Ancient China Awaited the Prince

Bill Brown ... Xiamen University
"Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles..." 1 Corinthians 1:22,23

"People flock to a benevolent ruler as water flows downhill, or wild beasts flee to the wilderness." Mencius [民之归仁也，犹水之就下，兽之走圹也]

Jesus was opposed by Jews, who wanted miracles and a political reformer, and by the Gentiles, who delighted in endless debates even while the world fell apart around them. But Jesus' message that "the Kingdom of Heaven is within you" would have been warmly welcomed in China because this was the central theme of ancient Chinese philosophers.

The Way of Heaven is spoken of in almost every ancient Chinese book. Upright and benevolent governments put in place by the one Emperor of Heaven led the people to live moral and fruitful lives. When the governments became corrupt, the people and the country fell--but the people continued to hope for a benevolent prince to restore their country and lives.

Waiting for the Prince China's ancient Book of History recorded, "We have waited for our Prince! When he comes he will deliver us from our punishment [for guilt, sin, etc.] [《书》等待我的王！ 王来了，我们使不再受罪了]. Centuries before the Jews crucified Jesus, the Chinese were hoping for a Prince who would change their country by changing people's hearts Mencius wrote that kingdoms were won or lost by winning or losing people's hearts, and he said, "If there was one prince who loved benevolence, all the other [corrupt] princes would drive the people to him, and he could not help but become Emperor."

Conquering Prince Not just the Chinese but all peoples have sought peace, hope and purpose, and Jesus came to offer hope--though not in the way that the Jews expected. The Jews demanded miracles, but Jesus downplayed miracles, even warning those he healed to tell no one about it [Luke 5:14], because he knew that miracles did not change hearts. And Jesus avoided politics, saying to "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar" [Luke 20:25], because like Confucius and Mencius, he knew that political change did not guarantee a change of hearts. Jesus kept his focus on "the kingdom within us," and in so doing brought change that has lasted 2,000 years.

Peaceful Entry, Triumphal Exit Last Sunday was Palm Sunday, when Jesus made his "triumphal entry" into Jerusalem. Jesus was careful to ride not a horse of war but a donkey, which symbolized peace. But the cheering crowd did not want a "Prince of Peace," and when he refused to be king, their adoration turned to hate and they crucified him instead. Yet in choosing a cross over a crown, Jesus exemplified the ancient Chinese ideals of the benevolent Prince who would, by his example, deliver the nation not only from their punishment but from the ultimate punishment as well--death.

The Prince of Confucius, and Mencius, and countless others around the world, has come--and his kingdom is within you.

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