Jesus understood the assignment. He was sent to establish an eternal and other-worldly kingdom.
When the Jewish officials, accompanied by Roman soldiers, went searching for Him, He didn’t run or hide His identity. Instead, He went to a place where He knew Judas would easily find Him. And when asked if He was Jesus of Nazareth, He calmly and decisively responded, “I am he” (John 18:5–6). When the high priest’s official slapped Him, Jesus didn’t take back His breath from his lungs. He let him live. He understood the assignment wasn’t to flex (assert) His identity, but instead to ready His human body to be rendered breathless on a cross.
As He explained to Pilate, His kingdom was not of this world. His assignment did not include bringing Israel political power. If it was, He along with His servants would fight (v.36).
You know who didn’t understand this assignment, though?
Peter.
Peter was never down with Christ’s crucifixion plan (Matthew 16:21–23, Mark 8:31–33). He envisioned Christ’s kingdom being quite different—victorious in earthly power, and definitely not taking slaps in the face. He thought Christ’s kingdom was of this world, which is why he grabbed his sword when Judas and the cavalry came to arrest Jesus Christ.
Anybody like Peter? I know I am. I’m not down for the crucifixion plan either. Especially if it involves my crucifixion. “Jesus, you can die, but I don’t want to.” I want comfort. I want Jesus’s kingdom to be of this world. It would just make my life easier, you know?
When I initially said “yes” to following Jesus, I envisioned a future that came with certain advantages—answered prayers, a husband by thirty, financial security, thriving ministry. However, many of my prayers have gone unanswered, I’m thirty-six and still single, my financial security ebbs and flows, and ministry is simultaneously hard and beautiful. It’s not what I thought.
We all, like Peter, have preconceived ideas about what the kingdom of God should feel and look like. And when it appears in a form we did not imagine, we can grab our swords to protest how the kingdom of God is showing up in our lives in the form of suffering, unmet desires, and death to self. We can also, out of fear of social or physical persecution, deny our association with Christ by creating distance between us and His Church.
Our desire for an earthly kingdom results from a preoccupation with what Jesus refers to as human concerns. Our willingness to fight for the world’s definition of the “good life” and deny Christ to avoid the suffering that comes with following Him is the result of not understanding our assignment to live for a kingdom that is not of this world.
Therefore, “seek the things above, where Christ is…set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1–2).
Week 4 podcast in John featured Vaneetha Rendall Risner, author & blogger, who speaks & writes plainly about profound loss & redemption. Her personal website address appears in the show notes. I invite you to listen. Especially as we reach the foretold closing chapters in John. Vaneetha tells Amanda what a close friend told her (as metaphor & witness) during very hard & hurtful times. Words with the promise to reshape grief & longing. “Hold on. Easter is Coming!” A resounding YES dear Shes. Thanks be to God.
My sister-in-law Tammie is fighting for her life. The battle came out of nowhere. She has been sedated for an entire week, but now they cannot wake her up. And, of course, no one can get in to see her. She needs to hear her family’s voices. Please pray for her to win the battle here and for family to be able to get to her. Bless you for praying.
Amen Churchmouse! Prayers for all requests spoken and silently kept in the heart.
I feel a lot like Peter. If I was with Jesus I would not have been ok with the crucifixion. It’s interesting because Peters fear comes out of a love and protection for Jesus but at the same time his fear is the reason he’s denied Jesus. I wonder what he felt in those moments when he knew he had denied his savior. I think that his denying of Jesus right after protesting Christ’s death was very purposeful. In that moment I think Peter became very aware of his own brokenness and need for salvation. It allowed him to surrender to the plan of Christ. How intimately Jesus cares for us, that he should be concerned with Peters heart and his soul while marching to his death.
Thank you, LISA!
John 18 had some verses that I didn’t realize were there. In verse 12 I never realized they had tied up Christ. Maybe it was the versions I was reading in the past. In verses 4-8 Christ asks who they want and admits He is the One they want. In verses 15 and 16 it mentions Peter and another disciple who knew the high priests, I wonder who that other disciple is? I never caught the part of the other disciple before. Sooooo much to grasp and understand and take in.
BUT GOD!!! BUT JESUS!!!
Sisters be blessed and spread The Word.
Frustrating when it posts and I didn’t even say post! :)
Adrienne, one really helpful online study tool is on BibleGateway.com. It allows you to look up a verse in the Bible in any English version, but then there is a place where you can click to read the verse in all English versions. When you click there, you get a page where you can scroll through and see how one word (revolutionary or robber) is translated across all English versions. I find it really helpful in my studies. Below is the link to the page for John 18:40. Once you get there, click the link that says “Read John 18:40 in all English translations.”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A40&version=NIV