City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

John 15:18-19

Enemy-occupied territory – that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening-in to the secret wireless from our friends…

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity Book 2, Chapter 2

Exegesis

During World War II, England and their allies used radio cryptography and secret broadcasts extensively. The BBC broadcasted “personal messages” that were actually codes for secret agents. C.S. Lewis was comparing church to hearing a message on a secret radio channel or a public coded message, and Jesus the Rightful King as the leader of the revolution.    

But in Jesus’ lifetime, the Jews had fourteen hundred years of anticipation and built-up expectations of their Savior. They wanted the Messiah to save them from Rome and lead them into an age of prosperity, but Jesus had come to save them from a more insidious, much more dangerous enemy, and to invite them into His heavenly kingdom. The majority of them couldn’t understand this, and were disappointed Jesus did not meet their expectations, hating Him so much they demanded His death.

Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him and His disciples. The Palestinian Jews were already oppressed, and those who followed Jesus would be further disliked, even hated so much their own brethren would want them dead. What kept them going was the knowledge of this world as a shadow, or a poor reflection, of the real kingdom.   

Application

We have a “coded message” in the Bible. In World War II, missing or not understanding the coded message could have disastrous, even deadly, results. Somebody would need to explain it to them or they would perish. It is our responsibility to explain the “secret message” to others, even if it means risking ridicule or dislike. We are at war in enemy territory, we are the revolution who are anticipating the return of our King.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for coming down from Your Throne to save us. Grant us courage to speak Your Message to others. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.