P6/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Luke's Gospel Identity of Jesus - The Son of Man

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered Mark's Gospel Identity of Jesus as: "The King who came to serve and be a Ransom". I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  

This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  

In today's post we will consider once again Part two of this series, and the third lesson of Part two entitled: Luke's Gospel presents Jesus as the Son of Man.

PART TWO: CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD

Lesson Three: Luke’s Gospel’s identity of Jesus – The Son of Man 

1.      Luke’s gospel, much like Matthew, has a list of Jesus’ human descendants.  While Matthew’s list focuses upon Jesus legal rights to the kingship of Israel, Luke’s genealogy focuses more upon Jesus right by birth as a literal descendant of David – hence the reasons for the differences between the two.[1]

2.   If we read Daniel 7, we come to understand the central reason of Luke’s focus on Jesus as the Son of Man:[2]

    Daniel 7:3-9-14   ⁹ “As I looked:

   “thrones were set in place,

  and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

   His clothing was as white as snow;

  the hair of his head was white like wool.

   His throne was flaming with fire,

  and its wheels were all ablaze.

   ¹⁰ A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. ¹¹ “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.  ¹² (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) ¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

3. Luke’s focus is upon how Jesus would   fulfill this prophecy by being empowered with glory and Sovereign power in His humanity by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:18)

4. The Holy Spirit's empowerment of Jesus in His humanity is also proof of Jesus fulfilling another prophecy in Isaiah 61, wherein He would go about healing sickness, delivering those in spiritual slavery, and most importantly of all offering forgiveness and hope. Of course we must remember that all the while the Person of the Son was experiencing these prophecies in His human nature, He in His Divine nature never ceased being God.

Questions:

1. What obligation to Jesus’ should His position as Divine judge place upon people living in this world?

  

  2. Why does God need to judge this      

  world?

More tomorrow.....

Endnotes:

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[1] In first century Jewish culture, any Jew would had been able to recount their genealogy on demand.  The fact that we have two records of Jesus’ descendants is not unusual, since his disciples would had had access to each of the lists from both Mary’s genaeological list (The one recorded in Luke) and Joseph’s (The one recorded in Matthew).

[2] This theme is developed more fully in the book “Shadows of the Almighty” by Ben Witherington III and Laura M. Ice.   

P5/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Mark's Gospel Identity of Jesus - The King who came to serve and be a Ransom

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered Matthew's Gospel Identity of Jesus as King and Lord. I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  

This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts, with today's post featuring Mark's Gospel Identity of Jesus as the King whom came to serve and be a ransom. 

CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD

Lesson Two: Mark’s Gospel’s identity of Jesus – The servant, King over the Kingdom 

1.  Mark’s gospel gives more of a fast paced and high powered look at the miracles and power of Jesus.  He casts out demons, raises the dead and heals sicknesses, demonstrating that by His arrival the very presence of God has ushered in the beginning of the closing of human history.

2. The picture of Isaiah’s servant in chapters 42-57 of his book discuss and progressively reveal as mysterious figure who would bring the light of hope to the very land Jesus was preaching and who would act as God and for God in bringing about healing, deliverance and forgiveness of sins.

3. Mark’s writing focuses more intently on what is called “The Kingdom of God”.  With Matthew, the Kingdom of God is spoken about in terms of its purpose and nature, while with Mark’s writing it is spoken of in terms of its presence and nearness.[1]

4.  So what exactly is meant by the idea of God’s kingdom?

a). Having a Kingdom implies that God has personal involvement in the affairs of this world.  He did not just make this world and leave it to run like a clock.

b). Kingdom implies that there is a specific domain, wherein we are the objects and God is the supreme Subject.

c). Jesus in both Matthew and Mark teaches that the Kingdom is not of this world, and that in order to be a true citizen or partaker of it, one must “repent and come to a knowledge of the truth (Mark 1:15) – i.e it is (for now) primarily spiritual in nature.  The day of course will come when Jesus returns and the Kingdom unseen now will become completely manifest and Christ Himself will reign on this planet for 1,000 years. (Mark 13 & Revelation 20)

d). Having a Kingdom means that God has a representative that shares both His nature in having the authority to rule and reign over everything as well as a human nature in being able to relate to the subjects of the kingdom.  Jesus Christ reveals that He has been given authority over all things (Matthew 28:16) and that He is the Servant having the humanity to relate to those who choose to partake of this kingdom (Mark 10:45).

