Act Four: The Coming of the King:

Redemption Accomplished

Jesus went into Galilee

proclaiming the good news.
The time has come, he said.
The kingdom of God has come
near. Repent and believe the
good news!
-Mark 1:14-15

Kingdom: Dominating Centre of

Jesus Mission
The central theme of Jesus' message, as it
comes down to us in the synoptic gospels,
is the coming of the kingdom of God... It
may be rightly said that the whole of the
preaching of Jesus Christ and his apostles
is concerned with the kingdom of God, and
that in Jesus Christ's proclamation of the
kingdom we are face to face with the
specific form of expression of the whole of
his revelation of God.
-Ridderbos

Kingdom: Dominating Centre of

Jesus Mission
Jesus announces the arrival of the
kingdom (Mk. 1:15-17; Lk. 4:21)
Jewish expectation
What is the kingdom?

What had arrived?

Power of God in Christ by the
Spirit to restore creation
(especially humanity) to again
live under the rule of God.

Kingdom: Dominating Centre of

Jesus Mission
Jesus announces the arrival of the
kingdom (Mk. 1:15-17; Luke 4:21)
Jewish expectation
What is the kingdom?
A new way

Jesus Kingdom Mission:

A New Way
Disagreement among Jews: who,
how, when, how to live
Violence and separation
Love of enemies instead of their
destruction; unconditional forgiveness
instead of retaliation; readiness to
suffer instead of using force; blessing
for peacemakers instead of hymns of
hate and revenge' (Kung).

Jesus Prepares for

His Kingdom Mission
Early years
John the Baptizer prepares the way:
Repent for the kingdom of God is near
Baptism of Jesus
Descent of Spirit
Temptation

Jesus Public Mission

Obscurity
Popularity (Galilee)
Opposition
Jerusalem

Jesus Kingdom Mission

Announces arrival of the kingdom

The reign of God is

already present.
Matthew 12:28
The reign of God has
not yet arrived in fullness.
Matthew 7:21

Prophetic

Expectation

Spirit

Messiah

Sin
Death
Evil
Satan

Knowledge
of God
Love
Joy
Justice

OLD AGE

AGE TO COME

New Testament Fulfillment

Powers of
sin
death
evil
Satan
OLD AGE

Power of
Spirits
renewing
work

AGE TO COME

Salvation and Judgement?

Prophetic message

Is. 63:4,5

Luke 4:16-30
John 3:17
John the Baptizers confusion

Lk. 3:7-9; 17; 7:18-23

salvation
incarnation

judgement
return

day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2)

Salvation has come
Judgement is delayed

Era of Witness
Spirit

K in g d o m
m is s io n o f
Je su s
to Is ra e l

d e a th
r e s u r r e c tio n
e x a lt a t io n
P e n te co st

K in g d o m
m is s io n o f
ch u rch
t o n a t io n s

Announcement of Gods Kingdom (Lk. 4:43)

Announcement of arrival of Gods power to restore
Gods rule
Demand for decision: Repent and believe! Follow
me! (Mark 1:14-18)
Two metaphors: receive the gift of the kingdom;
enter the realm of the kingdom
Decision: resolute, urgent (Lk. 9:57-62); radical
(Lk. 9:23ff.; Lk. 13:24); costly (Lk. 14:25-33;
Matt. 19:16-24); eternal (Lk. 13:25-30)
Receive blessing of kingdom: forgiveness, Abba
relation to God, renewed life, joy, etc.
Receive demands of kingdom: righteousness/
justice, love, etc.

Jesus Kingdom Mission

Announces arrival of the kingdom
Reveals the kingdom through his
mighty deeds

Demonstration of Gods Kingdom

Blind see; lame walk; deaf hear; sick
healed; dead raised; poor/ lost
received; sinners forgiven; cursed
creation restored; demons cast out;
lives changed (cf. Lk. 7:21-23)
Signs of Gods kingdom

Jesus Kingdom Mission

Announces arrival of the kingdom
Reveals the kingdom through his
mighty deeds
Source of Jesus power: Abba, Holy
Spirit, prayer

Source of Power
Abba relationship
Prayer

Lk.
Lk.
Lk.

5:16: often withdraw to pray

6:12: prayed whole night
11:1ff: centre: reign of God

Holy Spirit

Jesus Kingdom Mission

Announces arrival of the kingdom
Reveals the kingdom through his
mighty deeds
Source of Jesus power: Abba, Holy
Spirit, prayer
Arouses opposition to kingdom
mission

Opposition to Jesus Mission

Temple, Sabbath, food laws, tithing:
symbols of separation and hatred
Jesus challenges idolatrous status
quo (John 15:18-20)
Suffering for sake of kingdom

Jesus Kingdom Mission

Announces arrival of the kingdom
Reveals the kingdom through his
mighty deeds
Source of Jesus power: Abba, Holy
Spirit, prayer
Arouses opposition to kingdom
mission
Gathers a kingdom community

Formation of Kingdom Community

Gathering of scattered Israel
Announcement of kingdom

(Mk. 1:14,15)

Calling of disciples: Follow me

(Mk. 1:16ff.)

