Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
John 18:36 (ESV)
Many in Jesus’ time were looking for the restoration of the kingdom of David. And when Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God, they were expecting a literal physical kingdom with land and a king. But that was not what Jesus was announcing.
Many today still look for Jesus to return, drive out evil, and reign on a physical throne. Much of modern-day eschatology includes a physical reign of Jesus over an earthly kingdom. But what does Jesus have to say about his kingdom?
In Jesus’ discussion with Pilate, he told Pilate that he was a king but that his kingdom was not of this world. It is a spiritual kingdom. It is not something to look forward to, because it is already among us, even now (Luke 17:20-21).
The kingdom is already, but it is not yet everything it will be. There is much that will happen at Jesus’ return: resurrection, judgment, a new heaven and earth, and God’s dwelling among us. And the kingdom of God will then be fully realized. And that full realization of the kingdom is something to look forward to.
But for now, it is enough that the kingdom is, that the Lord Jesus reigns, and he has included me in his kingdom.
