Having been inaugurated through Christ, God’s already-active kingdom will be fully established when Jesus returns.
In summer, it’s easy to forget the long slog of late winter. I live in the Northeast, where February paints a world of gray and brown, and March brings even more cold, plus rain and mud. These are the days when deep blue skies and canopies of green feel like a barely remembered dream. And yet, those brighter days are just as real as the cold ones. No matter how lifeless winter trees appear, you can see the promise growing in sleeping buds.
Today’s reading from Luke reminded me of this truth, but on a much grander, heavier scale. This passage is part of a larger series of Jesus’s teachings in the temple at Jerusalem, shortly before the events leading to His arrest, trial, and death. In these passages, we see Him responding to the challenges to His authority and debating religious leaders on matters practical and philosophical. After making proclamations about disastrous, future destruction for the temple and Jerusalem, He launches into a dramatic account of the end of the age—of “signs in the sun, moon, and stars,” when “people will faint from fear,” before seeing “the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:25–27).
Throughout the Church’s history, there has been much debate and theological wrestling with what these proclamations mean, and yet, Jesus makes one thing abundantly clear: Frightening things will happen, yet we should not be afraid (John 16:33).
It’s the message in Isaiah’s image of the peaceful kingdom. Despite terror and destruction, new life grows from the felled forest. “A shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse” and make all things right, a King we now recognize in Jesus (Isaiah 11:1). We may see fear and destruction as a tragic, yet typical, part of life on earth, but the kingdom of God subverts all that, remaking a world where violence will be undone, where a groaning creation will be liberated (Romans 8:19–21).
When Jesus spoke those words in the temple, He was days away from ushering in this chapter of this renewal story. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom to come, displayed His power and glory, and proved that death and violence don’t have the final word.
Here’s another interesting fact about trees. Those buds you see in springtime? They were grown in the summer, hidden by flourishing leaves. But we usually don’t notice them until we’re sick of winter and looking for hope.
May we, in this never-ending winter of the world, in these cycles of violence and pain and loss, continue to endure without losing heart. May we find the courage to tend the buds of new creation through our love and peacemaking, watching and waiting for the day they burst into life without end.
VICTORIA E – Oops! Replied to you on Grace Day (Isaiah 61:9)!
Such powerful Scripture and a wonderful devotion!
May God bless each of you and may all that posted prayer requests, and those that didn’t, receive a special encounter with our God today. May He do what only He can do in each situation. He knows every need. May you all be encouraged and know His love in a unique way today. Amen
Jesus is coming soon.
I love this devotional today about the kingdom that is coming. May we put our hope in that kingdom, and not in the kingdom that is passing away. I’m so glad that one day we won’t have to deal with sickness, decay and disappointments.
Victoria, I am praying for you. I’m praying the Lord gives you His peace, comfort, joy and hope. I know that he sees you, even when you can’t feel it and he is guiding you, even when you can’t see the way.
“If we suffer with Him, we also reign with Him.” I love love this verse, showing our suffering for Jesus is never vain, but with a reward to co-reign with Him to come, to co-reign with the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, isn’t that the greatest privilege and honor? The promise God gives us is grand. And after you have suffered a little while, The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,[a] will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you. (1 Peter 5:10). This gives me such hope for brighter days ahead to come, after months and months of the dark and cold winter, but God, for sure, and for sure, brighter days of hope are coming. Praise the Lord.
Lifting up our sisters in prayers.
May God be with Fran in her surgery, may wisdom and diligence be given to doctors and nurses who care for Fran. May comfort and cheer be poured out through people around her so she feels loved during this prolonged isolation.
Tina, dear sweet Tina, may God bless you and your friend with more strength, hope, joy, and as you minister to her. May abundant grace cover both of you so that she can overcome her “winter” season. Sweeter days are ahead. She is so blessed to have you. We are so blessed to have you.
Struggling, thank you so much for coming back. You are so loved. The love of God is real, and what you wrote touched me so much. Please remember that no situation is too far for God to reach, to restore and to redeem. He is the way maker. He will make a way for you. Be glad and rejoice for He got you. God bless you.
Heidi, you made me chuckle at your target receipt situation. I share the same sentiment on several occasions. Bless you Heidi.
I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but I’ve been clinging to Luke 1:45. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”