The kingdom of heaven, repentance and belief, are common themes throughout the book of Mark, whereas the themes emphasized by the world are power, influence, and success. While the kingdom of Christ is both glorious and powerful, it does not often meet up with the expectations of this world. Christ came to suffer in this world rather than to rule it as a human king, and he was betrayed, brutalized, and abandoned by those who preferred an earthly kingdom.
Judas Iscariot expected Jesus to establish a powerful earthly kingdom with eartly glory and dominion over the nations. However, Jesus did not live up to Judas' expectations, and Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss into the hands of the prevailing religious authority. Peter exercises brutality and violence in a sinful attempt to defend the kingdom by attacking the servant of the high priest, and in doing so Peter reveals a heart similar to that of Judas in expecting Christ to establish an earthly kingdom. Jesus did not come to transform this worldly order, but to establish a kingdom marked by suffering, humiliation and death. This is the reason why Jesus instructs His people to take up their crosses.
SERMON ACTIVITY
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Dr. R. Scott Clark is Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Westminster Seminary California where he has served since 1997. Professor Clark is an ordained minister in the United Reformed Church and is an Associate Pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church in...
