We find ourselves in a strange period of time: under lockdown, quarantine and in a season of uncertainty. As is typical in such times, many look towards promises recorded in Scripture for assurance and comfort. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches that the prevailing promise of assurance and comfort is found and fulfilled in the coming of the Kingdom of God. Continuing with a look at Jesus’ journey towards the cross, we stop to look at his interaction with the Pharisees and his disciples in Luke 17:20-37 to gain an insight into the coming of the Kingdom of God and what it means for us in this season.
Searching for a Sign
The account begins with Jesus’ response to a question from the Pharisees regarding the coming of the Kingdom of God before he addresses his disciples privately. Addressing a group of Pharisees – a self-righteous, religious social movement which emerged in Israel in the early part of the first century – Jesus responds to their question of when the Kingdom would come. He begins by saying that the coming of the Kingdom of God is not something which is observed, since it has already come (Luke 17:20-21). This forms the bedrock of his teaching throughout the rest of this passage. Jesus’ response however seems confusing – if the Kingdom has come, why aren’t people seeing it?
It is important to note that Jesus has a tendency with opening up people’s own assumptions with a rather straightforward answer. Being rooted in Hebrew literary tradition, the Pharisees can recall that the coming of the Kingdom of God would be evidenced by signs. As such, the Pharisees were asking for a sign of the coming, so that they could know and then be ready. His response shows us that the time to be ready is in fact now, since his Kingdom is already here. The Pharisees were experts in the religious customs of Ancient Israel and were considered among the spiritual elite in society. However, Jesus would customarily give them words of correction, as their reliance on personal piety and self-righteousness were indicative of their spiritual blindness. In other words, he is saying that the Pharisees have in fact ‘missed the boat’, as his coming has ushered in the coming of the Kingdom of God. In their expectations for a great sign of God’s handiwork, their lifestyles and thinking left them blind to the presence of the King of Kings in their midst.
This calls back to another interaction which Jesus had with a religious ruler, Nicodemus (John 3:1-21). While also speaking of the signs of the coming Kingdom, Jesus says:
“Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again […], born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”
John 3:3, 5-6 (NIV)
In other words, the pursuit of signs of the coming Kingdom is futile if we are not ‘born again’, since we will remain in our spiritual stupor. The only way to awake from it is to be made alive to God through repentance (being born of water) and through the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit who inhabits us upon placing our trust in the redeeming work of Jesus (being born of the Spirit). The Spirit of God is ‘poured’ into our hearts, thereby revealing the thoughts of God to us; confirming the truth of God in our hearts; and leading us in intimacy with God. Without the illumination of the Spirit, we remain in the dark. We might be able to make out shapes, but like the Pharisees, we will remain blind to what is right in front of us.
Responding to the call of eternity
Jesus then shifts his focus to his disciples and expands on his response to the Pharisees. He tells them that many will expect and desire to see signs of the Kingdom, yet His coming will be sudden and unexpected (Luke 17:22-29). He likens it to the accounts of the Great Flood or the Destruction of Sodom. Many will remain in a self-induced stupor, fuelled by the desire to satisfy oneself with earthly pleasures, until a sudden, unexpected and telling moment when it is already too late. Jesus warns his disciples:
‘Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it’
Luke 17:33
In other words, whoever seeks to live their lives under their own lordship and for the sake of one’s own satisfaction will not only remain blind to the coming of the Kingdom, but will also forfeit the blessing of eternal life. If one were to however, entrust their life to Jesus, that is to surrender the reigns of one’s life to him and to accept him as Lord of one’s life, they will be able to enjoy the fullness of life with him in eternity. He therefore reminds his disciples that true fulfilment is only found in him, and that one’s trust cannot lie on earthly resources and treasures.
Jesus also indicates herewith that the time to ‘get ready’ is in fact now, since the Kingdom of God is already in our midst. The stories of Sodom and Noah illustrate that there is no room for false security. Our natural inclination is to live our lives with a vision for ‘tomorrow’. Pursuing signs above relationship with God can lull us into a false sense of security. We could easily put off the urgency of our response if we believe that the Kingdom is a far off reality. Instead we ought to live in the knowledge that the Kingdom is present – calling us to immediate action; it is also however still to come in fullness – calling us to remain vigilant and enduring in pursuing Him and His righteousness.
Understanding the Times
The magnitude and global response to the coronavirus has led certain pockets in Christendom to come forward in proclamation of the ‘end times’ being near. There are numerous conflicting interpretations found all over the internet, promoted on social media and certain news outlets. As we can see in the account above, the pursuit of signs can not only lull us into a false sense of security, it can also distract us from the one thing which is most important. To be clear, there are discernible signs of the Kingdom to come, yet our prerogative is not to be doomsday prophets. If you are interested in finding out more about Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom and the end times, we can highly recommend Costa Mitchell’s video resources, found on his Facebook page here. It is important to remain vigilant and wise regarding the times, yet if it distracts us from loving God and loving others, then we have fallen into the same trap as the Pharisees.
May we encourage you to seek God’s kingdom in relationship with Him, through His Word and through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Only through the Holy Spirit can we truly see the Kingdom, because the Spirit will always point us to the King. The Kingdom of God, therefore, as both the ‘here’ and the ‘yet to come’ is found wherever the presence of Jesus is. The Kingdom is ‘here’ – we can know Jesus’ presence now. Jesus promises to make his home within us when we place our trust in Him and receive His Holy Spirit, and in this we have one foot already in the Kingdom. The Kingdom is ‘yet to come’, so we wait with eager anticipation and wholehearted trust in the fulfilment of His promise – that we will one day stand with unveiled faces before the King of Kings as beloved children. As we draw closer to Easter, we encourage you to join in praying: ‘Your Kingdom come, your will be done’. Let this be a time of rejoicing and growing in intimacy with our King and let us draw our eyes and place our trust in the coming of His perfect reign on the earth.