"Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?'...Then Pilate asked Him, 'Are You the King of the Jews?'" (From Mark 14 and 15)
Our Lord's response was in the affirmative to both questions. So much for "the separation of church and state."
My Gospel reading today was in Mark 15. In the previous chapter, we see the Jews were focused on religious issues, viz., Jesus' claim to be the Jewish Messiah, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Pilate, on the other hand, was focused on political issues, "Are You the King of the Jews." Pilate knew that there was no room in the Empire for two kings. John's Gospel records that the chief priests assured him, however, "we have no king but Caesar." The phrase, "The King of the Jews," is recorded five times in Mark 15. And there is another phrase which I do not recall taking notice of before. The rabble at the cross mocked Jesus, "Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Such people will never, "see and believe." But before the world, let it be known today, Jesus Christ is indeed, "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed," and as the inscription above His Cross declared, "This is Jesus The King of the Jews."
The reality of Biblical Theology is that there is no separation of Jesus Christ from anything or anyone. Kings, kingdoms, economies, education, armed forces, families, even sports, "all things are naked and opened unto Him with Whom we have to do," i.e., "give account." The next time you are tempted to say, "Well, I don't get involved in such things," remember, Jesus Christ was "involved" in all things----- and so has been the Church throughout the centuries. The Book of Acts begins in Jerusalem, "The Christ, the Son of the Blessed," and ends in Rome, "King of kings and Lord of lords."
"Then Amaziah said to Amos: 'Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, and there prophesy. But never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is the royal residence." Amos in affect said, "Sorry, can't do it. Besides, "the kingdom is the Lord's." So I too declare today that there is no difference between that Sunday School classroom and that office cubicle, that "intercessory worship" gathering, and your vehicle, kitchen, or grocery store. Peter set the tone for the Gospel message which would ring through the centuries in the Common Era, "The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ-- He is Lord of all...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, "Reign in me." Amen.
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To Witness His Reign in the Earth, go to: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
