God's Kingdom?

"Jesus, remember me when you come in your Kingdom!"  These were a few of the words that the Gospel-writer, Luke, records from one of the thieves next to Jesus on a cross like His.  Jesus responds remarkably favorably to him, especially considering that these were probably no ordinary thieves.  Robbery usually wasn't cause for crucifixion - they may have been revolutionaries, guilty of at least murder.  Jesus' promise of being with Him in paradise must have been even more surprising to those around the scene, since Matthew and Mark report that both thieves were hurling insults at Jesus.  Something that Jesus did or said must have made a big impression on this particular thief, because despite probably having only second-hand knowledge of this unusual man next to him, he makes an amazing request.

This was a time when even Jesus' disciples, who had been with him on this journey for three years, didn't quite understand what Jesus meant when He kept talking about His Kingdom.  They kept thinking that Jesus was going to bring about an earthly Kingdom, overthrowing the Roman empire and setting up a Jewish state again.  Even when Jesus rose from the dead, His disciples persisted in asking Him about an earthly Kingdom.  Yet this thief next to Jesus looked at a man clearly dying and spoke with expectancy about his kingdom!  Nobody looks at a dying man and starts dreaming about his future reign (this is part of why His disciples were so upset by the crucifixion!).  This thief suddenly understood that Jesus' Kingdom was not of this earth - something that so many others who knew Him better had missed.  This may be why Jesus is so quick to commend him.

Are there situations today where we are acting more like Jesus' disciples than this thief?  We're still waiting for that Christendom to be set up here on earth, hoping that our next Presidential election will finally bring Christian values flooding back into our nation.  We're railing about homosexual marriage laws, abortion laws, prayer in schools, taking down the Ten Commandments statues, and so on, longing for a return to a day when Christianity will be the Law of the Land.  Are we looking for an earthly Kingdom instead of Jesus' Kingdom?  Is there a subtle difference between "Thy Kingdom come" and setting up Jesus as an earthly King?  Certainly doesn't mean that we don't get involved in politics and governmental affairs - quite the opposite.  But our ultimate hope is in Heaven, not in Earth.