Posted on: 8th May 2025

When this blog is published, it will be May 8th 2025.

Two things about this day:

1. In Christian calendar terms, it is just about midway between Resurrection Day and Christ’s Ascension - the 40-day season in which Jesus appeared here and there, to a person or a group. He was instructing and demonstrating in different ways so that they might understand - ‘GET IT’ - what Christ as King really means. Yes, even after the resurrection, they were having trouble ‘GETTING IT’. 

Acts 1:3 “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of
God.”
Luke 24:13 to 35 Shortly after the resurrection, Jesus joins two disciples walking home on the road to Emmaus. You will know the story. They didn’t recognise him, but “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself”. Later, they hosted him at home. Suddenly it came to them as he ‘broke bread’ at their meal: “ [...] their eyes were opened, and they recognised him [...] he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?’”

2. Today is VE Remembrance Day, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. It's a day to “remember the end of World War II in Europe, celebrate the sacrifices of those who served, and reflect on the freedoms we enjoy today” (Royal British Legion). We do honour those who gave their lives or suffered in so many ways during that terrible war. And yes, we are grateful for the freedom we have at this time. However, we know very well that freedom and absence of war are far from the truth internationally. And as we hear of global power hungry ‘leaders’ (some claiming God is on their side) we feel that the words of the Lord’s Prayer are as needed as they ever were: ‘Father in Heaven, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’.

John 18:33 to 36 Pilate [...] called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews? [...] Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting [...] But my kingdom is not from the world.”

As I write this, I can’t help being challenged about what ‘Kingdom Come’ might mean for Otley (where I live), for Leeds, and for parts of the world where good
shepherding, at governance level, isn’t there. “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11) and help us to ‘GET IT’; to “seek and find” wise understanding and enabling for missioning your Kingdom of Peace.

By John Simkins – Otley Prayer Network