Scripture Reading: John 18 & 19
Which Kingdom do we serve?
Perhaps it’s an odd question to ask on Good Friday. After all, today is the day we reflect with somber gratitude on the day our Savior bled and died for our sins. As I read the Scripture text of John chapters 18 and 19, I couldn’t help but notice the two kingdoms at play, at war with each other, you could say, woven throughout the day our Savior hung on the tree.
These same two kingdoms rage war in my own heart, daily, if I’m honest. How stunning it is to see Jesus address this directly the very day he exclaimed “It is finished.”
Oh, Peter, the disciple full of passion, ready to defend Jesus and follow Him to the ends of the earth. The Kingdom of Heaven grew dimmer as the light from the campfire grew brighter. The fate of Jesus and perhaps his own, hung in the balance. The fear of man took first place, and Peter succumbed to the kingdom of this world by denying Jesus three consecutive times.
In the window of time between the bleakness of Jesus’ arrest and death sentence, there is a dialogue that I would imagine helped anchor Jesus on His mission and fix His eyes on His Kingdom during the hours of unimaginable torture and pain. But this sliver of light on the darkest of days is a reminder for us too. Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world. Jesus came to bear Truth. His Kingdom is Truth eternal. If our faith is in Jesus; this is the Kingdom we belong to. This is the Kingdom we serve in every day as we seek to point others to Truth (John 18:33-40).
Pilate found no fault in Jesus, and yet for fear of the people (the kingdom of this world) he flogged Him and put upon our Savior the crown of thorns. Pilate then sought to release Jesus but was confronted yet again with those who were fixed on the kingdom of this world.
As Jesus hung on the cross, in more agony than we could ever grasp – physically, emotionally and spiritually – He thought of His mother, and still worked on her behalf, and provided for her well-being. His focus was always on the Kingdom of Heaven.
And then, Jesus died. For two days the disciples wept and hid in fear for their lives. It appeared that the kingdom of this world won after all. But Sunday is coming…
Questions:
When have you served the kingdom of this world instead of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Do you struggle with the fear of man? How do these passages illuminate hope for you?
What is something you can do today to share the Truth of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Prayer Prompt:
Repent of times when the fear of man was greater than the call to serve the Kingdom of Heaven. Ask God to help you keep the Kingdom of Heaven forefront in your heart and mind.
