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Day 3: Justice and the Kingdom

In this video, we trace the origins of the word “gospel” and how it ties the story of the Old Testament together with the story of Jesus and his announcement of God’s kingdom— the gospel as the declaration of a new kind of king who comes to usher in God’s Kingdom rule on earth. Jesus brought God’s rule and reign to the world in a very upside-down way.

Jesus invites people to join his upside-down Kingdom. It’s a Kingdom where the “first shall be last,” where you “love your enemies,” and where you “lose your life to find it.”

God’s response to humanity’s legacy of injustice is to give us a gift: the life of Jesus. He did righteousness and justice, and yet he died on behalf of the guilty. But then God declared Jesus to be the righteous one when Jesus rose from the dead. And so now Jesus offers his life to the guilty, so that they too can be declared righteous before God––not because of anything they’ve done, but because of what Jesus did for them.

The earliest followers of Jesus experienced this righteousness from God not just as a new status but as a power that changed their lives and compelled them to act in surprising new ways. If God declares someone righteous when they don’t deserve it, the only reasonable response is to go and seek righteousness and justice for others!

During his time on earth, Jesus moved specifically toward the poor and hurting, and he confronted the effects of sin and injustice on their lives. And followers of Jesus today—now citizens of this upside-down Kingdom—are invited to do the same.

As discussed on day 1 of this reading plan, restorative justice is part of what Jesus meant when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Restorative justice involves standing up for the vulnerable, advocating for those who are looked down upon in society, and being a voice for those who can’t speak for themselves. It means changing social structures to prevent injustice. This kind of justice views all people as image bearers of God and works to restore what has been lost by the mistreated.

After watching the video, reflect on these questions:
1. Take a few moments to reflect on Jesus’ command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
2. Which “neighbors” do you find difficult to love?
3. Spend a few moments asking God to help you love your neighbors—however difficult it may be—in the way that God loves you.