Chapter 6—Unlike Earthly Kingdoms
And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with
what comparison shall we compare it?
Mark 4:30
.
Christ found the kingdoms of the world corrupt. After Satan was expelled
from heaven, he erected his standard of rebellion on this earth, and sought
by every means to win men to his standard.... His purpose was to establish
a kingdom which would be governed by his own laws, and carried on with
his own resources, independent of God; and so well did he succeed, that
when Christ came to the world to establish a kingdom, He looked upon the
governments of men, and said, “Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of
God?” Nothing in civil society afforded Him a comparison....
In striking contrast to the wrong and oppression so universally practised
were the mission and work of Christ.... He planned a government which
would use no force; His subjects would know no oppression.... Not as a
fierce tyrant did He come, but as the Son of man; not to conquer the nations
by His iron power, but “to preach good tidings unto the meek;” “to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of
the prison to them that are bound;” “to comfort all that mourn” (
Isaiah 61:1,
2
). He came as the divine Restorer, bringing to oppressed and downtrodden
humanity the rich and abundant grace of Heaven, that by the power of His
righteousness, man, fallen and degraded though he was, might be a partaker
of divinity....
Christ taught that His church is a spiritual kingdom. He Himself, “the
Prince of peace,” is the head of His church. In His person humanity, inhabited
by divinity, was represented to the world. The great end of His mission was
to be a sin-offering for the world, that by the shedding of blood an atonement
might be made for the whole race of men. With a heart ever touched with the
feelings of our infirmities, an ear ever open to the cry of suffering humanity,
a hand ever ready to save the discouraged and despairing, Jesus, our Saviour,
“went about doing good” (
Acts 10:38
)....
And all who are members of the kingdom of Christ will represent Him in
character and disposition.
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