And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Jesus is speaking directly to his disciples — a close group of followers who had left their jobs and families to travel with him through ancient Israel. He tells them that some of them will witness 'the kingdom of God come with power' before they die. Biblical scholars have long debated what Jesus meant here — many believe he was pointing to the Transfiguration, an event described just verses later in Mark 9 where Jesus appears in dazzling light alongside the ancient figures of Moses and Elijah. Others believe he was referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, or to his own resurrection. Whatever the specific fulfillment, this was a promise meant to sustain his followers through what was coming — that they would see God's power break through in their own lifetime.
Lord, I confess I sometimes lose patience waiting for your kingdom to break through in my life. Keep me standing. Give me eyes to recognize your power when it arrives — even in forms I didn't expect or plan for. I trust your timing even when I don't understand it. Amen.
There's something quietly destabilizing about this verse. Jesus drops a promise into a crowd of people who probably didn't fully understand it — some of you will see it. Not all of you. Some. Which means others in that very crowd would not. No explanation of why. No comfort for those who might miss it. Just a promise, hanging in the air like a lantern on a dark road, illuminating only a few feet ahead. There are moments in your own life when God's promises feel frustratingly partial — when you hear of someone else's breakthrough while you're still in the same place you've been for years. You've been standing right here, at the same altar, reading the same scripture, and the kingdom feels distant. But here's what the disciples who saw it had in common with those who didn't: they all stayed. What if faithfulness isn't about being chosen for the spectacular moment, but about remaining present enough to be there when it arrives?
Why do you think Jesus said 'some' rather than 'all of you'? What do you make of that distinction — does it feel fair or unsettling to you?
Has there been a moment in your own life when you felt like you glimpsed the kingdom of God 'come with power'? What did it look like, and how did it affect your faith?
This verse has been interpreted in many different ways by serious scholars for centuries — does it bother you when Bible verses don't have clear-cut meanings? How do you sit with that kind of theological uncertainty?
How does witnessing something powerful change how you relate to others who haven't had that same experience — does it create connection or distance?
What would it mean for you to keep standing in faith right now, even in a season where you haven't seen the breakthrough you've been waiting for?
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.
Matthew 16:28
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Matthew 25:31
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
John 21:22
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24:30
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Matthew 16:21
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Hebrews 2:9
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
John 8:51
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2 Peter 1:16
And Jesus said to them, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste (experience) death before they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."
AMP
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
ESV
And Jesus was saying to them, 'Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.'
NASB
And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
NIV
And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
NKJV
Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!”
NLT
Then he drove it home by saying, "This isn't pie in the sky by and by. Some of you who are standing here are going to see it happen, see the kingdom of God arrive in full force."
MSG