Kim Jong Un is often in the news these days. There’s one thing about him that may be worth a thought this morning. Kim Jong Un fears his own death.
Because of that certain facts have accumulated about the way he deals with things when he acts according to his fears. A year ago, the number of people whom he had definitely killed in the previous 6 years had risen to 350. One regularly occurring reason for an execution was “showed disrespect to Kim”.
This is worth a thought because of the contrast between Kim and Jesus Christ. Back in AD 30 Jerusalem, on the night before his early morning death by crucifixion, he was with his followers celebrating the anniversary of the passover sacrifice same 1,400 years earlier in the history of Israel.
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Matthew, Jesus’ eye-witness biographer, records this: “Truly, I state to you that one of you will give me away.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful and competed to say to him one after another, “Not me is it, Lord?” But he answered, saying, “He, dipping his hand in the dish after me, will give me away. For sure, the Son of Man does go in accordance with what’s written about him, but sorrow to that human being by whom the Son of Man is given away! It would have been good for that human being if he had not been born.”
What a contrast with Kim and with other paranoid leaders today and throughout history. Jesus should have disposed of Judas. Why die when you can kill and save yourself? Matthew continues: Judas, the giver away of him, answered, saying, “Not me is it, Rabbi?” He stated to him, “You have said it.”
“You have said it.”? In what way had he said it? Did you notice that Judas’ question differed from the others? They had said, “Not me is it, Lord?”. Judas said, “Not me is it, Rabbi?” Judas had made his decision.
Let’s let Matthew continue: As they themselves were eating, Jesus took bread, and, blessing, breaking and giving to the disciples, he said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He then took a cup, and, giving thanks, he gave to them, stating, “Drink from it, everyone, because this is my blood of the covenant being poured out for many around for forgiveness of sins…” Rather than follow normal human behaviour, Jesus gives himself –body and soul - so that his enemies may be released from slavery to the things that exclude them from the greatest blessing that could ever be theirs.
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Why do that? Why not make a pre-emptive strike? Why not kill your killer? And what’s this about “my covenant blood”? A covenant is a special kind of contract. Normally there are two signatories to a contract. Both signatories agree to do what’s in the contract. But a covenant has only one signature. Those who will benefit from a covenant don’t contract to do anything. For that reason, a one-sided covenant, to be legally binding on the covenant-giver, has to be entered into in a special way.
Jesus entered into this covenant with his blood. Such a one-sided covenant in his blood would, for certain, be effective to release others from slavery to whatever excludes them from heaven.
Is Kim Jong Un perhaps in slavery to himself? Is he giving Jesus away? Is he condemning himself? Was Jesus truthful when he said; “Sorrow to that person by whom the Son of Man is given away! It would have been good for that person if he had not been born.”
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