Political Connections Between the Messiah and God's Kingdom

For the Jews in Jesus' day, what was the connection between the Messiah and the kingdom of God?

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Answer

The connection between the Messiah and the kingdom of God for the Jews of Jesus' day was largely political. This is because through the Old Testament the Messiah, or the anointed king, led a nation that was a political entity in space and time — the nation of Israel — and Israel did battle with her enemies, neighboring nations and people groups and so on and so forth. So, after the fall of Israel and after Israel has gone into exile and then comes back but under Roman occupation and Roman rule, the hope for Israel is that another political Messiah or king will lead Israel out of bondage, out of slavery and back into her former glory or even greater glory. So, it's perfectly understandable, therefore, that when Jesus comes on the scene and people begin to wonder whether he is the Messiah, they have certain political expectations about what he will accomplish, but we find out from him that his kingdom is not of this earth.

Answer by Dr. Constantine R. Campbell

Dr. Constantine R. Campbell is Associate Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School