“And so he was raised on a cross, and a title was fixed, indicating who it was who was being executed. Painful it is to say, but more terrible not to say….He who suspended the earth is suspended, he who fixed the heavens is fixed, he who fastened all things is fastened to the wood; the Master is outraged; God is murdered.” Melito of Sardis (A.D. 180)
“After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you all ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16 Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them…34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.'” John 13:12-17
There are a number of unorthodox moments in the life of Jesus during Holy Week. He rode in on a donkey to the city of God. He turned over the tables in the Temple. He cursed fig trees. He prophesied about the heart of Jerusalem and the inhabitants’ trust in power, war, and violent revolution. He is unorthodox because the ways of Heaven are other worldly. Jesus’ actions on Maundy Thursday are entirely otherworldly from the powers and principalities surrounding him. Otherworldly in the sense that Rome rules. And, Roman Gentile leaders do not wash the feet of their followers. Rome doesn’t bow to anyone. But, from this very moment the powers of Rome will have roughly 300 years before the empire implodes and falls to the ground (literally). And, the movement of love that Jesus establishes with his disciples will have grown with remarkable pace and power. It is truly the influence of Heaven’s ways upon the earth. A small amount of yeast working it’s way through the entire batch of dough (Matthew 13:33). Love opens doors that war, power, and violence cannot. The towel can open doors that a title cannot. 2000 years later and Jesus is the one celebrated not Rome.
The challenge of Jesus is that his words and actions challenge every generation anew. The world is longing for people who will seek the towel over a title. Those who willingly embrace a lifestyle of servanthood over the pursuit of promotion, celebrity and fame. May we yield our hearts again to Jesus. May we find ourselves more inclined to the quiet place of prayer than the platform. May our hearts yearn for serving above promoting. Wow! What a challenge Holy Week has been this year for my own heart!
12 The next day…15They came into Jerusalem. Jesus went into the Temple and began to drive out the traders, those who bought and sold in the Temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of the dove-sellers. 16 He permitted no one to carry any vessel through the Temple. 17 He began to teach: “‘Isn’t this what’s written,” he said, “‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the world to share’? But you’ve made it a brigands den!” 18 The chief priests and the legal experts heard, and looked for a way to get rid of him. But they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 When evening came, they went back out of the city. Mark 11:12,15-19 The Kingdom New Testament Translation, N.T. Wright
Jesus first order of mission in Jerusalem on Holy Week is to restore the Temple to its rightful place of worship within the city. The Temple was seen clearly as the habitation of God on earth – the physical locale of Heaven invading earth. The Jews, especially during Passover, would have been in and out of this Holy area of worship throughout the week. On Monday of Holy Week Jesus enters and turns over the tables where sacred ground had become sacrilegious. And, this is what prophets do: they call us back to sacred ground. They turn over tables which were once sacred and call them to be used again for repentance. They use whips to cleanse Holy ground when no one else is willing to see how the Holy place has become another hinge for the ways of the empire of darkness. Jesus, this prophet from Nazareth was calling for business as usual to remember its Holy origins as a Temple of worship to God, not a temple of business, exchange and profit led by the current aristocracy and religious elect. This didn’t fly over well. Prophets rarely do. As v18 reveals “The chief priests and legal experts heard, and looked for a way to get rid of him.”
To this day Jesus teachings have a prophetic effect on my own soul. Jesus turns over tables in my soul and summons me back to my calling as a temple – where Heaven and earth meet. A house of prayer. I’m called to live as Holy ground where He can inhabit. Where Heaven can be done and have its way on earth. The Apostle Paul would follow suit and remark that each follower of Christ is a temple now of the Holy Spirit. We are the sacred place of worship where Heaven and earth meet. We are the witness of Heaven invading earth.
I believe Jesus would call you and I to live as a house of prayer. Slowed down. Still. Quiet. Set apart from our culture and its busy ways. It is becoming more and more difficult to live as a Temple of prayer and worship to God. Our culture prefers we become a house of business, exchange and profit to the people around us. This Monday of Holy Week let us give Jesus free rein within our souls. Let Him turn a table or two over. Restoring our relationship. Freeing us from our bondage to business and busyness. Let’s repent of our ways and return to the Lord.
