Not of This World

Christ the King

11/25/18 by Pastor Ray Meute

 

“Not of This World”

Psalm 132.1-12; Revelation 1: 4b-8; John 18.33-37

 

Pearl: God’s kingdom is meant for this life and this earth as much as it is for the world to come.

Function: To awaken worshippers to the “earthly” dimension and reality of the Kingdom of God and how it does clash with the “empires of this world.”

 

What is it about Jesus’ encounter with Pilate that is so intriguing?

1. Jesus’ encounter with Pilate was a dramatic clash between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. It was a clash of the kingdom of God with the empire. It was a clash of God’s rein with the established most powerful system in the world at the time of Jesus.
2. We know this because Jesus admitted that He indeed was a king. He did not deny that He was a king. He said that His kingdom was not from this world. He made a statement about how His kingdom does not function like the kingdoms of this world (“If my kingdom were from this world my followers would be fighting for my freedom”).
3. So two exceedingly powerful kingdoms collided; what is so surprising is that there were so few sparks.
   1. It reminds me of the poles on magnets. If you try to put the like poles together they repel each other. They only stick together when you put the positive to the negative. Here were two immensely powerful and opposite kingdoms colliding together, yet they were missing each other. They came up against each other but forces beyond their understanding caused them to pass on by each other rather than forge together. While they were two actual kingdoms, Pilate did not even recognize the truth of Jesus’ reign.

 

This is the way it usually is with earthly kingdoms and with God’s kingdom. Earthly kingdoms and God’s kingdom do not have the same priorities.

1. Many of the early Christian affirmations were politically charged affirmations. The simple statement that “Jesus is Lord” was a radical statement.
   1. This is because Caesar was referred to as “Lord.” In fact on coins and many other inscriptions during the height of the Roman empire were found the following statements ascribed to Caesar: “Lord”, “son of God”, “savior”, “king of kings”, and “lord of lords”.
   2. To affirm that “Jesus was Lord” was to challenge the authority of the empire.
2. Early Christians had an acrostic for Rome. In Latin ROMA stood for: radix (root) omnium (all) malorum (evil) avartia (avarice/greed). Put it all together and the secret acrostic for Rome was: “Avarice/greed is the root of all evil.”
3. The very essence of the world’s greatest empire during the life of Jesus was self-serving “greed.”

 

While Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom was not “from this world”, it was very much intended to be “for this world.”

1. Jesus taught His disciples to pray: Your kingdom come, your will be done, ‘on earth’, as it is in heaven.
   1. His model prayer to guide all of our praying is this sentiment that God’s realm extend even to this life on earth.
2. Note this: The gospel of Jesus Christ is as much about this world as it is about the next world.
   1. For those whose lives are very difficult they easily see the necessity for God’s kingdom to extend to this earth and this life.
      1. Yet this is also why it is possible to understand why many are very ready to die to escape a very difficult life on earth and enter into “Paradise.”
   2. But from the scriptures we clearly deduce that for Jesus, the kingdom was not just about heaven, but it was also for the earth. John Dominic Crossan is known for the quip: “Heaven is in great shape; earth is where the problems are” (Borg, p. 133).
3. Jesus’ overarching message and mission was to proclaim that the kingdom of God was at hand. He came to proclaim it and to plant the seeds of it. He dedicated His life to a small band of men and women so that they would see to the establishment of God’s kingdom reign.
4. So Jesus was very interested in bringing His realm to the earth; He was not content to just point people beyond this earth toward heaven. He wanted heaven to make a very great difference in this world.

 

So what would Christ’s kingdom on earth look like? There is no simple answer to that question. It is very complex and far-reaching. It could be boiled down to various areas.

 

1. It would impact economic systems: more equitable ways in which to distribute the world’s resources so that there would be less poverty. Christ’s kingdom on earth is a matter of eco-justice.
2. It would show in greater concern for the environment. God loves the entire world, which means our children and their children and so on. He also loves all of the four-legged creatures and plants. He created everything and so we have to believe that he wants it to be cherished, not abused. Our Lord’s reign on earth is a matter of environmental justice.
3. In the United States of America the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth would certainly impact issues of health care. The expense of health care in our country means that there are a great many people who are underinsured.
4. God’s reign on earth shows forth in respect for those who are not yet born, for orphans and foster children, and in respect for those who have lived very long lives and are not able to care for themselves.
5. God’s reign on earth means being concerned for and working so that people have homes to live in, food on their tables, and clothes on their bodies.

 

These and many other priorities are aspects of God’s kingdom on earth which can and must be realized because of who Jesus is.

 

And who is Jesus? Popular African-American Pastor S. M. Lockeridge served a church in San Francisco, CA from 1953-1993. The S.M. of his name stood for Shadrach Meshach. He described our Lord in the following way:

 

Jesus Christ is the fundamental doctrine of true theology…he’s the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion…he can satisfy all of our needs and he can do it simultaneously…he supplies strength for the weak…he’s available for the tempted and the tried…he sympathizes and he sees…he guards and he guides…he heals the sick…he forgives sinners…he cleanses lepers…he discharges debtors…he delivers the captives…he blesses the young…he defends the feeble…he regards the aged…he rewards the diligent…he beautifies the meek…I’m tryin to tell you, you can trust him.

He’s the Master of the Mighty…he’s the Captain of the Conquerors…he’s the Prince of Princes…he’s the King of Kings…he’s the Lord of Lords…you can trust him.

 

His life is matchless…his goodness is limitless…his mercy is everlasting…his love never changes…his word is enough…his grace is sufficient…his reign is righteous…his yoke is easy…his burden is light…I wish I could describe him to you…he’s indescribable because he is incomprehensible…he’s irresistible and he’s invincible.

 

You can’t get him off of your hands…you can’t get him out of your mind…you can’t outlive him and you can’t live without him…

 

Herod couldn’t kill him…death couldn’t handle him…and thank God the grave couldn’t hold him…there was nobody before him…there will be nobody after him…he has no predecessor…he’ll have no successor…you can’t impeach him and he’s not gonna resign…you can trust him!

 

All hail Jesus the Christ!