When Jesus taught us to pray he directed us to ask that God's kingdom come and his will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. We often spiritualize that request and simply think about Jesus' final return when his kingdom will come fully. But Jesus is thinking about something much more practical than that. He is thinking about ushering in God's kingdom right here and right now as we live in this world.
Today's journies got me thinking about kingdoms then and now. We started with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. I was told about it from people who had taken this trip before, so I wasn't surprised when soon after they pushed off they raised the American flag and had us sing the National Anthem. I realize that it was mostly a ploy to get better tips, but seeing the American flag flying here thousands of miles away from home reminded me that our nation is still the mighty kingdom of our age.
We visited a number of sites of significant biblical history like Korazim (the city that Jesus cursed for not paying attention to the mighty acts he performed there), Capurnaum (where Jesus lived and called some of his disciples) and Kursi (most likely the place where Jesus cast the demons into the herd of pigs). All of those cities are gone -- reduced to ruins. In fact, the cities that were built on top of them have also been reduced to ruins.
This land is the story of one kingdom trying to survive as kingdom after kingdom after kingdom comes and goes. Sometimes we are looking at city kingdoms from almost 5000 years ago. Other times we are looking at neighboring kingdoms like the Philistines that are a continual nemmisis to the biblical nation of Israel. Other times we are looking at superpower kingdoms like Egypt and Assyria and Rome that take turns expanding the boarders of their kingdoms as far as they can. Still other times we hear about (or experience) the current nation of Israel striving to maintain their boarders. We have studied what it takes to establish a city and a kingdom here in this land. It takes a good source of water, healthy agriculture, adequate building materials and good roads and lines of communication. History is a continual rising and falling of kingdoms when they lose one of those four vital items or when they are overpowered by an enemy
In Jesus' time kingdom was an important topic of conversation. The Romans were ruling over Israel. Their kingdom was on top. What does that mean for the people of Israel? Do they conform to the ways of the Romans? Do they accept the oppression? Do they resist and revolt and restore their own kingdom? Kingdom was a hot topic.
And it is in that culture that Jesus sat his disciples down on the side of a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee and told them all about his plan for establishing his kingdom. He said,
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
That is a very different kind of kingdom. As I sat at the site commemorating that hillside moment I went off by myself and sat in a grassy area overlooking the sea and tried to listen to what Jesus said that day. Jesus is talking about bringing in his kingdom and he gives his disciples -- he gives us -- a very different picture of what it means to occupy the land. Jesus' plan is to establish the kingdom of God. That is the kingdom that He wants to bring right now. That is the kingdom He wants to see come alive right where he has placed me. That is the kingdom He wants to usher in through me. This profound teaching is exactly what it takes for us to occupy the land for God.
I wondered how well I'm doing that. Am I poor in spirit, willing to mourn, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, mericiful, pure in heart, peacemaking, and so righteous that I'm persecuted? Are those the life choices and life behavior that I'm committed to? Is God's kingdom coming through me? What does that look like in West Michigan in 2012? Those are some of the questions I'm exploring through this sabbatical. It was good to worship at (or at least near) the place where Jesus gave us this profound call to kingdom building.
PT,
ReplyDeleteWow - the Sea of Galilee!! That looks like a very interesting boat. Did make me feel a bit queasy though remembering my most recent boating experience...
Blessings to you this week as you wrap up your time in Israel. Thanks so much for the regular posts, with pictures!
Pastor Tony, have you had opportunity to eat Peter fish? Very tasty, except I didn't try the head or tail! It was served with french fries and half a lemon at the restaurant my 2006 tour visited near the Sea of Galilee.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Sea of Galilee boat ride--yes, there was an American flag then too--this [slightly edited] song has more meaning for me:
I've put my hand in the hand of the Man who stilled the water.
I've put my hand in the hand of the Man who stilled the sea.
I've had a look at his life and now I look at my life differently
Because my hand's in the hand of the Man from Galilee.
May blessings continue,
Joy