Living in the Spirit
November 25, 2018
Scripture Reading: John 18:33-37
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’
There are no borders in the Kingdom of God. It is a singular, diverse society welcoming to all. Some of our founders foresaw that vision for the USA. As I drive down the street passing a Mexican restaurant here and an East Indian one across the street, I can see glimpses of that vision. I was somewhat surprised the first time I ate authentic Mexican food and realized what I had been eating was similar but not the same. It was changed by the ingredients that were available and the taste desires of the community in which it was being served. Does finding common cultural ground make us better through our sharing or do we dilute heritages? Is there one better way of being human? What is the lowest common denominator shared by all people that is the sinew holding all God’s children together as one while allowing each to fulfill his or her potential and being respected for who he or she is and who he or she is becoming? What does it mean to belong to the truth?
In his study on the book of John, N. T. Wright talks about the ancient’s idea of heaven and earth varying from ours today. Our ancestors in faith viewed heaven not as someplace off somewhere but as intersecting with the earth particularly in the tabernacle in the Holy of Holies. Wright sees Jesus as serving at the crossroads of that connection linking us through the love of God to one another. When we share in that love with Jesus Christ, we are enabled to share the love with others. Maintaining that connection is vital.
Prayer: Lord, you said that you are the vine and we are the branches, nourish us so that we can grow in spirit and in truth as we work toward the oneness you envisioned. Amen.