When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:2-11)

Through Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, he brought the direct reign of God–the Kingdom of God—with him wherever he was. And when, with his Father he poured out the Holy Spirit from his throne in heaven, Christ’s reign was extended over the whole world.

Many people’s understanding of the Kingdom of God robs Christ of the complete and total victory which the scriptures announce that he has clearly already won. They either believe that the Kingdom is only in heaven, or in our hearts, or in the future, or only partly present, or only in the church.

Revelation 1:5 tells us that Jesus is presently the ruler of the kings of the earth. But, if that is so, why do we not see him ruling over everything?

Hebrews 2:8 says this “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.” (KJV)

Psalm 110:2 also says, “The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!””

Christ already defeated his enemies on the cross, as Colossians 2:15 tells us. But instead of destroying them, he invites his enemies to end their rebellion and receive his mercy. The gospel is the offer of mercy to Christ’s enemies before he returns to judge the world.

This doesn’t mean that his enemies can do whatever they want to do at the present time. Christ already rules over them directly and personally. Nothing they do can stop him or even slow him down. Everything that they do only accomplishes his purpose of bringing them to his feet. There, at his feet, they must choose either his mercy or their destruction.

The Kingdom of God is at hand. Christ is presently ruling and reigning over the earth. In scripture, the Kingdom of God is never separated from the salvation is God. If the salvation of God is present, then the Kingdom of God is present.

“Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns, of whom you said,… “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” (Hosea 13:11, 14)

Scripture is clear that the Kingdom of God and the salvation of God save us not only from our sins, but from all the things that seek to rebel against God in the world.

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,” (Colossians 1:13)

Christ rescues us from all things now because his Kingdom is present now. Previously, we were under those appointed by God such as rulers, presidents, parents, etc. But now we are under Christ’s direct rule, and nothing in this age can interfere with that.

In scripture, the Kingdom of God is not an optional kingdom. You don’t get to decide whether you become part of it or not. On the cross, the Kingdom of God defeated all the other kingdoms and put all people under the direct rule and care of Christ. His rule can either be welcomed with joy or rejected and rebelled against. And those who rebel will face eternal destruction on the day of Christ’s return.

Christ is already Lord of all. But in the present age the Kingdom can only be seen by faith. Many Christians hear “seen by faith” and tend to think that this means that the Kingdom is only present in our hearts. But “seen by faith” doesn’t mean that the Kingdom is not here. It means that it is not detectable using the senses that are used to see things in the present age.

“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3)

We might say, “I am born again, but I still can’t see the Kingdom of God. Why?” This is actually the question which John the Baptist asked Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”. The scripture does not say that John asked this because he was languishing in prison and sad that he might have selected the wrong candidate for the Messiah.

John the Baptist’s question does not reveal a lack of faith. It reveals a lack of sight. John knew that he was faithfully proclaiming the message of the Kingdom of God that God had given him through the scripture to preach.

“See, the Name of the Lord comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire.” (Isaiah 30:27)

We can understand what motivated John’s question to Jesus based on how Jesus responded to John’s question: “Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” (Matthew 11:4-5)

John preached about the Kingdom from the prophet Isaiah. So Jesus responds to John’s question by also quoting from Isaiah:

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” (Isaiah 35:3-6)

Jesus is not only the only king of the Kingdom of God, but the only teacher. Jesus is not encouraging John but teaching John. Jesus is the only one who can open people’s minds to understand the scriptures.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.” (Matthew 23:8-10)

It is almost as if Jesus answers John’s question by saying, “John, you are correct. But keep reading after Isaiah 30. Before the Messiah comes in judgment, he must come in mercy to strengthen the feeble hands and knees. He must first give sight to the blind, and preach the good news to give life to the dead.”

And, later, as he taught his disciples, he first had to be crucified, buried, and rise again on the third day to fulfill the scriptures.

“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:44-45)

Jesus told the crowd, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Jesus’ purpose is not to praise John the Baptist, but to use what just happened as a teaching illustration about the kingdom of GOd. He is teaching that, even though the Kingdom of God is fully present, it is impossible for us to discern God’s activity based on what we see. Even John, who proclaimed the Kingdom of God, could not see it. Yet, even the least in the Kingdom of God can see what John cannot.

When we are baptized, we die to the present age. But, even though we are born again, we cannot use the senses of this age to see the Kingdom. We must use Kingdom-senses to see the Kingdom. We receive this Kingdom-sense at our baptism. “Kingdom-sense” is not some spooky spiritual ability that allows us to hear voices in our ears and see visions. Jesus shows us clearly the only sense by which we can detect the Kingdom of God. It is his word. Jesus responded to all inquirers by revealing himself to him through his word.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)

The word of God, taught by Jesus himself through the Holy Spirit, is the only way we are able to see the Kingdom of God. Even though Christ is ruling over all creation directly, the only way to detect that activity is through him teaching us through His word. Without the Holy Spirit opening our eyes and the Spirit manifesting him to us, we are as blind to Christ’s reign as an unbeliever—and as blind as Jesus’ disciples, Nicodemus, and John the Baptist.

We can’t overcome this blindness just by sitting down and reading the Bible. Scripture only becomes the living word of God when Christ himself teaches it and the Holy Spirit opens our minds to receive it. That means we have to come to scripture with humility and patience, asking Christ to teach us. We must wait on him to teach what he wants to teach us, when he wants to teach us. He is gracious and merciful, and he will respond to us just like he did to John the Baptist and to his own disciples.