Out Of This World

Nov. 29

Read: John 18:33-38

Not of This World

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (v.36)

The Kingdom of God has its origin… its roots in another world, another “realm”. The mystery of what Christ has done and is doing is that he our earthly / created realm has been invaded (interrupted, disrupted) by another realm = the Kingdom of God. The work of the Kingdom is not motivated by or rooted in this world. It never has been and never will be. Remember what Jesus says: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) The world births worldly kingdoms… fleshly kingdoms with fleshly kings and queens. The Kingdom of God births justice, peace, righteousness, mercy, love, and spiritual growth… from the Spirit.

We see this when Pilate asks Jesus if he is “king of the Jews”. (v.33) Jesus’ responds seeking to understand the heart of the question. What did Pilate mean when he asked the question. You see, there are “worldly” ways that things are true and “other-worldly” ways that things are true. Things have have their origin from either place. This holds true for kins as well. Jesus was and is - of course - King of the Jews. Jesus is the true King over EVERYBODY; but the source of Pilates question and the root of the idea Pilate was asking about was “this worldly”. So Jesus replies first with a question, then with a statement: “My kingdom is not of this world…my kingdom is not from the world.” (v.36)

The power and authority bestowed upon Christ - and in turn US - does not come from this world. As a result, the world cannot retract it nor take it back. The work of the KOG is not reliant upon the approval or endorsement of the world, and when worldly “kings” or “governors” ask about it - they most likely do not have a framework to even see or understand it. In this way, the Kingdom of God is a Kingdom that runs parallel and ABOVE this worldly “kingdom”. It (the KOG) is absorbing and bringing under the feet of Jesus ALL THINGS. (Col. 1:16-20)

How we respond as people of God… people of this KOG… is different than one would expect. The ways that we “fight for” and “transform” the world around us is “other worldly”. Notice what Jesus says: “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews.” (v.36) (It is worth noting that some of Jesus’ servants DID want to fight - look at Peter! But Jesus taught them in the ways of the KOG.) As the children of God, we must not get sucked into fighting a “worldly” battle with “worldly” methods. We function in this world as those who are not of this world… we function as those who are other worldly. One way this “other-worldly-ness” is born out is in the way we oppose or fight. We have to start looking to Jesus for our cues before we start drawing our swords like Peter! More often than not, the KOG response is NOT our first blush / gut reaction sort of response. It takes time to learn how to think and act as one who is rooted “not in this world”. (I realize how awkward that sentence is, but I wanted to maintain Jesus’ phrasing.)

What are WE fighting for these days? HOW are we fighting? Are we using the weapons of the world or the weapons of the KOG? It takes hard work, but have we stopped as God’s people to trace our motivations, actions, and ideas backwards to see if they are rooted in this world or in the “not of this world” … the KOG with Jesus as king? Fleshly efforts will produce fleshly results. Spiritual efforts will produce spiritual results. Our flesh births “of this world” thinking and action. Jesus works in “not of this world” thinking and action. We should not be surprised when life in the KOG looks different than life in the world. Stop trying to make the KOG and earthly thing. Embrace the ways that the earthly / worldly realm will one day be completely fused, refined, and united in Christ. Love you guys… you are “out of this world”! - JDP