The Fight of Jesus' Kingdom Now

Before the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, He went through several various and illegal trials, one of which was Roman prefect or governor, Pontius Pilate, recorded in John 18:35-36: “Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” Jesus’ kingdom was and is bigger than any earthly kingdom in history. It is so big, that it isn’t even of any present world system.

The conflict between Jesus and Jewish leaders might give the impression that He desired to overturn the government. Jesus disabused anyone of that idea, indicating He had no ambition to challenge Rome. Jesus was and is King. As an argument to Pilate, Jesus said that if that was His goal, His servants would fight.

The Lord wasn’t instructing the disciples to take up arms against the Roman government. Jesus has a kingdom, but in the age in which we live, this isn’t how the kingdom operates. However, it’s still a kingdom with Jesus as King. Today Jesus works through the church and the citizens of the kingdom will work through that present iteration of His kingdom. The battle is a spiritual one and the weaponry is spiritual.

The sword of the Lord is the Word of God (Eph 6:17). The battle field is primarily in people’s imaginations (2 Cor 10:3-5). His kingdom will culminate in a future physical reign on this earth (Rev 11:15, 20:6).