My Kingdom Is Not of This World

As followers of Jesus, here and now this side of heaven, we need regular reminders that his reign as Messiah, Lord, King (etc.) is radically different from patterns of power that permeate this world.  So too, we don’t take our cues for status and influence from a secular society that lives for human applause.  Consider:

When asked if he was King of the Jews, Jesus explained to Pontius Pilate, “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).  You see, fighting and force are rejected as expressions of allegiance to Jesus.  We don’t push and shove; we pray.  We don’t compel and coerce; we serve and love and wait—trusting in our wise and loving Lord.

Another scene from Jesus’ passion ties in here.  Judas arrives by night leading soldiers to arrest Jesus.  Once the other disciples realize what’s happening, they lash out: “One of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its place.  For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?’” (Matthew 26:51-54).  The biblical plan of a suffering Savior “must be so” (Isaiah 53:1-6, cf. Matt. 26:26-28).  And his plan is our pattern—we too take up a cross as Jesus’ apprentices (Matt. 16:24); we too refuse the way of combat.

Friends, beware of teachings that twist Jesus’ cause into a quest for power.  Instead, learn from Job:  he had it all, then lost it all, but in fact he always had what mattered most—God’s presence!  As Jesus says, don’t seek joy in earthly power, but “rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).