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Week 4  Jesus’ Teaching – Kingdom of God  Authority and Style  Jewish Expectations  Jesus’ Teaching  Who’s in, Who’s Out & Why  The Now and Not Yet of the Kingdom

Jesus’ Teaching The Kingdom of God The Authority & Style of Jesus’ Teaching

Jesus’ authority was seen in both his teaching and his acts. Jesus’ astonishment was the typical response to the authority of his teaching as much as to the power of his miracles (Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:20). Jesus’ presence had authority (Mark 10:32) Important men knelt (Mark 5:22; 10:17) disciples followed without question (Mark 1:17-20; 2:14) demoniacs recognized his authority before he spoke (Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7; 9:20)

Jesus was a miracle-worker The key word is dunamis = mighty works (Acts 2:22 - Jesus is attested by mighty works; Mark 6:2, 5, 14). God performed the mighty works through Jesus. Jesus was aware of the power within him (Mark 5:30)

Jesus’ authority was divine Jesus was recognized as having a special authority by the Roman centurion (Matthew 8:8,9) and the religious critics questioned him about the source of his authority (Mark 1:28)

Jesus’ Teaching Style The kind of teaching Jesus practiced poses a sharp contrast to the didactic styles of most instruction, including most moral instruction. His use of various rhetorical forms drew from the longstanding Jewish tradition of meshalim, including proverbs, riddles, aphorisms, and allegories.

Jewish Expectations of the Kingdom The Hebrew people always expected a deliverer Messianic Hope The Jewish legal body or court – The Sanhedrin Jews were not required to worship the Emperor

Jesus’ teaching of the Kingdom The idea Kingdom of God has not been made up by Bible Scholars. It is, however, a difficult notion to grasp because it holds present as well as future ideas about the work of Christ and what His breaking-in to history has meant. His very arrival as Son of Man, human and divine, ushered in this Kingdom or this reign of God in the earth. It was the first major assault on Satan’s Kingdom since the events in the Garden of Eden. The combination already but not yet images that are presented in the teaching of Jesus can sometimes cloud the term in mystery.

Jesus’ teaching of the Kingdom It was a central theme of Jesus’ preaching (in the synoptics) Kingdom of God referred to a Spiritual Kingdom as preached by Jesus Jesus uses the term in an abstract fashion to talk about His Father’s Kingdom as being ushered in by His own presence The preaching of the term by John the Baptist and by Jesus

The life and miracles of Jesus, in fact, his entire ministry was connected intrinsically to this idea of the Kingdom of God. In His view the miracles were evidence of the Kingdom having come. For example, when John the Baptist was in prison and sent a message to Jesus asking if He was the One. Jesus confirmed to John that He was by referring to His miracles.

‘Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me’ (Matthew 11:4-6)

However, the importance of these words from Jesus to John was that there was an internal reference to Isaiah 61: 1 which was a Messianic prophetic word about the Messiah bringing deliverance for the weak and oppressed.

The importance of the theme of Kingdom of God Central theme Jesus used in His mission ◦This theme is fundamental to understanding both Jesus’ mission and ours (Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:21). The Kingdom is mentioned 160 times in the New Testament and is inextricably linked to the Cross and Jesus’ proclamation of good news to the poor (both in spirit and naturally)

Jesus followed John the Baptist in the use of the theme: John the Baptist had been preaching for some time before Jesus began His ministry. Jesus honoured John as a Voice crying ahead of His coming. This could only mean that what the voice carried: John’s message about judgment and repentance, his message of the Kingdom of Heaven was a forerunner to the message of Christ himself.

The theme speaks of the Reign of God Basileia (reign), the Greek word used for “Kingdom”, is what we might call in English a verb or a doing word. The action of the word can be described as a line of continues dots. It is not the name of a place but can be figuratively used in this way, for example, where the King is there is His reign. It denotes the continuous ruling authority of God. So when Jesus used the term Kingdom of God it referred to the spiritual realm of God’s ruling authority. This is why the term is difficult to describe in a simple way and it contains many facets.

The King-ship of God expressed in the writings of the Prophets gave: A twofold emphasis on God’s kingship both as king of Israel (Exodus 15:18; Numbers 23:21; Isaiah 43:15) and King of all the earth (Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 46:18: Psalm 99:1-4). God as a King now who will become King and rule over his people (Isaiah 4:23; Zechariah 14:9f; Daniel 4:35).

This Kingdom would be universal The Old Testament view was always pictured in terms of: Israel with the Gentiles conquered (Amos 9:12; Micah 5:9; Isaiah 45:14-16) or converted (Zechariah 8:20-23). Jesus universalized it and said that Israel, the natural sons of the kingdom, would be rejected from the Kingdom and their place taken by others (Matthew 8:12) who respond to Jesus and accept his word (Matthew 13:8).

Who’s in, who’s out & why? Mark 4:11 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables

The word secret, mysterion, in the Greek, traditionally translated mystery in English suggests something enigmatic, puzzling or hard to fathom. However, the Greek mysterion, focuses not so much on the nature of what is to be known, but on who knows it.

The Now & Not Yet of the Kingdom The Kingdom is here now / but not yet! ‘ the kingdom of God has come upon you” Luke 11: 20 “the Kingdom of God is within you ” Luke 17: 21 Jesus prayed “Your Kingdom come” Matthew 6: 10

Kingdom of God In the Old Testament During the Intertestamental Period In the New Testament In the Gospels

Present Fulfilment: Jesus’ power over spiritual bondage Jesus miraculous power over sickness Jesus demonstrated fellowship with sinners Jesus demonstrated the power to forgive us Jesus freed people from the power of condemnation Jesus declared salvation as a present blessing Jesus defeated Satan by his death and resurrection

Future Fulfilment: Salvation is a future blessing: ◦Salvation offers eternal life in the future ◦Jesus indicated that there was an Age to Come ◦Jesus told His disciples they would come to Heaven with Him ◦The lost will be destroyed in hell.

What does it mean for us today? The Kingdom is centred in Christ and is Christ The Kingdom has come The present but not yet seen side of the defeat of Satan’s power means that his how has been broken There is now a New Covenant Human and divine forgiveness are inseparable.

Application Session