“Then Jesus said, ‘What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate is? It is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds come and find shelter among its branches.’”
- Luke 13:18-19
When we talk about the Gospel in terms of purely salvation or even simply life free of sin, we lose sight of the fullness of the Gospel that Jesus preached. Frequently, even His disciples and other followers/listeners entirely missed what Jesus was actually doing. So, when they heard Him teach things like the above verses, and spoke of a Kingdom, they pictured something that He was not communicating. Jesus did not come to start a revolution; He came to be a revelation.
Being Revolutionary:
Revolutions are touchy subject, they are not inherently bad, but they also are not inherently good. Yes, oppressive governments are bad, but like the poor they are always going to be on the earth. Yes, we should work toward more peaceful forms of government and hold our governing authorities accountable to their actions, like we would hold any of our family or friends accountable to their actions. No, we should not seek out violence, and I find it difficult to be a Christian and behave violently, even in the face of oppression and overreach.
That to say, revolutions and uprisings have also contributed to advances in various parts of the world, but equal if not most cases it leads to a more oppressive government being in place. Why is this?
If only this was a blog about politics and history, then I would be educated to share all that. So, I cannot speak into that, but I can speak into worldviews and how the Christian worldview is an alternative to every national identity.
There are some who may think the world view of America is inherently Christian, or there are Christian traces of truth sprinkled in its history. However, that is also true of all of Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico, and large areas of Africa and Asia. Christianity has been nearly everywhere since it started nearly 2,000 years ago. Yet, many cultures, governments, and societies would not be Christian, because to be Christian means to have a whole new set of values, beliefs, ideologies, and social norms that are not all held by any one nation. Christianity is a distinct alternative.
Some of the Disciples, other followers, and the religious leaders thought Jesus was a revolutionary. They thought He was coming to overthrow the Herodians and to cast Rome out of the middle east. They thought violence and turning the tables of politicians was the “kingdom” Jesus was going to establish, but they would be sorely wrong. Jesus did not preach a political “kingdom,” nor a salvation only message. Jesus did not come to start a revolution, but He came to be the revelation.
The Revelation:
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person, by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really in.”
- Romans 12:2
Jesus is the embodied revelation of God’s will. Every teaching, correction, and action is the will of God, and serves as the example of what God’s will for Jesus’ followers would be. Jesus preached a Gospel of the Kingdom of God, a reality that is an alternative to the ways of the world. A Kingdom that is a Mustard Seed.
Here’s the thing about a Mustard Plant. It does not belong in a garden. No one would, with sanity, plant such a tree in their garden backs them. The reason why, is because it is like a weed. It grows big and fast and reproduces like catholic rabbits. It was not as easily contained and controlled and could do harm to the other trees and plants despite the plant being used for seasoning, oil, and salads. This invasive species becomes the concrete example of the Kingdom, since it does not belong in the garden (which represents the world, and other plants represent other nations in prophetic tradition).
Though the Kingdom of God did not previously belong, it will run counter to all other nations, including Israel because even they sought to be like the other nations. So Jesus plants a seed that will develop into something different, and will run parallel but separated from the nations of the world. So, when you call Jesus as Lord, your recognize a different way of being on this planet. You recognize that your behaviors and customs need to be evaluated and measured against your faith, and not God is calling you to a life transformed by grace and invited into a Kingdom.
A Kingdom of course is being built and grown daily by spreading the Gospel in word and deed. Through the growing, birds come and build shelter, taking refuge in the Kingdom rather than in the world. Jesus revealed to us in word and deed what the Kingdom is like, and we are to be living it and place out citizenship first and foremost in it.
We might have other ideas and responsibilities as citizens of the nation we live in, but they never should take precedence over our faith and life in the Kingdom. If you want to know what the Kingdom is like further, and how to live, read the Gospels in the Bible. Read Acts of the Apostles. Read the Epistles of Paul. Read Exodus and Samuel. Pray, and Pray, and Pray, centering your life on Christ who revealed the Kingdom to the World. And seek to share the Gospel of the Kingdom to other. It’s good news that life in Christ is an alternative to the ways of the world.
Final Blessing:
Be a Kingdom-centered Christian, and live out the Gospel by word and deed. For Jesus did not start a revolution, but came to be the revelation of real life for Him.
Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breathe, and every heartbeat of your journey.
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