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     Founders!  There is always a person(s) who establish organizations.  He/she does so when they are alive.  For example, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak began their business in Jobs’ parents’ garage.  You know the rest of the story – the giant computer company – Apple!  God has a different take on establishing His order to solve man’s dilemma of sin.

     God said “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” (Isaiah 55:8).  Indeed over and over, the Bible reveals God’s ways are certainly not the ways we frail humans would scheme the redemption from our sins.  Via wars, the ancient conquerors killed their enemies, followed by the generals riding on steeds in victory parades and establishing their ruling power.  Did Jesus do that?

     Jesus appeared on the scene, not with military prowess or an army, but the power of the Holy Spirit to heal, cast out demons, control nature and resurrect people to life (Matthew 4:24-25; John 11:38-44).  Today one might call Him a faith healer.  He spoke and worked as someone in a position of authority (Matthew 7:29; Luke 4:32, 36).  His confident authority was a threat to the ruling Jewish establishment (Matthew 12:14; 26:4; 27:1).  He announced a new kingdom was coming (Matthew 4:17, 23).  Jesus said He was a king (Matthew 27:11).  Unlike the ancient kings, who forced people to be subject, Jesus wanted volunteers who would accept His kingship and would change their attitudes and lifestyle to be citizens in His kingdom (Matthew 18:3).  Then, when the Jewish leadership captured Jesus and took Him to the Roman governor, He said “My kingdom is not of this world.  If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews...” (John 18:36).

     Tch, tch tch!  This is a king?  Where is His army?  Where is His kingdom?  On the surface Jesus appeared to be possessed by lunacy.  The Romans consented to the Jewish powers to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:20-24).  When Jesus appeared on the scene, John the baptizer announced, “Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).  Jesus died to conquer our enemies — the devil and sin, the damnable curse, man brought upon himself.  Forty days later, Jesus said He had all authority in the entire universe, then He left the scene (Matthew 28:18).  What?  He left and had not established His kingdom?

     Nothing stranger had occurred in the annals of history, nor since then.  As God said, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” (Isaiah 55:8).

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