In the midst of today's turbulent political landscape, Christians are faced with a pressing question: how should they engage with the powers that be? Should they retreat from the political arena to preserve their prophetic voice and avoid being co-opted by partisan interests? Or should they actively participate, seeking to harness the levers of power to shape the world around them? In Jesus and the Powers, N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird issue a clarion call to Christians everywhere to rethink the nature of their witness in a world torn apart by fragmentation and fear. Amidst the rise of authoritarian regimes and the chaos that surrounds us, the authors remind us that Jesus is king, and his kingdom remains the ultimate goal of the church's mission and ministry. This groundbreaking book weaves together political theology, biblical insight, and historical perspective to argue that building the kingdom of Jesus requires confronting the insidious influence of empire in all its forms. By adopting this kingdom-centric approach, Christians can work towards creating free and democratic societies, while resisting the siren songs of autocracy and nationalism. Along the way, Wright and Bird reflect on the urgent relevance of this vision to the burning issues of our time, from the conflict in Ukraine to the tensions in the South China Sea, and from the turmoil in Western democracies to the perils of Christian nationalism.