5. In Mark 10:45 we see what many consider the key verse of Mark's Gospel: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

6. According to church history, Mark recorded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the collection of Peter’s sermons on the life of Jesus as Peter himself, under the revelation of God, dictated it to Mark.[2]

Questions:

1. Can God, being holy and infinite, come down to us as He is? Why or why not?

2. Does God’s setting up of a mediating structure such as His kingdom speak more to His desire to be with us, our inability to come to Him on basis of our good deeds, or both? Explain your answer.

Endnotes:

---

[1] That there is a link between Matthew’s gospel, Mark’s Gospel and Luke’s Gospel is no accident.  Though each was an independent effort in recounting Jesus life under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew’s gospel is believed to have been the first one written.  Mark, taking dictation from the apostle Peter, would had most likely had a copy of Matthew to use as a guide to corroborate what Peter was saying.  Then Luke would had used these resources along with what God spoke through the mouth of the Apostle Paul in writing His gospel.  This process by which the first three gospels came about is what is referred to as the synoptic problem.  For further discussion on this issues, the reader can consult David Alan Black’s “Why the Four Gospels”, as well as Merrill Tenny’s “Survey of the New Testament”.

[2]  David Alan Black. Why Four Gospels – The Historical Origins of the gospels. Kregel. Grand Rapids. 2001. Page 77.  This is a common pattern in the Bible for God to speak His words or thought through the mouth of the prophet or apostle, and in turn have a scribe write them down (compare the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch; Apostle Peter and Silvanus)

P4/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Matthew's Gospel Identity of Jesus - King and Lord

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered how the Old Testament's predictions of the Messiah are traced out in the four Gospels. I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  The reader is invited today to visit my other blog site to read more indepth on the validity of the four Gospels and Luke's Gospel in particular at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/p2-the-reliability-of-lukes-gospel-and-early-church-history-testify-about-the-four-gospels-why-it-matters/

In today's post here we consider Part two of this blog series, and the first lesson of Part two entitled: "Matthew’s Gospel identity of Jesus – King and Lord" 

Discovering the Identity of Jesus

A Cultural, Historical and Theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion & resurrection

PART TWO: CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD

Lesson One: Matthew’s Gospel identity of Jesus – King and Lord

In the first three lessons of this study, it could be said that the Old Testament functions as an “extended” introduction to the plan that God had in reconciling both people and His creation to Himself.  Today we aim to consider Matthew’s account of Jesus life.

Matthew presents all of Israel’s life and purpose being fulfilled and accomplished in the life of Jesus[1]

a). Israel was originally brought about to bless the nations.  Jesus came into the world to be a blessing to all who believe in him

b). Much like Israel, Jesus was called out of Egypt during a time of the death of the first born in the land (Matthew 2). 

c).  Israel went into a desert because of failure, Jesus went into a desert and did not fall once into sin or failure (Matthew 3 and 

d). Much like Moses, Jesus gave instruction from God on what the agenda would be for His followers as they would be going throughout the world.  Unlike the Mosaic law, Jesus Sermon would have internal power to change those who follow Him (Matthew 5-7)

e). Much like Joshua, Jesus went throughout the very same land that he did, only Jesus conquered spiritual enemies, healing the sick and delivering those held captive to sin (Matthew 8-9)

f). Just as Moses sent out spies to look at the promised land that was promised by God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Jesus would send out the twelve to proclaim throughout the very same land some 1400 years later the source of God’s promises, Jesus Himself.  Unlike Moses’ spies, of who ten of his twelve spies came back denying God’s promise and thus finding themselves forty years in the desert, Jesus’ twelve followers found healing and the source of hope by going about proclaiming the message of Jesus (Matthew 10-11)

g).  From chapters 12-26, Jesus appears to be almost living out the very life of David, a very prominent figure in the Old Testament. 

