20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."
22 And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
When questioned about the coming Kingdom of God, Jesus reminded the Pharisees that the Kingdom was already present among them because the King Himself stood before them. Yet He also pointed His disciples toward a future day when He would return in unmistakable glory. But before the crown would come the cross. Jesus would first suffer, be rejected, and give His life for our salvation. This passage challenges us to recognize Christ as our King today, to live faithfully in obedience to Him, and to look forward with confident hope to His promised return. The King who came in love to save us is the King who will one day return in glory.