3/28/11 John 12:34-36 A Non-earthly kingdom

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” 35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Thoughts: Isaiah 9:6-7 says, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulders...of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end."  The risen Lord is reigning now.  But the people of Jesus' day wanted him to reign in Jerusalem physically.  William Barclay points out that in Shaw's play "Joan of Arc" she says when she realizes she is to be betrayed by her own people, "You will be glad to see me burnt; but if I go through the fire I shall go through it to the hearts [of the common people] forever and ever."  The greatest kingdom is not one established by force.  Xerxes, Alexander, Caesar, Napolean, Hitler are all gone.  But the kingdom established by peace lives forever.  This is where the terrorists deceive themselves- thinking that force and terror will win the world. The rebellions in the Middle East today are against the dictators who took over control mostly by force in the past.  The light of the world was about to be extinguished physically, but it would multiply billions of times over spiritually.

Prayer: Lord, help me to believe and live knowing that your kingdom is not of this world.