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Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."
- Luke 17:20-37
In yesterday's reading, we were told that as He went to Jerusalem Jesus passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." My study bible tells us a couple of things about this passage. First, that "with observation implies by external or tangible means measurable by man." And second, that "the kingdom of God is an invisible, spiritual reality present within the Christian believer. The Greek for 'within you' can also be translated 'among you' or 'in your midst.' To eyes that see, the mystery of the Kingdom is a radiant spiritual glory throughout creation." Either way we look at it (within you or among you), the implication in the Greek is for an internal kind of presence or reality. In some ways, saying that this kingdom does not come with observation is also like the saying, "A watched pot never boils." Looking for signs is not the way Jesus wishes us to pass our time!
Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day." My study bible tells us that "prior to Christ's Second Coming, Christians should not be misled by deceptive calls or signs. The glorious return of Christ will be as evident as lightning." I think it's important that we understand what He's saying here, as He's being very clear. We're not supposed to chase after such prophesies -- because when He returns this change will be apparent to all immediately, all at once. It will not be hidden, and it will not be secret. That's not to be our focus! Let's note the warning: He knows His disciples (to whom He's speaking) will be longing to see Him again; He's warning them against a kind of temptation.
"But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." A note here reads: "These verses are a warning to be prepared. The coming of Christ will be like a fire of judgment on many who are preoccupied with daily pursuits, but are oblivious of the things of God." Here there's another twist on Jesus' warning that this kingdom won't come with observation, and that it is internal. It's also a surprise -- or rather something that is taking place whether we are aware of it or not. Our awareness here is the key. But awareness doesn't mean an external "observation," as taught in the verses above.
"In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." Of this passage, my study bible tells us: "The absolute value of God's Kingdom requires urgent preparedness and decisive action to preserve one's life eternally." There is a sort of echo here also of another phrase we find in the Gospels, in Luke's chapter 9: "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." On His way to Jerusalem, He's now preparing them more urgently for the time when He will no longer be with them, and for the challenges of discipleship in the future. The urgencies of this Kingdom and our part in it are being stressed by Jesus.
And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." My study bible notes: "This proverb used by Jesus signifies that His glorious return will come as inevitably and clearly as birds of prey can be seen from afar gathering around a carcass (see Matt. 24:28). The disciples' question, Where, Lord? seems to refer to Jesus' earlier words (vv. 34-36)."
Today's words seem to me to be rather mysterious, in the same way the Kingdom is "hidden in plain sight," to use a popular phrase. Jesus teaches us about what is to come, and also about what is not to be. We won't watch this Kingdom arrive "with observation." It is "within us" -- this could be read also, "among us." One way or another, it is an internal reality. So how do we observe any of this? Jesus seems to say that we don't. We are supposed to be aware of it, and of the fact that it will come all of a sudden. We also can't be prepared for Judgment, because we who may or may not be a part of this Kingdom live side by side, as close as we can be. Despite our great longing for His return, all that we can do is be strong and be aware -- be mindful of His promise and know that when it comes we're not to look back. There is a call here, also, for detachment -- a greater and more urgent appeal for the things of the Kingdom. I suppose we could say that at that time it is important to understand how the Israelites were looking for liberation, looking to a liberator, the Messiah -- and in that desire we can see the desire for the revelation of this Kingdom in full. But the disciples' longing for Him is tangible, and it is clear here to the heart of Jesus just how much they will long to see Him after His Resurrection and Ascension. He knows what they will go through. And He knows what we go through, what the Church in its entirety has gone through. Our faith has to rest in His call for us to be mindful of the things of the Kingdom, of His return and its suddenness, of the fact that this Kingdom isn't coming with observation but is within us, among us. We're to be prepared to make decisions for this Kingdom. We don't know its full effects, and we don't know its Judgments. We are only to be aware, and remember Him, and await in this way He teaches us to be alert to the Kingdom's meanings and values and choices. In the phrase, "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it," we're given an even more powerful message, and to the point. Not for the first time has Jesus spoken like this, but this is in a new context. Let us remember the choices that come first, more urgently. Let us know what we are about. We bear the Kingdom within us; He's counting on us to be His presence in the world until His return.
