12 April 2013 - we're kingdumb

12 April 2013 - we're kingdumb

“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” 
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

This is one of the reasons why Jesus cannot always answer prayers in just the way we want.  Sometimes he has to withdraw to the mountain lest we enthrone him as king of our pre-existing worldview.  He isn't going to rule according to our ideas of what he should do.  Our priorities are earthly whereas his are heavenly.


Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.


Sometimes he does answer our prayers for human needs.  Sometimes he does give us bread when we are hungry.  But he does this first and foremost to teach us to trust in him as the source of all goodness.  He wants us to trust him so much that we can come to believe him when he tells us about the heavenly Bread of Life which he truly longs to give us.  He wants to place this desire deep with us.

One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.

He wants us to trust him above all things.  He wants us to recognize that any other goods pale in comparison to the life which flows from him.  Seeking him thusly is the only explanation for the attitude of the apostles in the face of persecution:


So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.

They seem to only be tangentially aware that bad things are happening to them because they are so fixated on Jesus and his presence in their lives.


And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.

In the practical sense they have a great deal to fear and yet with their Christocentric viewpoints they are uniquely able to pray with the psalmist:


The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?