Not of This World.

In his conversation with Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor who will shortly condemn him, the Lord Jesus says his Kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36).  He is answering Pilate’s query about whether he is a “king” or not.  This political question is the only thing Pilate cares about: “Is this guy a threat?”

Jesus’ response about his Kingdom not being “of this world” has been widely (and often intentionally) misunderstood.  People use it to claim that Jesus’ Kingdom is “heavenly” in the sense of not relating to issues and problems, policies and promises, of daily life.  I recently heard someone use it to argue that Jesus was not political and had no concern for social justice, therefore his disciples are not to be concerned with these things either.

This attitude leads elements of the Church to understand, say, evangelism and mission as bringing people to verbally confess Jesus as their Savior and thereby gain a ticket to heaven when they die.  But the idea that the Church has a responsibility to meet human needs — or worse, that the Church should advocate for (gasp!) government to help people — is largely rejected.  We are not of this world; we are beyond and above all that.  Apparently, we’re about heaven, a place we only access after death.  This world is a lost cause.

But when Jesus is himself confronted with human need — hungry, sick, oppressed, excluded, even dead people — he does not send them away with the explanation that they should not bug him because his Kingdom is not of this world.  He heals and feeds and welcomes people in this world.  Indeed, it is his healing, restorative, and liberating ministry that he lifts up as the sign and proof of his Messiahship (eg. Matthew 11:4-6).  So, while his Kingdom may not be “of this world,” it certainly is busy in this world.

Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God, though it is not of or “from” this world, it is also nevertheless near, which is to say present and available, to this world.  It is having an impact in this world here and now.  It is something that we are called as his disciples to live in as it comes, which is something Jesus has his disciples pray for (Matthew 6:10a).  Pilate apparently recognizes that, whatever “kingdom” Jesus is talking about and wherever it may be from, it is enough of a factor in this world to warrant executing him for sedition.  People doing otherworldly and therefore harmless and irrelevant things don’t get hauled in front of him early in the morning on a holiday weekend.

The Lord’s statement about his Kingdom being “not of this world” does not mean Pilate should relax and understand that he is not a threat.  Just the opposite.  His Kingdom is “not of this world,” and it is invading this one like an alien power.  In a few short centuries the disciples of this hapless convict would overthrow Rome.

It is the job of his disciples now to embody this Kingdom from elsewhere that Jesus proclaims.  It is to live in and express in our actions the humility, compassion, justice, equality, inclusiveness, generosity, sharing, and forgiveness that Jesus reveals at the heart of Reality.  We are witnesses to the truth of this Kingdom which is now within and among us.  We are to live here and now according to the values and practices of God’s coming future.  We are to be that other world, breaking into this one.

Far from an authorization to do nothing, faithfulness to Jesus’ not of this world Kingdom is a license to participate in God’s emergence in this world by doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with the Creator, in this creation, here and now.  It means being that Kingdom, being that change, and serving as salt and light, influencing and flavoring life in this world.

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