Not With Outward Show (part 1)

This chapter is based on Luke 17:20-22.

Some of the Pharisees had come to Jesus demanding “when the kingdom of God should come.” More than three years had passed since John the Baptist gave the message that like a trumpet call had sounded through the land, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2. And as yet these Pharisees saw no indication of the establishment of the kingdom. Many of those who rejected John, and at every step had opposed Jesus, were insinuating that His mission had failed.

Jesus answered, “The kingdom of God cometh not with outward show; [margin]: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” The kingdom of God begins in the heart. Look not here or there for manifestations of earthly power to mark its coming.

“The days will come,” He said, turning to His disciples, “when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.” Because it is not attended by worldly pomp, you are in danger of failing to discern the glory of My mission. You do not realize how great is your present privilege in having among you, though veiled in humanity, Him who is the life and the light of men. The days will come when you will look back with longing upon the opportunities you now enjoy to walk and talk with the Son of God.

Because of their selfishness and earthliness, even the disciples of Jesus could not comprehend the spiritual glory which He sought to reveal unto them. It was not until after Christ’s ascension to His Father, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers, that the disciples fully appreciated the Saviour’s character and mission. After they had received the baptism of the Spirit, they began to realize that they had been in the very presence of the Lord of glory. As the sayings of Christ were brought to their remembrance, their minds were opened to comprehend the prophecies, and to understand the miracles which He had wrought. The wonders of His life passed before them, and they were as men awakened from a dream. They realized that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. Christ had actually come from God to a sinful world to save the fallen sons and daughters of Adam. The disciples now seemed, to themselves, of much less importance than before they realized this. They never wearied of rehearsing His words and works. His lessons, which they had but dimly understood, now came to them as a fresh revelation. The Scriptures became to them a new book.

As the disciples searched the prophecies that testified of Christ, they were brought into fellowship with the Deity, and learned of Him who had ascended to heaven to complete the work He had begun on earth. They recognized the fact that in Him dwelt knowledge which no human being, unaided by divine agency, could comprehend. They needed the help of Him whom kings, prophets, and righteous men had foretold. With amazement they read and reread the prophetic delineations of His character and work. How dimly had they comprehended the prophetic scriptures! how slow they had been in taking in the great truths which testified of Christ! Looking upon Him in His humiliation, as He walked a man among men, they had not understood the mystery of His incarnation, the dual character of His nature. Their eyes were holden, so that they did not fully recognize divinity in humanity. But after they were illuminated by the Holy Spirit, how they longed to see Him again, and to place themselves at His feet! How they wished that they might come to Him, and have Him explain the scriptures which they could not comprehend! How attentively would they listen to His words! What had Christ meant when He said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now”? John 16:12. How eager they were to know it all! They grieved that their faith had been so feeble, that their ideas had been so wide of the mark, that they had so failed of comprehending the reality.

A herald had been sent from God to proclaim the coming of Christ, and to call the attention of the Jewish nation and of the world to His mission, that men might prepare for His reception. The wonderful personage whom John had announced had been among them for more than thirty years, and they had not really known Him as the One sent from God. Remorse took hold of the disciples because they had allowed the prevailing unbelief to leaven their opinions and becloud their understanding. The Light of this dark world had been shining amid its gloom, and they had failed to comprehend whence were its beams. They asked themselves why they had pursued a course that made it necessary for Christ to reprove them. They often repeated His conversations, and said, Why did we allow earthly considerations and the opposition of priests and rabbis to confuse our senses, so that we did not comprehend that a greater than Moses was among us, that One wiser than Solomon was instructing us? How dull were our ears! how feeble was our understanding! (continues)

