His Kingdom

Jesus proclaimed a unique political reality, the Kingdom of God, one that differs radically from the governments and ideologies of this present age.

Jesus appeared in Galilee proclaiming the “Kingdom of God” – “Repent, for the kingdom is at hand.” The Kingdom promised by God was arriving in Christ’s life and ministry. He was the Messiah and King of Israel who summoned all men to turn from their wicked ways and submit to his lordship before the Judgment when it would be too late.

Then and now, Christ’s realm differs from the political systems of this sinful world. It is not built on violence, oppression, or conquest, but on mercy, righteousness, and his sacrificial Death and Resurrection.

[Photo by Ray Shrewsberry on Unsplash]

Righteousness and unrighteousness cannot coexist, just as mercy and ruthlessness are incompatible. “No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to one and despise the other.”

The Kingdom of God is characterized by justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation; indeed, mercy given especially to our enemies reveals the true nature of the Father and our emulation of Him - (Matthew 6:24, 9:13).

• “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” – (Matthew 5:6-9).

• “But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” - (Luke 6:35),

Idolaters, murderers, and “all liars” will be excluded from the Kingdom. God will hold every sinner accountable unless he turns from his wicked ways, submits to the sovereignty of His Son, and follows his example and teachings – (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Revelation 14:4, 21:8):

• “For what will a man be profited if he will gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then will he render to every man according to his deeds. Verily I say to you, Some of you who are standing here today will not taste of death until they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom” – (Matthew 16:24-28).

• “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in the Heavens” – (Matthew 7:21).

We are called to give our allegiance to Jesus and his message, and to no other. The calling of Israel to be a “kingdom of priests” and a “light to the nations” has fallen to the Body of Jesus Christ comprised of men and women from every nation “redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb,” committed disciples who will follow him “wherever he goes.”

• “You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ <…> But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…” – (Exodus 19:5, 1 Peter 2:5-10).

As Christ’s “royal priests,” we advance his Kingdom among the nations by mediating his light as we bear witness to him and his works. We, the “brethren” and priests of Jesus Christ, overcome Satan “by the blood of the Lamb, and because of the Word of our Testimony…” – (Revelation 1:4-9, 5:9-10, 12:11).

Jesus refused the political power that characterizes this age, especially when Satan tempted him with sovereignty over “all the kingdoms of the world.” To attain absolute power over nations and peoples, all Christ needed was to acknowledge Satan as his overlord – (Matthew 4:1-10).

HIS PATH

Scripture confirmed Christ’s calling as King and Messiah, yet he rejected the kind of power valued so highly by the rulers of this world. God exalted Jesus to reign over all things, not because of his military might, political eloquence, or supernatural powers, but because he submitted to an unjust death to obtain mercy and salvation for others.

Rather than resorting to this world’s political methods, Jesus embraced the Cross. In the “Kingdom of God,” victory is achieved through self-denial, acts of mercy, and service to others, not power over them.

Jesus “gave his life a ransom for many.” His real-world example provides us with the pattern for implementing God’s Kingdom. As his disciples, we must follow his cross-shaped and rather rough road that passes through Calvary.

Before Christ’s execution, Pontius Pilate inquired whether he was “the King of the Jews.” Jesus did not deny his royal destiny. He declared, “You say that I am a king, and for this, I was born.” However, he qualified his sovereignty by stating, “My Kingdom is not from (‘ek’) this world.” The nature of his realm is fundamentally different from the ideologies and practices of our world - (John 18:33-36).

Pilate found no fault in Jesus. At the instigation of the Temple authorities, the crowd demanded the release of Barabbas instead of Christ, a man described as a “brigand.” The priestly leaders of Israel preferred a violent revolutionary to the ‘Suffering Servant of Yahweh’. And thus, it remains the same to this day.

Contrary to popular messianic expectations, Jesus “took on the form of a slave” and became “obedient until death on a cross.” Because of his submission, God gave him “the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” Calvary preceded Kingship. We are called to live by the same standard. “Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus” - (Philippians 2:1-11).

To inherit God’s Kingdom, we must choose to walk the cruciform pathway of Christ and commit ourselves wholly to serving God’s Kingdom. If we choose the popular road, we may one day hear those terrifying words, “Depart from me! I never knew you!”

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SEE ALSO:

• His Imminent Death - (In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is “on the way” to Jerusalem his death at the hands of his enemies)

• Rejection and Suffering - (To be the Messiah of Israel meant suffering and death for others, and Jesus summoned his disciples to follow that same path  – Mark 8:31)

• Ransom for Many - (After predicting his death, two disciples began jockeying for high-status positions in his coming Kingdom)

• The Suffering Servant - (Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the role of the ‘Suffering Servant’ described in the Book of Isaiah. Unlike Adam, he did not attempt to grasp the “likeness of God”)