Seeing the Kingdom of God
Mark 9:1 – And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
What did that mean? What would they see, exactly? The verses immediately continue: verse 2 – Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them, 3 – and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them.
The Greek word for ‘transfigured’ is ‘metamorphoo’ which looks a lot like metamorphosis. Jesus transformed. He changed from one form into another right in front of Peter, James, and John. For just a few moments Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. This was the kingdom of God coming with power. The three of them: Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were talking together in their ‘kingdom of God’ forms.
This was a rare and precious gift for Peter, James, and John. It is also a precious gift for anyone reading these verses. Check out some other verses beginning with Luke 17:20 – And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 22 – Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
There is some valuable information here! Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus transform and talk with Elijah and Moses. The three of them all appearing in radiant forms of light. Now let’s read what happened when it was all over – verse 7 – Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!” 8 – Suddenly when they looked around they saw no one with them any more except Jesus.
Now check out 1 Corinthians 15:49 – And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 – Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Jesus bore the image of the earthy to the disciples and to the world, but before His death, resurrection, and ascension, He briefly bore the image of the heavenly. Here is a great mystery revealed to us! Verse 51 – Behold, I shew you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
With Jesus, we can receive the kingdom of God within us today in preparation for the day He returns in glory when we will be transformed, like Jesus, Moses, Elijah and changed into our new bodies and given immortality!
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57.
Where two are gathered 