Community gathered around Jesus

Appointment of the 12
Taught about life in the kingdom
Participate in Jesus Kingdom mission

(Lk.9:1-6)

Jesus Kingdom Mission

Announces arrival of the kingdom
Reveals the kingdom through his
mighty deeds
Source of Jesus power: Abba, Holy
Spirit, prayer
Arouses opposition to kingdom
mission
Gathers a kingdom community
Welcomes sinners and outcasts

Welcoming Socio-Religious Outcasts

Friend of tax-collectors, sinners,
prostitutes, lepers
Doctor comes to sick
Table fellowship
Healings

Admittance to the Qumran Community

Neither the blind nor the lame
Nor the deaf nor the dumb
Nor the lepers nor those whose flesh
is blemished
Shall be admitted to the council of
the community

Jesus Kingdom Mission

Announces arrival of the kingdom
Reveals the kingdom through his
mighty deeds
Source of Jesus power: Abba, Holy
Spirit, prayer
Arouses opposition to kingdom mission
Gathers a kingdom community
Welcomes sinners and outcasts
Explains kingdom of God with parables

Parables
Over 40 parables in gospels
Corrects wrong notions of kingdom
Explains life in the kingdom

Parables:
Correcting Wrong Notions
Kingdom does not come all at once
Parable of the weeds

(Matt. 13:24-30)

It is already here but not yet in

fullness

Parables:
Correcting Wrong Notions (cont)
Kingdom does not come in
immediate and irresistible power
Parable of the sower

(Matt. 13:1- 23)

Hidden in a humble form

Conflict and suffering

Parables:
Correcting Wrong Notions (cont)
Final judgement of the kingdom will
not come immediately
Parable of weeds and net

(Matt. 13:24-30; 47-52)

Judgement reserved for future

Parables:
Correcting Wrong Notions (cont)
Kingdom is not Jewish kingdom
reserved for wealthy and righteous
Parables of lost son, lost coin, and
lost sheep (Lk. 15:1-32)
Gentiles, poor, sinners (Lk. 14:15ff.)

Parables:
Correcting Wrong Notions (cont)
Reason for delay: Gathering into
kingdom
Parable of banquet (Lk. 14:15- 24)

Jesus Kingdom Mission

Announces arrival of the kingdom
Reveals the kingdom through his mighty
deeds
Source of Jesus power: Abba, Holy Spirit,
prayer
Arouses opposition to kingdom mission
Gathers a kingdom community
Welcomes sinners and outcasts
Explains kingdom of God with parables
Embodies the kingdom in his life

Embodiment of Gods Kingdom

Abba-relation to God (Jn. 17:1-3)

Life in Spirit (Acts 10:38)
Love (Jn. 15:9ff.)
Joy (Jn. 15:11)
Peace (Jn. 14:27)
Obedience (Jn. 17:4; Heb. 5:8)
Solidarity with excluded (Lk. 4:18)
Justice (Lk. 9:58) etc.

Who is Jesus?
Mounting curiosity about Jesus
identity (Lk. 9:9)
Crowds response (Lk. 9:18-19)
Peters response (Lk. 9:20)
Gods response (Lk. 9:35)

Who is Jesus?

Prophet (Lk. 9:19)

Messiah (Lk. 9:20)
Son of God (Lk. 9:35 cf. Matt.16:16)
Son of Man (Lk. 9:22)
Chosen servant (Lk. 9:35)

Jesus Concludes His

Kingdom Mission in Jerusalem
Three prophetic-symbolic, Messianic
actions

Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey

Jesus enacts judgement on temple
Jesus symbolizes his death

Arrest and trials

Crucifixion
Resurrection

Era of Witness
Spirit

K in g d o m
m is s io n o f
Je su s
to Is ra e l

d e a th
r e s u r r e c tio n
e x a lt a t io n
P e n te co st

K in g d o m
m is s io n o f
ch u rch
t o n a t io n s

Jesus gave evidence of power of

God to renew and restore...
...However, if his followers were
to experience that renewing
power...
...Then sin the enemy of Gods
kingdom must be destroyed.

Death
Satanic power
Forms of sin (hatred, greed, etc)
Results of sin (sickness, suffering,

SIN

etc)

only accomplished through

Jesus death and resurrection

Death
Satanic power
Forms of sin (hatred, greed, etc)
Results of sin (sickness, suffering,
etc)

only accomplished through

Jesus death and resurrection

only accomplished through

Jesus death and resurrection

Centre of Redemptive History:

Death of Jesus
Failure of judgement, law, priests,
sacrificial system, kings, prophets,
etc. to form faithful community
Cross: mighty act of God to
accomplish redemption

(Rom. 8:3-4)

Death of Jesus: Biblical Images

Conflict Victor (Col. 2:13-15;
Jn. 12:31-33)
Sacrifice/Vicarious suffering
(Jn. 1:29)
Redemption Purchase
(1 Pet. 1:18f.)
Reconciliation (Rom. 5:10)
Pioneer/Representative man
(Rom. 5:12-21; Heb. 2:10)

Death

end of old

Resurrection

OLD

beginning of new

NEW

death

resurrection

Death of Jesus:
Paradox (1 Cor. 1:18-31)
Power in weakness
Wisdom in foolishness
Glory in lowliness
Victory in defeat
Purpose of all history in meaningless
cruelty

Jesus died to restore His

creation...
...we participate in that new
creation as we trust in Christ.

Resurrection of Jesus
Resurrection in Jewish thought: Arrival of
life of new creation
Jesus: Dawning of new creation

Firstborn from the dead (Rev.1:5)

Firstfruits (I Cor. 15:20)
Pioneer

Resurrection in three stages:

Jesus (Mk. 16:1-8)

Church: Resurrection life in foretaste
(Romans 6:1-14)
Church and creation
(I Cor. 15:12-28; Rom.8:18-25)

Exaltation of Jesus
Coronation day: installation of
rightful king

Place: Right hand of God (Acts 2:33)

Name: Lord (Phil. 2:9-11)

Hidden (Heb. 2:8f.)

The Risen Lord

Commissions His Disciples
Matt.28:16-20: Make disciples
Luke 24:46-49: Witness to salvation
in Jesus
John 20:19-23: Sent to continue the
mission of Jesus

End of Act Four