Joy, Justice, & Peace
A Reflection by Jesse Steven Wheeler*
Returning from the wilderness, Jesus inaugurated his public ministry with the following vision of Isaiah in a passage encapsulating his kingdom mission and message:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned [Glory].
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder [Joy].
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor [Justice].
Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire [Peace].
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
—Isaiah 9:2–7 (NIV)
Leaving Nazareth, [Jesus] went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
—Matthew 4:13–17 (NIV)
“Modern scholarship,” writes New Testament scholar George Eldon Ladd, “is quite unanimous in the opinion that the kingdom of God was the central message of Jesus.” What, however, are the marks or characteristics of the messianic kingdom? Utilizing imagery from the ancient Near East, the prophet envisions a future kingdom defined in its essence by joy, justice, peace, and the glory, or presence, of God. This is the kingdom announced by Jesus and the lens through which we must view his earthly ministry. As citizens of God’s kingdom, this is likewise the vision towards which followers of Christ presently struggle (though it ultimately remains the mission of the Holy Spirit alongside whom we are invited to participate). We strive to see this future vision become a present-day reality, seeking to manifest the joy, justice, and peace of God’s glorious kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
However, it is worth asking the activists among us how often joy is seen as a requisite component to our pursuit of justice and peace? Confronting injustice, especially when accompanied by apathy on the part of those not directly impacted, can be rage-inducing, depressing, and oftentimes hopeless. Activist fatigue is very real. Yet, we can take heart in the knowledge that such work is central to the mission of the Spirit’s presence in our midst. Conversely, we can trust the Spirit’s presence as integral to our work. Personally, we must envision within our contexts a society marked by joy, justice, peace, and the glory of God. What does such a community look like, and what proactive steps might be taken in response to this vision?
Presently, as I consider the situation in Palestine, I can’t help but contrast the vision of the Hebrew prophets with the tragic realities of life on the ground: the vision of God’s Kingdom versus the violent reality of Israeli apartheid, now the literal hell-on-earth that is the Gazan genocide, and just how far apart they are from one another.
I am led to ask two questions:
To what extent can it be said that the false promises of both Zionism and Christian Zionism are a betrayal not just of the indigenous Palestinians but of the vision of the prophets recorded in scripture? Can the joy, justice, and peace of God’s liberating reign ever be found in the violence of a colonial nation-state? Can such a state ever be anything more than a pale facsimile of the promised kingdom?
Finally, what can we do to pursue God’s kingdom come and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven, most especially in the so-called Holy Land where such promises were first made?
PRAY
Let us pray:
May every breath be for you; may every minute be spent for you. Help us to live while we live, and while we are busy in the world as we must be, for we are called to it, may we sanctify the world for your service. May we be lumps of salt in the midst of society. May our spirit and temper as well as our conversation be heavenly. May there be an influence about us that shall make the world the better before we leave it. Lord, hear us in this thing.
And now that we have your ear, we would pray for this poor world in which we live. We are often horrified by it. O, Lord, we wish that we did not know anything about it for our own comfort. We have said, “Oh! for a lodge in some vast wilderness.” We hear of oppression and robbery and murder, and men seem let loose against each other. Lord, have mercy upon this great and wicked city. What is to be done with these millions? What can we do? At least help every child of yours to do his or her utmost. May none of us contribute to the evil directly or indirectly, but may we contribute to the good that is in it.
—Charles Spurgeon (nineteenth century)
*parts of this reflection from Jesse Steven Wheeler, Serving a Crucified King: Meditations on Faith, Politics, and the Unyielding Pursuit of God’s Reign (Eugene: Resource Publications, 2021)