Holding Out For Rome

Jesus wants to give us eternal life, but many of us hold out for answers about Rome instead. 

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He poured out beautiful truths about His kingdom. He gave answers that were not understood by the earthly-minded and descriptions that seemed too simple and mundane. Jesus unequivocally preached His kingdom, and He revealed the way one could enter it. But most of the people wanted to hear about Rome instead. 

Many did not want to hear about seeds and plants and wheat and soil. They wanted to know what sort of retribution would be given to Rome. They wanted to know when God would bring vengeance. They wanted answers to earthly problems, not descriptions of heavenly realities. The problem many had with Jesus was that He simply did not give them what they wanted. He did not give them the answers they expected. Oswald Chambers said, “There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause— He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself.”

To the religious, He said, “Why do you judge the speck in your brother’s eye and ignore the log in your own?” To the political zealot He said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” To the unduly burdened He said, “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two.” And to the poor He said, “When someone sues you for your shirt, give them your cloak also.” Jesus indomitably preached His truth, not ours. He preached the mind of God, not the mind of men. 

And the mind of God is not concerned with our causes, it is only concerned with His kingdom. 

(Luke 4:43,44) But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.” And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.

(Matt 5:43-45) You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.” but I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

(Matt 13:19-23) When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart... The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.