A Thought

“When Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!”  For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.’”  Luke 17:20-21

In light of Old and New Testament prophecies that speak of such cosmic happenings that will leave no doubt when the Day of the Lord is upon us, Jesus seems to break away from these prophecies to speak of something a little less foreboding.  I think, however, what He is saying has not so much to do with something that may or may not happen in the future; rather He is speaking of the Kingdom as in presence.  Whether He is speaking of our capacity or willingness to believe OR speaking of His physical presence, one thing seems clear in this passage: the Holy Father promised never to “forsake” His people, and Jesus may be reminding them of this very thing from the Jews’ own Scriptures (Joshua 1:5-9).

The Kingdom of God is within His own people, those who “meditate in [Torah] day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8).  That is, the Kingdom of God is within His faithful, those who trust fully in the Lord and are willing to study His Word and commit to His Truth.  It is not only how the world can distinguish the faithful from the rest of the crowd; it may well be how the Lord can tell us apart, how He will “separate the sheep from the goats” in the last days.

Let us be the “light of the world” Jesus calls us to be, “that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).  It is His commandment; it is His kingdom within His faithful.

Blessings,

Michael