Power
A reading for Tuesday, March 4, 2014: John 18:28-38.
One of our workshop leaders at a conference held at HPC in October said something that has stayed with me these last few months. He quoted another, and to be honest I don't remember who that was, but I remember the quote. It was:
"If you do Kingdom (of God) work long enough, eventually you run directly into significant issues of power."
Jesus was doing Kingdom work. Jesus claimed that he brought the Kingdom of God to earth through his own life and ministry. His death and resurrection would also announce the Kingdom come. Through Jesus, the world would finally become the world as God intended it to be. That's the Kingdom.
But notice, now power has reared it's ugly head. Jesus has run directly into issues of power, and that power wants him dead.
Jesus won't play the game however. "If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews." Or perhaps this in itself is of power. To refuse to fight is to exert a form of power.
Note to disciples of Jesus: If you do this kind of work, you will run into power. Be ready for it. Be aware of it. Be disciples of Jesus in the midst of it...
One of our workshop leaders at a conference held at HPC in October said something that has stayed with me these last few months. He quoted another, and to be honest I don't remember who that was, but I remember the quote. It was:
"If you do Kingdom (of God) work long enough, eventually you run directly into significant issues of power."
Jesus was doing Kingdom work. Jesus claimed that he brought the Kingdom of God to earth through his own life and ministry. His death and resurrection would also announce the Kingdom come. Through Jesus, the world would finally become the world as God intended it to be. That's the Kingdom.
But notice, now power has reared it's ugly head. Jesus has run directly into issues of power, and that power wants him dead.
Jesus won't play the game however. "If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews." Or perhaps this in itself is of power. To refuse to fight is to exert a form of power.
Note to disciples of Jesus: If you do this kind of work, you will run into power. Be ready for it. Be aware of it. Be disciples of Jesus in the midst of it...
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