Jesus, Kings, and Kingdoms

By Jason Miller

Politics are at the center of Mark’s story of Jesus. His historical life ended with a political execution on a cross by the Romans. The Romans used crucifixion to murder those who had rejected imperial authority. “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news’” (Mark 1:14-15). The first words uttered by Jesus in the Gospel of Mark are a foreshadowing of what the story of Jesus was all about. Jesus’ message was also religious; his passion for God and God’s qualities led him to proclaim the kingdom of God.

Jesus intentionally used the word kingdom. He certainly knew of other kingdoms – the kingdom of Herod is one example – but the kingdom of God had to be something different than that earthly kingdom represented by a human ruler. The kingdom of God, though, is for the earth. It is about transformation on the earth – what it would be like on earth if God were the ruler and current political hierarchies meant nothing.

I must admit that the closer we get to the election, I often find my thoughts wandering to the future of our nation and our world. What would it be like on earth if we didn’t have a Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, or Hillary Clinton campaigning to be the next President of the United States of America? Would it be a world of economic justice in which every person has the material basics of subsistence? Would it be a world of peace? For these – economic justice and peace – are God’s dream for the transformed world.

We’ve seen supporters and demonstrators of Donald Trump clash with authorities. Jesus’ passion for the kingdom of God created conflict with authorities. And conflict dominates his story throughout the Gospels. It climaxes in the last week of Jesus’ life with his challenge to the Roman authorities in Jerusalem and his crucifixion.

Jesus’ message was about the government of God that will rule the world and bring about world peace. The solutions to our problems are not in reforming present governments – in increasing or reducing taxes, increasing or reducing funding for social welfare programs, or implementing or decentralizing universal health care – but rather in replacing them with the kingdom of God. The best news is that the kingdom of God is coming!