The Disciples Thought the Kingdom Had Come (TMF:297)

Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Peace to Live By: The Disciples Thought the Kingdom Had Come (TMF:297) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right click to download two-minute feature)

       The disciples knew they had found the Messiah, Jesus, and they thought now the time had come to establish his earthly kingdom. Fast forward with me to the scene at the Mount of Olives shortly thereafter. Here, Jesus is standing with his disciples, and the band of soldiers with the chief priest and Pharisees—the Jewish leaders at the time—were coming to arrest Jesus, just as he had earlier prophesied. Luke again reports the following. He is talking about Jesus here: “While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:47-51, ESV). The disciples realized what was going to happen, and they thought the time had come from them to fight back. But they didn’t realize that God’s earthly kingdom was still a long ways off, at least in earthly time. First, Jesus had to die for the sins of the whole world, and be raised life to again.