Up

"My kingdom is not of this world," John 18:36.

I have a hard time hearing my Lord, so he often has to say the thing twice for me to hear it. So, in this one verse, he said it at the start, then he said it again at the end: My kingdom is not of this world. In fact, in order to be heard, he even provides a contrast sandwiched between the twofold declaration. In between he said: If my kingdom were of this world - then my agents would fight and defend me. The governor grilling Jesus at this point asked, You're a king? Jesus answered, You said it. I was born for this purpose. I came here for this purpose. I bear witness to the truth. Anybody captured by truth hears me. Eking out his meaning, slowly I begin to hear him. Kingdom of heaven. It's really, really different from earth's ways.

We join with a brother or sister today, thankfully, to hear the truth of our King, Jesus. And, together, we give thanks for receiving a kingdom whose roots go up, into the sky.