We continue in chapter 10 of Jesus and the Victory of God (pp. 443-74) on the questions of the kingdom. These are the big four questions that Wright has summarized (and a fifth, ‘what time is it?’) within the various first-century positions (Jews, Church, and now, Jesus). What is important is how Jesus answers the questions differently from first-century Jews.
Who are we? (p. 443-5)
Jesus would agree with the Jews on part of the answer: God’s chosen people. Like the Essenes, he would see himself and his disciples as the true Israel, the beginning of the return from exile. Yet, Jesus sees his movement as bringing to fulfillment God’s intent to bless all of the world through Israel (this is a place where Israel had gotten off story). Wright notes the themes in the Sermon on the Mount of being ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light of the world.’ (p. 444) In sum, “[Jesus] and his followers were the eschatological people of the one true god, and… the people through whom this god would make his ways known to the rest of the earth.” (p. 445)
Where are we? (p. 445-6)
In exile, but now being freed in Jesus’ ministry. Wright notes that Jesus has little to say about the land, because God’s promise is to all the earth. Quite the opposite of a first-century Jew.
What’s wrong? (p. 446-63)
Ultimately, Israel had been (and is) fighting or resisting the wrong adversaries. The other nations weren’t their enemy. The real enemy is the satan (the ‘adversary’). In its desire to be like other nations, Israel was following the other nation’s idolatrous ways—seeking the kingdom through violent, rebellious, war-like means. Israel shares the same problem as the other nations. Simply kicking Rome out doesn’t resolve the problem. The real battle must be fought against satan. Wright observes that Jesus had won an initial victory, as recorded in the Gospels at the temptations (p. 457). This initial battle at the beginning of his ministry should not surprise us. Adam fails in temptation. Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, and on the list goes. Of course satan will try with him. But Jesus wins! Satan will have to try a different attack; since he can’t tempt Jesus into sin, he will have to eliminate him.
What’s the solution? (p. 463-67)
“Evil would be defeated, not by military victory, but by a doubly revolutionary method: turning the other cheek, going the second mile, the deeply subversive wisdom of taking up the cross. The agenda which Jesus mapped out for his followers was the agenda to which he himself was obedient.” (p. 465, emphasis original)
The remaining chapters will go much more deeply into this subject. For me, this was one of the greatest impacts of Wright’s work. The real enemy is constantly trying to get me to ‘win’ through means that seem entirely legitimate. Church growth, a myriad of programs, a popular pastor, large buildings, etc. The temptation for the church, for me, is to ‘be like other nations’. But Jesus calls his people to be a “doubly revolutionary” kind of people. We go hungry rather than turning stones into bread because we live on God’s word. Our worship is only to be given to God. We are not to ‘aggrandize’ ourselves, even to spread the gospel. In other words, we are to live as new creation people.
What time is it? (p. 467-72)
The kingdom is at hand! “[Jesus] public ministry was itself the inauguration of the kingdom which would shortly be established.” (p. 472) What was the final step for it to be established? This is where Wright takes us in the final chapters of his book, as Jesus ‘set his face towards Jerusalem.’ (Lk. 9:51)
Chapter 1: Jesus Then and Now
Chapter 2: Heavy Traffic on Wredebahn: The ‘New Quest’ Renewed
Chapter 3: Back to the Future: The ‘Third Quest’
Chapter 4: Prodigals and Paradigms
Chapter 5: The Praxis of a Prophet
Chapter 6: Stories of the Kingdom (1): Announcement
Chapter 7: Stories of the Kingdom (2)
Chapter 8: Stories of the Kingdom (3): Judgment and Vindication
Chapter 9: Symbol and Controversy
Chapter 10: The Questions of the Kingdom
Chapter 11: Jesus and Israel: The Meaning of Messiahship
Chapter 12: The Reasons for Jesus’ Crucifixion
Chapter 13: The Return of the King
Chapter 14: Results