What if It’s True? - June 21
Kneel before me. I said… KNEEL! Is not this simpler? Is this not your natural state? It’s the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation. The bright lure of freedom diminishes your life’s joy in a mad scramble for power. For identity. You were made to be ruled. In the end, you will always kneel.
A speech from the first Avengers movie by Loki, god of mischief.
In the movie, this mindset is proven false by Captain America, but when I look around at the world we inhabit, it makes me wonder:
o Power-hungry politicians & CEOs
o Leaders with charisma over character
o Abusive leaders of families & groups
Something within us seems to be drawn to power.
Our world needs structure and authority to function (even within families). But why is this desire so often warped and twisted?
Was Loki right that we crave subjugation?
Today’s Passage: John 12:20
DOMINION
Context: Jesus has raised Lazarus & been anointed by Mary, entered Jerusalem as king
• Palm branches, excitement – eagerness for a king
• Question in the air: Will Jesus finally dominate Israel’s enemies?
John 12:20-26
Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.
Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
v.23 “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory”
• Glory - honor, weightiness, majesty, renown
• Seemingly, yes. It is time to dominate.
• Referencing a much deeper storyline: Son of Man/Daniel 7
Broad biblical context: Dominion
• Genesis – God’s original vision for humanity
Genesis 1:27-28
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
o Image-bearers co-creating & co-ruling
o Bringing God’s order to chaos
kavash – subdue/subjugate
radah – have dominion over
o This is why we long for power/order/authority!
• Dominion: This is meant to be a gracious, generous kind of rule.
o Good King’s Dominion v. Tyrant’s or Dictator’s Dominion!
• But almost immediately: Warped by human greed
o From the garden to cities (inequality)
o Kingdoms & empires (built on domination)
o Israel’s desire for a king (“like all the other nations”)
Summary: We were made for dominion. As image-bearers of God, we long for power and authority because we were created to bring order to the chaos under God’s ultimate rule.
But when humans choose dominion while playing by our own rules, we don’t spread order. We spread chaos.
Daniel 7
• Beasts representing corrupt human empires – power run amok & capitalized on by Satan and evil forces: our rules.
• Captured perfectly during the Athenian invasion of the Greek island of Milos during the Peloponnesian War:
“The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”
-The Melian Dialogue
Seems like a foregone conclusion – Loki: “the unspoken truth of humanity that you crave subjugation.”
• The beasts trample humanity until one “like a Son of Man” puts them in their place
John 12:31-32
The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.
The people of Israel were waiting for the Son of Man to be lifted up – to have dominion over the beasts of corrupt human power.
A KERNEL OF WHEAT
But, Jesus’ dominion comes about in an entirely unexpected way.
• V.24 – “unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels”
• V.32 – the Son of Man “lifted up”
John 12:33
He said this to indicate how he was going to die.
Jesus lifted up not in triumph, but on a cross. [Reversal!]
Christ’s Dominion – Not self-serving but self-giving
Jesus invites his followers to take the same posture. Foot washing:
John 13:12-17
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Jesus presents an entirely different way to think about power.
We all long for power because we were made to spread God’s order through the world. Power in itself is not evil. In fact, it can be a really good thing!
However, if we are in a race to the top (“a mad scramble for power”), it will only lead to disintegration. A Christlike approach to power means giving our power away.
Ruling by serving, just as Jesus taught us.
• The Son of Man victorious by letting the beasts of the earth trample him
• The Master who washes his follower’s feet
• The Author of life itself who willingly accepts death for the sake of his enemies.
I could be wrong, but in a power-hungry time, the way of Jesus – self-giving love and a surrender of power – is the only way to bring order to our broken world.
Loki was right about one thing: we do long to be ruled. We long for a world of order, authority, and justice. But The true king of the world wears a crown of thorns.
Just imagine if the ones with power in our world today took the same posture.
THE LADDER OF INFLUENCE
What do we do with this in our own lives? I want to introduce a concept my dad used to teach about all the time.
The Ladder of Influence
Brokenness > Character > Spiritual Authority > Influence
It is only by taking the posture of a servant (foot washing) that we can begin the path towards Christlike influence and authority.
How to use this tool:
• Determining which leaders to follow
o We see what happens when leaders’ influence outpaces their character
• Evaluating the influences of your life
o Are you listening to voices of domination or self-giving love?
o Who or what is shaping your approach to dominion?
• Considering your own journey of influence and power
o Where are you on the ladder?
John 12:24
Unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.