What did Jesus mean by "some will not taste death"? I. The Biblical Statement In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus declares: “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” (Matthew 16:28). Mark’s Gospel renders it similarly: “Truly I tell you that there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). Luke’s account has: “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:27). These passages have prompted many readers to ask what Jesus meant by “some will not taste death.” This phrase takes place at a critical moment in Jesus’ ministry right after He predicts His own suffering and speaks of the cost of discipleship. Understanding the significance of “taste death” requires close attention to the surrounding context, biblical language, and historical events that took place shortly after Jesus spoke these words. II. The Historical and Textual Context Jesus’ statement comes on the heels of Him explaining His upcoming suffering and the necessity of the cross. He tells His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). He adds that “the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels” (Matthew 16:27). Immediately following this, He gives the statement about some of them not tasting death first. The question arises: How is it that Jesus can speak of “coming in glory” and in the same breath say that some of those listeners would remain alive for a glimpse of it? The context suggests a pivotal revelation of Jesus’ divine identity and kingdom. From a textual standpoint, the consistency of these verses across the Synoptic Gospels is robust. Early manuscripts such as Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus show a stable reading, indicating that the phrase “will not taste death” has strong textual support. There is no evidence of scribal changes that would compromise this teaching. III. Understanding the Phrase “Will Not Taste Death” The expression “taste death” was a familiar idiom in biblical times, meaning to experience physical death. In Hebrews 2:9, we see a related notion: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” The idiom underscores the reality and finality of death as an event a person “tastes.” When Jesus says that some standing before Him would not experience that final event (“will not taste death”) until they see a momentous unveiling of the kingdom, He is reassuring His disciples they will be eyewitnesses to something profoundly glorious in their lifetime. Various events in the Gospels and early church history have thus been proposed as the fulfillment. IV. The Transfiguration Connection A substantial number of biblical interpreters understand Jesus’ statement as pointing to the Transfiguration, which immediately follows in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 17:1–9; Mark 9:2–9; Luke 9:28–36). Just days later, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a high mountain, and they witness His divine glory: • “There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:2) • Moses and Elijah also appear, representing the Law and the Prophets, and they converse with Jesus. • A voice from the cloud says, “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!” (Mark 9:7). In this interpretation, “some” refers specifically to Peter, James, and John—those who literally saw the majesty of Christ in a foretaste of His glory as King. Because the Transfiguration happens almost immediately in the text, many believe it fits the best reading of Jesus’ words that “some will not taste death” before seeing the kingdom’s power. This event also resonates with Peter’s later testimony, who writes, “we were eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). He explicitly links that majestic revelation to the “honor and glory” Christ received from the Father (2 Peter 1:17), giving further weight to the idea that the Transfiguration was a preview of His coming kingdom. V. The Resurrection and Pentecost Another perspective points to the resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2). Those events undeniably show the kingdom of God “coming with power.” In the resurrection, Jesus’ victory over death heralds the supreme power of the kingdom. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit empowers the church, displaying signs and wonders that confirm God’s presence among His people in an unprecedented way. • Resurrection fulfillment: The disciples, some of whom heard Jesus speak these words, later witnessed Him alive after He was crucified. Christ’s risen body demonstrated the ultimate power of the kingdom over death. • Pentecost fulfillment: The dramatic arrival of the Spirit, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind and tongues of fire, signaled the kingdom’s expansion. This spiritual empowerment propelled the early believers to spread the good news, forming the bedrock of the worldwide Christian movement. While the Transfiguration is an immediate fulfillment experienced by a select few, the resurrection and Pentecost broaden that horizon, showing the kingdom’s power to a wider group of Jesus’ followers—many of whom were still alive at the time. VI. The Destruction of Jerusalem and Kingdom Expansion Some have associated Jesus’ words with the events surrounding the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. In this reading, the “kingdom coming with power” is evidenced by the vindication of Christ’s prophecies against the corrupt religious establishment, and by the consequent spread of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. In Mark 13 and Matthew 24, Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple, which was a monumental shift in the religious world of the time and a sign that the old order was giving way to the new covenant. Those who favor this view suggest that “some” of Jesus’ original audience would live long enough to see that momentous transition come to pass. It demonstrated, on the stage of world events, that Jesus’ kingdom and message would endure even as the Temple in Jerusalem fell. VII. Harmonizing the Views Several interpreters consider these perspectives as overlapping rather than mutually exclusive. Jesus’ words could be fulfilled: 1. Immediately and powerfully in the Transfiguration, allowing Peter, James, and John to witness His glory. 2. More fully in the resurrection and Pentecost, when an even larger group of disciples beheld the risen Christ and personally experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 3. Historically in the fall of Jerusalem and the dramatic expansion of the gospel message, confirming the Lord’s prophecy and illustrating the unstoppable advance of His kingdom. All three events are soaked in the theme of Christ’s power and the tangibility of His kingdom. Each occurred within the lifespans of many who heard Jesus speak, so none contradict the literal phrase “some will not taste death.” VIII. Consistency with the Broader Scriptural Testimony The Gospels were written from eyewitness accounts and circulated when many original disciples were still alive. The statement that “some” of them would survive to see these glorious fulfillments is entirely plausible historically. Early church historians such as Eusebius record that many of the apostles and their companions lived and ministered for decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The manuscript tradition for Matthew, Mark, and Luke is also consistent. Scholars like those examining papyri fragments (e.g., P45, P75) and major codices agree that these passages’ wording remains stable across centuries. The reliability of the scriptural text is reinforced by a wide network of manuscripts and citations by early church fathers. These lines of evidence support the confident assertion that the record we have is trustworthy. IX. Summary and Practical Reflections In sum, the phrase “some will not taste death” points to a literal group among Jesus’ original hearers who would remain alive to witness a demonstration of the kingdom’s power. Whether we understand this primarily as the Transfiguration, the resurrection and Pentecost, the destruction of Jerusalem, or a combination of these epic events, the consistent theme is that the mighty kingdom of God was revealed within the first century to many of those very disciples. This promise also highlights the truth that God’s plan unfolds in real time, real history. Jesus’ words were fulfilled in a near timeframe, underscoring His divine authority and the trustworthiness of Scripture. Those disciples indeed “did not taste death” until they saw the kingdom manifested in glory and power. For modern readers, the fact that these predictions found their fulfillment within the lifetime of those who first heard them affirms the reliability of Jesus’ teachings. It also encourages believers to live with vigilant anticipation of God’s ongoing work in history and to trust that every promise He makes will, in due time, reach perfect completion. |
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