-Jesus experiences people wanting to reject His leadership, deny His authority and threaten His life (like David did in most of 1 Samuel). 

-Much like David providing spiritual nourishment to Israel through the writings of the Psalms, Jesus fed over five thousand people (Matthew 14) and four thousand people (Matthew 15).

     h). Much like David, Jesus was teaching about His own Kingdom, speaking parables (or spiritual stories) of how the kingdom would reflect the King (Jesus Himself) (Psalm 78)

     i). In Matthew 27, the crucifixion account   illustrates the darkest time in Israel’s history, stretching from 1 Kings all the way up to Zechariah.  Jesus became the soul object of God’s judgment, becoming captive and suffering like Israel did, except to an infinite degree. 

j).  In Matthew 28, Jesus becomes alive again, showing that the future of God conquering evil and bringing healing (The end of the last book of the Old Testament) could be experienced in a real way by believing in the healing power of the resurrection.

2). Matthew shows how Jesus both physically and spiritually fulfilled all of the Old Testament promises regarding The Kingly representative (Matthew 28:16-20).

3). Jesus discussion about Himself being LORD of the Sabbath in Matthew 12 (The same LORD that Moses encountered in Exodus 3) is affirmed by His raising from the dead.[2]

Questions:

1. Consider for a moment how Israel’s pattern of birth as a nation (Ezekiel 14), Triumph (Book of Joshua), near destruction and death (Books of 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles) and new life (coming back from enslavement in Ezra and Nehemiah) compare to Jesus born in the manger, popularity with the crowds, death and resurrection. What does this indicate to us about the appropriate nature of Jesus’ crucifixion as fitting within His overall purpose and mission?

2. How does Jesus experiencing all of our temptations connect with you personally?

Endnotes:

---

[1] This idea, called a theo-drama, includes the notion of Jesus’ life being like a theater by which God’s purposes and man’s destiny through the life of Israel are played out on the stage of His life, death and resurrection.  I gleaned this idea from listening to speakers one year (I cannot recall the year) who were presenting papers at the Evangelical Theological Society.

  In salvation terms, some theologians note that Jesus’ humanity interacting with His Divinity portrays our own lives being lived out by Jesus, a process called recapitulation.  In this notion the fact that Jesus lived out the very processes and encountered the same temptations that we do (yet without sin) makes Him a fit candidate for bearing the sins of the world.

[2] When Jesus is referred to as Lord, it is the same meaning behind the revelation Moses receives about God’s personal name and nature (Yahweh).  This term, translated as “I am who I am”, signifies that God is the source of all life and existence, and that He is the prime actor in both history and salvation.  Jesus attributes this title to Himself (John 8:58 where He says “Before Abraham was, I AM).  

Thus Jesus here is identifying Himself as sharing the same essence and ability to give life, take life and provide salvation as God (whom He refers to as His Father) in the Old Testament.

P3/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - how the Old Testament's predictions of the Messiah are traced in the four Gospels

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: In yesterday's post we considered how God's plan led to a promise which leads to the Person of Christ. I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  The reader is invited today to visit my other blog site to explore more indepth the validity of the four Gospels at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/12/08/p1-the-reliability-of-lukes-gospel-and-early-church-history-testify-about-the-four-gospels/

In today's post here we consider lesson #3 on the particular point of how the Old Testament's predictions of the Messiah are traced out in the Four Gospels.  

Lesson Three: To what place does the Old Testament story lead us to?

