When Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, many expected the Messiah to overthrow Rome and establish a political kingdom. Prophecies of a ruler who would reign forever led the Jewish people to anticipate a king who would restore Israel’s glory. Yet at His first coming, Jesus did not take the throne of David in an earthly sense. Instead, He came as a servant, a preacher of repentance, and a Savior to the world. This raises the question: why did He not reign at His first coming?

Reason 1: The Nature of His Mission

The Bible makes it clear that the first coming of Jesus had a specific purpose: to provide salvation. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” His mission was to address the root problem of humanity, sin. Not political oppression.

A political kingdom would have been temporary if sin had not been dealt with. By dying on the cross and rising from the dead, Jesus established the foundation for an everlasting kingdom where righteousness, not rebellion, will reign (Hebrews 9:26; 1 Peter 3:18).

Reason 2: Prophecy of Two Comings

Old Testament prophecies often spoke of the Messiah as both a suffering servant and a reigning king. Isaiah 53 describes His suffering, while Isaiah 9:6–7 speaks of His government and peace without end. At the time, many expected these prophecies to be fulfilled together, but the New Testament reveals a gap between the first and second comings of Christ.

At His first coming, Jesus fulfilled the suffering servant prophecies, dying for sin and offering reconciliation to God. At His second coming, He will fulfill the prophecies of reigning in power and glory (Revelation 19:11–16).

Reason 3: Rejection by His People

Another reason Jesus did not establish His earthly reign was the rejection by the nation of Israel. John 1:11 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Instead of accepting Him as Messiah, the Jewish leaders accused Him of blasphemy and delivered Him to be crucified.

This rejection was part of God’s plan, allowing the gospel to go to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46; Romans 11:11–12). Jesus’ reign will come when Israel as a nation turns to Him at His return (Zechariah 12:10).

Reason 4: The Present Spiritual Kingdom

Although Jesus did not reign politically at His first coming, He inaugurated a spiritual kingdom. Luke 17:20–21 records Him saying, “The kingdom of God is within you.” This kingdom is made up of those who have submitted to His rule in their hearts. Through the church, Christ’s message and authority spread worldwide until the day He returns to establish His visible reign.

Reason 5: The Future Earthly Reign

The Bible promises that Jesus will return to earth to rule from Jerusalem. Revelation 20:4 describes His thousand-year reign, and Isaiah 2:2–4 pictures the nations coming to learn His ways. At that time, all prophecy about His kingship will be fulfilled, and the promise to David of an everlasting throne will come to pass (2 Samuel 7:16).

Jesus did not reign at His first coming because His mission was not to overthrow Rome but to defeat sin and death. Prophecy required that He first come as the suffering servant before returning as the reigning King. His rejection by Israel opened the door for the gospel to reach the nations, and His spiritual kingdom now grows in the hearts of believers. One day, when He returns in glory, the reign that was postponed will be established forever, and every knee will bow before Him (Philippians 2:10–11).