We aim to meet together regularly for the sake of being the body of Christ, building one another up by the Spirit through the gifts God has given us toward the end of becoming more like Jesus, for His glory and our joy.
I hope it's OK for non-small-group members to comment here. :)
In Mark 1:14-15 it says, "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” While Hebrews 1 says, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son." "These last days" (ἐσχάτου = eskatou, as in eschatology) are the days in which Christ spoke and thereafter.
There's a common phrase we all know that's been adopted within the last 50 years or so to describe the kingdom of God, "already, not yet." When Christ came he ushered in the kingdom of God, but not yet in its fullness.
So, one speculation is that the only disciple that did not "see" the kingdom of God was Judas. One author says that the primary message of Jesus in the synoptics is “The Kingdom of God”, a concept best understood as God’s kingship, it refers primarily to His rule or reign rather than a geographical realm, it is a power rather than a place. And since Christ conquered sin he broke it's power and paid the penalty (both resulting in death) and thus was raised. Therefore, the Kingdom of God came in it's full "not yet" state at the resurrection.
I hope it's OK for non-small-group members to comment here. :)
ReplyDeleteIn Mark 1:14-15 it says, "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” While Hebrews 1 says, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son." "These last days" (ἐσχάτου = eskatou, as in eschatology) are the days in which Christ spoke and thereafter.
There's a common phrase we all know that's been adopted within the last 50 years or so to describe the kingdom of God, "already, not yet." When Christ came he ushered in the kingdom of God, but not yet in its fullness.
So, one speculation is that the only disciple that did not "see" the kingdom of God was Judas. One author says that the primary message of Jesus in the synoptics is “The Kingdom of God”, a concept best understood as God’s kingship, it refers primarily to His rule or reign rather than a geographical realm, it is a power rather than a place. And since Christ conquered sin he broke it's power and paid the penalty (both resulting in death) and thus was raised. Therefore, the Kingdom of God came in it's full "not yet" state at the resurrection.