Reading… and Thinking

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm.”

— John 18:36 (NASB)

A lot of armies have gone into battle believing “God is on our side”. Often both sides in a conflict convince themselves of this. Soldiers pray for success in battle. Some of them lay down their lives for Jesus, in their own minds. Particularly this has been true in the many religious wars that have been fought through the centuries. All those brave men, and some women too, killing each other and being killed, in the name of Jesus.

If they understood and believed the Scripture, they would know that Jesus would ask no such thing of them. All armed conflicts are about kingdoms of this world, that is, about who holds power in this world. Jesus’ kingdom is not about any such thing. He explicitly says that his servants therefore do not fight to defend him.

But there are enemies that we do need to fight against. The enemies we face for Jesus are falsehood and darkness around us, and the tendency to sin that we find in our own heart. Paul tells us about it:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

We war against external foes of truth – speculations, lies and distortions, and any opposition to the knowledge of God. And we war against the internal foe, our own disobedient thoughts.

Our sole offensive weapon is the word of God, and our defensive armor consists of faith, truth, preparation of the gospel, and salvation. (To summarize Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 6:10-17, where he again emphasizes, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.”)

There have been many courageous men who have laid down their lives, thinking it was for Jesus, but actually in vain. Are we willing to lay down ours in true service to our Master – denying all self-interest, and striving only for him? If we sacrifice our lives in this way, it will not be in vain!