Jeremy Treat on the Cross and the Kingdom

Jeremy Treat’s essay in Christology Ancient and Modern about “Exaltation in and Through Humiliation: Rethinking the States of Christ,” is great, and includes this gem quote:

While Many Christians either champion the kingdom or cling to the cross, Scripture presents a mutually enriching  relationship between the two that draws significantly from the story  of Israel and culminates in the crucifixion of Christ the King. In short, the kingdom and the cross are held together by the Christ – Israels’ Messiah – who brings God’s reign on earth through his atoning death on the cross. The kingdom is the ultimate goal of the cross, and the cross is the means by which the kingdom comes. The cross is not the failure of Jesus messianic ministry, nor simply the prelude to his royal glory, but the apex of his kingdom mission, the throne from which he rules and establishes his kingdom. The shocking paradox of God’s reign through Christ crucified certainly appears foolish to fallen human logic, but perceived through faith, it is the very power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:18-2:5). May we ever follow Calvin’s exhortation to imitate event eh penitent thief on the cross, who “adores Christ as a King while on the gallows, celebrates His kingdom in the midst of shocking and worse than revolting abasement and declares him, when dying, to be the author of life.”

Good stuff!