As Jesus began his ministry, the Bible says that he, “traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1). The concept of the kingdom of God was central to the teaching of Jesus
The purpose of God in creating the world was to establish his reign over all the earth. That reign was marred and spoiled by our disobedience in the Garden of Eden. Christ came to reclaim that which was his own, and to proclaim God’s rule and reign over all the earth through Christ’s victory, as he overcame the cross and arose from the grave. He proclaimed that his complete victory would come at the time he returned to earth, when every knee would bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).
The kingdoms of this world go blindly on, believing that their power and glory is the only thing that counts in this world. They do not see that there is an eternal Hand working behind the scenes which determines the destiny and fate of every individual and nation. The Psalmist assures us: “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad” (Psalm 97:1).
The Bible says, “Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is within you’” (Luke 17:20-21). Within you. The Kingdom is not in Washing D. C., it is within you. Within you resides the power of the Universe. You have a Kingdom within.
How does this happen? It happens when we accept God’s invitation to be a part of his Kingdom. Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3). Just as you have had a physical birth, so you must have a spiritual birth. We become subjects of a kingdom within a kingdom. We are a part of the kingdom of this world, but our allegiance is to another Kingdom. Mother Theresa once said, “By blood and origin, I am all Albanian. My citizenship is Indian. I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the whole world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to Jesus.”
Illustration
26 Christians were crucified at Nizhizaka Hill in Nagasaki, Japan on 15 February 1597.
Amongst them was a young seventeen year old boy, Thomas Kosaki, who had been sentenced to die for his Christian witness - along with his father.
He wrote a letter to his mother the evening before his crucifixion. Let me read a translation of it to you
"Mother, we are supposed to be crucified tomorrow in Nagaski. Please do not worry about anything because we will be waiting for you to come to heaven.
Everything in the world vanishes like a dream. Be sure that you never lose the happiness of heaven. Be patient and show love to many people.
Most of all, about my little brothers Mansho and Philipo, please see to it that they are not delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. Mother, I commit you to the Lord.”
Following Christ is not easy – it can be very costly.
3 Question to be asked for the Kingdom of God
1. To Whom
2. How
3. When
1. The Kingdom of God is available to all men
The Kingdom of God is a very much a New Testament concept. But in John’s Gospel, we see that Jesus developing the concept of the Kingdom of God further.
For in John we see a strong correlation between the Kingdom of God and eternal life.
Nowhere do we see this more clearly than in Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus in Jn 3 – where Jesus said:
"I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. (Jn 3:3)
In our Gospel reading this morning we see the development of Jesus’ mission here from the Jews
– “the lost sheep of Israel” of Mt 15:24
– to the “all men” of Jn 12:32.
2. The Kingdom of God is achieved by way of the Cross
(Jn 12:32). The Kingdom will be established by Jesus being “lifted up”
One obvious thought is that Jesus is referring to his impending death.
As you know the Cross would have been laid horizontally on the ground while the victim was attached to it. It would then be “lifted up” when it was set vertically in a hole in the ground.
Jesus, in this verse is looking ahead to his death on a Cross – a death that was necessary to herald in the coming of the Kingdom of God (see Jn 3:3) and so the establishment of the Church.
3. The Coming of Kingdom of God is costly
God’s Kingdom coming – and Jesus asks us the question: Are we willing to pay it?
The Early Church was mercilessly persecuted by the Roman State in the first two centuries of the first Millenium.
Indeed if they had not paid the price, we would not known about the Jesus of the Bible.
Romans 14:17
‘For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit’.
Conclusion
But the Kingdom of God is found through
1. repentance – that is turning from our own
selfish ways to follow the way of Christ
2. new birth - a gift of God and
3. A response to the call of Jesus to
discipleship
