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
The Kingdom message is that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.39 Spiritual death, the ruptured relationship with God, can be healed through His atoning death alone.40 The internal destruction sin has brought to our hearts can be renewed through the power of His resurrected life.41 The real enemy conquered by His victory is not political but sin and the god of this world, Satan himself, along with the spiritual forces of darkness.42 Jesus formed a new movement, the church, a redeemed people from every nationality and ethnicity, who will come into the unity of the Spirit to participate in God’s rescue mission to the whole world.43
Jesus’ resurrection prefigures our resurrection.44 In Jesus’ death and resurrection not only is the price of our sin paid, and our life after death secured, but the eternal life of God has truly come to this cursed earth; with the coming of the King, God’s Kingdom has come into this world.45 Because of King Jesus there will be physical life again after a period of physical death.46 After the intermediate state, a time when believers’ spirits are with Jesus in Heaven while their bodies lie in the grave, there will be a new Heaven and a new earth.47
The reality of the full unveiling of Jesus’ Kingdom is both history-altering and mind-bending. Jesus’ people will enjoy full life in body and spirit, delighting in an Edenic world where there is no sin, no curse, no death, and subsequently no tears. Life will be as it was when God last said all was “very good.” We will see the face of Jesus and rule with Him in a perfect city on the new earth. This is God’s coming Kingdom, and by faith its citizens, Christians, long for it.
What people are you most looking forward to seeing fully and eternally healed from all sickness and suffering?
39 Matt. 1:23, 28:20; John 1:14–18.
40 2 Cor. 5:14–15; Eph. 2:1, 4–6; Col. 2:13.
41 John 1:13, 3:5-8; 2 Cor. 5:17; Titus 3:5.
42 John 12:31–32, 16:11; Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14.
43 Matt. 28:16–20; Acts 1:5–8.
44 1 Cor. 15:12–57.
45 John 3:16, 5:24, 6:40; 2 Cor. 4:10–11.
46 1 Cor. 15:44–46; 2 Cor. 5:1–8.
47 Isa. 65:17–66:2; 2 Pet. 3:10–13; Rev. 21:1.