December 3 The Kingdom Comes

Luke 9:27 “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
 
THIS has been a challenging Scripture since Jesus first spoke these words. Some say Jesus was confused about when the Kingdom would come. “He didn’t know,” write the doubting “scholars”, “that the world would still be around at least another 2,000 years.” Some say Jesus didn’t know because, as we have discussed, Jesus sometimes displayed his humanity in a limited knowledge of events. Remember, he ministered in the Sprit’s power. Perhaps the Spirit did not reveal this future to Jesus. But it seems unlikely the Son of God would be limited in God’s purpose to point us to the end of time.
   To understand Jesus’ teaching, let’s define “Kingdom of God”. John the Baptist promised the Jews in Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven (God) is near.” Jesus then echoed those words as he began his ministry in Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of God (Some translations say “heaven”.) is near.” As “kingdom” relates to a king’s rule, John and Jesus told the Jews to expect a power change to rule the Jews.  
   Then Jesus defined the new power – a kingdom much different than the Jews anticipated: Luke 11:20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Clearly this is not an earthly rule. The Kingdom of God is God’s power to redeem mankind from Satan’s grasp. The apostle Paul teaches how God reveals his kingdom power within us. Romans 14:17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The kingdom had arrived with Jesus’ preaching and the Spirit’s power. When Jesus taught that some “will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” he was promising much more of God’s salvation power was about to be unleashed over the world. For example, three disciples would witness kingdom power in Jesus’ Transfiguration. Many more who stood with Jesus that day he spoke those words witnessed the kingdom come in glorious power through Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension. Even more people heard and saw the Holy Spirit’s kingdom rule come to earth on Pentecost to begin the church. The church became empowered to be the King’s governing body on earth.
   Through 2,000 years the Kingdom of God has powerfully spread throughout the earth. In almost every nation, God has established his righteousness, peace and joy in Jesus’ salvation. The Kingdom of God grows exponentially to free the world from Satan’s deadly hold.
   Be assured that one day the Kingdom of God will be God’s actual government over the new Heaven and new earth. Jesus, the Son of God, knew the time for that is in the Father’s hands. He was not confused about the kingdom come, but he spoke to surely encourage his disciples to remain faithful through the coming trials. He wanted to assure them they would live to see true Kingdom rule. His assurance is still for his disciples today.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. Thank you for the Kingdom power in our midst today. Thank you for your eternal Kingdom to come in the Father’s time. Amen.