The Kingdom of God.

We ended Prepare the Way with ‘the Kingdom of God is at hand’ but what does that mean?  Above all else Jesus’ mission was righting the wrong that took humanity away from God.  He was coming to restore right union with God and ushering in the Kingdom of God for humanity. He is constantly referencing the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven, so what is he trying to say here. My interpretation for most of my life was wrong, or well incomplete for sure.

The Kingdom of God is not merely a distant place we hope to reach one day, but a living reality that begins now in the hearts of those who turn to Christ.  As Jesus proclaims, “the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15), inviting us into a present relationship, not just a future promise.  It is both already here and still to come, as He teaches that the Kingdom is like a mustard seed, small at first yet destined to grow (Matthew 13:31–32), and like treasure worth giving everything to possess (Matthew 13:44).

This Kingdom takes root in us when we surrender our will to the Father, seeking first His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), and approaching Him with the trust of a child (Matthew 18:3). It is not of this world (John 18:36), yet it transforms how we live in this world, ordering our desires, our choices, and our very hearts toward God. Ultimately, to pray “Thy Kingdom Come” in the Our Father, is to ask that God reign fully, within us now, through us in the world, and one day in perfect fulfillment in Heaven.

We hear “the Kingdom of God” and think Jesus is just talking about what Heaven will be like. And while Heaven is the fullness of the Kingdom, that’s not all He means. When Jesus says, “the Kingdom of God is at hand,” He’s not pointing to something far off, He’s announcing something breaking in right now. The Kingdom is wherever God is allowed to reign, first in our hearts, then through our lives, and ultimately in Heaven where that reign is complete. And when most people hear the word kingdom, they think of power, armies, and political rule. They imagine a king sitting on a throne with authority over land and people. And in the time of Jesus, many expected the Messiah to bring exactly that kind of kingdom, a political revolution against Rome Israel’s current ruler. But Jesus kept describing something very different. The Kingdom of God was not of this world.

It was the moment when God begins restoring the world, healing hearts, forgiving sins, and drawing people back to Himself. And slowly, through His teaching and miracles, the disciples began to realize something extraordinary.

The Kingdom of God wasn’t just being announced. It was arriving in Him.

Eventually Jesus asked His disciples a question that would change everything. In the Gospel of Matthew, He turns to them and asks: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They answered with different opinions. Some said John the Baptist. Others said Elijah or one of the prophets. But then Jesus asked the real question: “But who do you say that I am?” And in that moment, one of the most important declarations in all of Scripture is spoken. The apostle Saint Peter answers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was a turning point. Peter wasn’t just saying Jesus was a teacher or prophet. He was declaring that Jesus was the Messiah, the one God had promised for generations. And Jesus responds with words that are incredibly important for the Church:

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah… for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”

And yet, even after this moment, the disciples still didn’t fully understand who Jesus was. So Jesus gives three of them a glimpse of something extraordinary. He takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain. And there something happens that must have left them speechless. Jesus is transfigured before them. His face shines like the sun. His clothes become dazzling white. Standing beside Him appear two great figures from the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah. In that moment, the disciples see something that had been hidden. They see the glory of Christ. This Transfiguration is a window into our higher reality. Into the Kingdom This is the heart of Jesus’ mission ushering in the Kingdom of God.  The same Jesus who walked dusty roads, ate meals with them, and spoke in parables is suddenly revealed in divine splendor. And then a voice comes from heaven saying:

“This is my beloved Son… listen to Him.”

For a brief moment, the veil is pulled back. The disciples see that Jesus is not just a teacher. Not just a miracle worker. Not even just the Messiah they expected. He is the Son of God. And this moment was not just meant to amaze them.

It was meant to prepare them.