Luke 9 Jesus gave the twelve "power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases." Then He sent them out on their own "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal". After they returned, He took them to Bethsaida.. to rest. But, the crowd followed and Jesus welcomed them and spoke of the Kingdom of God and healed many. When the time became late.. Jesus told the disciples to feed them. It was an impossible task for mere men.. but, by the power of God the 5 loaves and 2 fish fed the 5000 and resulted in 12 full baskets of leftovers!
This is the truth of the Kingdom that the disciples were just beginning to grasp. The Kingdom of God goes beyond men's ability to know or do... it takes a supernatural act of God.
Jesus asked the disciples "Who do the multitudes say that I am?" They knew He was not an ordinary man.. perhaps John.. Elijah.. or another resurrected prophet? But, Peter had a better answer.. "The Christ of God"! The Messiah. It is at this revelation that Jesus began to expand their understanding.. "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day."
The Kingdom of God is not about greatness in the sense of human power and ability.. Jesus began to specifically teach the disciples the cost of the Kingdom.. "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." The Kingdom requires us to lay down our lives instead of trying to save ourselves. It requires us to be the "least" and not the greatest. It requires us to not be ashamed of the Lord.. but to give ourselves up for His Name. It requires us to follow Him.. even when there is no place to lay our heads.. when we have to leave the "dead" behind.. when we want to turn back..The Kingdom is worth our full surrender to Jesus.
Jesus said in verse 27 "But I say truthfully there are some of those standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." Some believe that this was fulfilled 8 days later as Peter, James and John stood on the mountain top and watched as Jesus was transfigured and met with Elijah and Moses. They "saw His glory". They heard the voice of the Father. They were covered in the cloud of God's glory. Or, perhaps, He was speaking of John's revelation experienced on the Isle of Patmos where he saw the greatest vision of heaven that any man ever had.
Yes, the Kingdom is worth everything...
This Christmas season.. as we come to worship and adore the Newborn King.. let us turn our eyes toward the Kingdom that is coming.. the Kingdom that awaits us.. for whom Christ died.. "the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.. " Let us proclaim this truth whenever and wherever we can this Christmas!
Father in heaven, we bow before You with hearts of thanksgiving and praise.. for You have given us a Savior.. Christ the Lord! We lay down our lives today.. taking up our cross and following Him.. Give us the wisdom and the strength .. by the power of Your Spirit who is within us.. to stand firm in Your Truth. May we be fit for the Kingdom of God! Conform us to the image and character of Your Beloved Son as it is in His Name we pray. Amen
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