Our discipleship must never lead us to act like the world

By Dean Collins

As painful as it can be to read and reread certain passages of scripture, it is important that we do so because often one phrase or word hits us and begins or continues the transformation of our minds and hearts.

 The last couple days I have been reading and thinking about the exchange John records between Jesus and Pilate. In chapter 18, when Jesus enters Pilate’s headquarters, Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus turns the question around and asks Pilate if he came to that conclusion on his own or if was he quoting others. You probably have experienced the same thing from Jesus. His love is for everyone, but he requires each of us to make a decision regarding his identity. And our decision about Jesus requires that we act accordingly. If he is King, then we must submit to his authority in our lives.

 Pilate was a fierce ruler. Even in the face of physical danger, Jesus pushed Pilate to consider the truth about his identity. Pilate sneered at the question from Jesus by saying, “Am I a Jew?” Pilate’s role was to control the Jewish people on behalf of Rome. He wanted nothing to do with them or their beliefs. As the conversation continued, Jesus did not deny that he was a king. In fact, he described his kingdom: “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.”

 We must pause to consider this statement from Jesus: “My kingdom is not of this world.” We know this to be true. John’s gospel is filled with descriptions of what Jesus said about his kingdom. The other gospel writers agree. Mark quotes Jesus in the very first chapter of his gospel, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (v. 15)

 Luke quotes Jesus as saying the kingdom of God is right in the midst of you: “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’” (17:21)

 In Matthew we learn that we are to seek first the kingdom of God. Early in John’s gospel we read the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus where Jesus tells Nicodemus that he must be born again in order to experience the kingdom of God: “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’” (3:5)

It is interesting to consider that in John 6, the Jewish community wanted to force Jesus to be their king after he fed them. “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.” (v. 15) Now, in John 18 the Jews have handed Jesus over to the Roman leader Pilate to be crucified. He will be mocked in royal garb and raised up on a cross. His exultation as king comes on a cross before he sits on his throne.

 All throughout the gospels Jesus described his kingdom as something different than the kingdoms of the world. Jesus doesn’t force, he invites. Jesus doesn’t fight or allow his disciples to fight. Just minutes ago, he told Peter and the others to put away their swords. As we consider how differently Jesus described his kingdom, it is odd that in today’s culture some followers of Christ want Christians to rule over everything. We try to force Christian teachings on society as if we are called to “Lord it over others,” which is the very thing Jesus told his disciples not to do.

 “But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV)

 As Pilate pushed on to be rid of Jesus, he declared to the crowd, “Here is your king,” and the crowd answered back, “We have no king but Caesar.” Everyone in the story felt threatened by Jesus. The religious hierarchy wanted to protect their power. Pilate wanted to exert his power to be done with Jesus and the Jews. Still, Jesus stayed his course, surrendering to the will of his Father so that even those who rejected him might be forgiven because they did not know what they were doing.

 Our discipleship must never lead us to act like the world. We are not here to control or force others into our agenda. We must lay our agenda aside that Jesus be seen in us. His ways are not our ways. To live like Jesus requires that we surrender to him daily, allowing his spirit to renew our mind. We are not to conform to the world but rather be transformed. (Romans 12:1-2)

 Father, forgive us when we get caught up in the power structures of this world, trying to force others to our ways. Today we surrender to you and ask that as that your Spirit renew our minds as we meditate on you, your word, and all that scripture declares is true and honorable. Lead us to those we can serve today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
John 6:15; John 18:33-40; John 19:1-22; Romans 12:2 ESV

Photo by Joshua Hanks on Unsplash
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