On the first day of a new week, Jesus’ disciples were in lock-down hiding from those who had crucified their Lord. It hadn’t worked out as they had expected. Rather than a warrior-type Messiah who would overthrow the Roman oppressors, Jesus had willingly let Himself be arrested, unfairly tried, beaten, whipped and led ‘like a lamb to the slaughter’. Their heads were spinning as they sought to take in the events of the last several hours.
A Deeper Messianic Vision
What they didn’t understand was that Jesus was committed to a deeper Messianic vision. This went beyond destroying the sins of a human empire to defeating the power of sin and death itself. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection God was putting the world to rights. This included doing what was necessary for individuals to get right with God. The Bible states that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). As Jesus endures the agonies of the Cross, He forgives and cancels humanity’s debt (Col. 2:14).
But it also extended above and beyond to Jesus triumphing over Satan and disarming and defeating the principalities and powers of darkness (Col. 2:15). Jesus’ resurrection therefore brings about the process of new creation, not just for those who submit and acknowledge Him as Lord, but also within the whole of His creation. That which had been “groaning in labour pains” because it was subjected to “the bondage of decay” has now been, and is yet being, set free (Rom. 8:19-22). And we who were the originally intended viceroys of the Earth have also been, and are yet being, released from bondage and reestablished to our rightful position as co-rulers of the Earth with Christ, and bringers of God’s kingdom.
In the resurrection God is therefore reclaiming an ordered and healthy world with Jesus Christ as King. It is a clear statement of intent that He isn’t prepared to give up His precious creation. He is over Caesar and any other worldly power and kingdom. He has subjugated the ‘prince of the power of the air’ and now has ‘all authority…in Heaven and on Earth’ (Matt. 28:18).
A Calling & Vocation for All
Because God’s new creation has begun, all of God’s people have a vocation! Within the big vision of a renewed creation, we can each find our place of vocation and engagement in advancing the kingdom and will of God on Earth.
Many Christians sense that they should be making a difference in the present world but if their eyes are ultimately fixed on a distant and escapist ‘Heaven’, then what would be the point? When Christians understand that the Great Commission is not about how to get to Heaven, but rather is a call to partner with God to bring about His kingdom on Earth until it is filled with the knowledge and glory of God.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides not only the basis and theological framework to understand that calling and vocation, but also the Spirit’s power (Phil. 3:10) in carrying it out.
(Photo by Robert Nyman on Unsplash)