If we are going to make sense as to what the Old Testament has to say to us about the identity and mission of Jesus, we need to first
bring out the patterns that provide the underlying structure of God’s plan of salvation in the Old Testament. This plan, so marvelous and precious to God’s own heart, anticipated what would be revealed about Jesus Himself in the Gospel accounts of the New Testament. For now, let us break down some key patterns that emerge from the story of the Old Testament. The below chart will illustrate these patterns, along with introducing to the reader the key themes of each of the gospel accounts.[1]

           MATT                           MARK                     LUKE                   JOHN

Bringing together of ------------------------------------------------------------------------->

God and man

The shedding of blood needed

To appease God’s anger and------------------------------------------------------------->

To prevent man’s destruction

Because of sin (giving of one

life in place of another)

Being the deliverer of humanity

From the slavery and darkness of sin------------------------------------------------->

Representing God’s desire to

Be with human beings and representing

Man’s need to be with God (a mediator)----------------------------------------------->

THE LORD (YAHWEH)

(Jesus proves this in His resurrection)------------------------------------------------->

Matthew notes Jesus       Mark notes Jesus       Luke Notes Jesus    John notes Jesus

As King                             as the suffering          the Son of Man         as Son of God

                                           servant

       As can be seen from the above chart, the Old Testament reveals to the reader, in a progressive fashion, both a plan and a person that God has in mind for bringing about his plan of bridging the gap created by man’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden.  Additionally, the Gospels and their major themes enable these patterns to be brought to a coherent end and fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.  The plan is bridged to the Person of Jesus Christ by the many prophecies and promises revealed throughout the Old Testament.  

In the next few lessons , we are going to take a closer look at the four gospel records of Jesus life, death and resurrection, detailing why there are four records and why what Jesus says in them about Himself fits in line with the Old Testament record.

More tomorrow..........

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[1] These Patterns are general themes of each gospel.  Since all four contain many accounts of Jesus paralleling one another, there will be an overlap of similar themes covering all four gospels (ex: Matthew’s discussion of Jesus as King can also be found in the other three gospels)

P2/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - how God's plan led to a promise which leads to the Person of Christ

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we began considering the Old Testament's anticipation and prediction of the coming Messiah revealed in the New Testament. I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  The reader is invited to visit my other blog site to read a critique of the latest episode of "Bible Secrets Revealed" at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/p2-critique-of-episode-4-of-bible-secrets-revealed-the-real-jesus/

In today's post we consider lesson #2 and four particular meetings whereby God made promises and predictions to His people in the Old Testament about the promised Messiah. These gradual identifications and predictions prepared the way for what would be Jesus Christ's first coming in the New Testament Gospels. 

Discovering the Identity of Jesus

OLD TESTAMENT BACKGROUNDS LEADING TO A PROFILE THAT CAN AID IN IDENTIFYING JESUS

Lesson Two: Significant Meetings between God and key people

1. Meeting One: God’s promise to Eve – Genesis 3:15 From the entirety of humanity will come one to crush the serpent and bring about the reconciliation between God and man.

THUS GOD'S PLAN AT THIS POINT IS TO BRING ONE INDIVIDUAL FROM ALL HUMANITY TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF SATAN

2. Meeting Two: God’s Promise to Abraham – Genesis 12-17 From the people within Abraham’s descendants (Israel), will come about one whose life will bless the world

THUS THE PLAN BECOMES MORE SPECIFIED IN A PROMISE. WHAT IS THE PROMISE? TO HAVE A PARTICULAR SAVIOR COME FROM A PARTICULAR NATION, ISRAEL

3. Meeting Three: God’s Promise to David – 2 Samuel 7:13-16 From David’s Kingly line of descendants will come a King who will bring about peace

THUS THE PROMISE IS EVEN FURTHER NARROWED DOWN TO HAVING THIS AGENT OF SALVATION AND HOPE COME FROM THE BLOODLINE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE NATION

4. Meeting Four: God’s revelation to David and Isaiah- Psalm 22 , 68 and Isaiah 53 – God reveals to both prophets that this agent of salvation will have to suffer, die and rise from the dead in order to complete God’s plan of salvation

THUS THE PROMISE IS RECEIVES SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION REGARDING BOTH ITS PURPOSE, MEANS OF FULFILLMENT AND THE NATURE OF THE ONE WHO WILL ACCOMPLISH IT 

So what exactly is involved in this plan of salvation?

