Greater Than: "Jesus Gives Meaning to Politics and Justice"
I. Earthly Justice will Not Satisfy (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17)
Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 – “Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.”
Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
II. Death is Inevitable (Ecclesiastes 3:18-22)
Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 – “I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?”
Ecclesiastes 8:11 – “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.”
Revelation 21:5 – “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.””
III. Political Power will not Satisfy (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3; 13-16; 5:8-9)
Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 – “Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 – “Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.”
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 – “If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”
Hope in God’s Eternal Kingdom vs. Hope in Man’s Political System Under the Sun
1. Endurance
2. Gifting
Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 12:28
3. Headship
4. Hope
IV. Jesus is the Greater King, God is a bringer of Justice (Ecclesiastes 12:12-14)
Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”