The Game Of Thrones Goes On

We continue our meditations upon the LORD's Prayer . . .

During the days of Jesus' earthly life many were playing—in terms of the currently popular TV show on HBO—their own Game of Thrones. Many members of the Jewish Sanhedrin tried to maintain their control of the Jewish people while balancing the Roman occupiers' demands for taxes. In turn, the High Priests sought to control the Sanhedrin and enrich themselves at the same time. The Herodians had limited political control of various parts of the land as they killed one another and indulged their fleshly appetites. And in the midst of all this the Roman prefects and governors had to maintain peace with all these factions while their soldiers pursued Jewish zealots and sicarii (assasins) hiding in the hills or killing in the very streets of Jerusalem.

Here's part of the private conversation between the Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate, and Jesus as reported in the Gospel of John. Notice how each plays the game.

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 

Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" 

Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?" 

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." 

Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" 

Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." 

Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" 

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in him. - Jhn 18:33-38 ESV

What did Jesus mean by accepting the title of king? What did he mean when he said he was born for that very purpose? What did he imply by saying that he came into the world for that purpose? That he existed somewhere else, in some other world? And what is or was the nature of his kingdom? How could he come into the world and yet not be of this world? Or from the world? What world was he from?

It all sounded like gibberish to Pilate, this talk about kings, truth and listening to Jesus' voice. The guy was obviously nuts, spouting nonsense. That's why Pilate concluded, "I find no guilt in him." This prophet was not guilty of insurrection as the Sanhedrin claimed. They were playing their own games and Pilate knew it. He simply wanted to get rid of this craziness and be done with it. So he played his card, hoping it would all go away. He would release Jesus and crucify the robber Barabbas, but they demanded Barabbas and the game went on.

With all this in mind, we are taught by our LORD to pray, "Father in the heavens . . . your kingdom come!" So whose kingdom are we praying for? Jesus' or the Father's? Both? More on this in my next post.

Jesus, The ONLY Way To The Father

It is common these days to claim that there are many paths to God. For example we read this quote from Ramakrishna (1833-86), the Bengali Hindu sage, lifted up as true spiritual wisdom:

“God can be realized through all paths. All religions are true. The important thing is to reach the roof. You can reach it by stone stairs or by wooden stairs or by bamboo steps or by a rope. You can also climb up by a bamboo pole.”

This approach is very popular in these days. And one of the biggest and most popular leaders of the many paths approach is Oprah Winfrey. No one quite knows what Oprah believes. In a September, 2005 book, The Gospel According To Oprah, Marcia Z. Nelson says that there are several major Christian themes that weave through her life and work: confession, redemption, healing, mission, forgiveness and salvation. Nelson sees Oprah as a "compelling spiritual teacher in a spiritually eclectic and ever-practical America." But what exactly her credo is, well, no one really knows.

And then there's Jesus!

On that night before his trial and crucifixion Jesus met with his disciples to tell them he was going to his Father's house to prepare a place for them. "And," he said, "you know the way to where I am going."

Thomas, ever the practical and literal doubter, replied, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
To this Jesus said,

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." - Jhn 14:6-7 ESV

How strange. How very non-modern and un-American: No one comes to the Father except through me? Surely this is not what Jesus meant. No one but Jesus? He alone is the way? He alone the truth? He alone the life? Surely not.

Note Jesus' peculiar views of God to begin with. He claims to be God. God is his Father and he is the way to the Father. When Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus says,

"Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. - Jhn 14:9-11 ESV

 To see Jesus is to see the Father. The Father dwells in Jesus. He is in the Father. The Father is in Jesus. 

Again and again and again the New Testament writers emphasize the divinity of Jesus Christ. Again and again Jesus claims to be one with the Father. In him we come upon the great mystery of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All this is conveniently ignored by those like Oprah. If, however, you want to find true rest for your troubled soul, forgiveness for your many sins and the absolute certainty of life eternal, then come to Jesus. Listen again to his invitation.

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Mat 11:27-30 ESV