Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
When you look at the kingdom of God through worldly lenses, everything looks absolutely upside-down:
The poor in spirit are blessed.
Those who mourn shall be comforted.
Those who hunger for righteousness will be filled.
The pure in heart will see God.
The meek shall inherit the earth.
The first shall be last and the last shall be first.
To live you must die to self.
The exalted are humbled and the humble exalted.
To receive you must give.
Evil will be repaid with blessing.
Jesus honored what the world despises as He invested His time in the hurting, the oppressed, the marginalized, the downcast, and the social outcasts — people to whom the self-respecting “religious people” would not even give the time of day. Jesus hung out with sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes; the religious leaders despised Him for it. It was shocking to hear Jesus say, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45).
From the world’s perspective, Jesus truly brought an upside-down kingdom into this world; but in all actuality, it was right-side up. Jesus was restoring the original order of things to a world that had been disfigured and distorted by sin. Where every kingdom of the world was established and build upon the bloodshed of others, the Kingdom of Christ was established and built upon only His blood. How “upside-down” is that?
When Jesus stood before Pilate and said, “My kingdom is not of this world,” He meant what He said, and He invites us all to live out the values of His Kingdom each and every day, rather than sinking into the values of this broken, fallen, decaying world.
“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 