“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5
Palm Sunday is the Holy Day celebrated the world over in churches and cathedrals honoring the sacred moment when Jesus of Nazareth rode into Jerusalem on a donkey beginning His journey to the cross. He wasn’t the only leader entering Jerusalem during Passover. On the other side of town we know that Pontius Pilate would have been journeying into the city of Jerusalem as well. Pilate surrounded by his legions and riding a war horse would have been there for entirely different reasons than Jesus.
On Sunday I contrasted the difference of kingdoms we see playing out before our very eyes on Palm Sunday. On one side of town we have Pilate arriving representing the kingdom of Rome led by the will and vision of Caesar. We can almost hear the soldiers feet hitting the dirt roads in unison as they march towards the city of Jerusalem. They are arriving to make sure the city and its population behaves itself during the Passover festival. Pilate will spend his time in the palace – watching, waiting, and keeping the city in check. Jerusalem is under Roman rule and therefore abides by Roman law. It is victim to the vision, purposes, and plans of Rome.
On the other side of Jerusalem coming from Bethpage we find Jesus of Nazareth riding on a donkey. Gentle. Not on a warhorse. Not with legions of soldiers. Gentle. Aware of the will of God. Gentle. In tune with the kingdom of Heaven. Gentle. Surrendered to His Heavenly Father’s purpose, plans, and vision for the world. Jesus of Nazareth knows that prophets go to Jerusalem to die. He is no fool. He has spent His three years of ministry teaching, preaching, confounding religious leaders and Gentile leaders as He pointed to the kingdom of Heaven – where Caesar is not king. Pilate, Herod, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Judas would all work together to see Jesus executed. Even the High Priest Caiaphas would justify this one man dying for the sins of all.
Two kingdoms with two different leaders were Jerusalem on Palm Sunday:
Our daily task is to yield our lives to the kingdom of Heaven – the kingdom Jesus freely gives us. The kingdom of Rome may be well and gone, but it’s source is not. The same principalities, powers and darkness are at play today. The evil one is always seeking to kill, steal and destroy. The evil one attempts daily to have our hearts bow the Pilates of this world and their ways of living. But, they are undone time and again by the gentle Jesus of Nazareth whose teachings, life, death, and resurrection overcame the powers of darkness. Follow this Jesus of Nazareth. Yield your heart to His. Take His yoke upon you for it is easy and the burden is light. Don’t yield to the idols and treasures of earth. May this Holy Week serve as a reminder to you and me that our allegiance is to Christ and His Kingdom.
On the shores of Capernaum Jesus called His first disciples. A small fishing village on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee would be the hub of Jesus’ three years of ministry. He moved to Capernaum after His cousin John was put in prison, and it’s the place He would also call His first followers and invite them to become carriers of His message.
From these shores of Capernaum the message of Jesus would travel to Damascus and beyond along the trade and travel routes that surrounded this small fishing village. Though small in size it was not small in influence. Capernaum would be a strategic location for getting the glorious message of Jesus to the world around it. Capernaum has become sacred ground for me. As I was in Israel last year I began to contemplate how from the shores of Capernaum to the shores of Cape Town the message of Jesus has resonated through centuries of history, countless cultures, developed and undeveloped nations, redeeming billions of people – the hope we all so desperately need and the message of saving grace to the world. This past Sunday I shared about the significant moments from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 4 which contextually happened on the shores of Capernaum. I shared about the message, the invitation, and the mission.
The Message
The message of Jesus was a simple one: “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” To be sure it held more depth than what we may imagine at first glance. It wasn’t an old timey, angry toned “R-E-P-E-N-T!” But, rather, an invitation to see life as it really is. God’s good government has come to earth. Heaven is here…now. As we follow Jesus we experience the fulness of life. Not later, but now. N.T. Wright in Simply Christian understands it this way: “[The kingdom of heaven is at hand]…what did he [Jesus] mean? The prophet Isaiah, in line with several Psalms and other biblical passages, had spoken of God’s coming kingdom as the time when (a) God’s promises and purposes would be fulfilled, (b) Israel would be rescued from pagan oppression, (c) evil (particularly the evil of oppressive empires) would be judged, and (d) God would usher in a new reign of justice and peace…The world was to be turned the right way up at last.” I absolutely love the last line of Wright quoted: “The world was to be turned the right way up at last.” Not everyone is in love with the message of Jesus. He is King of Kings and Lords of Lords. Submitting to the King and His Kingdom isn’t always good news for those areas of our lives that we prefer to remain under our rulership, our control, and our government (in America think time, money, power, influence, status, and control). Jesus slowly and patiently continues to invite us to lay our leadership down and take up His rule. But, as Jesus would find – not everyone is like Simon, Andrew, James, and John…some people aren’t so willing to give up their nets and become fishers of men.
