"And Jesus was saying to them, 'Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God after it has come with power.'" Or, "....before they see that the Kingdom of God has come with power." (Mark 9:1, NASB & NIV)
Some teach that it was the Transfiguration to which Jesus is referring to here. I think it is the Cross and Empty Tomb.
The Power of the Kingdom of God is in the shed Blood, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the great, "It is finished", of the "Kingdom Message." It was the, "It is finished", of the Gospel, which, as Romans 1 declares, is the very,"Power of God," power to forgive, deliver, save, keep. From that moment on, the very power of the Reign of God could now be manifest in the lives of those who surrender their lives to Jesus, "....with power."
The Old Covenant says, "The Lord sat as King at the Flood. The Lord sits as King forever." At Jesus' first Appearing, He said, "The Kingdom of God is in your midst." And, at the "last supper," Jesus told His Followers, "....I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's Kingdom." Yes, there is an aspect of the "coming" Kingdom of God/Heaven. But make no mistake: Our Lord Jesus Christ, "sits as King forever"--- "at the Flood," before the Flood, then, now, forever. He is The Eternal King.
How does this apply to you and me right now? You and I are more than covered. As King, Jesus promises us, "....under His wings you may seek refuge....For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways." The Blessed Trinity, revealed in Jesus Christ, has been doing this for those who have trusted and surrendered their lives to Him from Seth to this moment. This is true Biblical Theology: The Living Triune God has been reigning as King of the Universe from age to age. Jesus has been King of His Kingdom throughout and over the kingdoms of mankind from Babel on.
The declaration of today's text tells me that the great aspect of, "....see the Kingdom of God after It has come with power", is the very "shout" from the Cross and Empty Tomb of Jesus. "He is not here; for [The King] is risen!"
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to not just talk, but live, "the Kingdom of God with power." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
