What is
the big idea of Christianity?
Bible readings
Mark
1:14-20
What is
the big idea of Christianity?
- · We ought to try harder at loving God and loving our neighbor
- · Forgiveness from the past is ours through the death of Jesus?
- · We have a home in heaven when we die through the resurrection of Jesus?
- · God is nice and He likes you!
Each of these has a grain of truth in them but I don’t think
any of them are the big idea.
When Jesus came preaching in Mark 1 he announced what he
stood for – his big idea – That the Kingdom of God was present or at hand. That the future the Jews had longed for was
at hand – now is the time. God is at
work in a new way not sometime in the future but here and now in Jesus.
The right time has
come,” he said, “and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and
believe the Good News!” Mark 1:15
Jesus was saying D Day had arrived. God had established a beachhead with Jesus’
coming and the forces that apposed Justice and peace, the forces of selfishness
and self-interest were coming under attack.
The insurgency had begun.
Jesus does not go deeply into what the Kingdom of God was
like as Jews already had a good idea from the Old Testament.
The word kingdom is often used for the realm and reign of an
earthly power. The story from our Old Testament
reading from Daniel speaks of 4 Kingdoms from the Babylonian, the Medo Persian,
the Greek and the Roman, but also of a kingdom from heaven: “the God of heaven will set
up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.” Daniel 2:44
The Psalms and many other scriptures speak
of the Reign of God (Kingdom of God.)
Eg Psalm 97:1 The Lord Reigns, and the earth is
happy. All the faraway lands are happy.
(See also 1 Chronicles
16:30-32,Psalm 9:7-8, Psalm
93:1, Psalm 96:10, Psalm 99:1-2 Isaiah 24:23
“The
Lord is king Psalm
22:28 The Lord is king, and he rules the nations. Also Ps 103:19 Ps 145:11
The idea that the Messiah would institute God’s reign is
also crucial to Old Testament ideas. At
Christmas we often read Isaiah 9:6-7 A child is born to us! … And he
will be our ruler. He will be called, “Wonderful counselor,”
“Mighty God,” “Eternal Father,” “Prince of Peace.” 7 His
royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom
will always be at peace. He will rule as King David's successor, basing
his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time.
We note that God’s
reign is described as eternal, marked by Justice and righteousness, and peace.
When Jesus announced the
Kingdom of God was at hand he was saying the realm of heaven and earth now
overlapped. As we pray in the Lord’s
prayer “May our kingdom come and your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.
And
Jesus is the point of overlap - the man
from heaven. Who brings God’s presence and power and will to earth.
In Jesus the presence of God is displayed. The will of God
is enacted. He is the embodiment of the Kingdom of God – he is God’s ruling
presence.
This big idea of Christianity because it tells us two things
summed up in Our response to repent and believe.
If it is true – that God is present
and establishing his kingdom now then things can ever be the same. Peter and Andrew,
James ad John were right to leave their nets and follow Jesus.
The response Jesus called for was to repent – which literally
means change your thinking.
1.
God is
not too far away to help us. Forgiveness, grace, wisdom is here in Jesus. We
are now God’s Beloved Children and citizens of his Kingdom when we turn to him
in with repentance and faith.
Last year Sue’s mother who is in her 90’s
went to hospital and Sue felt powerless to do much because she was here but her
mother was in Nelson. She felt much
better when she could be there to help. The Story of Jesus in the gospels shows God
healing the sick, feeding the hungry, giving acceptance and belonging to
outcasts and sinners. Even in Jesus death
on the cross we see God helping us knowing that when we do our very worst Jesus
still forgives. Our new thinking starts
by understanding our identity as citizens of God’s Kingdom, the children of God,
or to use the Phrase Paul might say we are in Christ (2 Cor 5:17).
2.
God is
not too far away to understand us. I
have to admit I do not understand some Americans refusal to wear masks or take
this virus seriously and socially distance. Or why people in NZ would break out of
quarantine. I do not understand the
turmoil in Hong Kong or even what my sister is going through in Melbourne at
the moment. However, if I was there and
listened I would understand. If heaven
has invaded earth in the presence of Jesus, we know God understands – not just because
he is God but because he is here with us. He is not only understanding but also
full of wisdom and power – If Jesus is the King and he knows what I am facing –
then I can ask him anything, and follow the leading of his Spirit. If I am a citizen of the kingdom then I have
access to the King, and the king will direct me to respond as he sees fit as he
understands situations far better than I do.
The story is told of the famous tightrope
walker Charles Blondin
crossing the Niagara River in 1859. He walked across blindfolded, another time
with a wheelbarrow and another time with his manager on his back. Apparently he
asked if anyone believed he could take someone across inside his wheelbarrow but
why everyone cheered saying they believed he could they were not willing to
risk their own lives by being the one to get in the Barrow.
The announcement that the Kingdom of God is present in the person of
Jesus – is not just a call to change our thinking but also to believe – which means
not intellectual assent to the idea but getting in the barrow.
We are not only beloved Children & citizens of the kingdom but also empowered agents of the Kingdom. We are little Christ’s – embodiment's of the
kingdom, little intersections of heaven and earth.
Where we submit to God and show love - there is the kingdom of God, when
we speak God’s word of forgiveness and grace – there is the Kingdom.
When we act for peace and justice – not because these are causes but because
these are the overflow of our faith our response to the kingship of Jesus then
there is the Kingdom.
There is a video on youtube that introduces the idea of the kingdom of God really well
There is also a couple of songs we will sing on sunday
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