The Kingdom

Series on the Lord’s Prayer – “your kingdom come”
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
John 3:1-21 

[Jesus taught his disciples to pray by saying, “Our Father in heaven”. This is the beginning of what we have come to call The Lord’s Prayer. In this series, we will take a deep dive into the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples and to learn what it means for us today.]

 

During the summer between my sophomore and junior year of college, a friend shared with me a gospel tract called the “Four Spiritual Laws”. The fourth law speaks about being born again which results in a personal relationship with Jesus. 

I had gone to church my whole life but never heard anything like this before. It made a lot of sense, so I invited Jesus to come into my life.

 

The term kingdom is used throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament the Lord told Moses that Israel would be a “kingdom of priests”. God promised David an “eternal kingdom”. Isaiah prophesied about a child that would “reign over David’s kingdom”.

 

Despite these promises, Israel had very little history of actually being a kingdom. In fact, of the 2000 years from Abraham to Jesus, they were a kingdom for only 120 years. By the first century, Israel was under Roman rule. There was no kingdom in sight. Despite this, Jesus often spoke of a kingdom. 

 

In the beginning, when he set out on his mission of redemption, he said that “the kingdom of heaven was near”. During the Sermon on the Mount, he spoke about the “kingdom of heaven” in the Beatitudes. He told many parables that started with the phrase “the kingdom of heaven is like…” He even taught his disciples to pray for it.

 

¹⁰ Your kingdom come.

Your will be done. 

On earth as it is in heaven.                  NKJV    Matthew 6

 

So, what is the kingdom? Many Jews believed that the Messiah would come as a political leader and free Israel from Rome. That he would set up a new kingdom. Even Jesus’ closest disciples seemed to believe this. However, Jesus corrected this misconception when Nicodemus met with him. 

 

Nicodemus was a prominent Jewish leader at the time. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin – the Jewish ruling council. Considering the hostilities between these two groups and Jesus, it’s somewhat surprising that Nicodemus sought him out. Although, it was during the dark of night.  

 

^2 “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” ³ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”                  NLT

 

Nicodemus didn’t understand, so Jesus continued.

 

^5b “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.                        NLT

 

The Kingdom of God not only occurs for individuals who experience a spiritual rebirth as Jesus described to Nicodemus, but also, it’s the hope that we have when Jesus returns.

 

About 60 years following Jesus’ death, the Apostle John was sentenced to the island of Patmos because of his faith. While there, he had an apocalyptic vision from God. Although the following passage doesn’t specifically mention the Kingdom of God, what he describes certainly fits.

² And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.                   NLT   Revelation 21

 

So, what is the kingdom? It means living in God’s presence whether it be a spiritual rebirth here and now on earth, or in heaven when Jesus returns.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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