Pastor Jason is serving our government through jury duty this week. Because of that, I have the opportunity to write for our newsletter. Interestingly enough, his government service connects with an illustration I read in Mike Cosper’s book Land of My Sojourn. In it, he reminds us of how Jesus taught about his kingdom, how we should pray for it, seek it, and build our lives around it. His hearers must have been excited when Jesus spoke of kingdom. After all, they were oppressed by the Roman government and desperately desired the Messiah to come, set up His Kingdom and defeat the government that had overtaxed, abused and crushed the Jewish people. Their expectations may have been at their highest when Jesus wielded the whip and drove the moneychangers out of the temple. Perhaps they thought, “Now, it will happen. Now, he will crush the Romans and we will reign with him.”
And yet, Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem also brought tears over the city and a royal entry on a lowly colt. The juxtaposition must have been confusing and disillusioning for them. Was He the Messiah? Would he usher in a new Kingdom? This disenchantment was clearly evident after the arrest of Jesus when Pilate offered to release one prisoner. Would it be Jesus whose talk of a kingdom reflected mercy, peacemaking, and right living? Or would it be Barabbas the insurrectionist who actively worked to overturn the status quo placing the Jews in power over their Roman oppressors? Who would the crowds choose to be released?
“Universally, they wanted Barabbas. You can keep your ‘kingdom come,’ we want ours now,” writes Cosper in his explanation.
What a profound and convicting statement! Today, are we working for the Kingdom of God? Are we pursuing mercy, righteousness and peace? Or are we so focused on our own temporary desires that we are building our own kingdom in direct conflict of our Lord’s?
May the prayer of my life and of the church family at HGBC ever be, “Thy Kingdom Come, Lord!”
Teri
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