This week I want to continue looking at the Kingdom in the Gospel of John. John does not make many references to "kingdom." The content of the Gospel of John is quite different from the parables found in the Synoptics.
I found only three references to the kingdom in John. The first two come in a discussion between Jesus and the Pharisee Nicodemus. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. Night in the book of John is a significant detail. John often uses the motifs of light vs. dark to signify those following Jesus and those not. The implication of Nicodemus coming at night is that he is coming to Jesus not yet as a follower and with probably less than pure intentions. He wants his interaction with Jesus not to be discovered. Later Nicodemus is seen coming to Jesus at day time (John 19:38-40).
Jesus tells Nicodemus that "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." The word Jesus uses for again can also be translated "from above." Nicodemus misunderstands what Jesus is saying (another common theme in John) thinking he must re-enter his mother and be born again. Jesus is telling him that he needs to be born from above and have a new spirit.
The second reference to the kingdom in John comes in the middle of Pilate questioning Jesus. Pilate asks if Jesus is king of the Jews. Jesus responds, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
Jesus does not deny being a king. His statement is not about the location of the kingdom, but rather the origins of the authority of which his kingdom is built on. Jesus' kingdom is not built like kingdoms of the world. Kingdoms of the world rule through domination over subjects (whether through military force or elections). Jesus' kingdom comes from above. He has the authority of God, but rather than ruling through threat of sword he rules by loving, sacrificial service. Jesus followers do not expand or protect the kingdom through violence. They expand by serving and loving those around them. Jesus doesn't seem to be concerned about protecting the borders of his kingdom the way kingdoms of the world do. Rather Jesus talks about destroying the Gates of Hell (Matt. 16:18).
For more reading on Jesus' kingdom, here are a few places to start:
The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd
Mere Discipleship by Lee Camp
Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw
The Upside-Down Kingdom by Donald Kraybill
Politics of Jesus by John Howard Yoder (if you get ambitious)
