Martha, Jesus and Lazarus Part II - Has Jesus already returned?

Hello Again,

So based on some of the comments I received on my last blog post – I thought it would be a good idea to write another blog based on the Martha, Jesus and Lazarus one.

One comment I received started with this:
Great blog but I'm afraid I disagree. Here is why? there are verses that don't match up with your beliefs.

Now (before I go through those verses) – how does one identify what my beliefs are – when one simply disagrees with my views because there are verses that don't match up with this view – or do they?

This is where the paradigm shift and hermeneutics come into play.

Example: I didn't say she stole my money.

Depending on which word you stress – this simple sentence has 7 different meanings.

What does this mean? I'm looking at Bible verses from a certain point of view – while others look at it from another point of view.

Either one of these things can be considered to be flawed – and why do I say this? Simply because each one of these views can do things – interpret the Bible in such a way to fit their Viewpoint.

Example: If Jesus returned at His second coming(Parousia) in 70 A.D. - then the Bible would have to point to all of this. If Jesus has a yet future return – then the Bible would have to point to all of this.

So – let's look at a few Bible verses:

Matthew 16:27-28

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.   28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Now – I've asked people this question: If this is true – if there were some people standing there, as Jesus spoke these words, that they would not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom – why aren't there people walking the earth approximately 2000 years old?

Why haven't we heard of these miracles yet? How many would come to Jesus immediately if there were people walking the earth that are 2000 years old – because that would be considered impossible.

The thing is – there aren't people that are 2000 years old walking the earth. Yet, Jesus said some people standing there would not taste of death, till they saw the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

So – this leaves us with 2 scenarios. 1 – Jesus lied. 2 – Jesus has already returned in his kingdom.

Now, there is the 3rd scenario that doesn't fit into what Jesus said here – and that is Jesus would have a future Second Coming(Parousia).

I hold very strongly to the Words that Jesus said within the Bible. If I were to recommend someone to start reading the Bible. I'd ask them to start reading the 4 Gospels. From there, I'd probably have them re-read the 4 Gospels again – just so that they can soak in what Jesus is saying. From there, go back to the Old Testament, read one Book at a Time and then go back through the 4 Gospels and repeat until the Old Testament in Complete. Once the old Testament is complete – I'd have them move forward and read the rest of the New Testament – no need to read the 4 Gospels between each Book of the New Testament – but definitely is an option.

One would be soaked up in the words of Jesus, that I believe the Bible would be seen in such a different way. Our method for wanting to understand what Jesus is trying to say would be laid out before us.

Example:

Matthew 19:3-8 ¶The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?  4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,   5  And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?  6  Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.   7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?  8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

Now – ask yourself one question. If we know Jesus is God(John 1:1-3) and he's speaking to the Pharisees about one of the laws – what's going on through Jesus' mind when he's saying this passage?

Jesus shows just how much God loves us in this passage. God has a bond between Israel and Himself - and that the law of divorcement was for the hardness of our hearts. I'm sure God didn't want such a law – but because of His love for us gave us this law that we could potentially live in peace. Now to better understand this passage – yes the Old Testament is required – BUT – this also has an impact with Jesus and the Church. How can Jesus be married to His Bride(the church, or the New Jerusalem) – if God is already married to Israel?

The point I'm trying to get at – is the question we should be asking ourselves when reading scripture is what is God trying to teach me – rather than what does this mean for me or what do I get out of it?

Many people – even believers – have this thought that God owes us all these things because we believe in Jesus. Because of this – we go reading the Bible with this sense of – what Blessing am I entitled to now, rather than what is the Bible going to teach me today?

So – let's return to the one main question. Do you believe that one of the disciples who was standing in the presence of Jesus is still alive today? If you're answer is no – then clearly Jesus has returned in his kingdom. If you're answer is yes – I'd like to hear your Biblical explanation on this.

So – to get back to the paradigm and hermeneutics of the Bible – if I hold to what Jesus said in Matthew 16:27-28 – I go with the fact that Jesus has already returned in his kingdom. If he has – then the question becomes – when did Jesus return?