Gethsemane (part 5)
Gethsemane (part 4)
Gethsemane (part 3)
Gethsemane (part 2)
Gethsemane (part 1)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 9)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 8)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 7)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 6)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 5)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 4)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 3)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 2)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 1)
“In Remembrance of Me” (part 4)
“In Remembrance of Me” (part 3)
“In Remembrance of Me” (part 2)
“In Remembrance of Me” (part 1)
A Servant of Servants (part 5)
A Servant of Servants (part 4)
A Servant of Servants (part 3)
A Servant of Servants (part 2)
A Servant of Servants (part 1)
“The Least of These My Brethren” (part 3)
“The Least of These My Brethren” (part 2)
“The Least of These My Brethren” (part 1)
On the Mount of Olives (part 5)
On the Mount of Olives (part 4)
On the Mount of Olives (part 3)
On the Mount of Olives (part 2)
On the Mount of Olives (part 1)
In the Outer Court (part 3)
In the Outer Court (part 2)
In the Outer Court (part 1)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 6)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 5)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 4)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 3)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 2)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 1)
Controversy (part 4)
Controversy (part 3)
Controversy (part 2)
Controversy (part 1)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 6)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 5)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 4)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 3)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 2)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 1)
A Doomed People (part 3)
A Doomed People (part 2)
A Doomed People (part 1)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 5)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 4)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 3)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 2)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 1)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 6)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 5)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 4)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 3)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 2)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 1)
Zacchaeus (part 2)
Zacchaeus (part 1)
The Law of the New Kingdom (part 2)
The Law of the New Kingdom (part 1)
Priestly Plottings (part 3)
Priestly Plottings (part 2)
Priestly Plottings (part 1)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 6)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 5)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 4)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 3)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 2)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 1)
“One Thing Thou Lackest” (part 2)
“One Thing Thou Lackest” (part 1)
Blessing the Children (part 3)
Blessing the Children (part 2)
Blessing the Children (part 1)
Not With Outward Show (part 2)
Not With Outward Show (part 1)
The Good Samaritan (part 3)
The Good Samaritan (part 2)
The Good Samaritan (part 1)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 5)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 4)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 3)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 2)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 1)
The Divine Shepherd (part 3)
The Divine Shepherd (part 2)
The Divine Shepherd (part 1)
“The Light of Life” (part 6)
“The Light of Life” (part 5)
“The Light of Life” (part 4)
“The Light of Life” (part 3)
“The Light of Life” (part 2)
“The Light of Life” (part 1)
Among Snares (part 4)
Among Snares (part 3)
Among Snares (part 2)
Among Snares (part 1)
At the Feast of Tabernacles (part 4)
At the Feast of Tabernacles (part 3)
At the Feast of Tabernacles (part 2)
At the Feast of Tabernacles (part 1)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 7)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 6)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 5)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 4)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 3)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 2)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 1)
Ministry (part 2)
Ministry (part 1)
He Was Transfigured (part 2)
He Was Transfigured (part 1)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 5)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 4)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 3)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 2)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 1)
The True Sign (part 3)
The True Sign (part 2)
The True Sign (part 1)
Barriers Broken Down (part 3)
Barriers Broken Down (part 2)
Barriers Broken Down (part 1)
Tradition (part 2)
Tradition (part 1)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 6)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 5)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 4)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 3)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 2)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 1)
A Night on the Lake (part 3)
A Night on the Lake (part 2)
A Night on the Lake (part 1)
“Give Ye Them to Eat” (part 4)
“Give Ye Them to Eat” (part 3)
“Give Ye Them to Eat” (part 2)
“Give Ye Them to Eat” (part 1)
Come Rest Awhile (part 3)
Come Rest Awhile (part 2)
Come Rest Awhile (part 1)
The First Evangelists (part 5)
The First Evangelists (part 4)
The First Evangelists (part 3)
The First Evangelists (part 2)
The First Evangelists (part 1)
The Touch of Faith (part 2)
The Touch of Faith (part 1)
“Peace, Be Still” (part 4)
