Pastor Tom Johnson, November 22, 2015
The terrorist attacks in Paris, France happened just one day after a bombing in Beirut, Lebanon. A few weeks earlier, a Russian passenger plane was brought down by a home-made bomb. These deaths were claimed by ISIS. In the days following, Boko Haram surpassed those deaths by terrorist attacks in Nigeria. And now Al Qaida has claimed responsibility for the deaths at the hotel in Mali just two days ago. The French flag—the red, white, and blue lights on downtown buildings—still can be seen everywhere. “Why do so many people seem to care more about the French when people are dying even greater violent deaths in Africa and the Middle East?” My answer, “Because that is my tribe.” Many Americans have French ancestry or have been to France. I have friends who have visited, run the marathon, and studied in Paris. In other words, it hits home because Americans are more likely to be familiar with Western Europe than we are with Africa and the Middle East. Although that is changing.
How timely it is to be celebrating Christ the King today. And how fitting of a reminder we have in our Gospel reading. Jesus is there for us to help us navigate global politics. Keep in mind that Jesus is the accused. He is threatened with the death penalty for treason against two kingdoms—Rome and Judea. He is summoned into the headquarters of Roman authority to be questioned by Pilate. Pilate is confused. How can Jesus call himself a king of Judea when his would-be subjects want him killed? How can Jesus call himself king when the religious authority will not claim him either? Where are Jesus’ soldiers? Pilate is a politician. He measures success by the support he has under the authority back in Rome and his popularity among the nation he is occupying. Pilate represents one kingdom’s dominion over another kingdom. In this case, Rome occupies Judea. How can Jesus declare himself King when both Judea and Rome reject him?
“My Kingdom is not from here.” “I am a king, as you say” Jesus says, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Jesus came into the world—the cosmos. You hear people say that “the world has become small.” And by that, they mean that what happens on the other side of the planet does not seem so far away anymore. The world seems smaller, perhaps, because it is so much easier to travel to those places. More people travel more than ever. We are able to send messages and pictures instantaneously from our phones from one continent to another.
More of us have had the joy and privilege of meeting people who speak different languages, dress differently, and look different from ourselves. We realize more and more than not everyone looks, thinks, and grows up the same way. Last week, a group of pastors and I went to a Lebanese restaurant. I asked the waiter if he had family or friends in Beirut. He said his family lives two blocks away from where the bombs went off. “We are praying,” he said. “So are we,” I replied. The world is even smaller for the eternal Son of God who became flesh. Maybe a better word than “small” would be “close to home,” “immediate,” or “near the heart of Jesus.” This is why he was born—to bring truth to the entire planet. To put it another way, Jesus tells Pilate that he has bigger fish to fry than the petty concerns of the Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Judea. Jesus has a higher call. He has a greater mission than to settle one of the countless human conflicts—between one tribe and another and one nation against another.
Jesus is King of the true Kingdom. The reign of Jesus has no end. The kingship of Jesus has no limit. The true Kingdom makes the world seem small. The true Kingdom makes our kingdoms seem petty. Jesus came into the world. He did not just come for one tribe, nation, or people. He did not merely come into Judea or a Roman province. He came into the world. For Jesus, the impact of sin, evil, and death is global. It hits home everywhere. “My Kingdom is not from here…For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Jesus was not merely born a Judean; he was born human. He was born for all humanity to reconcile us to God and one another. Jesus identifies our common enemy. Our imperfections, brokenness, and sinfulness make us our own worst enemy. Our fight is not against flesh and blood but “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6).Jesus’ Kingdom is not defined by borders, walls, or territories. His Kingdom is not defended by soldiers going into battle to kill and impose authority. All humanity is his tribe. As St. Paul says so succinctly, “We are all God’s children” (Acts 17). Jesus does not need followers to fight for him and keep him from being delivered to the Cross. Because he is the One who holds the field in battle. He is the Captain of our souls. He is the Soldier who boldly confronts and overcomes death. And so, Jesus will not pick up a sword; he will pick up the cross. He will not wear a crown of gold, silver, and gems; he will wear a crown of thorns. Jesus’ Kingdom will not be won by the king killing but by the King dying. The King rises from the dead and makes all things new. His Kingdom come. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment