Light that Reorders our Lives
Adapted from “Light that Reorders our Lives”
1 Corinthians 1:10-18 | Matthew 4:12-23
As Presbyterians, we’ve never been the loud and rambunctious group that typically preaches repentance in crowds we do not know well. Instead, we view evangelism through a much more relational and holistic approach. Yet, Jesus wasn’t subtle. After coming out of the wilderness, the gospel writer quotes Isaiah, laying the groundwork of what Jesus is fulfilling:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:15-16, NIV)
In a world full of darkness, people are drawn into the light. Perhaps this is why it didn’t take much for Simon and Andrew to begin to fish for people as they followed Jesus. Perhaps that’s also the reason James and John left their boat and their father to follow Jesus. But going from darkness into the light takes some adjustment.
Repentance is turning from our own ways and turning towards the ways of Jesus. It’s leaving our baggage behind, trusting that Jesus will provide everything we need for a new journey. When Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” he was up front and clear about what the disciples were getting themselves into: something new — not only repentance, but the pursuit of the kingdom of heaven itself. The concept of the Kingdom of heaven was nothing new in Judaism, for many Psalms and prophets spoke of the Kingdom of God or the reign of the Lord. However, the ways in which Jesus spoke about the kingdom of heaven were a new construct.
For Jesus, the kingdom of heaven is centering our lives on something other than ourselves, which is difficult to do. Thus, we need repentance to make that turn from selfish desires to those of compassion, service, healing, wholeness, and so much more.
Paul understood that the values found in the kingdom of heaven were what it would take for the church in Corinth to begin to heal. In fact, after giving thanks, he moved directly toward unity, seeking to bind them as one. If they were going to be the church, they needed to clearly know who the head of the church was — it was not Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas. Christ is the head of the church. Paul didn’t mince his words when he wrote to them, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17, NIV).
Jesus calls us out of darkness, not just to believe differently, but to live differently together. May we live into values that are of the kingdom of heaven and be united as a church. As we enter this new season of the church, may we move in a unified way towards Christ as the Spirit continues to guide and work among us. Amen.
