The King’s power to transform and to unite was predicted long ago by the prophets. It was pictured in unforgettable terms.
- Warring nations would beat their swords into plowshares and learn war no longer (Isaiah 2:4).
- The wolf would dwell with its normal prey, the lamb, evidently in perfect harmony (Isaiah 11:6).
- Similarly, the leopard would rest beside the young goat, the lion with the calf, all being led by a little child (Isaiah 11:6).
- The cow and the bear, the lion and the ox, all would graze together on grass (Isaiah 11:7).
- Infants would play over the nests of poisonous snakes (Isaiah 11:8).
- In all God’s holy mountain, no one would harm or destroy as knowledge of God spread over the earth (Isaiah 11:9).
When the King arrives and establishes His kingdom—given all authority in heaven and on earth—He does not tame deadly animals. He does not feed straw to lions. Instead, He does something much more amazing. He raises to life those who are spiritually dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:5). More than that, He takes estranged and hostile enemies and transforms them to live at peace with each other.
“He does something much more amazing.”
- Among His apostles, He brings together traditional enemies. The Zealots are Jewish patriots who violently resist oppressive Roman rule. They especially hate traitors, such as Jewish tax collectors, who help Romans. Yet the King’s leading team includes Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector (Matthew 10:3-4).
- Jesus calls John and James “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). They want to destroy Samaritans with fire (Luke 9:54). Yet, the King uses John to welcome Samaritans into the kingdom (Acts 8:14-17). John becomes famous as the apostle who most emphasizes love (cf. 1 John 3:16-18).
- Peter, too, can be violent. To protect Jesus, Peter nearly kills a man (John 18:10). As a Jew, he has nothing to do with Gentile food or Gentile hospitality. Yet the King uses Peter to bring Gentiles into the kingdom (Acts 10 cf. Matthew 16:19; Acts 15:7).
- For 1,500 years, Jews and Gentiles are separated and hostile. Yet the King makes peace and brings them together in “one body” (Ephesians 2:16-22).
- Saul joins in the murder of Stephen and torments other Christians. Yet the King turns Saul, the chief persecutor, into Paul, the chief promoter of Christianity (Acts 8, 9, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:11-16). The King uses the strictest of Jews as His special ambassador to win and welcome the Gentiles (Philippians 3:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-8).
Examples of completely changed lives continue today, over 2,000 years later. The King’s power is as great as ever. He still brings lions and lambs together. He still transforms His subjects for peace and harmony within His kingdom, safe from all harm and destruction.
“He still brings lions and lambs together.”
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:15).