Jesus for President (Part 1)

I’m officially sick of politics.

Lies. Deception. Failure to follow through on definite promises. The same old slogans. Selling hope but delivering the opposite. Outdated leaders that don’t understand the people. ‘The better of two evils’ is often how we describe the candidates.

And us Aussies don’t like any of our leaders. We’ve had something ridiculous like 6 prime minsters in the last 7 years (a new record mind you). We just can’t make our minds up. Nobody truly leads with authority. Nobody really makes us want to follow them. The real issues aren’t being properly addressed.

Can I hear an amen?

We just want a fair shake of the sauce bottle. But there’s certainly an aspect where we have to just put up with it. Attempting to overthrow all of the world’s governments is not a good idea. I repeat: not a good idea.

We should consider our government and authority with respect, praying they rule justly. Yet, their rule is just temporary. No government is lasting, secure or faultless.

“The kingdom of heaven is near” – Jesus (Mark 1:15)

Except this one.

Here we have Jesus putting in his ballot paper. Publicly declaring to everyone his full confidence in this kingdom. The line has been drawn.

And even more than that, Jesus promises nothing in this world can rival this kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:10-11). Not some cheap knock-off or temporary rule of a government with an average leader.

This is the real deal.

Now, we place a lot of different thoughts onto the word kingdom. Medieval stuff like castles, knights, and drawbridges with shark infested waters. But kingdom in its simplest form is just a shortened form of King’s Dominion. 

The activity and reign of the King.

So when Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is near, it can actually be taken literally. Jesus was physically with the people. Therefore, the kingdom was literally near. So if we want to find out what this kingdom is all about, we should look to the activity of the king. We should look to the works and words of Jesus.

Let’s find out how worthy a candidate this Jesus is.

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Without trying to be too blunt, there’s seriously no competition in the race for best PM and government when Jesus is in the picture. And in the end, our vote doesn’t determine his rule and reign. This baby is happening.

The ball is in your court to decide whether you want to be part of His government. So without further ado, here’s Part 1 of why Jesus is by far the best leader the world has and will ever see:

• He is a down-to-earth, humble, servant hearted leader.

Down-to-earth is defined as practical, humble, unpretentious and reasonable.

Jesus defines down-to-earth in more ways than one. First of all, Jesus literally came down from heaven to earth (John 6:38). I honestly don’t know what is more down-to-earth than that.

Secondly, Jesus didn’t take up heaps of sweet privileges as a king might be expected to. He was born in a stable to a poor couple. A carpenter, hard worker. He experienced the common struggles of man. Not pretentious or snobby at all. Jesus experienced life, all of the pain and suffering that comes with it.

Jesus is down-to-earth personified.

Furthermore, Jesus came in complete humility and servant leadership.

He hung out with the lowest. He fed the needy. He healed the sick. He washed the disciples feet. Jesus took the humble position of a slave by consistently looking to the needs of others (Phillipians 2:4-7).

And what’s crazy is that Jesus literally redefined humility. No joke.

Around the time of Jesus, the Roman Empire was flying on all cylinders. And to them, any form of humility was a sign of weakness. According to John Dickson (historian), humility in roman culture was odd and regarded as a perversion of natural order.

However, historians have observed a new word that “coincidentally” began circulation around the time Jesus died. This word was lowered (or humility). Interestingly, it was used in a positive sense to define a form of greatness.

Considering the roman culture of the time, this new definition was extremely odd. Completely counter cultural. Historians have found no way to explain this radical redefinition except for one conclusion:

Humility without Jesus doesn’t make sense.

• He cares for all people

You would think someone as famous, complete, and sought after as Jesus wouldn’t have time for those on the fringes of society.

Wrong.

He looked to all people. The liars, the prostitutes, the injured and disabled, the children, the ordinary, the people of authority. Jesus identified with these people. He spent time with them. Ate lunch with such people.

Why does Jesus consistently look to the lives of the outcasts?

Jesus was ushering in his kingdom and its values. In his kingdom, there is no hierarchy or social ladder. Everyone is equal. Jesus said the greatest in his kingdom will take the humble and lowly position of a child (Matthew 18:4).

Essentially Jesus is referring back to the beatitudes, where he stated those who are poor in spirit and realise their need for God will inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3).

How awesome that is. To enter into God’s kingdom, we don’t need to be wealthy. We don’t need to have great social presence, or heaps of awesome skills. In fact, we can be the complete opposite.

All God requires is we position ourselves as we are – flawed, lowly, ordinary – and put our faith in him. God accepts and loves everyone who comes to him, evidenced through the works of Jesus.

Anyone is welcome into his kingdom.

• He rules with justice, fairness and authority

Many times history records people who were amazed by the way Jesus led.

After Jesus finished preaching the sermon on the mount, it records the crowds as being ‘amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority – quite unlike their teachers of religious law’ (Matthew 7:28).

The people recognised something different about Jesus. This Jesus dude actually cared about the people, unlike the religious teachers. That was the first difference they noticed.

Never had the world seen humble, servant leadership coexist with absolute authority.

What they also saw was that he wasn’t some wishy-washy, tolerate everything sort of guy. Despite his loving nature, his policies were hardline. Uncompromising.

They didn’t see a man that just knew his policies well, but exemplified them perfectly. They saw a man that didn’t just claim to love all people, but actually loved them. They saw a man that stood for justice not just in word, but in action.

Jesus led by example. And the world hasn’t been the same since.

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Head over to Part 2 of this series, as we cover three more reasons why Jesus and his Kingdom are unrivalled

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