The Kingdom of God has just such a culture even if we have forgotten to teach it or expect it from each other. I am not sure how we have forgotten our Kingdom culture but I think we have. To see how we are falling short of the new life we have been birthed into all we have to do is look at Jesus to see what it is suppose to look like.
Jesus accomplished many things in the short three years of his ministry. He revealed the Father's heart to us. He set the example of what life walking in Spirit looks like. He paid the price for our redemption. He laid the seeds for the birth of the Church. And he demonstrated to us the Kingdom of God and what that culture looks like.
There were a lot of injustices in Jesus' day. The poor were mistreated. Women were little better than dogs. Children were tolerated. The sick and the physically challenged were isolated. Jesus overcame these and many more. Maybe we don't see it because we have normalized the stories but when you are willing to see it from the Kingdom's perspective it is quite breathtaking.
One encounter that has moved me the most over the years is the one with the leper who knew that he could be healed if Jesus was willing. There were different levels of faith expressed by people when they encountered Jesus. Some were the basic level of "If you can". Others expressed a higher level of "If you are willing". And still others spoke the greatest faith of "Just speak Lord". But it wasn't the level of my faith that caught my attention but rather Jesus' response.
Ever since becoming sick this leprous man would have to call out "unclean" anytime he was in public. Talk about anxiety provoking. He would not have known human touch since the day of his diagnoses. He would have been removed from family and forced to beg for a living in a culture that would have ignored his existence. Isolated in a crowded room.
This is why it is so moving to read Jesus' responses to his pleas for help. It is not so much the words of our gracious King who said to the man "Of course I am willing", but his generous gift of a human hand upon his diseased flesh. Jesus could have just spoke, he did not have to touch. But what was the greatest need here, the rescue from the disease or the acknowledgement of his need for contact? Jesus did both, touching the man while assuring him of the willingness of our compassionate Father.
In one simple heart-felt gesture Jesus let it be known that the culture of the Kingdom is far superior to the limited culture of a broken world. He demonstrated that ever person has value, is important and is deserving of compassion and grace, regardless of their condition.
Israel had a culture of division and prejudices. Jesus seemed to take great delight in destroying these one by one. Jesus highlighted those who had become invisible in this pious culture. He brought such people out into the light and honoured them in the sight of those who considered him their enemy. He demonstrated the culture of the Kingdom in which we are sons and daughters. Today we look to our King to know how honour overcomes prejudice and lifts up those who have been trodden down.
Over the next few days I want to highlight these actions of our King. I want to discuss with you the example of our Lord so we can better grasp his Kingdom. I want to show you the many faces of what a culture of honour looks like. Come take this important walk with me.
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