The Present and Future Kingdom, Part 1
Scripture — Mark 1:14-15 (NRSV)
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
Focus
Jesus proclaims that the kingdom of God “has come near.” This makes us wonder: If the reign of God has come near, does that mean it is already here? In a sense, yes. But, in a sense, not quite yet. Theologians have captured how the kingdom is present in the teaching of Jesus with the phrase “already and not yet.” God’s reign is already present and yet not fully present. The kingdom is here, but not completely. Nevertheless, we can begin to experience God’s reign in our lives today, even as we look forward to the full coming of God’s reign in the future.
This devotion is part of the series: Following Jesus in the Gospel of Mark.
Devotion
Jesus announced the nearness of God’s kingdom. This makes us wonder: Can we live in God’s kingdom now, or do we have to wait until the kingdom comes in the future? Is the reign of God present or future or somehow a combination of both?
Christians have answered this question differently throughout the years. Some have emphasized the contemporary presence of the kingdom of God. They point to things Jesus said, such as, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21, KJV). Others emphasize the future coming of the kingdom. They underscore other sayings of Jesus such as: “For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:18). The debate among Christians about the timing of the coming of the kingdom can be confusing. Which is it? Kingdom now? Or sometime in the future?
This confusion comes, I suggest, from Jesus’s proclamation of the kingdom. Not that he was confused, mind you. Rather, what Jesus taught does not fit our neat and tidy categories of “now” or “future.” According to Jesus, the truth is something more like “both now and future,” and this can be confusing to us.
Consider Jesus’s proclamation in Mark 1:15. He says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.” “The time is fulfilled” suggests that the time promised by God through the prophets has arrived. This suggestion is confirmed by “The kingdom of God has come near.” “Has come near” accurately translates the Greek underlying this verse (engiken is the perfect of the verb meaning “to come near”). The CEB captures the feel of Jesus’s announcement in this way, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom!”
Yet, if the kingdom has come near, does that mean it is already here? In a sense, yes. But, in a sense, not quite yet. Theologians have captured how the kingdom is present in the teaching of Jesus with the phrase “already and not yet.” God’s reign is already present. Yet it is not yet fully present. It is here, but not completely. It has come near but still has a bit farther to go.
Why is it important for us to grasp the “already and not yet” nature of the kingdom of God? Because, when we do, we can begin to live in God’s kingdom right now, but without reducing the kingdom to our present experience. In our work, we can seek first the kingdom of God (Matt 6:33), even though we realize that competing “kingdoms” still exist in the workplace. We can discover ways to live under God’s reign in every part of life, though living with the limitations of this age. And, when our experience falls short of our expectations for the kingdom, we can be refreshed by the hope that someday we can say, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15).
Reflect
When you think of the kingdom of God, do you tend to think of it as present, future, or a mix of both?
In what ways do you experience God’s kingdom in your daily work?
What difference would it make if you were to seek God’s kingdom in every part of your life, including your work?
Act
As you begin your day today or tomorrow, acknowledge God as your ruler and ask God to reign over every part of your life in the day to come.
Pray
Gracious God, how we thank you for your kingdom. Thank you that, in the ministry of Jesus, your kingdom has come near. Thank you for the opportunity we have right now to live under your reign.
Yet, we recognize that your kingdom is both here and not here. It is, indeed, already and not yet. Thus, we yearn to experience more fully your reign on earth . . . your sovereignty, your justice, your peace. May your kingdom come, Lord!
Help us, we pray, to seek your kingdom each day, in all we do. Teach us to live under your sovereignty and for your purposes in every part of life. Show us how we might serve you in our daily work.
All praise be to you, King of kings and Lord of lords! Amen.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: May Your Kingdom Come Soon.
Mark D. Roberts
Senior Fellow
Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Fellow for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and t...