The King seeks our Maximum Good

"The King seeks maximum glory - so what are you going to do about it?"

This was the sermon in a nutshell yesterday during our worship service, when we looked at Luke 20: 20-37. All about the Kingdom of God and how He seeks maximum glory through surprising means -- a crucified Savior -- and how are we are called to respond (if you wish, you can listen to the sermon here).

Frankly, His glory is the most important aspect of His Kingdom -- as God seeks Maximum Glory above all else (see for example Ezekiel 36: 22, 32; Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 48:11). But He also seeks our Maximum Good -- and He does so also through the Jesus Christ Crucified.

While studying this passage last week, I ran across this excerpt from 2nd century Greek Philosopher, Celsus, who said this about his perception of Christianity, which is ironically fairly accurate:

Those who summon people to the other mysteries [i.e. other religions] make this preliminary proclamation: "Whosoever has pure hands and a wise tongue." And again, others say, "Whosoever is pure from all defilement, and whose soul knows nothing of evil, and who has lived well and righteously." Such are the preliminary exhortations of those who promise purification from sins. But let us hear what folk these Christians call. "Whosoever is a sinner," they say. "Whosoever is unwise, whosoever is a child, and, in a word, whosoever is wretch, the kingdom of God will receive him." Do you not say that a sinner is he who is dishonest, a thief, a poisoner, a sacrilegious fellow, and a grave-robber? What others would a robber invite and call? Why on earth this preference for sinners?

Today people call the cross a scandal. And it was just as much so in the 2nd century -- literally "foolishness to Greeks" like Celsus, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:23. With the crucified Christ as the backdrop, Paul goes on to say in that same passage:

For consider your calling, brothers, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose the what is weak in the world to shame the strong. (I Corinthians 1: 26-27)

He attracts us to a sign like the Crucified Christ for our maximum good. I was really struck by this today. There are so many who, by natural means, are more worthy of salvation than me. Perhaps you, like me, can go through a mental list of genuinely humble, nice, kind, hardworking people you've met throughout the course of your life. Yet, God doesn't require trust in one's behavior, one's works, or how one treats others -- but trust in a person, Jesus Christ, and his work on the cross.

The best thing I ever did for myself, then, was to realize how very much like a child I still am -- needy & incompetent to run my own life. The BEST thing!! Jesus says this is a most praiseworthy gift of grace:

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will." (Luke 10:21).

Why is this for our Maximum Good? I think I most like being a servant or slave because I was created to be so (see Romans 6 which describes people as having one of two options -- being slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness). The most freeing moments or seasons of my life are ones in which I'm okay with being a child, okay with being incompetent to run my own life, okay with being one who freely responds to a Master rather than working hard to master a sinful life -- (the latter done all in the name of pride).

The Crucified Christ represents God's curse upon Christ so we wouldn't have to endure God's curse for sin & it represents total humiliation so that God might forever identify with & draw near to Himself the despised & humiliated of this world. Thus, God through the Crucified Christ, earns our trust & allows us to be submit ourselves as children & slaves to a Merciful Master.

Any other way may have been good as it would have been from God -- but the Crucified Christ reminds us that the King seeks our maximum good.