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.
In chapter 18 of John’s Gospel we have John’s account of Jesus examination by Pilate the day of his crucifixion. During that examination, Jesus makes his position clear.
Yes he is a king, but not after the fashion of the kings of this world whose power rests upon physical force to ensure its continuance.
Jesus kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, not a physical one.
Jesus kingdom exists in another dimension, a superior and unseen dimension; in that kingdom the way of doing things is quite different – opposite in fact to this world.
In this world, in this life people have to be self interested, self promoting, prepared to do down and injure others in order to gain or maintain an advantage.
The successful in this life are rarely selfless, concerned only for the welfare of others.
But in God’s kingdom where Jesus reigns, selflessness, devotion to God and to the good of others is the fundamental rule.
The Christian is called to a life in imitation of his master, Jesus Christ.
His way was to teach and live the way of complete obedience to the God of love who gives us life and all we have.
His way was to deny selfishness and the fulfilment of self desire in order to obey the precepts of the heavenly kingdom – the superior kingdom which rules in the realm beyond the physical world we see about us.
In fact this world is dependent on that spiritual realm and subject to it.
Therefore, to know the greater power of that realm and of its King – God our Creator – we must live by the rules its King has laid down.
And those rules are made clear for us in the New Testament of the Bible – the record of Christ and his apostles about Jesus, his teaching, his death, resurrection, ascension and future return to this world.
This Jesus will return to Judge all mankind:
to reward those who have loved and obeyed him with heaven;
but to those who remained king of their lives, disobeying God their Creator – Jesus will grant the reward they deserve for the life they have chosen to live.
Alone, apart – Eternity without God!
Christianity 