Did Jesus mean for everyone to know of the Kingdom of God?
Luke 8:10
“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
Luke 9:26-27
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Luke 22:18
For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Did Jesus intend that the kingdom of God be a mystery to some or even many? I like to think of myself as a somewhat informed Christian but, except for the first one, the verses above don’t help me understand the concept of the kingdom of God. The first verse tells us that Jesus did let the apostles know the secrets of the kingdom of God but hid it from others. Even the disciples knowing is not that obvious to me. They later did all kinds of things that made them look like they didn’t know of it.
The second and third verses that talk about the kingdom of God coming before some he was talking to would die. Just what was he talking about? I just don’t know.
The kingdom is found in Jesus. So, when He is crucified, the cross is where he reigns in his kingdom. The cross is His throne, which is the great reversal from this world’s thinking and wisdom. In the defeat of the cross is where Jesus is victorious. Pilate had it right with his sign.
The parables he tells are to confuse the proud rulers (scribes, Pharisees, etc.), but to also get them to pay attention and maybe have their ears and eyes opened. When they looked at Jesus, they saw the Kingdom, but they didn’t realize it.