Lent (#3): God's Kingdom Doesn't Come by Force and Military Victory

I've chosen this week to quote from the Thursday reading of Week 2 in N.T. Wright's Lent for Everyone - Matthew.

Using the passages in Matthew 12 where Jesus quotes from Isaiah 42, Wright says the following about the nature of God's kingdom as Jesus demonstrated it to be:

"The point he (Jesus) is making is that of a different kind of kingdom, an alternative model of kingship...Matthew is keen to point out here that Jesus is redefining what God's kingdom looks like, and hence what being God's Messiah might actually mean.

"In fact, of course, what he says here is exactly in line with the Sermon on the Mount. The meek will inherit the earth, and Jesus is leading the way. God's kingdom belongs to the humble, and Jesus is showing how it's done. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who suffer, are persecuted, and even killed, because they are following God's way...and Jesus will go ahead of them in that, too. Matthew, by quoting the passage here, is pointing forwards all the way to the climax of his gospel, when Jesus will be 'enthroned' as 'king of the Jews' by being nailed to the cross.

"There is to be sure, great comfort for us in all of this. If God's kingdom came the same way that earthly kingdoms come, by force of arms and military victory, the weak and the vulnerable would once more come off worst. But God does things the other way up, and we should all be thankful for that. In particular, those of us who struggle from time to time in our faith and discipleship should take heart in Isaiah's words, applied here to Jesus: he will not break a bruised reed, or quench a smouldering wick. His task and his delight is to gently fan into flames what was smouldering, gently to strengthen and firm up the weak bruised faith, hope and love that we have at the moment.

"Humble Lord Jesus, as you reach out to us in your gentle love, help us find the way to bring your kingdom in our day."