THE MIGHTY BEGINING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Die magtige begin van die Koningsheerskappy van God”
Translator: Robin Barker
Someone wrote to me:
“Please explain to me what is the meaning of Mark 9 :1”
This is how I understand this section:
I want to begin by saying that what is written in Mark 9:1, is not the only place where it appears in the Bible
There are two other places where this prophecy about Jesus appears and I give you these verses in the following paragraphs as they appear in the Word.
In my explanation of this section, I would like to point out something very important to you.
Below are the verses:
MAT 16:28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Now the section that I was asked about:
MARK 9:1 And He said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
Now, we read the last time this statement from Jesus:
LUKE 9:27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
I have mentioned that I want to show you something important regarding these three versions of the words that Jesus said.
Well, for me it is very significant that the first thing we read about after each of the narratives pertaining to this event, is the glorification of the Son of God!
As an example of this, I want to share with you what is written in LUKE 9:28-36.
LUKE 9:28-36
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.
31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.
35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Here Jesus’s words took shape for the first time when He said:
MARK 9:1 … “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
After that of course there was still other mighty events, that some of those people who were there on that day, mentioned in MARK 9:1, would still see before their deaths on earth, that would be evidence for them, that:
MARK 9:1 “… before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
Do you remember?
Some of them standing around the cross heard, although some of them certainly would still not have understood what they were hearing:
JOHN 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
In the King James Version this verse reads as follows:
JOHN 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Later on they would remember these words and understand when they recall the conversation Jesus had with Moses and Elijah on the mountain of transfiguration.
Do you remember?
LUKE 9:31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
Yes!
Later it will become the main theme of their preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, when they proclaim the Gospel of the cross. Together with this they would understand what Jesus was meaning, when He said that day:
MARK 9:1 … “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”
Shortly thereafter some of those who were standing with Jesus at that time described in Mark 9:1 when He made the Prophecy, would start to experience even more the beginning of how: “..They see that the kingdom of God has come with power."
We read:
MATTHEW 28:2-7
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Thereafter some of the people who were standing with Jesus when He said:
"“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."
The one who was not there was Judas His traitor.
Judas had already committed suicide.
Yes, some of them were standing there, 11 in total in number and they experienced:
ACTS 1:9-11
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Then!
How wonderful, they also experienced this great glory of “how the kingdom of God has come with power."ACTS 2:2-4
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Then they believed!
Yes!
Then they became part of the fulfilling of Jesus’s prophecy when He said:
MARK 9:1 … "“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."
Then they were part of the beginning and glorious growth of Jesus’ ”Kingdom of God”, that has grown in such a miraculous way that you and I more than 2 000 years later together with millions throughout the whole world can share in this “Kingdom of God” of Jesus and do you know what is still even more wonderful concerning you and me?
Because of the fact that every single prophecy about Jesus up and until today has been fulfilled – you and I can remember with great excitement in our hearts what you have read today.
For as sure as all the other prophecies about Jesus were fulfilled, this one shall also be fulfilled:
ACTS 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Now while you still remember this –
May your heart be filled with immense glorious joyful expectation, while together with this; you furthermore have this sure knowledge –
It does not matter what your personal situation is concerning this life at this point in time, you have the certainty of knowing:
1 JOHN 3:2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
In the King James Version the verse reads as follows:
1 JOHN 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Greetings,
Sakkie