• COLOURS OF LIFE
THE UPSIDE DOWN KINGDOM
ON DISCRIMINATION
The Judean community was segregated. The Samaritans respected the invisible lines that divided the society. The Samaritans were neither Jews nor Gentiles and were avoided by both. They had learnt to live with discrimination. They were used to the stereotyping. They were careful not to disrupt the social order. But the stigma was worse for this Samaritan woman who had had five husbands and was now in an extra marital affair. In this patriarchal society she felt despised by the men and demonised by the women. So, she went to the well at noon to avoid people. This day she was surprised to find someone else there. She could tell he was a Jew. She figured out that He must be a stranger to these parts. Jesus asked the woman at Jacob’s well, “Will you give me some water to drink?” Shock, she retorted, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?”
Jesus had overstepped the boundaries in place to reach a woman who was searching for fulfilment and purpose. He crossed the ethnic divide to bring the good news of salvation by faith to the Samaritan woman. He knew that in God’s sight #samaritanlivesmatter. He demonstrated the Kingdom perspective on racism (John 4).
ON SEXISM
In this culture women were regarded as underdogs. Society was usually unfair to them. Early this morning a couple was caught in adultery and the woman was dragged out for judgment. She was brought by the religious leaders to Jesus. “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
These teachers of the law and the pharisees were looking for an opportunity to accuse Jesus of going against the law of Moses. He turned the tables on them – “Alright, but let the one who has never sinned cast the first stone”. One by one they turned around and, beginning with the oldest, walked away. When Jesus was left alone with her, He drew the attention of the accused to the fact that those who condemned her had left. He told her He did not condemn her. He forgave her and asked her to go and sin no more. Her accusers did not say anything about the man she was caught with. Jesus was aware of the gender bias; he was sympathetic to the #metoo movement. He defended the woman and her right to equal and fair treatment. He gave us the Kingdom perspective on sexism (John 8:1-11).
ON GOD’S WAYS
Things were getting heated up around Jesus. The pressure from those who wanted him out of the way was becoming more intense. The disciples had hoped that he would establish an earthly kingdom and the ruling authorities feared this. One day, Jesus told His disciples of the trails that awaited Him. He said he would be rejected by the religious leaders and even killed, but assured them that He would rise from the dead. Peter, a disciple of his, could not bear to hear the Lord make such painful utterances. He did not want to see Jesus suffer. By divine revelation, Peter had recently confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God and for this, Jesus highly commended him. But at this point Jesus rebuked Peter with these scathing words: “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns”. Here he left us the kingdom perspective on God’s will versus the will of man (Matt 16:23).
ON CHURCH OFFERINGS
It was thanksgiving Sunday and people came to church excited. This was one of the times to give a special donation to God’s work. The congregants danced to the altar to drop their offerings. The affluent folks amongst them could easily be identified by their expensive attires and their fat offering envelopes. Amidst the pomp and pageantry a poor widow made her way down the aisle and she dropped a miserly 2 coins in the offering basket. Meanwhile, Jesus had been watching the proceedings. He gave an astonishing verdict on what He saw – He said the offering of the widow surpassed that of the politicians and business moguls. He taught His disciples that the value of your offering is not determined by how much you give but by how much is left over after you have given. He revealed to us the Kingdom perspective on giving (Luke 21: 1-4).
A COUNTERCULTURE
A review of the book The Upside Down Kingdom, by Donald B Kraybill, says the author ‘…. shows how the kingdom of God announced by Jesus appeared upside-down in first-century Palestine. Jesus wins by serving and triumphs by losing. Today, God’s way still looks upside-down as it breaks into diverse cultures around the world. According to Kraybill, worldly authorities seek power and prestige, but Jesus’ counter-cultural message is a clear call to turn the social ladder upside-down. Jesus demonstrates radical opposition to the dominant culture by making friends with social outcasts and rebelling against authorities. This message calls Christians from many cultures to actively participate in God’s upside-down kingdom.’
There are two kingdoms in operation: the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. We all belong to one of the two. Though they co-exist, they are diametrically opposed and perpetually at war. For this reason, they do not allow for dual citizenship.
To which kingdom do you belong?
COLOURS OF LIFE SHOW
Today we end season one of our Colours of Life show with the incredible testimony of Keji Hamilton. This former afrobeat musician talks of his amazing journey from a life of drugs, violence, prostitution and the occult to conversion and now ministry of the gospel. This is one episode you do not want to miss. The show airs at 5pm (WAT) today. Find our coloursoflifetv show on YouTube. @coloursoflifetv