Kingdom Come
Scripture selection: Luke 22:14
“When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
Near the end, Jesus had a last supper with his friends and followers but it was so much more than a meal.
It was a sign – a visible symbol – with bread and wine – that the kingdom was coming soon. Indeed, it was a sign that the kingdom as God’s reign among them was already powerfully at work.
It wouldn’t happen they say they would think.
It wouldn’t happen by political insurrection.
It wouldn’t happen by angelic revolution.
It wouldn’t happen by the falling of fire from heaven, as some hoped.
It wouldn’t happen by Rome being overthrown and Israel being established as the greatest kingdom on earth.
Because Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world.
The kingdom would come via his dying on a criminal’s cross.
And it would happen by death being defeated by resurrection.
An empty tomb would be the sign, just as he had predicted.
But it was still too soon. They couldn’t possibly understand, not yet.
First, before the dawn, there would be terrible darkness.
The good news is that the dawn would come. It would come.
In today’s dark world – that still brings me hope.
