'The time has come', said Jesus. 'The kingdom of God is near.' (NIV) There has been much discussion about this verse and whether the kingdom arrives with Jesus or only at his death; the focus seems to always fall on time. I was reading 'Divine Government' by R.T. France and he puts it well (that is I agree with him and he says it better than I ever could!).....
But in so far as the debate has focused specifically on the kingship of God, it has too often proceeded on the basis of of the misconception we considered above, that the kingdom must refer to a particular situation or event within a chronological scheme. But when it is recognised that the NT is not talking about a thing called the kingdom, but about God reigning, the whole question loses its focus [...] The main point of Mark 1.15 is not the precise timescale, but the fact that it is in the coming of Jesus that we are to see God's revolution taking place. Indeed, it is in the Jesus that we are to see God coming as King.
2 comments:
How do you think that ties in with Mark 9:1?
Guthers - I'm always so glad that someone is reading (and thinking!). Mk 9:1 seems to tie the kingdom down to a specific time reference thus debuking R. T. France and my interpretation of the Kingdom language. However this need not be the case. The saying does relate to the contemporary generation. There are many events, not just ONE, that in some sense manifest the powerful establishment of God's kingship. For example, Jesus' death on the cross and the symbolic tearing of the temple curtain; his victory over death in the resurrection; his ascension and the heavenly enthronement which it implies; the powerful coming of the Spirit at Pentecost; the dynamic gowth of the church despite opposition; the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Not to mention the setting of the saying immediately before the transfiguration where the disciples SEE the heavenly glory which would certainly be powerful. The link between 9:1 and 2-13 is too explicit to be overlooked, and we may well conclude that Mark understood the even on the mountaint ot be atelast a partial and proleptic fulfilment of Jesus' words. So, there you go mate! Thanks for making me think and think some more. I do admit though, that the above thoughts are once again 'coloured' by R.T. France's commentary on Mark - which, as you can tell, I am really enjoying!
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