How did the teaching and ministry of Jesus lead to his crucifixion? – part 1

What was at the heart of the message Jesus taught while on earth?
Jesus proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God. We read in Mark 1 :14 & 15 that Jesus said: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news”.

What did Jesus mean by the expression “the Kingdom of God”?
According to the form in the original language, Jesus referred to the presence and power of God’s reign, more than the place of his rule. Jesus spoke about God exercising his authority, in our lives, in heaven and in all aspects of life on earth.

How did Jesus choose to proclaim God’s rule and reign?
Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God through his teaching and parables, but also through his miracles, healings and casting out of demons. He showed in his acts, his supernatural works, that our God reigns.

When is the Kingdom of God coming?
Jesus said that the Kingdom of God, his dominion and rule, has both come and also is coming in our lives and our world. He taught that it has come, and is still coming as well, because it is not yet fully here. Like in the case of a pregnant mother, where one may say that a new baby exists, yet it has not been born yet.
The Kingdom comes in our lives and world, yet we are not perfectly obedient yet and grows daily in obedience. The Kingdom has come on earth, yet evil still impacts vastly on our existence.

How is the Kingdom of God coming?
According to Jesus, the reign of God will come through his death on a cross and through his glorious victory over the grave. Through his sacrifice he would take God’s judgment upon himself and give himself as ransom to redeem us from the rule of sin. And through his victory he would grant us deliverance from being slaves of evil.

How did his message, teaching and ministry lead to the crucifixion of Jesus?
The priests, loyal to Rome, misunderstood the words of Jesus and feared that it would cause an uprising that threatened their privileged position within society. The priestly hierarchy in Jerusalem believed that to overthrow the rule of Rome was a threat to the fragile peace of Judea and therefore to the temple worship that the Romans freely allowed, as long as the Jews accepted Roman rule. The Jewish priests sought to crucify Jesus, to get rid of him and to warn others not to follow in his footsteps in proclaiming the rule of God as passionately as Jesus did.

In closing: Although the message, the cross and the resurrection of Jesus always impacts on society through the words and ministry of Jesus and his followers, it does not strive to replace the rule of those with earthly authority, but proclaims the rule of God over all of our lives and our institutions and governments. Jesus demands that both people, the church and governments obediently surrender to his divine heavenly authority.

(In part 2 of this devotion, next Wednesday, we will ask how we should follow Jesus who both announced the Kingdom of God and inaugurated it through his cross and victory.).