The Jesus revealed in the Gospels is not a mythical, domesticated, or culturally convenient version. He is the real, living Christ who reveals the heart of God.

From the very beginning, people have struggled to recognise Jesus for who he truly is. The apostle Paul reminds us that there are three broad ways people respond to Jesus and his kingdom. He writes:

 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:22-24 NIV

The first group are those who seek signs and wonders from Jesus. Some Christians today run around chasing prophets and apostles who promise them miracles and wonders. Yet, Jesus said, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign!” (Matthew 12:39a). The sign is the Son of Man three days and three nights in the grave!

The second group want a philosophical and scientific Jesus who makes logical sense. They like debating the gospel and the kingdom of God. Their faith is not practiced; it’s something to debate and argue. Jesus is the crucified Christ, not some religious guru.

The third group are those who have come to know the crucified Jesus. They know that kingdom living is about taking up their cross and following him. That kind of life is a stumbling block to those who want signs and miracles, and foolishness to those that want a philosophy.

Christ does not merely show us a crucified life to imitate. As the crucified One, he gives us his life.

Prayer
Holy Spirit, grow us in the knowledge of the crucified Christ. May our whole lives preach Christ crucified. Amen.

Takalani Musekwa, Superintendent of Africa
Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Adapted from South Africa’s newsletter.

This summer I led GC Steele Creek and GC Durham in a Kingdom Culture Experience workshop. It was encouraging to see the participants commit their time to gather on a Saturday and spend a full day discussing kingdom-mindedness, kingdom imagination (“The kingdom is like…”), and kingdom relationships. The interaction and inspiration were palpable. Using our sacred imagination, we closed the experience with a rehearsal dinner for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

As the facilitator, I was inspired and pray even more earnestly, Come Lord Jesus!

Greg Williams

Steele Creek, North Carolina, US

Durham, North Carolina, US

Citizens of God’s kingdom understand the relationship between Jesus and the Church, his Body, as one of groom with bride. And we eagerly look forward to this glorious wedding supper.

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Revelation 19:7

Learn more about this relationship below. Read an excerpt from “Images of the Church” by Gary Deddo. The full article is here.

One important image that supplements our understanding of the relationship between Jesus and the Church, his Body, is one of groom with bride. This image points out a very personal, deep, life-long, intimate, and fruitful relationship. Here are a few key scriptures that use this image:

The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. (John 3:29)

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. (Rev. 22:17)

After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. (Eph. 5:29-32)

This image indicates a very close, even intimate and personal relationship of Jesus with his church. It also conveys a dynamic, interactive, interpersonal element of relationship. Given other such relational imagery throughout the New Testament, it conveys the idea of a history of relationship that develops and grows, especially from being unmarried, to being betrothed to having the marriage consummated. In the Old Testament there is preparation for this dimension of understanding with God’s relationship with Israel being compared to the relationship of a husband and wife. This is poignantly portrayed in Hosea where Israel’s unbelief and betrayal are compared to adultery. There are also several references in Isaiah and Jeremiah to the people of God as God’s bride.

Again, this image should not be taken alone. It helps us fill out a portrait when put together with the other images. This image, along with the others, is all together illustrative of a deep and complex reality that can’t be reduced to any one word or image. The images synthesize other more literal teaching about God’s relating to his people and what we are told about the history of that relationship culminating in the metaphorical image of the marriage feast of the Lamb depicted in Revelation 19:7-9.