Resurrection Defiance
The grave could not hold our King down! The empire tried to shut him up by circumventing authority and flexing a deflated power, but that proved to be a failed attempt. Following their disbelief and whiplashed emotions the followers of Jesus began to understand the validity and power that King and Rabbi Jesus truly brought. The teaching, miracles, and life began to come into focus as God’s Kingdom came ushering in. Look at Jesus’ teaching from Luke 11:17-23,
“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el′zebul. And if I cast out demons by Be-el′zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. He, who is not with me, is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”
Paul writes in Colossians 2:13-15,
”And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him.”
See what is happening? Jesus called it out. He was at work binding the old keeper of this world and was, by each little act of healing or Gospel teaching, binding the enemy. Now, we live in full unison with our God and can experience the fullness of God’s Kingdom. While the fruition of God’s Kingdom has yet to be experienced, we can see how life is supposed to be as we live in right-relationship with God and with each other. Therefore, we are called to live in a holy defiance against both the empire and the waning attempts of the evil one. Judgment was dealt on the cross, and when we stand in holy defiance and in the power of the Spirit, we stand in Truth.
We cannot let ourselves be deceived. Jesus Christ demonstrated his Kingdom and way of New Creation by stretching out his arms in an act of service and love. John warns of many antichrists that will come and deceive the church. “Many will come in my name but beware!” Violence, hatred, division, bombing, war, and prideful arrogance are acts and methods of the antichrist. No matter what is said, we can see the fruit. The Church stands in resurrection defiance against the empire and against destruction. As Jesus said in Luke, he has bound the ruler of this world and reigns victoriously. We do not have to fear for our God has overcome. In Jesus’ Truth we stand, serve, and love. In that Truth we must be defiant to the rulers of the empire and reject their way of violence and arrogance! We are resurrection people. We are “More than Conquerors, in Christ!’
