This moment when the Pharisees asked Jesus when God’s Kingdom would come is rich in irony. The very man they asked was the king and his presence signalled the coming of the Kingdom. Why didn’t they see this? Simply because it wasn’t the kind of kingdom they expected. Jesus was ushering in a spiritual kingdom and it was right there in their midst. Jesus then turns to his disciples and warns them of the coming judgement on Jerusalem that would occur at the hands of the Romans in 70AD. He tells them that they should not confuse this catastrophe (cf. Ch. 21) with the final consummation of God’s Kingdom at Jesus’ return. This section is not easy to interpret and there are differences of opinion as to the scope of these predictions but the message is clear: we must be ready. We must not miss the Kingdom as the Pharisees missed it and we must not mistake the king for any others. We must remain alert, so that when the day of reckoning comes, we will be found faithful. This is highlighted in the next block of teaching which ends with the words: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (18:8). Jesus’ disciples were about to enter turbulent times and, according to Scripture, we also can expect turbulent times ahead. These times could break upon us at any moment. We are standing on thin ice and it could crack at any time plunging us into deep water. So will our faith keep us afloat when that happens? Or will it be too weak due to sheer lack of exercise?
Ask God where you can exercise more faith.
Read Luke 17:20-37
