Seeing A Deeper Reality

Seeing the Unseen— The Kingdom of God

We see a statement in our passage that is directed to both Disciples and the Crowd. The key element is the Exhorting Statement made to Peter, v. 33; “you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of man”. In Matt. 16.23 English Standard Version But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance/OFFENSE to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

What you seek is what you will find. What are you seeking after?

Seeking the Kingdom of God: 1. you must be born again.

English Standard Version Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3.3 (conversation with a man, Nichodemus, who earnestly was seeking the Kingdom of God.

2. Seeking the KoG: setting the Mind to seek the KoG. From a belief of to a Faith of....

Setting the Mind- a declaration to the Crowd: 1. lose your life (life’s primary desires/concerns) 2. deny the focus of these desires etc. 3. Take up your Cross.

from these statements of Jesus we must accept a ‘rejection’. A rejection of what is normal, easy and “things of man’s thinking”. This takes us back to the rebuking and correction of the Peter conversation.

Jesus is honest about the severity of following him. In human eyes it is as ‘death’, but in the Kingdom Life/World, it is real Life.

In the natural, human ways of thinking, it will be as a crucifixion of one’s self. To deny what those not Born Again and Seeking the Kingdom of God would call normal desires & its Gains.

This passage cannot be downplayed. This foundational faith expression is what will become the bedrock of the foundation for the New Church to begin. A faith that goes beyond a mere acquiescence to a concept. It is a specific faith-life decision that is made daily.

From this understanding the Opportunity of Seeing the Kingdom of God is made available to people, and they would see it before they would taste of death.

not merely seeing Jesus die & resurrect

not merely seeing Jesus do miracles

not merely a passive, watch and see opportunity, as a show.

Here we want to look at what Peter spoke to his churches. He wrote to them 2 letters. As he was a central character of the Mark passage, Mark as a disciple of Peter recording the incident, we can seek further insight from the Apostle as he would have related the lesson of Jesus to his churches.

How to see the Kingdom of God: 1 Peter -1.13-16, 22-23

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Here we see the statement of the Mind. In it we see the stated outcome of a life HOLY. Holy is separated from and to… from this world to the Kingdom of God world for life.

v. 22-23 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God

1 Peter 2.4-5, 9

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

The Kingdom of God is a Living household… Life is a living sacrifice of actions that are un-natural in this world.

2 Pet. 2.18-25 We see reference to the Example of Jesus & “taking up the cross”

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls...

Other topics of where the Kingdom of God will be visible in this world.

Marriage & Family Relationships

How believers are to act in UNJUST CIRCUMSTANCES. (3.9-10)

3.15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 4.1 “arm yourselves with the same way of thinking (as Christ suffered in the flesh)

for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

4.2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

There are other statements that we could dig into. What we see is how Peter taught to his church what he himself understood about “denying yourself, taking up your cross and following”. In so doing the Kingdom of God is made visible to those who are born again. We see a changed life and encourage, comfort, exhort one another as we live the Kingdom life together. It is not legalism, rather the focal point of Following the One…the answer of “who do you say i am?”