CTG 0052

GOD’S KINGDOM 

Jesus was unjustly condemned to death by the highest religious-political-judicial echelon of his own people. Because they were under Roman rule the Sanhedrin delivered him over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, with the intention that he would have him crucified. 

Pilate concluded that Jesus wasn’t a military threat to Rome’s rule. And he knew that the Sanhedrin’s decision against him was motivated by jealousy. He tried to thwart their objective to do away with Jesus. But finally, for fear of what would reach the ears of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Pilate succumbed to their manipulation and to their agents’ unscrupulous steering of public opinion. And, wanting to please the crowd that had gathered, he gave Jesus over to be crucified, with all the resulting cruelty and agony that Jesus suffered. 

During the conversation that had taken place between them, Pilate had asked Jesus: “Are you the King of the Jews?” 

Jesus said to him: “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.” See John 18:33-37. 

If Christ’s kingdom was of this world, under those circumstances, his followers would have been galvanised for armed conflict. But God's gracious, loving and powerful reign in the hearts and lives of all who believe in his Son Jesus, has been secured, not by means of this world's military might, but by his Son’s suffering and death on the cross for our sins, followed by his resurrection and ascension. For Jews and Gentiles. 

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14 ESV). 

His dominion is everlasting. It will never pass away. And his kingdom will never be destroyed. 

Jesus will return! 

Until then his gospel needs to be proclaimed everywhere. See Matthew 24:14. 

FOR FURTHER READING 

Daniel 7:13-14 

Matthew 16:13-28; 26:1 - 28:20 

Mark 14:1 - 16:20 

Luke 1:26-35; 22:1 - 24:53 

John 17:1 - 21:25 

Acts 1:1 - 4:31; 8:12; 28:30-31 

Philippians 1:1 - 3:1 

1 Timothy 2:1-6 

1 Peter 2:1-25 

2 Peter 3:1-18 

Revelation 1:1-20; 11:15-18; 21:1 - 22:21