Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed,  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within (or among) you.” – Jesus as quoted by Luke in Luke 17:20-21

The Pharisees in the days of Jesus were looking for a physical, earthly Kingdom, one that would serve there interests and fit their paradigm. Jesus, understanding their inner motives, spoke to those motive. The Kingdom of our God as it is being established on earth will not be recognizable by physical features. That Kingdom is comprised of people in whom the King of Heaven, our God in Christ, reigns and rules. That Kingdom is something that is growing within true disciples who are given over completely to their King.

The Pharisees of today, including almost all of the clergy class, continue in this ancient, erroneous way of thinking about the Kingdom that Jesus address. They still seek for a tangible kingdom, one that is visible in buildings, budgets, programs, positions, and recognition that are no different than those of the world. They seek horizontal progress, nationalistic progress, political progress, societal progress, and material progress. They measure their progress against that of the world and against each other.

When the true Kingdom is present, one cannot point to material, worldly, or societal markers and say,”Look! Here it is!” or “There it is!” Jesus is clear; “In fact, the Kingdom of God is within and among you.” In this present age, the Kingdom of God is found only where He reigns uncontested in the lives of His true citizen, His true disciples.

Yes, our God reigns over all of creation, but He is not one to enforce His Kingdom upon the unwilling in this age of grace. The Kingdom of our God Jesus references in the passage is an eternal reality, as real as the entirety of the heavenly spiritual realms. It is only in the temporal, human, physical realm – a microcosm within the heavenly and spiritual realms – where His reign is contested. In this here and now microcosm our God allows demons and humans to refuse Him. No where else.

The words of Jesus quoted above have their context within that microcosm. Thus, His Kingdom is present within and among those yielded to Him in all things. His Kingdom is expressed among and through us in restored union with Himself, regenerated living, spiritual power, and holy behaviors. All of these expressions come from Christ Who lives them in and through His true disciples.

None of our behaviors initiated and done by us, no matter how good and right they may appear, are of our King or His Kingdom. This includes our religious practices and traditions. Our religiosity is our attempt to approach and apprehend God on our terms by our efforts. The Christ life is Christ living His life in His true disciple, in place of that disciple’s own life and efforts.

Banner image via author, Missouri River Breaks, Montana