|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
|
| |
|
| === The Cross: A Thief in the Night? Understanding Judgment and the Kingdom of God ===
| |
| In Matthew 24:43, Jesus says that judgment will come "like a thief in the night." Paul uses the same image in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 to describe the "day of the Lord." These verses are often thought to talk about the future when God will judge the world. But could there be a deeper meaning that connects these ideas to Jesus’ death on the cross? Let's take a closer look!
| |
|
| |
| === What Does "A Thief in the Night" Mean? ===
| |
| When Jesus says that judgment will come "like a thief in the night," He means it will happen suddenly and unexpectedly. A thief doesn’t knock on your door and tell you when they will come. They come quietly, and you don’t know it until it’s too late.
| |
|
| |
| In the same way, Jesus’ death on the cross was an unexpected event for many people. They thought Jesus was going to save them by defeating the Romans or bringing a powerful kingdom. But instead, He was arrested, beaten, and crucified. This looked like a defeat, but it was actually the most important victory in history. Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s way of judging sin and darkness, but no one saw it coming like a thief in the night.
| |
|
| |
| So, in this deeper sense, the cross can be seen as the "thief in the night" that Jesus talked about. It came suddenly, and it wasn’t understood by most people at the time, but it was the moment of judgment that changed everything.
| |
|
| |
| === The Day of the Lord: A New Kind of Judgment ===
| |
| Paul talks about the "day of the Lord" in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2. This is often seen as a time in the future when God will judge everyone. But in ''sensus plenior'' (a deeper meaning), the "day of the Lord" can also refer to the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross.
| |
|
| |
| When Jesus died, He was taking the punishment for our sins. This was God’s judgment on sin, but it wasn’t a scary, future event. It happened in the past, and it was done through Jesus’ sacrifice. What looked like a sad and surprising event was actually the most important day in history—the day when God defeated sin and darkness through Jesus' death. So, the "day of the Lord" was not just a future event, but it began at the cross.
| |
|
| |
| === His Kingdom: Not of This World ===
| |
| In John 18:36, Jesus says, "My kingdom is not of this world." This means that Jesus didn’t come to set up a kingdom like the world understands. He didn’t want a kingdom based on power, wealth, or control. Instead, Jesus’ kingdom is about something much deeper.
| |
|
| |
| Jesus’ kingdom is His New Teaching, the way He shows us to live and love. It’s not about rules and laws; it’s about a new way of life that rules our hearts. This teaching changes us from the inside out, helping us live the way God wants us to live. And this New Teaching began with Jesus’ death on the cross, when He showed the ultimate example of love and sacrifice.
| |
|
| |
| When we talk about the kingdom of God, we’re talking about this new way of living that Jesus brought. It’s a kingdom that rules not through force, but through love, truth, and forgiveness.
| |
|
| |
| === A New World Order ===
| |
| The cross was the turning point in history. It was the moment when the world’s idea of power was turned upside down. The Romans and religious leaders thought they had defeated Jesus, but they didn’t realize that His death was actually a victory. It was through His sacrifice that God’s kingdom came to earth.
| |
|
| |
| The cross marked the beginning of a new world order. It wasn’t a world ruled by empires or kingdoms like the ones people knew in Jesus’ time. Instead, it was a world where Jesus' New Teaching would change hearts and lives. The cross showed that God’s kingdom doesn’t look like the kingdoms of this world—it’s a kingdom of love, sacrifice, and transformation.
| |
|
| |
| === Conclusion: The Cross as Hidden Judgment and a New Way of Life ===
| |
| Looking at Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 5 in this way, we can see that Jesus' death on the cross was the "thief in the night" moment—the unexpected event that brought judgment on sin and darkness. And it was also the "day of the Lord," the day when God’s plan of redemption was fulfilled.
| |
|
| |
| The cross changed everything. It brought about a new kingdom, not one of earthly power, but a kingdom of love and transformation. And it all started when Jesus, like a thief in the night, came to take away the sins of the world and show us a new way to live.
| |
|
| |
| So, the next time you think about Jesus’ death, remember that it wasn’t just an event that happened a long time ago. It was the moment that changed the world and began a new kingdom, one where love rules the hearts of those who follow Him.
| |
