16th February 2024
Soon
… “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15 (ESV)
Recently my wife and I began watching our way through The Chosen, the first multi-season television series about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In one episode the actor who plays Jesus tells Peter that ‘soon’ is the most imprecise word in the world. “What does it mean? A few hours? A few days? A hundred years? Or a thousand? Ask my Father how long a thousand years is, then talk to me about ‘soon!’ ”
But soon is a very good answer to the question, ‘When is God’s kingdom coming?’ Arguably, just as precise as Jesus’ statement in the header scripture from Mark: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand…”. For those who were there to hear him speak those words, among the first words of his public ministry, I am sure there were expectations of a wonderful new world being ushered in almost immediately. Some 2000 years later we are still patiently waiting, and fervently praying, for that epoch-making event – the consummation of the kingdom of God.
So what did Jesus mean by ‘the kingdom of God is at hand’? Undoubtedly the sense of his oft-prophesied return, in power and glory, is encompassed within that statement, but there is another meaning for the followers of Jesus (Colossians 1:13). Later in his ministry, the Pharisees asked him directly when the kingdom would come. He answered, “…the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21). Some translations say it is ‘among us’. Others say that it is ‘within us’. All are correct. It is available now, to all who believe and trust in Jesus. (Matthew 12:28) although the world waits for its complete fulfilment.
The return of the King to bring to fulfilment his kingdom will certainly happen, and ‘soon’, yet only God the Father knows when exactly ‘soon’ is. But the King of the kingdom has already come and returned to his Father and because of that, for those who believe in him, in a very real sense, the kingdom is already within us (John 14:20). As Fuller theologian Dr George Ladd explained it, “The early church found itself living in a tension between realization and expectation between ‘already’ and ‘not yet’ The age of fulfillment has come; the day of consummation stands yet in the future.”1
So when is the kingdom coming? Soon. For you, how soon is up to you and depends on the last part of Mark 1:15, ‘repent and believe in the gospel.’
Prayer
Almighty Father, thank you for Jesus, the King of the kingdom, the hope of our salvation, the solution to all of our troubles, the restorer of peace and harmony and justice. Amen.
Study by Peter Mill
1 A Theology of the New Testament, by Dr George Eldon Ladd
About the writer:
Peter Mill is a minister in Grace Communion International and Co-Regional Pastor for Scotland, Ireland, and Northern England.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion International Central Glasgow
Garnethill Room
Conference Suite
St Andrews West
260 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 4JP
Meeting time:
Sunday 11:15 am
Local congregational contact:
Peter Mill
Email: edinburgh@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church