A Bigger One

Coldplay’s live “Lost” video on YouTube with rap artist Jay Z expresses what can happen to people who step out to make a difference.  Halfway through the song, Jay Z comes in: 

See Jesus, see Judas

See Caesar, see Brutus,

See success is like suicide

Suicide, it's a suicide

If you succeed, prepare to be crucified

Media meddles, niggaz sue you, you settle

Every step you take, they remind you you're ghetto

Coldplay - Lost (Remix ft. Jay-Z)

See Jesus, see Judas, and the opening day of Jesus’ public ministry.  His words in Nazareth will define his mission. 

Read Luke 4:16-30

Jesus goes to synagogue as usual (he practiced organized religion even while he denounced its hypocrisy).  But this time he makes a staggering claim, mostly lost on us but so striking that his listeners say, “Who does he think he is?  This is Joseph’s son!  We know this guy!” 

Here’s Jesus, doing his thing in his hometown, and his people have to remind him he's ghetto.  Some are so angry they want to kill him then and there.  Friendly fire.  Ultimately, it will get him crucified. 

Jesus confirms Simeon’s words.  He claims to be nothing less than the very fulfillment of Isaiah’s own messianic prophecy. 

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

    and recovering of sight to the blind,

    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Luke 4:18, 19

In reading this passage, Jesus gives his neighbors a blueprint for his ministry, and with it a plan for our lives as well. 

“Kingdom of God” (or “kingdom of heaven”) is how the New Testament describes God’s reign on earth under the messiah.  It’s something that we look forward to as a future event, but it’s also something the Bible describes as present here and now: already here, not yet completed. 

We look around and we’re not convinced.  There’s so much wrong with the world, with others, and with ourselves if we’re honest.  If we think about it at all, it makes more sense to think of the Kingdom of God as only a future event. 

But the Kingdom of God is present, too, and it has been since Jesus read these words.  When Jesus quotes Isaiah’s prophecy about the messiah, he says, “Today this scripture is fulfilled.” 

In what is blasphemy to his hometown, small town audience, Jesus begins his public ministry by announcing that with him the messianic age has begun. 

"The kingdom of God is here.  I’m God’s gift to the world."  

No wonder they want to throw him off a cliff.  They say, “Wait a second!  We know your parents (if that really is your dad)!” They add with a whisper.  

That’s what happens to kingdom builders.  Maybe it’s happened to you.  Maybe it will. 

But the Kingdom of God is in your midst (Luke 17:21), and everyone who wants to live for God will be persecuted too (2 Timothy 3:12).  If you succeed, prepare to be crucified. 

The kingdom of God continues to be present now, too, in the life of his church and of his people – you and me. 

So what should we look for?  How do you know it’s there?  What are the proofs of the presence of the Kingdom of God?  There are two…