Have you ever asked yourself the question - what is the Kingdom of God? I have. I am still asking this question and exploring it on deeper levels. In one sense, I feel like I understand 'The Kingdom' that Jesus was talking about when he announced it (Mark 1:14-15). In another sense, I feel like I just don't fully grasp it. Let me explain.

One of my favorite authors and theologians, Greg Boyd, I think said it best. When defining 'The Kingdom' - he defines it as the dome in which the King reigns. It's a Kings-domain. Makes sense right? But what kind of King is Jesus?

Some people have reduced the story of Jesus as if the Jews of Jesus' day got everything completely wrong and missed the point of the Kingdom Jesus was talking about. That they had unfortunately missed the coming of God in human form (which some did and still do today - Jew or Gentile). I think that is way off and inaccurate when looking at the Bible on a deeper level. Jesus says, "the time is fulfilled'. What is this time he is talking about? The time is that the ultimate climax of Israel's story is fulfilled and completed in Jesus - however crazy and surprising that may be.

In my early exploration of Jesus and his Kingdom, I admit, had nothing to do with the story of Israel. I had let the Western imagination of Christianity overwhelm my thought and I only saw Jesus as more of a personal God who would benefit me - but I missed the central story of Israel that grafts me in to that larger story. It wasn't until the past few months that my eyes were beginning to open. I, like many others, was excited about the "Western" model of Jesus and less excited to hear about the God of Israel. Well - Jesus was a Jew. This is critical to the Story that God is telling.

The Bible is a story. It is a story of our creator, God, and his forgiveness plan of redeeming us (humanity) through what was once lost in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). It is a rich and deep story. The story is not a story of a distant God up in the heaven-lies who just wants to save individuals from sin, pain and death. It's a story of a God who desires relationship with his creation - even when we rebel. If we miss the story of Israel, we will miss all of the deep imagery of Jesus' teachings and we will view Israel as a sad failed test. Israel failed - on with plan B. Sadly, this is what many of us are taught. I testify that's false on every level. Here is why...

God calls Abraham and his family - who would have lived in modern day Iraq, to go off to a distant land (Israel/Palestine). God establishes a covenant with Abraham and promises that he will be a blessing to all nations. ALL nations - that's important. Through Abraham, we are told, God will therefore cause all of the families on the earth to be blessed. That's a crazy promise - that Abraham will not even get to witness in his lifetime. It is critical to remember the story prior to Abraham, in Genesis chapters 3-11, which resulted in the scattering of the human race after building the tower of Babel. (Babel is Babylon - which is also located in today's Iraq).

This is important because the story of Abraham and God is the launching pad for the entire rest of the biblical story and rescue plan. This is where it gets really interesting and exciting. There is an often ignored part of the story of Abraham that points all the way to the gospels themselves. Here we go...

The creation account at the beginning of Genesis describes God as making a dwelling place for himself. This dwelling place is heaven and earth. It is a kind of temple - a dwelling place for God within his creation. In all ancient temples, except the one in Jerusalem, there was always an image or statue of god present. So what does God do? He places his "image" (in this heaven and earth "temple") in human beings that were created to reflect Him and reflect back that beauty back to himself. We are created in the image of God. Even though that is the center of the story, it is then corrupted when we rebelled (Genesis 3). The calling of Abraham and his family is God's answer to the pride of human power.

As the story continues, Israel finds itself in slavery to the Egyptians. Slaves to a powerful tyrant and pagan empire. God will then rescue his people through the amazing events of the Passover under Moses' guidance. God then gives his people the law, to be a way of life for them to live. This is again almost ruined when the people insist on crafting an idol, a golden calf, to physically worship the god who rescued them. In a heart wrenching prayer by Moses, God then gives in and forgives his people despite their rebellion. Interesting. The entire book of Exodus closes with not only love and grace, but completion from Genesis 1. The tabernacle is completed (God's dwelling place). The people, Israel, are the new humanity on their way to take comfort in their new Eden (the Promised Land).

You could almost sum up the entire Old Testament in a pattern like this: God desires to be among his chosen people. But He is unable to because of their pride and rebellion. But in an act of grace and love, does so anyway. Still with me?

The theme of the exodus is obvious on a large scale in the story of God. Fast forward to Solomon (King David's son) where he literally builds the temple. Generations after Solomon corrupt the temple or try to reform it by rebellion or idolatry, and then God finally abandons it altogether - which at that point, Babylon captures the temple. God is gone. Exile - again. This is pivotal in understanding the story that leads to Jesus in the gospels. The people of God, in exile of his absence, are waiting for his return. When will God rescue us? This is where the Old Testament comes to a close. The kicker is that no one knows how or when this is going to happen when God returns to deliver them. They are in need of a new exodus. Here's where it gets fascinating. Let's go faster...

