Smoodock's Blog

If one has a red-letter Bible, it is astonishing, at least it was for me, to see and understand for the first time, that Jesus spoke very little after his prayer in Gethsemane. Prior to Jesus’ arrest, he had a lot to say. Nevertheless, afterward, not so much! For example, Jesus refused to speak before the Jewish Sanhedrin, until the high priest commanded him to witness to them before God (Matthew 26:63-64). He didn’t speak even one word to Herod (Luke 23:7-11). However, he voluntarily spoke with Pilate, when they were alone! If this is important to understand, I wonder, if we shouldn’t pay particular attention to what Jesus told Pilate. One thing that stands out in their discussion is that Jesus told Pilate, the Kingdom of God was not of this world, but, if it were of this world, Jesus’ disciples would have fought to keep him from falling into the hands of the Jewish authorities (John 18:36). Let’s consider, for a moment, what that means, vis-à-vis what it means to be of the world or not of the world.

As Christians, we declare that no man is lord over us but Jesus (1Corinthians 8:5-6), even our obedience to this world’s authority is done, because no authority exists but of God and by appointment of God (Romans 13:1). Therefore, all we do is governed by our worship of God. In him we invest our whole selves, our thoughts, our wills, our hopes and our fears. Our flag, as it were, is firmly planted in Jesus, the one and only Lord in the universe, and this is “the most politically charged act we could ever do.” Ours is not the worship of Mars, Pluto and Aphrodite (violence, wealth and sex). Our whole worship of God is vested in the God we see in Jesus, and this worship demands such submission that Jesus, and Jesus alone, shapes us and directs our behavior, vis-à-vis to the end that we are his images (Genesis 1:27).

In the Kingdom of God love is stronger than death (rule through strength, force and intimidation: Mars); it is a place, where the poor receive the Kingdom, vis-à-vis all the benefits and rewards offered by God’s authority, rather than vesting the wealth in a few (Pluto). Moreover, the Kingdom of God is a world, where faithfulness is important, a place where obedience and honor is given out of unrestricted respect for Jesus, the one through whom we’ve been given all things (Ephesians 1:3), which is in contrast to taking one’s pleasures to oneself for immediate satisfaction (Aphrodite). Our behavior demonstrates who we worship.

Our Christianity, our following Jesus, our witness of the Gospel, our commitment to obedience to God is all wrapped up in worship. In other words, our worship of Jesus is very much opposed to allegiance to any of the kingdoms of men. The course of this world, its ways, the paths it takes to achieve its ends are completely opposed to the rule of love, the way of Christ. Out of the movers and shakers of this world, there will emerge in every generation a man, who will define the air of the age. Hitler was a man who moved the world to respond to his will. Kennedy was also a man who moved the world, but in another direction, and Reagan had his day in the sun, and presently there is Trump. Whether for building or for destruction, for killing or for healing, laughing or mourning, breaking treaties or making them (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8), a man will arise in each generation to define the air of the age, wherein the children of this world will be energized (Ephesians 2:2).

Nevertheless, the children of God march to the beat of a different drummer. In it all and through it all, we, who are committed to the worship of the God, whom we see in Jesus, if we are consistent in yielding ourselves to become an image of Jesus, our Savior, shall be able to recognize the air of this world for what it is. Let us who have eyes to see and ears to hear continue in our worship of God, our Father, vis-à-vis offering him our complete commitment and submission. He alone is our Creator and Savior, and he, and he alone, deserves our complete commitment and worship.[1]

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[1] While this study does follow N.T. Wright’s thoughts in his book, Simply Jesus, I do that differently than he does in his book, but I believe we arrive at the same place. Nevertheless, my favorite scholar my not agree with the things I say about his book.