The Invitation
The invitation Jesus gave appears quite spontaneously in Matthew 4. I love that! Jesus invited. The first disciples followed. But, it is good for us to note that these fishermen had been watching, listening, and seeing how Jesus was making a stir in this fishing village of Capernaum. It may have been as short as a few days or as long as a few months but they had seen Jesus ministering. The synagogue is a very short distance from the shores. Perhaps, they’d come in from a long night of fishing, come to worship, and heard Jesus preaching and teaching at the synagogue. Maybe they had come across a miracle or two. Maybe it was a relative who had been set free from demonic possession. Whatever they had seen and heard had lodged in their minds and done a number on their heart. So much so, that when the Rabbi Jesus called them to become followers of His (Talmidim in Hebrew) they say “yes!”
Each of us is invited to follow Jesus. Each of us is personally invited to walk along the same journey these first followers chose. As I mentioned earlier, on these shores all the way to the shores of Cape Town the invitation came to me. It comes to you as well. You can follow Jesus. It is a life free from the pulse of this world. A life that walks deeply with God, surrendered to His ways, and yielded to His truths. A life redeemed to Heaven and apart from hell. A life free from the power of sin, forgiven, made new. It is a journey of obedience and worship. But, when you’ve lived under the yoke of evil empire, broken systems of government and power, and found yourself a slave to the sentimentality of earth Jesus comes and invites us to live the life of Heaven, hear now. Simon and Andrew new this. No nets could hold them back.
The Mission
The disciples, like you and me, are called and commanded to keep the mission going. The message is quite simple: “repent, heaven is at hand.” We have the privilege of sharing that same message in any number of ways but when you peel back the layers it’s the same few words. I encourage people often “turn away from the idols and gods of this age. Seek God. Let Heaven come rule and reign in your life.”
I wonder this week who God has divinely set in your path to share the message of Jesus with this week? Who have you come across that is bound by the logic, pursuits and cycles of this world and has been let down time and time again. Sin doesn’t work. Pain doesn’t work. Lies don’t work. We were created for more. Your friends, family, and coworkers were created for more. They were created to take the invitation of Jesus all those years ago on the shores of Capernaum…”come, and follow me.”
I love how the Scriptures reveal God as a shepherd and us as the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3). Jehovah-rohi is the name given for the LORD my Shepherd. The name is first given in Psalm 23 by another shepherd David the son of Jesse. Psalm 23 reveals how the Lord offers remarkable and necessary leadership for the human soul. Think of these areas that come up in Psalm 23: leadership that leads us to rest, leadership that leads us to fullness, leadership that restores our soul, we are guided along paths that lead to righteousness and justice, leadership that journeys with us through the valley of death, leadership that comforts us and protects us.
Our interior life takes great time, care and attention. Who better to lead it than God our Shepherd? Our souls are not self sufficient in and of themselves. If we are given to our own desires we will most likely chase the idols of our culture (think: money, power, and lust). We will be most often consumed with finding fulfillment in areas that store up security on planet earth but leave us desperately empty for eternity. Think of how much fame has left many a celebrity broken and in need of healing. Think of how political power has consumed entire nations driving them to war and disrepair. Think of how our struggle for promotion or influence can lead us to shortcuts where we use others through guilt, fear and manipulation. I’m telling you now: our souls need a shepherd.
I reflect on this past week when my wife and our 7 year old left town to visit family in Alabama. I was living life with my 3 year old here at home. Fully responsible and fully engaged every waking moment of the day. I will confess that I had forgotten the full time requirements of tending to a 3 year olds every need. I had to lead her through the day: encourage her in little predicaments she found herself in, peel her off the kitchen table that she climbed on as a launching pad to jump off of, feed her, clothe her, bath her, and go through the necessary steps to get her in bed each night. I was shepherding her life. Similarly, God invites us to be shepherded by Him. He alone is sufficient to lead us through the landscape of our lives. The terrain of our internal life can be shifting on almost a daily basis between conversations, arguments, pressures, responsibilities, leadership, missed expectations, broken promises, and a million other things. But, as David so poetical put it in Psalm 23 we can choose to have “goodness and love follow” us through the days of our life as we yield our hearts to be led by God.
