What is the meaning of Luke 9:27? But I tell you truly Jesus prefaces His statement with a phrase that signals absolute reliability. • He often uses similar wording to underscore certainty (John 6:47, “Truly, truly, I tell you…”). • By affirming, “I tell you truly,” He invites every listener to accept the forthcoming promise without hesitation. • Scripture presents Christ as “the Amen, the faithful and true Witness” (Revelation 3:14), guaranteeing that every word is dependable. some who are standing here The promise is directed to a specific group in Jesus’ immediate audience. • Matthew 16:28 and Mark 9:1 record the same statement, showing the Synoptic agreement. • In context, Jesus is speaking to the Twelve and possibly a wider circle of disciples (Luke 9:18 – 27). • Peter, James, and John soon fit this description when they accompany Jesus up the mountain (Luke 9:28-36). will not taste death Jesus declares that physical death will not intervene before the prophecy is fulfilled for those particular hearers. • “Taste death” is used elsewhere to describe literal, bodily death (Hebrews 2:9). • The statement cannot be spiritualized away; it pledges a real, near-term fulfillment for living people. • This aligns with Christ’s earlier assurances that “not one word has failed” of God’s promises (Joshua 23:14, echoed in 1 Kings 8:56). before they see the kingdom of God The question becomes: what event lets living disciples actually see the kingdom? • The immediate narrative answers: six days later (Matthew says “six,” Luke “about eight,” showing inclusive counting) Jesus is transfigured (Luke 9:28-36). – Peter, James, and John witness Jesus’ glory, Moses and Elijah’s appearance, and the Father’s voice—an unmistakable preview of the kingdom’s power (2 Peter 1:16-18). • They also observe the resurrected Christ (Luke 24:36-43) and the Spirit-empowered birth of the church at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), further demonstrations of kingdom reality “coming with power” (Mark 9:1). • Revelation 1:9-20 gives John yet another vision of the reigning Christ, reinforcing that the kingdom is both present in foretaste and future in fullness (Revelation 11:15). summary Jesus solemnly promises that certain disciples will remain alive to witness a tangible display of God’s reigning glory. Within days, Peter, James, and John see that promise fulfilled on the Mount of Transfiguration, and in the months ahead they experience additional kingdom manifestations through the Resurrection and Pentecost. Luke 9:27 therefore underscores Christ’s trustworthiness, the literal nearness of the kingdom’s initial unveiling, and the assurance that every word of Scripture will come to pass exactly as spoken. |
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