The above saying by Jesus is repeated in two other Gospels NOTE 2 and, in each version, it is placed just before the Transfiguration. That has led many commentators to interpret it as referring to that mysterious event., but I don't buy that interpretation. However, I understand why scholars should wish to avoid its more obvious meaning. Taken literally, the saying appears to predict that some of the disciples would remain alive until the "Second Coming". But I don't believe that Jesus could have meant that. It seems that, with the sole exception of the apostle John, each of the original Apostles suffered martyrdom. John, on the other hand lived a long life, despite periods of persecution, and died of natural causes.
Transformation
So then, is there a sense in which the Transfiguration could be seen as equivalent to the kingdom of God coming with power?
It was certainly a glorious occasion, but its meaning was special to Jesus and less so to the half-asleep disciples
(see my separate Blog, "Five Questions about the Transfiguration"). However, those disciples did live to see a different,
and enormously significant expression of the Kingdom of God. They were all present on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy
Spirit came upon them and the Church was brought to birth. There's no doubting the power of that event. It was loud,
it was miraculous, and it resulted in the transformation of thousands of lives and the creation of a mysterious new kingdom.
The apostles, Paul, described the mystery like this:
"Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions,
for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God
gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden
for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people." NOTE 3
Glorious
So, does the Church look that wonderful? Look around you. What do you see? Do you see a glorious, unified, powerful Church,
or a weakened, divided, unsatisfactory expression of spirituality? If you see the latter, what do you think went wrong?
Maybe it's time to look again. Look, in fact, at the context where this saying appears. Jesus spoke these words just
before he was transfigured up on that mountain top in company with Moses and Elijah. Before his transfiguration he
was a normal looking human being clothed in simple, homespun garments. For a brief period (Minutes? An hour?) the
disciples saw him in a new light. After his transfiguration he back dressed in those same, humble garments, looking
just as he had before. In those amazing moments of revelation the wondering disciples saw Jesus as he really was -
glorious, victorious, and perfect, just as his Father saw him.
Pleased
It's time for us to see the Church as God sees it. As his earthly ministry was about to commence, God spoke from heaven,
saying in a voice that could be heard by those who watched Jesus being baptised, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well
pleased" NOTE 4. At that stage, Jesus had not begun to preach, and he hadn't started his ministry of healings and miracles -
but God was pleased with him. So, God sees matters differently from the way we see them. Just as he saw Jesus glorified,
so he sees the church glorified, not in some distant future, but now. One day, at the end of the age, everyone will see
the Church as glorious. So, let's believe now what everyone will see then. Let's see God's church transfigured.
Reality
What could it mean to see the Church transfigured? For a start, it will help us see over our denominational walls.
There is only one Church, and that's not my denomination or institution, nor yours. In some aspects of our different
beliefs we are both wrong. But anyone who has in faith sincerely committed themselves to Christ is not just my sibling,
but part of the same body. We are one in Christ Jesus. So let's discern and celebrate the Gospel that unites us.
Moving on from that, recognising the Church as God sees it will release us from the apologetic attitudes that hinder
our personal evangelism. Also, it will move us towards the reality that our Saviour intends.
Individuals
Yes, we have done wrong. Squabbling about doctrines niceties is sin. Fighting, gossiping, hero worship, greed, and sectarianism
is sin. But sin is forgivable through Grace. So let's confess our sin, accept forgiveness, and extend forgiveness to others.
God sees the Church as his glorious bride. Pray for your eyes to be opened just as those three disciples' eyes were opened on
the Mount of Transfiguration. One last thought - you may feel that your change of attitude can make little difference to a
Church made up of millions of individuals. But each member of the true Church came to Christ by their individual commitment.
Believe that God is capable of opening all of our eyes - one at a time,