By Ben McEachenMonday 3 Apr 2023The Lord's PrayerPodcastsReading Time: 3 minutes
What is God’s kingdom? Didn’t it arrive already, in the shape of Jesus?
In the third episode of The Lord’s Prayer podcast, Hope Morning’s Ben McEachen chats with theologian and author David Hohne about “your kingdom come”.
Recorded at the middle of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13), what has become known as “The Lord’s Prayer” is a framework and fuel for our prayers.
The Lord’s Prayer podcast is dedicated to delving deeply and usefully into the world’s most famous prayer.
This “kingdom come” conversation can point us all to who the king of our life actually is and how we live in light of his reign.
The big idea
There is a “now and not yet” tension to the kingdom of God. Notably, it arrived on earth in the form of God’s true king Jesus (Mark 1:15) but won’t be fully realised until “when [Jesus] hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28)
Talking points
- “Eschatology” is a big word for understanding the “end times” or “last days”. Core to eschatological outlook is trusting that all of God’s promises will be answered “yes” in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).
- The Bible “is quite explicit” that God made the world for himself, and he will rule over it.
- The Old Testament indicates God’s chosen king is his son (see 2 Samuel 7, Psalm 2, 72 and 89).
- Jesus is the “great son of [king] David” and the anointed ruler of God’s kingdom.
- Before Jesus, the kings of Israel (and Judah) tended to fail and, notably, forget God. So did God’s people. According to David, that story continues: “It’s pretty common for God’s people to forget that the kingdom belongs to Jesus and not them.”
- Living for God’s kingdom now is anchored in Jesus being God’s chosen king over our entire lives. “The first place that God’s kingdom comes is in [our] hearts,” David said.
Explore more
- Psalm 2 – The king of Israel referred to as the Son of God.
- Mark 1:15 – “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.”
- Matthew 22 – Jesus quotes Psalm 110 in reference to himself, as both David’s foretold son and David’s Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 – Soak in the “big picture” description of the ultimate fulfilment of God’s kingdom.
- 2 Corinthians 1:20 – Jesus is the “yes” to all of God’s promises.
Let’s pray
Our Father in Heaven. Your name be honoured as holy. Your kingdom come. As I await the full unveiling of your all-encompassing rule, grant me the courage and meekness to follow Jesus as my king. There is no other saviour king like your son Jesus, who gave up his life for me and everyone else. Make the forgiveness offered to me through King Jesus become an everyday reality of praise, repentance and joy. Amen.
Listen to the full Your Kingdom Come episode in the player above or the video below. Subscribe to The Lord’s Prayer podcast.