1. PENTECOST AND PAROUSIA
4. Why Israel is Important
The Role of Israel

2. WHY ISRAEL?
Israel is the Instrument God has chosen through which to effect the salvation of the whole human race and the whole creation.

3. Jesus said to the woman of Samaria: “for salvation is from the Jews” (John 4: 22) It comes through Jesus, son of David, son of Abraham (Matt. 1: 1), the Messiah of Israel.

4. God Works through One to bless All
Adam in the original creation
Abraham as the father of faith
Jerusalem as the City of God
Jesus the Holy One of Israel becomes Saviour of All

5. GOD DEALS WITH PEOPLE
God deals with people as a God of love and a God of relationships. But people are not just individuals, but belong to families, communities, tribes, and nations. So God‘s dealings with groups are personal and communal: the leader or head represens his people.

6. The Head
Adam is head of the first creation “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3: 19). “in Adam all die“ (1 Cor. 15: 22). His sin affects all. Abraham is the father of faith “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed“ (Gen. 12: 3) Jacob is given the name Israel (Gen. 32: 28)

7. “the Lord says, Who formed me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel is gathered to Him. … It is too small a thing that you should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Is. 49: 5 – 6).

8. Jerusalem is chosen as the city of God, His dwelling place
Jerusalem is chosen as the city of God, His dwelling place. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in his holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, The city of the great King.” (Ps. 48: 1 – 2).

9. PREPARING FOR THE SAVIOUR
Israel is chosen to be a holy people (Ex. 19: 6; Lev. 19: 2; Deut. 7: 6) God wanted a people set apart from the sinfulness of mankind as a base for salvation to come on earth. A people who keep God‘s commandments; who worship the One God and not idols; who listen to His voice. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.“ (Deut. 6: 5).

10. SET APART FOR GOD
To be made holy, the people of Israel have to separate themselves from the ways of the surrounding peoples, the Canaanites, and the Philistines. Ex. 23: 32: “no covenant with them“. This is essential in the fight against idolatry. See Deut. 7: 1 – 5. The battle against idolatry lasts for 600 years. It is only really won after the exile.

11. GOD FORMS HIS PEOPLE God forms his People:
By giving them his laws and commandments
By instructing them how to worship
By giving them the feasts of Israel
By sacrifices for sin
By sending the prophets
By instruction in wisdom

12. GOD LOOKS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.” (Ps. 24: 3 – 4).
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night.” (Ps. 1: 1 – 2).
“For Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest until her righteousness goes forth as brightness“ (Is. 62:1).
Jer. 5: 1
John 1: 47 Jesus and Nathanael

13. “Run to and fro in through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places If you can find a man, If there is anyone who executes judgment, Who seeks the truth, And I will pardon her. …I will go to the great men … But these have altogether broken the yoke and burst the bonds.” (Jer. 5: 1, 5).

14. CLIMAX WITH EXILE
Jeremiah: the wound of God‘s people Jer. 6: 14; 8: 11; 10: 19; 15: 18; 30: 12. “Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe.“ “An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and my people love to have it so.” (Jer. 5: 31).

15. BUT THEN
“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the LORD.” (Jer. 30: 17). “the days are coming … I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah” (Jer. 31: 31).

16. JESUS IS THE ONE THE FATHER HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR
“A voice came from heaven, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matt. 3: 17). The demons recognize His holiness: “I know who you are – the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1: 24). “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1: 29). But you denied the Holy One and the Just ..“ (Acts 3: 14; see also Acts 7: 52).

17. JESUS THE ISRAELITE ACCORDING TO HIS FATHER‘S HEART
At his baptism, when he goes down into the water, Jesus is accepting in advance his death on the cross for the freeing of his people from sin.
This is when the Holy Spirit comes upon Him and Jesus begins His public ministry in Israel.

18. JESUS CHOOSES 12 APOSTLES
Why 12: Because there are twelve tribes of Israel. Because the Twelve will be leaders of the ingathered Israel around their Messiah. At the end, they will judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19: 28; Luke 22: 30).

19. JESUS DIES FOR ISRAEL & FOR ALL
“For the transgressions of My people he was stricken.“ (Is. 53: 8).
Prophecy of Caiaphas: “he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.” (John 11: 51 – 52).