This is a periodic Bible-based devotional produced by Femi Aribisala, an iconoclastic church pastor and bible teacher in Lagos.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]hroughout his ministry, Jesus killed no one. Instead, he healed all those who came to him for healing. When John and James asked Jesus to call fire from heaven as Elijah did in retaliation against a Samaritan village that denied them free passage to Jerusalem, Jesus rebuked them: “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9:55-56).
Jesus fought no one and defeated no one. He merely overcame the world. Jesus was required to live in the world without being seduced by the values of the world. He lived in the world without gaining or desiring to gain the world. All the time he was here on earth, he never lost sight of the one reality he expressed emphatically to Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36).
In this process, even his life on earth became disposable. Jesus says: “Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18).
Since Jesus is the Good Shepherd, his sheep should follow his example. John says: “As he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17). Jesus sends his disciples into the world as lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:3). He challenges us, not to be giant-killers, but giant-overcomers. He says: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21).
Femi Aribisala is an iconoclastic church pastor in Lagos. He is also a syndicated essayist for a handful publications in Nigeria. Connect with him on Twitter at @FemiAribisala and at his website, www.femiaribisala.com.