The New Testament gospels and letters reveal even further what David introduced us to in Psalm 23. 1 Peter 2:25 shares how Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls as we return and yield ourselves to Him. In John 10:11,14 Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd. He is a Good Shepherd is that He is willing to do for the sheep what no one else would: lead them in truth, love them, and in due course lay His own life down for them. Jesus is the true and good shepherd our lives need.
I’ll end with 3 particular ways that Jesus leads and feeds the sheep of His pasture:
1 Jesus ministry on the cross leads us to life.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 1 John 3:16
Our restless souls only find rest when they rest in Christ and His gift of forgiveness, mercy, and grace. He leads us into relationship with God. Through His death and victory on the cross we have been set free from the cycles of sin, the principalities and powers of darkness. This is where our souls healing begins. We must trust in the saving work and deliverance of sin offered by Jesus Christ.
2 Jesus teaching leads us to life.
Matthew 5-7 records the infamous Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ teaching in these 3 chapters grows us, transforms us, and leads our souls into healthy relationship with God and with others. Jesus’ teachings are to be trusted.
3 Jesus lifestyle models for us the abundant life.
You will see a pace to Jesus’ life in the Gospels. Moments away with God in prayer. Sacred rhythms of corporate worship. Plenty of time to be interrupted. Seasons of fasting and prayer. Each of these is vital to the health and sustainability of our soul. I recommend living a slowed down spirituality. Take time in your daily life to sit in silence in the presence of God, pray, read the Scriptures, and weekly take a Sabbath of rest.
I am so grateful for the revelation of God our Shepherd. It is definitely one of the most tender and intimate names that He has given us through His Word. Certainly He means for our souls to take His invitation seriously. We can be lead by Him. We can follow in His ways. It may mean sacrificing our own desires, passions, and instant gratifications but it will lead us to green pastures that heal, restore, and save our souls.
This past Sunday I shared our third installment in our You in Five Years series at Hillside Church. Our series takes a look at the question: who are you becoming? Most new years resolutions are based around what can be accomplished (weight loss, financial goals, family plans, business accomplishments, etc.). I simply believe the more important question is who are we becoming than what are we achieving (sidetone: I 100% believe in goals and achieving things in this life).
Sundays’ third installment dealt with the subject of mindset’s. Our mindset’s are just that: mind’s that have set in a particular shape. Each of us has perspectives, mentality’s, processes, and mindset’s that each and every thought we have is traveling down. Every decision, conversation, interaction is fruit of a mindset we have built on the inside. Mindset’s are most revealed under pressure. What happens when our lives are under pressure? Well, the mindset’s we have been building are tested. If my mindset is rooted in fear. Well, guess what emotions I feel when something unexpected comes along? I’m prone to anxiety, anger, and disappointment. It’s not simply the event that caused these reactions – it is the mindset (a fear based mindset) I’ve created for my thoughts to travel down. Now, imagine we build every mindset on a sure and strong foundation? A truth. Like the fact God’s Word says He will never leave us nor forsake us. Do you think that could create a powerful mindset for our day to day living? You bet it does. I highlighted this, and the powerful solution to shifting our mindset’s to the mind of Christ in the message on Sunday. The apostle Paul’s exhortations from Romans 12:2 “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” was the main passage for the message (along with 2 Corinthians 10:5 and Proverbs 23:7).
The apostle Paul encourages us not to live according to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The transformative work of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is shifting our minds from living according to the patterns of this world to living with renewed thinking on a daily basis. God has no easy task in transforming our minds when they have been so used to being disciplined by the patterns of this world. We live in a culture that fuels itself on anxiety, doubt, fear, isolation – only to name a few. Once we encounter Jesus He begins to transform our old habits and ways of thinking and renew them according to His ways.
