ABIDE || October 3
The Kingdom of God — “basileia”
The world will spend all week telling you who you need to become. Every Saturday morning, we’ll remember who you already are in Christ. Friends, welcome back to Abide.
Basileia (bah-sil-AY-ah) — kingdom, reign, rule
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” — Mark 1:15 (NIV)
When Jesus began his ministry, this was his announcement: the Kingdom of God had come near. Again and again, he spoke about the Kingdom — what it is like, who receives it, how it grows, and what it asks of us. I wonder what the people listening to Jesus imagined when they heard the word kingdom. A king? A palace? A moat? A territory? Freedom from the powers already ruling over them?
When most of us hear the word kingdom, we picture a place: borders, stone walls, rooms, fountains, winding hills, marble pillars, maybe a throne room somewhere far away on the ancient ruinous cliffs of some luscious mountainside. But when Jesus announced that the Kingdom of God had come near, he was speaking about something more than a place we might one day reach — he was announcing the reign of a King who had come to us.
The Greek word basileia comes from basileus, meaning “king.” It can refer to a kingdom as a realm, but it also carries the meaning of a king’s rule or reign. When Jesus announced the Kingdom of God, He was proclaiming that God’s authority was being made known in a new way through Him. The King had come near.
That changes my personal view of the word kingdom. I can picture a mighty place but still miss what Jesus is saying about my life today. If God’s Kingdom is his reign, then the question is not only whether I believe he is King—it is whether I welcome his leadership in the places where I would rather have my own way. Am I viewing him as king over all aspects of my life?
Jesus told the Pharisees that people would not be able to point to the Kingdom and say, “‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’” because “the Kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20-21, NIV). God’s reign had come near to them in Jesus himself. They were looking for something they could locate, while the King was standing before them.
And what kind of King is he? Jesus’ description of his kingdom is startling. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3, NIV). He goes on to bless the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, and those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:5-9, NIV). In a world that tells us to pursue power, protect our image, and put ourselves first, Jesus describes a Kingdom marked by dependence on God, mercy toward others, and a deep desire for what is right.
The Kingdom also grows differently than we might expect. Jesus said it is like a mustard seed—small when it is planted, yet growing large enough for birds to rest in its branches (Matthew 13:31-32, NIV). We may want to see immediate, impressive results before we believe God is at work. Jesus invites us to pay attention to what he is growing, even when its beginnings seem small.
But small does not mean insignificant. Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field” (Matthew 13:44, NIV). In the next parable, a merchant finds a pearl of great value and sells everything to buy it (Matthew 13:45-46, NIV). Both pictures ask us to consider what we value most. If life under God’s reign is a treasure, why do we so often treat surrender to him as a loss? What are we afraid we will have to give up that seems more valuable than what he offers?
This is why Jesus’ call to “repent and believe” belongs with his announcement of the Kingdom in Mark 1:15. His reign invites a response. To repent is to turn away from the belief that I know best. To believe is to trust the King enough to follow him. That reaches beyond what I say I believe and into how I spend my time, how I treat people, what I pursue, and what I do when obedience costs me something.
Jesus says, “Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, NIV). Seeking the Kingdom first means letting God’s priorities shape my own. It might look like choosing peace over winning an argument, generosity over holding tightly to what I have, or faithfulness in a quiet place where no one will notice. His reign becomes visible in the way we live under his leadership.
And still, we long for more. The Kingdom has come near in Christ, but we continue to pray, “Your Kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10, NIV). We see real signs of his work now while waiting for the day his reign is fully revealed. That hope gives weight to the choices we make today. The mercy, righteousness, and peace Jesus teaches us to pursue are glimpses of the life our King is bringing.
The Kingdom of God is near. The questions we are left with are these: Where am I still trying to be King? And what would change if I let Jesus lead me in those areas?
This Week’s Reflection
Where am I still trying to be king of my own life? Is there a decision, relationship, worry, or ambition that I have been holding back from God’s leadership?
Read Matthew 5:3-12 and notice who Jesus calls “blessed.” Then ask him to show you one small, special way to seek his Kingdom first. It may be an act of mercy, a choice to make peace, or a step of obedience no one else sees. As you take that step, remember: the Kingdom of God has come near, and you can trust the goodness of its King.
Keep walking with Jesus, friends.
bytaylormcgee
