Relentless Kingdom Work

Today, Tomorrow, and the Third Day

Looking at our world today it can be hard to see God’s kingdom work. With a country still divided, a pandemic, gas prices soaring, and a world that seems to be on the verge of war. There is certainly more going on in our world in opposition to God’s kingdom work than in support. Today’s passage from Luke reminds me despite everything going on, that today, tomorrow and the next day God’s Kingdom work continues, and nothing can stand in its way. Not you, not me, not political leaders, not religious leaders, there is absolutely nothing that can stand in the way of God accomplishing his mission to redeem all of creation.

For us today, even though things look grim. Even though it seems God’s kingdom work is going at a snails pace, we can be encouraged that not even a cross meant to kill stopped God’s kingdom. Brothers and sisters the biggest struggle and question for us today, tomorrow, and until Christ returns how are we going to join with God in his kingdom work. The work of the Kingdom goes on no matter what.

Going to Jerusalem, Going to the Cross.

Jesus from the start of his public ministry immediately after his wilderness journey. Is led by the Spirit to do the will of God. The will of God is for Jesus to go to Jerusalem, to declare the Kingdom of God has come near.

Mark 1:15 NRSV

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Luke 4:16–19 NRSV

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus ministry begins in his boyhood home. Among a people who probably still aren’t buying his mother’s virgin birth story, and most likely see him as an outcast a sinner. He was certainly someone least likely to them to proclaim the Kingdom of God.

The words of Christ begin in Luke 4 begin his journey towards to Jerusalem to take up his cross, and pursue the mission God sent him to do.

*Backdrop

Kingdom Parables

The Kingdom parables challenge the political and religious leaders of Jesus day. Especially When Jesus tells them those who are first now will be last in the Kingdom and those who are last will be first. Meaning the outcast, those the temple leaders reject will be first. This challenges and upsets those in authority every where, because Jesus is turning the Kingdom upside down.

After the Kingdom Parables some Pharisees come to Jesus to warn him that Herod plans to kill him. Jesus response Luke 13:32

Luke 13:32 NLT

32 Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose.

Fox reduces Herod to a varmint

Jesus message to Herod I will continue the work of God’s Kingdom, today, tomorrow and on the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes today, tomorrow I must proceed on my way to Jerusalem. Jesus on his Kingdom journey is going to Jerusalem, to go to the cross. The biggest thing God has to say to us today, is despite opposition, the work of the kingdom goes on.

Not only do the political leaders of Jesus day want him dead, but also the religious leaders. As Jesus continues his journey to jerusalem, the religious leaders and all jerusalem will reject him and hand him over to be crucified.

Jesus laments for Jerusalem because they refuse to receive the message and join in the Kingdom work they oppose.

Despite a cross meant to kill the advancement of the Kingdom actually worked quite the opposite. The kingdom work God set in motion at the cross continues and nothing will stand in its way not even Jerusalem.

In Luke there are two camps those who oppose Jesus and the Kingdom work because it challenges the status quo, and those who decide to follow Jesus. Which camp are you in this morning. Jesus Kingdom preaching will challenge our status quo. It will challenge us to change the way we live, the way we view others, it may even challenge us to change the way we operate as the body of Christ. We can respond to these challenges like Herod, like the religious leaders of Jesus day, like Jerusalem and reject the change, or we can get on board with God’s kingdom work. Either way God’s kingdom work will be accomplished. There’s nothing anybody can do to stop it.

Today, Tomorrow, and the next day lets be people who are about God’s Kingdom work no matter what.

God’s Kingdom work begins at the cross.

In Luke’s gospel Jesus is on a journey up to Jerusalem. Jesus has set out to fulfill the will of God no matter what. No matter threats to his life, or opposition from temple leaders who think they grant access to God. The will of God leads Jesus to Jerusalem and ultimately the cross. Despite opposition from Political and religious leaders, despite their nailing Jesus to the cross, the work of the Kingdom grew exponentially through the cross. It was at the cross where the light of the Kingdom first illuminated the darkness of our world.

The work of the Kingdom, despite political opposition, and even sometimes opposition from within the church, goes on today, tomorrow, and until Christ returns.

Brothers and Sisters we only have 2 options. We can respond by working with God in his Kingdom work, or we can respond much like the political and religious leaders, and Jerusalem of Jesus day.

How can we respond today, tomorrow and the next day to working with God in the work of the Kingdom? As we reflect on that, lets reflect at the cross where we first saw the light.