Topic 7 Ministry and Message of Jesus

1
Topic 7 Ministry and Message of Jesus

• Before the Public Ministry
• Birth (Mt. 1-2 Lk. 1-2)
• Mary and Joseph engaged but not sexually
  consummated
• Virgin Birth signals that God is about to act
  once again
• Bethlehem born in Davids hometown messianic
  implications
• Nazareth grew up in obscure peasant village
• John the Baptist (Mk. 11-8)
• Eschatological prophet repent before the coming
  judgment.
• Forerunner of Messiah prepares way for one
  greater than I.
• Baptism of Jesus (Mk. 19-11)
• Jesus baptism by John is considered historically
  certain.
• Called to prophetic mission as servant Messiah.
• Empowered by Spirit of God to fulfill that task.
• Temptation (Mt. 41-11) 40 days of testing
  tempted to be a false messiah (using short-cut
  methods to seek worldly power, etc.)

2

• Galilee Ministry (Mk. 1-8 par.)
• After Johns arrest, Jesus returned to Galilee
  began ministry of a wandering prophet and rabbi.
  Four main types of activity
• Preaching and teaching four main themes
• Arrival of Kingdom of God (Mk. 114-15)
• Central theme in Jesus teaching.
• Final reign of God when he intervenes to
  destroy evil, set things right, and redeem his
  people. (See apocalyptic eschatology in BPJM,
  77.)
• Nearness of Kingdom demands repentance, faith,
  and right living.
• Parable of Mustard Seed (Mk. 430-32) Kingdom of
  God is already presentbut not yet in its
  fullness.
• Good news for the needy
• Jesus offered hope to the poor, the sick, and the
  sinners kingdom of God brings justice, healing,
  and forgiveness.
• Beatitudes (Mt. 53-12 Lk. 418-23) confer Gods
  blessing on the needy who depend on him.
• Does not reserve Gods kingdom for the specially
  righteous but welcomes sinners freely.
• Sometimes says directly, Your sins are forgiven
  (Mk. 25).
• Table fellowship with tax collectors and sinners
  demonstrates their forgiveness (Mk. 214-17).
• Parable of Prodigal Son (Lk. 1511-32) fathers
  joyous welcome of wayward son depicts Gods
  eagerness to forgive sinners who repent.

3

• Galilee Ministry (Mk. 1-8 par.) four types of
  activity
• Preaching and teaching (cont.)
• Demand for radical obedience
• Obedience must transcend letter of Law (Mt.
  517-48).
• Heart of Gods will is the double love
  commandment this Great Commandment sums up
  whole Law (Mt. 2234-40)
• Love God with all your heart (quoting Deut. 65).
• Love neighbor as yourself (quoting Lev. 1918
  cf. Mt. 712 Golden Rule).
• For Jesus, love of God and neighbor are
  inseparable neglect of one impairs the other.
  Together, they fulfill the whole law.
• Parable of Good Samaritan (Lk. 1025-37) the
  one who acted like a neighbor was the despised
  enemy love of neighbor must include even the
  enemy.
• Fatherhood of God
• God knows/supplies our needs (Mt. 624-34
  77-11).
• Privileged to address God as Abba Aramaic
  childs word for father as Jesus did (Mk.
  1436 cf. Rom. 815-16 Gal. 46).
• Lords Prayer (Mt. 69-13) addresses God as
  heavenly Father prays for coming of Gods
  kingdom on earth, for daily needs, and for
  forgiveness of sins acknowledges duty to do
  Gods will and to forgive others as we want God
  to forgive us.

4

• Galilee Ministry (Mk. 1-8) four types of
  activity (cont)
• Gathering disciples
• Disciple learner, pupil, follower
• Chooses the Twelve to gather others into K of G
  (Mk. 313-19).
• Chooses not the elite but the ordinary
  (fishermen), disreputable (tax collector), and a
  few hotheads (zealot types).
• 12 recall tribes of Israel symbolize mission to
  restore Israel as renewed people of God.
• Disciples not limited to the 12 broader group is
  even more inclusive includes women (highly
  unusual in Jesus day).
• Later becomes nucleus of Christian church.
• Performing miracles
• Four types healings, exorcisms, resuscitations,
  nature wonders.
• Not unique to Jesus.
• Do not prove claims about Jesus.
• Opponents acknowledge Jesus miracles but
  attribute to Satan (322-30).
• To eyes of faith, miracles are signs of the
  in-breaking Kingdom of God (Lk. 1120).
• Controversy with religious leaders issues
  include
• Forgiving sins (Mk. 25, 10-11)
• Eating with sinners (Mk. 213-17, esp. v. 17)
• Sabbath violations (Mk. 223- 36, esp. 227
  36)
• Ritual purity (Mk. 71-23, esp. v. 20-23)

5

• Journey to Jerusalem (Mk. 827-1052)
• Peters Confession at Caesarea Philippi
  (827-33)
• Critical turning point in ministry.
• Peter You are the Messiah/Christ.
• Command to silence and announcement of Passion
  (suffering and death in Jerusalem).
• Passion Predictions (831 931 1033-34)
• On way to Jerusalem, Jesus predicts his
  rejection, suffering, and death three times.
• Jesus goes to Jerusalem aware of the danger but
  willing to die for the cause of Gods kingdom.
• Disciples must be willing to follow.

