Jesus and the Future

By Amitabh Singh

When Jesus reached Jerusalem, the last city he entered before his death, the setting welcomed a revolution and the crowd eagerly awaited his command. It was not until Jesus stood before the Roman Governor, Pilate, that Jesus made known the real reason for which he came:

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting , that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:36-37).

Jesus is indeed a King, but of an everlasting kingdom for those who listen to his voice. This was the reason for which Jesus came, and his accusers nailed him to the cross. What they did not anticipate, however, was the fulfilment of this vision three days after his burial. Jesus arose from the grave, proclaiming, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father to my God and your God” (John 20:17). Jesus resumed kingship in heaven, becoming the very way by which humankind could follow him there.

Jesus meets us at our point of need. He shifts our perspective from dirt to divine. He shows us the way to heaven. Those who follow Jesus and heed his words come to realize that there is no life apart from him. Jesus calls people to commit their lives to God. This requires embracing the vision for which Jesus came and died, and becoming an active participant.

“And you know the way to where I am going. No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “we have no idea where you are doing, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” – John 14:4-6 NLT