Out of This World

The struggle is real.

Are you struggling this morning? Or maybe the better question, what are you struggling with this morning? Is your marriage? Depression? Anxiety? Parenting? Addiction? School/Career? With faith, Christianity, the Church, etc?

We have a need of power.

This is one of the basic needs of humanity. We want to have a sense of power, control, a sense of independence. We want to make our own decisions.

Yet, many of us feel powerless.

This is where anxiety can come in. This is where anger, bitterness, resentment, and a whole host of other issues can start to show up. When you feel like you have no power, and yet there is a sense within you that power is important, you will grasp for it in any manner possible.

Yet, there is Good News!

Mark 1:14–15 NIV

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The Good News of the Gospels.

The life of Jesus shows a different, a better way. The Gospels don’t major on just the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Good news of the Gospels is found in how Jesus lived. It isn’t all about that and fortunately Paul helps to see the Gospel as the atonement Jesus provides.

The Kingdom of God doesn’t start on Earth.

This is key for us to realize. The origins are found only in God himself. Jesus did not deny his kingdom had a present reality but made sure Pilate knew it was not the same as his kingdom.

The kingdom influences this world.

This was the prayer of Jesus just a chapter before in John where he stated, “don’t take them out of this world” I mean the world needs us. John would write just moments earlier that we are called out of the world in order to live in the world true life.

Power comes from truth.

This is why education is so important and powerful. This is why Christians throughout the decades and history were on the forefront of public education. This is why we need Christians in education at all levels. Our faith is not against education, and even public education at that.

Jesus redeems power.

We do not use the power we have as the world does. This is part of the point Jesus is making in our text this morning. He made it even more plain in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 20:25–26 NIV

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

Notice the call. This is counter-cultural. It was in the time of Jesus and is even more so in 2021.

Our task: listen to Jesus.

Remember that listening is not just hearing but also doing. Scripture states we are to be doers of the Word. We can know all we want about Jesus but if we do not live it this is not Good News. The Gospels make it clear Jesus did not just speak words or know the Father, he lived it out.