A New World, Breaking in
Throughout the first Easter week, Jesus talked about something he called the kingdom. It was a new world he came to build on earth. And by the end of the week, he found himself in the headquarters of Pontus Pilate, who essentially held Jesus' fate in his hands. Pilate was the Roman-appointed governor of the district. The conversation John records centers on the nature of this kingdom. “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus said, “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” (John 18:36-37). Jesus holds truth and beauty in flawless tension. He doesn't have to defend his kingdom like the Romans. His servants aren't using power and violence to overthrow the government. He doesn't have to put on airs like Israel. His word bears speaks for itself; he has complete integrity.
Earlier, when John tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, he tells us that a new world is breaking into the middle of this one (see John 1:14-18). He's telling us that beauty and truth are once and for all showing up in a single person. What does this mean for us?
First, I think it means we must acknowledge how Jesus' new world exposes fatal flaws in our own worlds. It either exposes the absence of beauty or truth.
Second, we must admit we find this so profoundly offensive and threatening to our worlds that instead of crowning Jesus, we killed him. While we may not have nailed the nails in his hands, writers like Peter are clear, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous ... being put to death in the flesh” (1 Peter 3:18).
But then, thirdly, we need to heed Jesus' invitation to join him in the making of this new world breaking in. Jesus invites us to pick up our crosses and follow him, taking on his likeness and character (see Matthew 16:24-28). In other words, he invites us to leave behind our versions of the good life, which neglect either truth or beauty.
When our lives are built on truth to the neglect of beauty, our spiritual formation is centered on Christ's cross but often void of Christ's character. We know doctrine and rules but don't embody the fruit of his Spirit ... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). Through the incarnation and death of Christ, we're meant to become like Christ. Paul tells the Galatians Christians that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24). You see, what you know is meant to shape who you are. The truth of what Jesus has done on the cross must express itself in the beauty of his character.
When our lives are built on beauty to the neglect of truth, our moral formation is centered on Christ's character, but we often downplay the cross. As I mentioned, save for the ethical value of self-sacrifice, we’re prone to reject the necessity and power of the cross. The cross ultimately seems foolish (see 1 Corinthians 1:23). Nevertheless, we all experience an inability to embody Christ's character on our own. The Bible tells us that's because there are patterns of the heart and a disease of the flesh from which we need to be freed and healed. Only the cross does that. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:13-15). Living like Jesus is only possible because, on the cross, Jesus defeated the power and desires of the flesh.
Are you with me?
Only when we behold the cross and character of Jesus are our eyes opened to the fullness of truth and beauty.
Imagine with me …
Imagine a world where we practice what we preach. A world where standing for truth doesn’t lead to judgment, hate, and violence. A world where love and grace don’t lead to permissiveness, uncertainty, and confusion. Imagine a world where truth and beauty are one. That’s glory. That’s the incarnation. That’s Jesus. That’s his kingdom. That’s a new world, breaking into this one.
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*This is an excerpt from the sermon “A World of Truth and Beauty” preached on Palm Sunday, 2024.