1). A progression is made from a general plan to that of a specific person. Think of a "funnel effect", wherein beginning with Eve and all of humanity, to Noah, Shem and then Abraham. God then focuses upon taking the plan of salvation and specifying it in the form of a promise to Abraham annd his descendants, which would become a nation - Israel (through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). Through the continuation of redemptive history, God narrows the funnel even further to a tribe with Israel (Judah) and then later on to an individual's bloodline with Judah (David's bloodline). According to Matthew's Gospel, 42 generations stretch from Abraham down to Jesus.  It will be in our next several posts that we will discover how exactly God took the promise and narrowed the funnel to its narrowest point in Jesus Christ.

2). Jesus Christ, in the realm of his humanity, can only be the right one by reason of His having the right blood (descendant of Abraham and David) as well as shedding His own blood on the cross (Isaiah 53) and rising from the dead (Psalm 16). Furthermore, this same Person must be Divine in order to come and bring about the completion of fulfilled prophecy. (Psalm 2; Psalm 110; Proverbs 30:4-5; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 61; Micah 5:1-3; Malachi 4)

3). Though the promise is specific, the implications and results are far reaching. 

More tomorrow.....

P1/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - a response to "Bible Secrets Revealed" Episode 4

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  The reader is invited to visit my other blog site to read a critique of the latest episode of "Bible Secrets Revealed" at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/p1-critique-of-episode-4-of-bible-secrets-revealed-the-real-jesus/

Discovering the Identity of Jesus

A Cultural, Historical and Theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion & resurrection

Introduction

Purpose of the study: This study aims at a two-fold purpose of properly identifying the Jesus of History as being identical to the Jesus of the Christian Faith and discerning the factuality and meaning behind the crucifixion & resurrection. 

PART ONE: OLD TESTAMENT BACKGROUNDS LEADING TO A PROFILE THAT CAN AID IN IDENTIFYING JESUS

From what we find from the lips of Jesus and His followers, it seemed clear that the Jewish Old Testament yielded forth patterns anticipating the arrival of a person such as Jesus Christ. 

By considering the Old Testament record (particularly the writings of Moses, the Psalms and prophetic writings), we will discover certain patterns that indicate that the God of the Old Testament, while being One God, does reveal a mysterious figure that not only shares the same characteristics as He, but also would accomplish the same works and accomplish the finished work of salvation. 

PART ONE: OLD TESTAMENT BACKGROUNDS LEADING TO A PROFILE THAT CAN AID IN IDENTIFYING JESUS

Lesson One: Telling the Old Testament story

One must consider for a moment the relationship between the Jewish Old Testament writings (Writings of Moses; the history of the Israelite nation; the Psalms of David and writings of Solomon and the prophetic writings) and the New Testament writings. 

In the Old Testament books, we see the following, true story of the relationship between God and the nation of Israel:

