By Kimberly Pinkney
As we discussed in our previous blog, I’d like to delve into a different topic of utmost importance.
In the book of John 17:14-16, translated into The Passion Translation, Jesus, our High Priest, concludes his prayer for himself and his disciples, those whom will be left behind after his departure. He explains that the unbelieving world hates them because their allegiance has shifted. Jesus says, “For their allegiance is no longer to this world because I am not of this world.”
The question for this blog is: to whom do you pledge your allegiance? Webster dictionary defines allegiance as devotion or loyalty to a person, group, or cause. Jesus had called each of his disciples, and they had chosen to hear his voice and forsake everything to follow Christ. Their allegiance to the world’s system and its customs had been severed. Now, their allegiance is connected to him. They have pledged their lives to follow another path—His path for their lives.
Consider for a moment: after Jesus’ death and resurrection, as recorded in John 21:3, Simon Peter said to his companions, “I am going fishing.” They replied, “We are going with you too.” They set out and immediately got into the boat, but they caught nothing that night.
For a brief moment, Simon Peter and the other disciples returned to fishing—to the very thing they had severed ties from. They aligned their soul ( mind, will, emotion) with the world once again. When Jesus died, they believed it was all over, not remembering what He had spoken to them earlier. They went back to the familiar, seeking comfort in the things they had left behind.
These disciples had succumbed to grief, sadness, depression, and other negative emotions, allowing them to consume their minds. We too become susceptible and revert to the familiar things that bring us temporary comfort. If we are not careful, like the disciples, those familiar things will ultimately produce nothing.
However, Jesus knowing that they would return, he performed an extraordinary act to capture their attention. “Children,” Jesus said, “do you have any food?” Not knowing it was he. They replied, “No.” He instructed them to cast the net on the right side of the boat, and they found a great catch. But the net was so full of fish that they couldn’t pull it in. One of Jesus’s disciples, whom He loved, exclaimed, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard this, he quickly put on his outer garment (he had removed it earlier) and plunged into the sea.
This miraculous act not only opened their eyes to see Jesus but also reminded them of His love and the purpose of their lives. It affirmed that He had not abandoned them as orphans, but had left them with a call to serve Him. They were called to be fishers of men, spreading His message to the world.
This miracle also reminded them that they were physically present in the world but spiritually separated from it. Just like the disciples when we choose Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become citizens of Heaven, pledging our allegiance to follow his purpose for our lives,.
In school, we would pledge allegiance to the American flag, expressing our commitment to our nation’s values and willing to fight for them, even at the cost of our lives.
How much more for Christ as believers are we willing to do the same. As a believer our allegiance is now to Christ alone, no longer tied to the enemy, the god of this world. We are committed to fulfilling His will for our lives.
In Revelation 12 verse 11 it says it all, they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and love not their lives until the death. This statement is true of our allegiance to the kingdom of God that we are willing to defend it even to the death.
May God bless you as you continue to hear His voice.
