Kings of the Kingdoms
As Jesus was betrayed by the Jews & handed over to Pontius Pilate to be crucified, one of the charges brought against Him was that He claimed to be a king which would have been threatening to the Roman Empire’s occupying rule of that region. So Pilate questioned Jesus about this:
Pilate…summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”… Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” – Jn 18.33, 36-37
Jesus was born to be king. He is the King of the kingdom of God. This kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, not a physical, earthly kingdom. While it does have physical manifestations on this earth (i.e. the church & it’s work), it does not have physical boundaries or a conventional human government or military presence. Nonetheless, the kingdom of God (a.k.a. the kingdom of heaven) is a present reality & Jesus is it’s king.
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he (Jesus) answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. – Lk 17.20-21
If you belong to the kingdom of God, you know that you do & you know that Jesus is your king. However, if you don’t even know about this kingdom, then you likely belong to a different spiritual kingdom. And because you are not aware of these kingdoms, you will not be aware of its king, nor does he want you to be aware. Because if you were, you would want to leave. In fact that is why I am writing this. This other spiritual kingdom is the kingdom of darkness & it’s ruler is Satan (1 Jn 5.19, 2 Tim 2.25-26, Eph 2.1-2). In fact, the chief characteristic of this ruler is that he is deceitful. Jesus spoke to a group of religious people who were unaware of their dark kindom & it’s lying ruler:
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” – Jn 8.42-47
The kingdom of God is about truth; the kingdom of darkness is built on lies that shut out the light of God’s truth. People in the kingdom of darkness are foreigners to spiritual truth & have been tricked into avoiding it & consequently do not desire it. Jesus & His people want those occupying the kingdom of darkness to be set free by the Gospel, so please keep reading.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – Jn 8.31-32
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. – 1 Jn 5.19
Pilate…summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”… Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” – Jn 18.33, 36-37
Jesus was born to be king. He is the King of the kingdom of God. This kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, not a physical, earthly kingdom. While it does have physical manifestations on this earth (i.e. the church & it’s work), it does not have physical boundaries or a conventional human government or military presence. Nonetheless, the kingdom of God (a.k.a. the kingdom of heaven) is a present reality & Jesus is it’s king.
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he (Jesus) answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. – Lk 17.20-21
If you belong to the kingdom of God, you know that you do & you know that Jesus is your king. However, if you don’t even know about this kingdom, then you likely belong to a different spiritual kingdom. And because you are not aware of these kingdoms, you will not be aware of its king, nor does he want you to be aware. Because if you were, you would want to leave. In fact that is why I am writing this. This other spiritual kingdom is the kingdom of darkness & it’s ruler is Satan (1 Jn 5.19, 2 Tim 2.25-26, Eph 2.1-2). In fact, the chief characteristic of this ruler is that he is deceitful. Jesus spoke to a group of religious people who were unaware of their dark kindom & it’s lying ruler:
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” – Jn 8.42-47
The kingdom of God is about truth; the kingdom of darkness is built on lies that shut out the light of God’s truth. People in the kingdom of darkness are foreigners to spiritual truth & have been tricked into avoiding it & consequently do not desire it. Jesus & His people want those occupying the kingdom of darkness to be set free by the Gospel, so please keep reading.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – Jn 8.31-32
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. – 1 Jn 5.19