Jesus said to them, “I assure you who have followed me that, when everything is made new, when the Human One [the Son of Man] sits on his magnificent throne, you also will sit on twelve thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel
Reflections by Keith Funk
The words of Jesus are found in the larger story of his encounter with a rich man seeking entrance into God’s kingdom. A quick summary of the story sees the rich man being unwilling to turn from his wealth and follow Jesus. Fast forward to the disciples following their astonishment of Jesus’ appraisal of the difficulty for the rich to enter God’s kingdom. Peter then asks a question of Jesus saying we have left everything to follow you. Jesus assures them, “when everything is made new, when the Human One sits on his magnificent throne, you also will sit on twelve thrones overseeing the twelve tribes of Israel”. (I would encourage a full reading of this passage from Matthew 19:23-30.)
For our purpose today, I want to highlight the phrase from above, “when everything is made new.” This is expressed differently in several translations: “new world”, “the renewal of all things”, “the new age”, and so forth. These are all translations of the Greek noun, “palingenesia” which literally means, “again genesis.” What is being expressed here is the coming new age and new creation. God’s redemptive work in Christ’s death and resurrection is good news for all things. Much can be found in both the Old and New Testaments that point to this coming new age and new creation. Sadly, I think this theme has been too often missed in the teaching and preaching of the Church. I am convinced that a necessary reintroduction to the meaning of “paligenesia”, can help us in living with greater hope and assurance in our day to day lives.
Here are some implications I wish to share with you from this all-important theme. First, is the importance of this world to God. “God so loved the world…” as we read in John’s gospel," that he gave his only Son to save it." Of course, this is speaking of God’s love for people, and the gift of his salvation for them in Jesus Christ. But what is true for us is also true for all things. God is not in the business of consigning us or his creation to the trash heap. Remember, in the first chapter of Genesis, God saw his creation as “good.” Now we know the story of “The Fall.” There is significant sin and pain and brokenness in our world. But God’s purpose is the renewing, the new beginning or the “again genesis”, as stated in Revelation, “to make all things new” (Revelation 21:5).
But when and where will this begin? Here’s the great news, it has already begun! All this began Easter morning with the resurrection of our Lord. The reality of new life at his resurrection is the signpost of new life for us and for all things to come. It is already in the works. Jesus’ resurrection is the beginning of God’s new beginning work for us and for all creation.
From the outset, God wants a world and a creation in which he lives with us unobstructed. This is where we and all things are going. The end of all that’s wrong, broken, diseased, violated, and oppressed. In other words, God wants and is even now, bringing about his shalom.
Over the next few weeks, I want to explore with you “The Spirituality of New Creation” and what this can mean for our lives going forward. In all of this, I am hoping we can take heart and live daily, seeing our lives and what we do with them as significant. For in living daily with the vision of new creation, even the seeming mundane matters of life can be seen with new significance. And remember, new creation has already begun. Here and now God welcomes us to participate in his new creation story for today and for all that is to come.
Peace be with you.