6

• Jerusalem Ministry (Mk. 11-16)
• Synoptics have Jesus spending one week in
  Jerusalem Passion Week.
• Sunday Triumphal entry (Mk. 11) Palm Sunday
• Rides donkey given royal welcome demonstration
  of Jesus kingship.
• Fulfills peaceful king of Zech. 99.
• Monday Cleansing the Temple (Mk. 11)
• Symbolic attack on corruption of Temple system.
• Last straw provokes authorities resolve to
  remove Jesus.
• Tuesday Teaching in the Temple (Mk. 12-13)
• a. Controversies with religious authorities (Mk.
  12).
• b. Eschatological discourse (Mk. 13) warns of
  devastating war destruction of Temple promises
  salvation of faithful.
• Wednesday Spent in Bethany (Mk.14)
• a. Anointing in Bethany interpreted in reference
  to death.
• b. Conspiracy of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus
  by informing chief priests of Jesus movements.

7

• Jerusalem Ministry (Mk. 11-16) cont.
• Thursday Last Supper, Betrayal, Arrest (Mk. 14)
• a. Last Supper

• In Synoptics, Last Supper is a Passover meal (but
  not in John).
• Disciples sent to prepare meal and find place to
  eat in Jerusalem.
• Gathered in borrowed upper room in Jerusalem.
• Prediction of Jesus betrayal.
• Interpretation of bread and wine This is my
  body/blood (Mk. 1422-25).
• Interprets Jesus death as covenant sacrifice.

8

• 5. Thursday Last Supper, Betrayal, Arrest (Mk.
  14) cont.
• b. Gethsemane olive grove on Mount of Olives
  Jesus spends night agonizing in prayer over his
  impending fate.
• c. Arrest Judas leads temple police to the
  place identifies Jesus with kiss on cheek a
  disciple pulls sword to fight back, but Jesus
  forbids it as Jesus is arrested, disciples all
  abandon him and scatter (Mk. 1450).

9

• Jerusalem Ministry (Mk. 11-16) cont.
• Thursday Last Supper, Betrayal, Arrest (Mk. 14)
• d. Trial before Sanhedrin (Jewish council)
• Accused of threatening Temple (doesnt stick).
• Condemned for blasphemy (capital offense under
  Jewish law but Rome doesnt let Sanhedrin
  execute).
• e. Peters denial denies Jesus three times.

Modern church built on traditional site of
Caiaphas house. Steps may be first-century.
10

• Jerusalem Ministry (Mk. 11-16) cont.
• Friday Death of Jesus (Mk. 15)
• Trial before Pontius Pilate (Roman governor)
• Accused of insurrection, sedition (interrogated
  about his royal claims).
• Pilates reluctance to condemn is out of
  character.
• Release of Barabbas (an insurrectionist) - failed
  attempt to satisfy chief priests by offering to
  pardon Jesus they want Barabbas released
  instead.
• Jesus is condemned by Pilate scourged and mocked
  by Roman soldiers.
• Crucifixion at Golgotha (Calvary)
• About 9 a.m. between two rebels.
• Died by 3 p.m. unusually quickly.
• Cosmic signs darkness, earthquake, tearing of
  temple veil.
• Who killed Jesus?
• Wrong to blame the Jews.
• Historically, executed by Rome as suspected
  rebel.
• Theologically, died for sins of all.
• Burial by Joseph of Arimathea in a rock-cut
  tomb sealed with heavy stone.

Gordons Calvary
11
7. Saturday Sabbath end of the dream?
Garden Tomb
12

• Sunday Resurrection of Jesus Easter!
• (Mk. 16 Mt. 28 Lk. 24 Jn. 20-21)
• Discovery of the empty tomb by the women
• Women (different group in each gospel) come to
  anoint Jesus body but find tomb empty.
• An angel announces that Jesus has been
  resurrected.
• Resurrection appearances
• Risen Jesus appears to various disciples either
  in Galilee (Mk. Mt.) or in Jerusalem (Lk.) or
  both (Jn.).
• Hard to sequence these stories chronologically.
• Great Commission (Mt. 2816-20) disciples are
  sent to make disciples of all nations.

• Jesus resurrection on Sunday morning is
  celebrated on Easter Sunday.
• But also every Sunday the Lords Day. Sunday
  became Christian day of worship in honor of the
  resurrection.