A wonderful example of mindset’s and their power within our lives is to look at the journey of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land found in the book of Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Take, for example, the 12 spies sent by Moses to spy out the land of Promise (ref. Book of Numbers 13). 10 of them agreed the land was good, but denied that they could take the land and that God had given it to them. Their mindset? Well, it was limited by their current reality and rooted in fear. Caleb and Joshua, the two additional spies, saw a different picture. What was the difference? Their mindset. They were consumed by what God had done, was doing, and could do in the lives of His chosen people. They were not limited by the giants in the land. In fact, they saw what had happened at the Red Sea and were filled with confidence. They saw how God was literally navigating their journey for them and led them to this place, and their hearts were full of trust. I am of the personal belief it wouldn’t have mattered what Caleb and Joshua saw in the Promised Land they were already convinced the moment Moses gathered them to go. Your and my mindset is pivotal to our daily living in the Kingdom of God. The enemy of our soul wants to bait us into lies through all sorts of thoughts on a daily basis. Each thought is sent to do one thing: set itself up against the knowledge of God within your life (2 Corinthians 10:5). If the devil can get us to believe a lie about who God is then he knows he can keep us living in a false mindset following the patterns of this world. And, in turn, we distance ourselves from God and the things of God.
My encouragement? Put your hope in God’s Word. Grow in your knowledge of God through the Scripture. God reveals Himself in so many profound ways. Bring the knowledge and nature of God into your daily living. What experience are you facing that is causing stress, frustration, disappointment, anxiety, fear, or any negative emotion? Could it be that your mindset is letting your daily living down? If so, be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Many today are in a search to know what God is like. And, I think the search is justified. It is a longing deep within to know God, and to know what He is like. God has been portrayed, spoken of, and projected to be many a thing, object, emotion, etc. Often times, these descriptions can characterize God in confusing ways. Have you ever been confused about God? Have you ever wondered what God is like?
I’ve encountered many people over the years who wrestle with the nature of God. They project a picture upon God and are left confused. They are subsequently lead in a direction away from God…because who they think God is lands up being nothing like who God actually is. Our projections of God can be caused by any number of things. For some, its an image of an earthly parent, a pastor, a church leader, a picture from an old movie or a personality in a novel, a well intentioned book by a church leader – again, it can be any number of things.
For those who have a background in the Christian movement OR are actively part of Christianity I have some wonderful news: we have zero need for confusion. We can delight in a profound verse found in the Gospel of John. This verse can clear up any confusion that has been created in the 2000 years since Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son,[a] who is close to the Father’s heart,[b] who has made him known. John 1:18 NRSV
The person of Jesus clears up any confusion about who God is. The Gospel of John declares with profound clarity: No one has ever seen God except for Jesus. And, Jesus has made God known.
I’m not saying that my journey with God has no mystery to it – far from it! There is lots of mystery to the journey of faith in God. But, what I am saying is, I’m rarely ever confused about the nature of God towards me (and everyone else). Through Jesus I can see that God is love. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus I can see the glorious story of God unfolding within human history and it fills me with hope, peace, delight and power for daily living.
I can live more passionately about the things God is passionate about because I can see it in Jesus. I can live more compassionately because I can see where and to whom God desires compassion. I can live with far more grace than in previous years because I see how grace filled Jesus was. I can be transformed from my previous desires of life that simply missed the mark (the real meaning of the word sin) that led to death, discouragement, and brokenness.
If you are living with any confusion of the nature of God and are struggling to fill in the blank: God is like ____________________? May I encourage you to take up your Bible again and read the glorious Good News (Gospels) of Jesus? My hope is that it will breath life into your journey with God as you uncover His nature and His deep love towards you and those around you. And, I believe you’ll be able to fill in the blank: God is like JESUS.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 (NIV)
Shelter leads to rest
Oh how restful it is to live within the love of God and have the shelter He provides. It is a shelter that leads us to rest. It is a shelter and covering that is not driven by the principalities, powers and evils of darkness which so often rule in this present age. Our Heavenly Father gives us good shelter. It is a refuge of protection, a place of provision, and a healing space for us. It is a shelter rooted in His generous and unfailing love.
Dwell
Where have you been dwelling? When was the last time you dwelt in the presence of God? When did you last give minutes to the discipline of listening prayer? May I encourage you to slow it down and spend some moments in the shelter of the Most High. Put away the phone. Turn the television off. Steal a solitary moment to settle your soul before God and invite the Spirit to whisper the words of life only He can give.
These aren’t words of condemnation at all. These are words that I pray would encourage you to spend moments delighting in the Lord. His presence is peace.
