Last Sunday we celebrated the most famous misunderstanding of Jesus in the entire Gospel narrative: the triumphal entry.
On that day all those years ago, faithful Jews laid down their cloaks and palm branches before the returning king of the line of David. In Jesus, they placed their hope of a return to the days of glory, the restoration of the Israelite kingdom, and the overthrow of the Roman Empire occupying their ancestral land. Less than a week later, Jesus would be crucified by those occupying forces, the Hebrew Messiah executed among thieves.
It would seem their hope was misplaced.
We know better. Their hope was not misplaced so much as misunderstood. They understood the promise of the messianic kingdom in terms of political power, yet Jesus proclaimed an other-worldly reign. From our vantage point on this side of the empty tomb, the mistaken identity of the King of Kings seems apparent.
And yet, we still define this kingdom in political terms. We still misplace our hope.
The Misplaced Kingdom
In the first chapter of Mark, we discover the earliest proclamation of the kingdom of God. It is the beginning of the earthly ministry of Jesus, and He is careful to define what this ministry means.
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” ~ Mark 1:15
Like those who cast down their cloaks before Jesus, we recognize that the term “kingdom” is layered with political nuance. Our best conception of the English word involves a geographical terrain under the political authority of a powerful ruler. The kingdom is the region which belongs to that king.
However, this becomes problematic when we look at how Jesus speaks of God’s kingdom. As creator, all that exists belongs to God. The opening line of Psalm 24 professes this when it declares that, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” (Psalm 24:1) Jesus, on the other hand, speaks of a kingdom that has “come near” and prays that “[God’s] kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
So how can the earth both belong to God and not be part of His kingdom?
The Answer Is In The Terminology
Language is a nuanced organism, with layers of meaning embedded in any particular term. Unfortunately, these layers rarely (if ever) find a perfect match when shifting from one language to another. This requires one to use phrases to capture the entire meaning, but translating every term that way would result in an unreadable mess. Thus, translators often seek to find the best synonym which grabs hold of as much of a concept as possible. Unfortunately, not only does a synonym loses certain nuances, so does it also come with unintended meanings as baggage. “Kingdom” is a perfect example of this.
When Jesus speaks of a coming kingdom, the term He uses isbasileia. Rather than a politico-geographical region, basileia speaks of God’s dominion. It is His will and authority manifesting in human affairs. In other words, it is God’s reign.
And Jesus makes this reign known.
Putting Things Right
It is in the life and ministry of Jesus that we see what this reign truly means.
Shortly after his declaration in Mark 1:15, He puts on vivid display the divine authority of the basileia of God. It begins in a synagogue, where he stands before a gathering of devout Hebrews and starts to teach. As scripture tells it, “they were astounded at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority…” (Mark 1:22)
It continues in that same synagogue, as He encounters one who is possessed and casts forth the unclean spirit. The people marvel, whispering that “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” (Mark 1:27) Then, He goes on to reveal that authority in the immediate region, as “He cured many who were sick with various diseases.” (Mark 1:34)
Wisdom. Spiritual authority. Physical restoration. In all things, Christ displays the nearness of the heavenly reign, the basileia of God, restoring order to a broken world.
…But before he does any of that, He calls disciples.
This Is The Kingdom
In Mark 1:15, Jesus declares the kingdom. In Mark 1:21-34, He displays it publicly. But between the declaration and display, Jesus takes a stroll on the beach. There, along the Sea of Galilee, He calls forth Simon, Andrew, James, and John to be His followers. This is of critical importance:
The kingdom of God is not manifested in politics, but in people.
This is where contemporary Christianity often misses the boat. Like those who cheered at the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, we so often seek to impact our world through the politics of our age. Yet, the kingdom of God is not a political entity. It is a gathered community united under the Lordship of our King, called out of our world only to be sent back into it as emissaries of another ruler.
This is what it means when we declare Jesus as our Lord. It is not some pithy prayer or Christian catch-phrase. It is a decision to enter into the basileia of God, to yield our authority to the reign of our King, and to become ambassadors of an other-worldly kingdom in the midst of this one.
So How Do We Do That?
Allow me to offer five suggestions on how to become a people living under the reign of God.
- Examine yourself. Never forget that we are sinners in need of a savior, and while our sin has been covered at the cross, repentance is a daily discipline for personal spiritual freedom.
- Grow in the faith. Focus on allowing God to shape you into the person that He wants you to be before focusing on whether other people are who you think they should be.
- Gather in community. We are not kingdoms unto ourselves. When God calls us out of the world and to Him, He also draws us to one another.
- Acknowledge our brokenness. Despite our new identity in Christ, we will still screw up. So will our brothers and sisters. Be merciful.
- Live the kingdom. Community is for manifesting the kingdom in the world, not for hiding behind four walls. Let the change that God has wrought in us, personally and collectively, be displayed in how we live.
This has always been how the kingdom has grown: not through the imposition of worldly power, but through the faithfulness of the called. We do not lay down palm branches to honor an earthly king; we lay down our lives to become part of a divine kingdom.
On earth as it is in heaven.
How do you live the kingdom?
