Kingdom Living

Scripture Reference: John 13:31-35, ‘Kingdom Living’

In today’s gospel reading  John 13:31-35, Jesus of Nazareth described himself as Son of Man and Messiah. His mission was to glorify God and model God’s love and new covenant of reconciliation for all humankind. Jesus taught and completed this mission by kingdom living and living the Paschal Mystery [John 3:14-18].
   
The bible describes the authentic human experiences of kingdom living as disciples of Christ, imitating Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery [Mark 8:34-38]. The purpose of God’s new covenant of reconciliation is humankind’s liberation from the pervasive condition of spiritual death. This tragedy is the wage of sin. It continues to evolve through conscious rejection of the living Christ through hardheartedness, spiritual blindness and spiritual deafness.

Through repentance and faith the shedding of Jesus’ blood, [the life giving Spirit], on the cross, disciples of Christ can experience liberation from slavery to sin, realize re-union with God and manifest God's image, likeness and glory [1 Corinthian 15:45-47]. When disciples love Jesus Christ and the living Christ in the spiritual  bodies of all people, they become channels through which kingdom living is re-established throughout our planet, by living the Paschal Mystery

Are you willing to affirm: “As a Son of Man, the living Christ is now incarnate and reigning in my heart and life? Christ in me is the same pre-incarnate, incarnate and post-incarnate living Christ who lived and reigned in Jesus of Nazareth? In the power of the Holy Spirit, I have chosen to imitate Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah in glorifying God and kingdom living by living the Paschal Mystery”?

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Substitute or Wayshower?

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Scripture Text:
John 10:22-30, ‘Jesus declares he is the Messiah and True Shepherd’.

In John 10:22-26, Jesus explained that as Messiah, he has totally trusted and obeyed God’s will and plan for his life. The Paschal Mystery declares that Jesus passed over from ordinary human life on earth through his passion, death, resurrection and ascension into a new and glorified life with the Father. In the power of the Holy Spirit, the living Christ became fully incarnate and manifested in Jesus, so that all people could experience deliverance from slavery to sin and share the same new and glorified life, by listening, hearing and following Jesus.

In John 17:20-26, Jesus prayed that all believers would share his relationship of union with God. This mysterious union establishes the living Christ as the Only Begotten Son, the image of God, in the spiritual body of all people [Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:26-27]. Jesus Christ declared himself the true Messiah and Way-shower.

In today's Gospel John 10:22-30, Jesus again confessed his total dependence on God and the Holy Spirit, for removing all blocks to this mysterious union in every aspect of his life and ministry. Rather than being a penalty, substitute and atonement for mankind’s sin, Jesus’ blood symbolizes the life giving Spirit, forgiving and removing all gaps and blocks created by sin. By repentance and faith the living Christ is now re-establishing humankind's divine heritage.

For many Christians the central focus of faith, hope and the born again experiences are alignment, incarnation and kingdom living. These sheep follow Jesus in total dependence on the same Holy Spirit and the living Christ, in sharing God’s new covenant of reconciliation. By listening, hearing and following Jesus as Way-shower and Good Shepherd, the kingdom of heaven is now being more fully established in our midst and within us.

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