The Kingdom Among Us
In my teaching “The Reign of Christ Sunday”, I referenced Jesus’ response to Pilate as recorded in John 18. When Pilate asked Jesus if he was a king, Jesus replies yes, “I was born a King, and I have come into this world to prove what truth really is. And everyone who loves the truth will receive my words.” (John 18:37 TPT)
Also in this conversation, Jesus explains to Pilate what type of kingdom he rules. Clarifying: “The royal power of my kingdom realm doesn’t come from this world. If it did, then my followers would be fighting to the end to defend me from the hands of the Temple authorities. My kingdom realm authority is not of this world.” (John 18:36 TIB)
Let’s recap what we just heard Jesus say:
Jesus was born a King
Jesus came into the world to prove what truth really is
Jesus’ kingdom realm is not of this world
So, what does Jesus’ kingdom realm look like if not what we and many others thought it would look like (salvation from our current situations (personal and global))?
Jesus tries to explain to his disciples about his kingdom, as recorded in Luke 17:20-25 MSG.
Jesus’ Kingdom is Here Now:
“Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, “The kingdom of God doesn’t come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!’ or, ‘There it is!’ And why? Because God’s kingdom is already among you.”
Jesus’ Kingdom is Yet to Come:
“He went on to say to his disciples, “The days are coming when you are going to be desperately homesick for just a glimpse of one of the days of the Son of Man, and you won’t see a thing. And they’ll say to you, ‘Look over there!’ or, ‘Look here!’ Don’t fall for any of that nonsense. The arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see. He simply comes.
“You know how the whole sky lights up from a single flash of lightning? That’s how it will be on the Day of the Son of Man. But first it’s necessary that he suffer many things and be turned down by the people of today.”
And THIS seeming paradox is the Kingdom of God.
So what DOES Jesus’ Kingdom among us look like?
In the “Our Father” prayer, Jesus invites his disciples to pray for God’s Kingdom to come and pairs that with God’s will being done on earth. Specifically: provisions, forgiveness for sins, freedom from temptations, reconciliation with one another. (Matthew 6:9-15)
And in Matthew 7:21, Jesus comments that those who do God’s will are the ones that are part of God’s kingdom. Throughout scriptures God’s will is made known; in Micah 6:8 (CEB) we read, “ He has told you, human one, what is good and what the LORD requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.”
While we wait for Jesus to bring God’s Kingdom in all fullness, we are invited into cultivating God’s kingdom now among us in how we interact with God and others. May this season of thanks-giving be a time to express our thanks to Jesus in our words and with our actions.–Melissa Logsdon, NCF Associate Pastor