Issue link: https://discover.cph.org/i/1264175
14 Lutheran Life EPILOGUE: WHO IS ON THE THRONE? I'm not sure about you, but reading and writing about the role of government in the left-hand kingdom along- side hearing the ongoing news cycle is a bit unsettling to me. While I can recognize the beautiful system God has established through the vocation of civic leaders, I also worry about the abuse of power and lack of care for the most vulnerable of society as a direct result of our broken world. So I want to leave us with this final thought: Jesus still sits on the throne. Regardless of what happens today in Washington, DC, Jesus still sits on the throne. Regardless of how elections play out, Jesus still sits on the throne. Regardless of the future of this nation, Jesus does, indeed, still sit on the throne. No matter what transpires in the left-hand kingdom, Jesus still reigns supreme. "Jesus' kingship in the right-hand kingdom is not derived from the left-hand kingdom or dependent on the world's affairs. . . . Fur- thermore, this right-hand kingdom brings and gives forgiveness, regardless of which political party is in control" (Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?, p. 94). Praise be to God that His grace and blessings aren't dependent on who our leaders are in Washington but on what Christ has done for us on the cross. While Jesus made clear to Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:33–40), His kingdom does come into the world. Jesus comes into the world to proclaim Good News to the poor and set captives free. He heals the sick and liberates the oppressed, as stated in Luke 4:18. Jesus come to fulfill the saving need for a Messiah, and He does so in a way beyond what anyone could have asked or imagined. Instead of simply re- leasing prisoners in political conflict or oppression, He frees all people from the eternal bondage of sin. More than healing people's physical ailments, He goes to the source and mends our broken, rebellious hearts. Yes, Jesus comes as the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. He comes not to rule one nation during one period of time but to prevail over all of creation across all time to redeem, restore, and lead us in perfect peace and harmony forever. Until that day, we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus, come." w Amy Bird is a child of God and wife of Aaron. She holds an MA in systematic theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and is continually amazed at how precisely God's Word speaks to life today. About This Issue's Author