In Babel (ancient Babylon) there is a tower. This tower is built as a result of Cain's attempt to reconcile the horror of sin and murder (he murdered his brother Abel) when he built a city. At Babel, God confuses every one's speech and begins a new plan with Abraham which will bless all of the nations. This is grace at its best. When Israel is in Egypt, they are under Pharaoh's rule, but are rescued by God through the blood of the lamb and the parting of the Red Sea. Blood and water. Baptism and the shedding of blood. See any connections yet?

Fast forward to the rule of the Philistines when David rescues the people through the defeat of Goliath and then defeats the surrounding nations. With pagan threat closing in - Solomon builds a place for God to dwell (the temple). This takes a turn for the worst when the people find themselves overpowered by Babylon and again they are strangers in a strange land. Exile - again. This brings us to Daniel and Isaiah, the prophets who write about the clash of the two Kingdoms. Their themes are almost identical: the Kingdom of God verses the Kingdom of the world. God vs. Empire. In Isaiah this will be vindicated by "the servant of the Lord"; in Daniel it will be vindicated by "the suffering and faithfulness of God's people". It's the same story!

Now we arrive at the New Testament and the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. When Jesus calls his first followers (Mark 1:16-20), he singles out the Twelve (3:13-19). This is deeply symbolic and is mirroring the foundation of God's people. Note that Jesus is not on equal playing ground with the disciples - Jesus calls them into existence and gives them a role to play. He tells them to "Follow me...". Sound familiar? This would echo the call of Abraham "leave your land and go to the land I will show you". This is Jesus displaying God becoming King. What does this King do? He comes to take on the powerful rulers of the world (interestingly not human rulers - but demonic forces who are working through worldly powers), and overthrows them by rescuing his people. We are being called to follow the one true King. It takes movement, action and faith to do it.

The difference between the two Kingdoms is powerful. The powers of the "world" make their way by fighting and by violence. Jesus' Kingdom makes its way with a very different weapon: the truth. The truth is dangerous. It's what gets him killed.
Jesus was speaking and acting in such a way during his ministry as to imply that he was to go ahead of his people, to meet evil face to face, to take it's full weight on himself, so as to make a way through - a way in which God’s people could be renewed, and could rediscover their job to be a light to the nations, and could be rescued from their continuing slavery.

This theme is crystal clear in that heavenly voice at Jesus' baptism. It is there in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). It is there, in particular, as Jesus speaks about the hen sheltering the chicks under her wings; his intention was to see the danger coming and to take its full force upon himself (Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34). It is there again when he speaks of the “cup” he himself had to drink; the allusions there are all to the “cup of God’s wrath,” working through the violence of the Romans against what seemed to it to be rebel subjects and a rebel king.

What does any of this have to do with the Kingdom of God? Everything! Jesus' death and crucifixion was the rescue and issuing in of the Kingdom to be lived out by his people. Jesus' prediction of the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem is matched in total unison with the role he was playing while on earth. The crucifixion is so mysterious and sometimes confusing to us - we can't forget the prophecy Isaiah gave us, "he was wounded for OUR transgressions, crushed for OUR iniquity".

Jesus physically cannot establish his Kingdom or new creation without allowing the poison of human rebellion reach its fullest depth. The Kingdom Jesus was bringing was one of the new exodus to the real promised land. A new rescue from slavery and bondage from evil. His Kingdom was going to display love, justice, forgiveness, non-violence and peace for the entire creation. Those things could not be issued in without the lies, accusations, and extreme violence doing their absolute worst in the world. Jesus' Kingdom is to come and wipe those things out of existence once and for all. Like a cosmic doctor with a cosmic cure, Jesus is going to provide the cure to the infection that is ultimately destroying God's good creation - sin and death - under the influence of the Satan (the Accuser and the liar - the force of anti-creation).

Jesus started displaying the Kingdom in his earthly ministry. He displays it like a show and tell through miracles, healing, love, forgiveness, celebrations, parties, repentant hearts and minds, bringing people from death to life - all of these display the coming Kingdom of God. This is what it looks like when Jesus is crowned King on the throne. But his death isn't the end. It's just the beginning! Because he rose again. He defeated death. D-Day has been won, but we still await V-day.

We cannot miss the power of the resurrection. This is completely crazy - but makes complete sense - and our entire faith rests on this testimony. It is the birth of new creation. The power of evil that has influenced and plagued the old creation has been crushed and defeated. Recall the temptation story in Matthew's gospel:

There (the devil) showed him (Jesus) all of the magnificent Kingdoms of the world. 
"I'll give the whole lot to you," he said, "if you will fall down and worship me." 
Matthew 4:8-9 

Notice that Jesus doesn't refute the devil's claim about authority. At the end of Matthew's gospel, Jesus says after he is risen and talking to his disciples:

"All authority in heaven and on earth," he said, "has been given to me!"
Matthew 28:18 

Whatever authority the devil once had over the world is now defeated and conquered! God's Kingdom is NOW launched. That means right now as I'm typing this and as you are reading this - the Kingdom is here and now. God's Kingdom is launched in full power - on earth as it is in heaven. The question remains, how will you live your life now that this has happened?

(The artwork is The Kingdom of Heaven by Susan Jenkins)