Rest
Dwelling with Jesus leads us to rest – every single time. I love to remind myself and others that we are human BEINGS not human DOINGS. We live in a culture infatuated with accomplishments, success, growth, and taking ground. It means we get a lot of stuff done. Mind you – a lot of good stuff at that. But, let’s be clear, you are a being. God loves you as a being not a doing. Step into the rest of God as you make time to dwell in the shelter He provides. Rest is your inheritance as a child of God.
Possible next step:
Evening Prayer
For those of you interested in getting started below is a peaceful structure of prayer that millions have used over the centuries introduced by St. Ignatius Loyola. It is called the Prayer of Examen and it is a form of contemplative prayer. I borrowed the simplest structure from 24/7 Prayer Movement in the UK. This is a fantastic way to end your evening and spend moments with God in prayer – and rest in the shelter of the Most High.
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Luke 24:50-53 (NIV)
Today is Ascension Day. It is the fourth Holy Day in the Christian Calendar. Ascension Day is precisely 40 days from Easter Sunday, and 10 days away from Pentecost Sunday. Throughout the centuries the global church has celebrated Holy Days (holidays) as a way of focusing, reflecting, considering, and thus magnifying major moments in Jesus ministry. While for most of my life this day held no special meaning or value – over the past several months these Holy Days have helped strengthen and deepen my journey and relationship with Jesus as I take time to reflect, prayerfully consider, and posture my heart in a place of wonder at the life of Jesus Christ. Ascension Day is certainly lesser known than other significant Holy Days however I have found it incredibly inspiring. So, this past Sunday I preached an Ascension Day message a week early (knowing that Mother’s Day is this Sunday). Here are a two thoughts pulled from my sermon:
1 Ascension Day celebrates a profound Christian reality: Jesus is the true king
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:19b – 21 (NIV)
There is certainly no confusion in the Apostle Paul’s mind as he writes these words: “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” The ascension of Christ draws us to imagine (or reimagine) the rightful place of Jesus in authority, rule, reign, and kingdom. Jesus’ ascension is the fulfilling and culmination of His ministry here on earth.
Jesus – and not the principalities, powers of darkness, and empire of evil, rule and reign at the end of the Gospel accounts. I love that in both the Gospel of Mark and Luke the ending is the Ascension of Jesus. He is the one who is above and over all. The same is true for each of us as we follow Jesus and yield our lives to His rule and reign. Jesus’ Kingdom is one that brings freedom, peace, forgiveness, and good news to everyone it encounters (though it may not always appear the case).
In my sermon I made mention that this has dramatic implications for Jesus followers. At the outset of our journey with God we are clearly under a new rule, a new reign, a Jesus Kingdom – a Christ Empire. We are called to live under the rule and reign of Jesus. His words, commandments, actions, and priorities are now ours. His Kingdom advances with love not violence. His Kingdom offers forgiveness not retribution. His Kingdom offers peace not panic. His rule and reign lead us in a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. Jesus is the true King of the supernatural that is invading the natural.
2 Ascension Day celebrates Jesus’ victory and authority
“And God placed all things under his feet…” Ephesians 1:22a
Let’s be clear again about the rule and reign of Jesus’ kingdom: it is clearly rooted in His teachings, His lifestyle, and the freedom His death on the cross and His resurrection makes available to us. Jesus has the victory in all things. Following His ways leads to victory in our personal lives, and hopefully as a spiritual community. How? Well, as we yield our ways – our need for control – our opinions – and walk in simplicity the way of Jesus revealed in the Gospels. Guess what? We step into a victory over and above the principalities, powers, and the darkness of evil. Example: Jesus victory continues to establish the truth that what Jesus said and modeled truly reforms the world we live in. The song “Little Things With Great Love” by Audrey Assad (singer/songwriter) is a great truth at this point. The way I treat and speak to others. The way I relinquish control to God. The way I listen instead of interrupt. The way I care and treat the marginalized. The way I forgive instead of react. And, any and all the glorious Kingdom advancing instructions Jesus gives us in the Gospels.
In closing I want to encourage you to bring every arena of your life up and under the leadership of Jesus. He is a tremendous King. His government offers peace from the frenzy of a striving culture. His rule offers grace from a crippling past. His kingdom is filled with good things.
Paul Deary 