“Peace, Be Still” (part 3)
“Peace, Be Still” (part 2)
“Peace, Be Still” (part 1)
The Invitation (part 2)
The Invitation (part 1)
Who Are My Brethren? (part 4)
Who Are My Brethren? (part 3)
Who Are My Brethren? (part 2)
Who Are My Brethren? (part 1)
The Centurion (part 3)
The Centurion (part 2)
The Centurion (part 1)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 8)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 7)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 6)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 5)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 4)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 3)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 2)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 1)
“He Ordained Twelve” (part 4)
“He Ordained Twelve” (part 3)
“He Ordained Twelve” (part 2)
“He Ordained Twelve” (part 1)
The Sabbath (part 4)
The Sabbath (part 3)
The Sabbath (part 2)
The Sabbath (part 1)
Levi-Matthew (part 5)
Levi-Matthew (part 4)
Levi-Matthew (part 3)
Levi-Matthew (part 2)
Levi-Matthew (part 1)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 5)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 4)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 3)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 2)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 1)
At Capernaum (part 5)
At Capernaum (part 4)
At Capernaum (part 3)
At Capernaum (part 2)
At Capernaum (part 1)
The Call by the Sea (part 3)
The Call by the Sea (part 2)
The Call by the Sea (part 1)
“Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?” (part 4)
“Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?” (part 3)
“Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?” (part 2)
“Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?” (part 1)
“The Kingdom of God Is at Hand” (part 2)
“The Kingdom of God Is at Hand” (part 1)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 6)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 5)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 4)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 3)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 2)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 1)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 7)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 6)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 5)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 4)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 3)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 2)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 1)
“Except Ye See Signs and Wonders” (part 2)
“Except Ye See Signs and Wonders” (part 1)
At Jacob's Well (part 7)
At Jacob's Well (part 6)
At Jacob's Well (part 5)
At Jacob's Well (part 4)
At Jacob's Well (part 3)
At Jacob's Well (part 2)
At Jacob's Well (part 1)
“He Must Increase” (part 2)
“He Must Increase” (part 1)
Nicodemus (part 5)
Nicodemus (part 4)
Nicodemus (part 3)
Nicodemus (part 2)
Nicodemus (part 1)
In His Temple (part 5)
In His Temple (part 4)
In His Temple (part 3)
In His Temple (part 2)
In His Temple (part 1)
At the Marriage Feast (part 6)
At the Marriage Feast (part 5)
At the Marriage Feast (part 4)
At the Marriage Feast (part 3)
At the Marriage Feast (part 2)
At the Marriage Feast (part 1)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 5)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 4)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 3)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 2)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 1)
The Victory (part 3)
The Victory (part 2)
The Victory (part 1)
The Temptation (part 5)
The Temptation (part 4)
The Temptation (part 3)
The Temptation (part 2)
The Temptation (part 1)
"The Baptism" (part 2)
"The Baptism" (part 1)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 6)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 5)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 4)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 3)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 2)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 1)
"Days of Conflict" (part 4)
"Days of Conflict" (part 3)
"Days of Conflict" (part 2)
"Days of Conflict" (part 1)
"The Passover Visit" (part 4)
"The Passover Visit" (part 3)
"The Passover Visit" (part 2)
"The Passover Visit" (part 1)
"As a Child" (part 3)
"As a Child" (part 2)
"As a Child" (part 1)
"We Have Seen His Star" (part 3)
"We Have Seen His Star" (part 2)
"We Have Seen His Star" (part 1)
"The Dedication" (part 3)
"The Dedication" (part 2)
"The Dedication" (part 1)
"Unto You a Saviour" (part 2)
"Unto You a Saviour" (part 1)
"The Fullness of the Time" (part 3)
"The Fullness of the Time" (part 2)
"The Fullness of the Time" (part 1)
"The Chosen People" (part 2)
"The Chosen People" (part 1)
"God With Us" (part 4)
"God With Us" (part 3)
"God With Us" (part 2)
"God With Us" (part 1)
“To My Father, and Your Father” (part 3)
“To My Father, and Your Father” (part 2)
“To My Father, and Your Father” (part 1)
Go Teach All Nations (part 8)
Go Teach All Nations (part 7)
Go Teach All Nations (part 6)
Go Teach All Nations (part 5)
Go Teach All Nations (part 4)
Go Teach All Nations (part 3)
Go Teach All Nations (part 2)
Go Teach All Nations (part 1)
By the Sea Once More (part 4)
By the Sea Once More (part 3)
By the Sea Once More (part 2)
By the Sea Once More (part 1)
“Peace Be Unto You” (part 3)
“Peace Be Unto You” (part 2)
“Peace Be Unto You” (part 1)
The Walk to Emmaus (part 3)
The Walk to Emmaus (part 2)
The Walk to Emmaus (part 1)
“Why Weepest Thou?” (part 3)
“Why Weepest Thou?” (part 2)
“Why Weepest Thou?” (part 1)
“The Lord Is Risen” (part 4)
“The Lord Is Risen” (part 3)
“The Lord Is Risen” (part 2)
“The Lord Is Risen” (part 1)
In Joseph's Tomb (part 6)
In Joseph's Tomb (part 5)
In Joseph's Tomb (part 4)
In Joseph's Tomb (part 3)
In Joseph's Tomb (part 2)
In Joseph's Tomb (part 1)
“It is Finished” (part 4)
“It is Finished” (part 3)
“It is Finished” (part 2)
“It is Finished” (part 1)

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