1. God creates the Heavens and the earth, all of life and a man named Adam and his wife.  Though giving them both instructions on how they can enjoy a perfect life of constant fellowship and communion with Him, they decide to disobey Him by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  A serpent named Satan, having enticed them, is cursed along with their banishment from the Garden of Eden.  It is this event that introduces sin or separation from God into the creation and humanity.
2. In Genesis 3, God does not leave Adam and Eve in isolation, but kills two animals and provides animal skins to cover the man and woman in their shame, thus giving the reader the first picture of the need for the shedding of blood as a requirement for having fellowship and communion with God (also called atonement).
3. In Genesis 12 God is seen later making a promise with Abraham and tells Abraham that from his lineage will come a nation that will bring blessing to the world.  God later ratifies His promise to Abraham in Genesis 15 by walking by Himself between animals cut in half by Abraham to demonstrate how He alone is going to bring about the promises of the Covenant. Later on, God gives Abraham and Sarah the promised son, Isaac in Genesis 21.  In Genesis 22 God tests Abraham by commanding him to take Isaac and offer him upon an altar, stopping the sacrifice. Thankfully, God provides a ram as a substitute in Isaac’s place, creating a picture of something or someone having to give His own life to satisfy God’s wrath.
4. Over 400 years later, a man named Moses encounters God in the desert in  a burning bush.  God tells Moses His personal name, Yahweh (meaning “I am” or “THE LORD).  As a result of this meeting, THE LORD gives Moses the ability to lead the nation of Israel out of the slavery of Egypt through the Red Sea and into freedom.  From this event God would also become recognized as the One and True Savior who rescues His people from darkness and slavery.
5. It was not long though until Israel began to complain about being brought into a desert.  While Moses is on top of the mountain receiving the 10 commandments, the Israelites engage in idolatry.  Under the threat of total annihilation, Moses represents the people and pleads for God to turn away His anger (Exodus 32:11-14).  God does, and thus Moses gives us another glimpse as being an example of a mediator between THE LORD and his people (or the idea of a priest). So rather than destroying them, Yahweh decides that they will need to wander in the desert of Sinai for 40 years before entering into the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob).
6. Roughly 400 years later the nation requests for a king.  After giving them the king they deserved (King Saul), God brings David to come on the scene and becomes the king of Israel.  THE LORD makes a covenant (or agreement) with him, telling Him that from His descendants will come an ultimate King who will some day rule the world and bring about peace and righteousness.  David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes Psalms such as Psalm 110, where He sees the Lord talking to a then unknown figure, referring to Him as “His Son” and calling Him “Lord” as well.  Later on Proverbs 30:4 asks this question: What is God like and who is His son? (or what is the nature of God – nature being equal to son in ancient eastern culture).
7. Another 120 years pass from the beginning of Saul's reign through David to the end of Solomon's kingship.  The nation of Israel splits into two smaller nations (Israel to the North and Judah to the South).  Because of sin and rebellion, God takes the Northern Kingdom and puts it under the control of the kingdom of Assyria.  During this time, a prophet named Isaiah writes that The LORD will send forth one like Himself who will be called The Servant.  This servant will have to suffer an awful death, shed blood and be whipped (Isaiah 53).  This Servant will bear the sins of the whole world, providing forgiveness of sin.  God at one point in Isaiah’s prophecy writes of How He will have to bring about salvation by the sending of Himself (Isaiah 59:17).
8. Over 300 years pass from the end of Solomon's reign until the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Southern Kingdom disregarded the covenant Yahweh made with her through Moses, and now she under the control of the Babylonian Empire.   Daniel, a prophet, is given visions of the remainder of human history leading up to the time when God will judge this world.  In one of those visions, Daniel sees what appears to be a vision of God judging the world and sitting on His throne in heaven.  To Daniel it is revealed that the particular name of God in this vision is called (The ancient of days, the Son of man).  For Daniel, this means that God is setting forth a series of events that will lead up to judging the world for sin and punishing those who do not embrace Him by grace through faith.

In considering the entire Old Testament witness along the lines of the above eight points, we can come to discern specific patterns leading to the development of how God is going to bring about the needed solution for bridging the infinite gulf separating human beings from Himself.  As we look at these patterns, we find out that the plan that God has will involve the coming of a particular person.  The next lesson will act as a bridge in structuring together these patterns.

More tomorrow....

The King's Conquering Gospel - Revelation 12:13-14:20

Revelation 12:10-12 "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.'

Revelation 14:6 "And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people."

Introduction:

Christmas' Revealed King in Revelation is none other than Jesus Christ.  As we are entering into this Christmas season, we know that at the center of the celebration is the Conquering Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Gospel points us to Christ's first advent (or coming) as well as His second advent (or coming). 

 The entirety of Revelation 12:10-14:20 begins and ends with reference to the Gospel, which gives us the main theme for today's post: The King's Conquering Gospel.  The good news in these chapters is that Jesus Christ came to conquer sin for the sake of the Gospel in His first coming and he will conquer Satan's plots through the Gospel in His second coming.

In today's post we want to focus particular attention on the King's Conquering Gospel as it is unfolded in various scriptures and in Revelation 12:10-14:20. The two main points we will use in understanding the King's Conquering Gospel are these:

1. Christ came to conquer sin. Matthew 1:23; 2:1-7; 4:17; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 27:37; 1 Peter 3:18; Matthew 28:18-20.

