- Who is Jesus?
- Messiah, but not expected political military Messiah
- Not a king like Herod, not a ruler like Pharisees
- One who has authority, but does not use it for Himself
- Authority over nature
- Authority over the demonic
- Authority over death
- Authority over the laws of nature
- Authority to interpret the law
- Authority over the temple
- Authority from heaven
- Exercises God’s authority to judge Israel
- Authority/control over arrest, trial, crucifixion, death
- Suffering servant
- Servant King
- One who comes to serve and give His life for ransom
- One who is vindicated in the end
- Son of God
- Stronger than the strong man
- Draws faith out of people
- Did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom
- Son of David
- King of Israel
- Greater than David
- Vindicated over His enemies
- Tells the future
- Saved others, but refused to save Himself
- Submitted to the Father
- Maker of the New Covenant
- Addressed God as Abba, Father
- He is the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One
- He will be vindicated at the right Hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds
- King of the Jews- in many senses
- Not the kind of King they wanted
- King who rules by suffering
- Surely this may was the Son of God!
- He is not here, He has risen
- What is the Kingdom?
- Fullness of blessing
- Relationship restored by following Jesus
- Promise of reward for everything left in this lifetime
- Ruling from the bottom up, ruling by serving
- Opposite of Herod’s
- Currently despoiling the house of Satan
- More important than family
- Comes to those who are receptive
- Contains a life of its own
- Seems a small beginning, but will have large impact
- More important than human traditions
- Extends to Gentiles and little children
- Centered around Jesus’ death
- Worth losing hand or eye etc.
- Worth more than money
- Not lording it over others, but service
- Loving God and neighbor
- Cares for the poor, but more important than the poor
- Kingdom does not fight back
- Being mocked, abused, suffering is an act of reigning in the Kingdom
- What is Discipleship?
- Not denying, not fleeing
- Following Jesus example
- The way of the cross
- Deny self, take up cross, follow me
- Meets resistance and opposition
- Finishing the unfinished story of Jesus resurrection
- Going deeper than the crowd
- Being with Him
- Receiving authority
- Trusting Him even in the storm
- Trusting Him to provide
- Setting aside traditions/wineskins to follow the Kingdom
- Focuses on inward reality more than outward appearance
- Shunning the way of the Pharisees and of Herod
- Getting a second touch
- Listening to and obeying Jesus
- Receiving the Kingdom like a child
- Service to others
- Giving everything to God
- Loving the Lord with everything
- Loving the neighbor as yourself
- Being on guard, alert, prepared for the end
- Doing what you can
- Beware of denial, even when you think you are above it
- Watch and pray you don’t enter into temptation
- Open-ended, unfinished- following where the road is not completely mapped out, but it is promised that the road leads to reward, vindication, and happiness