:48), but in the Temple of the body of Jesus (John 2:19, 21), and that of his disciples (1Corinthians 3:16).
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[1] Keep in mind that this study series follows N.T. Wright’s book, Simply Jesus. I use the book’s chapters and sub headings for a chronological study of what it means for Jesus to reign on the Earth, as in Heaven. At times I depart from the literal chronology and add other material, as Dr. Wright’s work inspires me. Because of this, and the fact that I may take his logic too far, he probably would not agree with every conclusion I draw from his work. Therefore, anyone wishing to understand Simply Jesus from Dr. Wright’s point of view, should purchase his book for himself. None of my studies should be considered an individual synopsis of Dr. Wright’s work.
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