Reading N.T. Wright’s How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels was a revelation for me. It felt like uncovering a hidden gem buried within the pages of the Gospels, one that had been obscured by centuries of theological debates and doctrinal assumptions. Wright’s central argument—that the Gospels are primarily about the enthronement of God as king through Jesus—shifted my entire perspective on what it means to follow Christ. It challenged me to see the familiar stories of Jesus in a profoundly new light.

Rediscovering the Story of the Gospels

Wright begins with a startling claim: much of the church has missed the point of the Gospels. For years, I had approached these texts in a fragmented way. I saw them as sources for moral instruction or as the foundation for doctrines about personal salvation. Wright’s reminder that the Gospels tell “the story of how God became king in and through Jesus of Nazareth” made me pause and rethink.

I realized how often I had viewed Jesus’ death and resurrection as an isolated mechanism for saving individuals rather than as part of a sweeping, cosmic story. Wright’s critique felt uncomfortably accurate—Christianity, as I’ve known it, often narrows the focus to getting into heaven or living ethically, sidelining the grander narrative of God establishing His kingdom on earth.

Heaven and Earth United

One of the most compelling aspects of Wright’s argument is his emphasis on the union of heaven and earth. When he highlighted Jesus’ words in the Lord’s Prayer—“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”—it struck me just how often I’ve reduced this prayer to a rote recital. Wright invites us to see these words as the heart of Jesus’ mission: to bring God’s rule to earth.

This reframing resonated deeply with me. Too often, my faith has felt like a waiting game—enduring life’s hardships now in anticipation of a heavenly reward. But Wright challenges that notion: “The gospels are about ‘how God’s kingdom comes on earth.’” Suddenly, Jesus’ healings, parables, and confrontations with the powers of his day felt like something much bigger than isolated acts of compassion. They became glimpses of a world transformed by God’s reign. I found myself asking, how could my life better reflect this kingdom breaking into the here and now?

Connecting the Old Testament to Jesus’ Story

Wright’s exploration of the Gospels as the continuation of Israel’s story was another eye-opener for me. I’ve often struggled to connect the Old Testament with the life of Jesus, treating them as separate parts of the Bible. But Wright insists that the Gospels are the climax of a single narrative—the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

One moment that stood out to me was when Wright described Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise to David: “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” Suddenly, I saw Jesus not just as a teacher or savior but as the long-awaited king Israel had been hoping for. This gave me a richer appreciation for the Old Testament stories I have grown to love. They weren’t just ancient tales; they were building toward something monumental.

The Paradox of Jesus’ Kingship

Perhaps the most challenging idea Wright presents is the paradox of Jesus’ kingship. A king who rules through humility and suffering doesn’t fit into the world’s understanding of power. Wright’s observation that “the kingdom of God is turning the world’s idea of power and glory upside down” forced me to confront my own assumptions about success and leadership.

The crucifixion, in Wright’s interpretation, becomes not just a tragic event or a necessary sacrifice for sin but the very moment of Jesus’ enthronement. This was a completely new way of seeing the cross for me. I’ve often thought of it as Jesus’ lowest point, but Wright calls it his victory: “The crucifixion was the moment when the kingdom of God defeated the kingdoms of the world.” That paradox—a king reigning from a cross—has stayed with me, challenging me to embrace humility and servanthood in my own life.

Living the Gospel Today

Wright’s vision for the church was where his message hit closest to home. If the Gospels are about God becoming king, then what does that mean for us? Wright suggests that the church’s mission is to make God’s kingdom visible here and now. He writes, “The task of the church is to make God’s kingdom a visible reality on earth.” This includes pursuing justice, embodying humility, and challenging oppressive systems.

I’ve often felt that the church’s focus on personal salvation, while important, can feel too individualistic, almost like a private transaction with God. Wright’s call to engage in the world’s renewal—to participate in restoring what is broken—felt like a much fuller and more compelling vision of what it means to follow Jesus. It’s not just about waiting for heaven; it’s about living out the values of God’s kingdom in real, tangible ways.

Final Thoughts

How God Became King challenged me to see Jesus not just as a savior or a moral teacher but as the world’s rightful king. It reminded me that the story of the Gospels is bigger than personal salvation—it’s about God’s transformative reign breaking into our world. Wright’s work left me with both a sense of awe and a renewed sense of responsibility.

As I closed the book, I found myself reflecting on Wright’s final words: “When we understand that the gospels are the story of how God became king, we begin to grasp the true vocation of the church in the world.” This statement felt like both an invitation and a challenge: to live as a citizen of God’s kingdom, embodying its values and making it visible to others. Wright’s insights have reshaped the way I read the Gospels and, I hope, the way I live my faith.