I am working my way through NT Wright’s new book, The Challenge of Acts. He does a quick summary of Acts 1 and then asks some significant questions.

What does it mean to say that Jesus is already ruling this world?

To be honest, if Jesus IS ruling this world… it’s hard from our human marks of “success” to understand that notion. It’s really not an impressive look! Instead, Wright has us look at what we’re actually saying, or they’re saying in the Roman world: Jesus, not Caesar, is in charge. It’s not about who is making the headlines or who has the biggest army. It’s the manner of rule.

The rulers of this world stamp their image on people by bullying and violence. Jesus rules through self-giving love. When we want “Christians in government” or “Christians in power” we are honestly not thinking of self-giving love. We want the bully pulpit, the bully stick, the bully missile…

Jesus expects his followers to “rule” as he does: self-giving love. We will find suffering, martyrdom, loving witness, loving communities, all of which will call the world into account. Obviously, these are not “quick results” types of “ruling.”

Even in the Roman Empire, the acts of Jesus followers were significant while Rome still grabbed the headlines. The Christians were the ones taking in abandoned children, especially baby girls. There is a moral sea change that could happen today if we all lived in loving sacrifice and followers of Christ.

There is a deep change that has happened as a result of Jesus’ coming. The Temple isn’t in Jerusalem… or Rome… or Ephesus… or Athens. In today’s terms, it’s not in Washington, or Jerusalem, or Moscow, or Kiev. Jesus and his people are the true Temple. WE are where heaven and earth come together. When God’s people are in loving action, the temples of this world will respond, and not with applause. They will battle. We are to live as the new Temple. In our living, there is the demonstration of Our God Reigns.