Which kingdom?

"Jesus answered, 'My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom.'"

~ John 18.36 NLT

Kingdoms existed to project and exercise control and power over people and wealth. There are not very many of them anymore in the world, but the attributes live on in whatever governmental shapes that rule the people. The name changes, but the desire of control and power remains the same.

Jesus could have ruled the whole earth as the King, but he chose the cross. The path to the kingdom of God goes through the cross.

"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to."

~ Philippians 2.3-6 NLT

Related: God-complex