2. Christ is coming to conquer Satan's plots. Revelation 12:10-14:20

When we think about the King's Conquering Gospel as focusing attention on Christmas' revealed King in Revelation, we can first of all note that...

1. Christ came to conquer sin. Matthew 1:23; 2:1-7; 4:17; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 27:37; 1 Peter 3:18; Matthew 28:18-20.

What is meant by the word "Gospel" in the Bible? The Gospel's message is "goodnews". The Gospel's main focus is Jesus Christ. The Gospel's main work is to save sinners. The Gospel's main goal is God's glory. Over 100 times do we find mention of the word "gospel" in the New Testament, as well as other passages which speak of it. Whenever we talk about the Gospel, we include Who Jesus is and what He came to do in His first coming, as well as what He will do in His second coming.1  A quick sketch of the first, middle and last mentions of the word "Gospel" proves instructive in demonstrating this dual focus of the Gospel.2 

So what had Jesus Christ came to do in his first coming? Among other things, to conquer sin. Matthew 1:21 has the angel explaining to Joseph: "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 2:2 reveals that Christ in His incarnation, even as a two year-old toddler, was considered by the wise men worthy of worship. Matthew 4:17 records Jesus starting His public ministry with His conquering Gospel: "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” As Jesus healed diseases, preached the scriptures and related to people, all was setting the stage for what He would do on the cross. 

Hebrews 2:14  & 1 John 3:8 both explain how Jesus came to set us free from sin by destroying the Devil's works.  Jesus' goal in coming as most loved babe in swaddling clothes was to go to the cross as a hated, common criminal.  In Matthew 27:37 we read of how He conquered, and the words placed above his head: "And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

So how do we know that what Jesus did in His first coming succeeded? The King's Conquering Gospel is explained most clearly in 1 Peter 3:18 - "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit". So in understanding the King's conquering Gospel, we noted that Jesus Christ came the first time to conquer sin.  But now notice a second truth concerning the King's conquering Gospel....

2. Christ is coming to conquer Satan's plots. Revelation 12:10-14:20

As we turn our attention now to Revelation 12:10-14:20, we can take note of the following events witnessed by John that reveal how Jesus Christ will conquer Satan's plots by the Gospel.  Following the grand announcement from heaven concerning Satan's future final expulsion from heaven, we read in Revelation 12:12 "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.” What follows concerns Satan's 3 rebellious plots followed by Jesus Christ's defeat of those plots by the Gospel.  

a. Satan's main plots to be defeated by Jesus. Revelation 12:13-13:18

-Plot #1 Satan's future attack on Israel. 12:13-17
In the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation period (=1260 days Rev. 11:3-4; =Times, Times and half a time Rev. 12:14) Satan will be exclusively on earth, attempting to wipe out Israel and thwart God's plan to save and redeem Israel.  Of course Satan will fail in his first plot, since ultimately all Israel will be saved as the Spirit gives them grace to look in faith upon the One whom they pierced. (Romans 11:25-26; Zechariah 12:10) Thus Satan will have to resort to plots #2 and #3.

-Plot #2 Satan's front man - Anti-Christ. 13:1-10
We see John explaining the following about this ultimate rebel against Jesus Christ:
*Satanically energized. Revelation 13:1-4
*Seeks to blaspheme God, His name, His people. Rev 13:6-10
*Schemes with a secondary figure, the second beast for false prophet in deceiving the world. Revelation 13:11-14
*Strategy is to rule the world politically, economically. Revelation 13:15-18

W.A Criswell writes concerning this Anti-Christ or "first beast rising out of the sea" of Revelation 13:1-10 - "I think the figure means that the first one arises out of social chaos and revolution. In the turmoil, strife and raging conflict of races and nations and economic orders, this great final tyrant rises to preside over the might and strength of the whole earth."3


-Plot #3 Satan's false prophet. 13:11-18
Following on the heels of plot #2, Satan will launch his third enigmatic figure - the false prophet.  Anti-Christ will be Satan's front man, mainly operating more so in the political and economic sphere.  Criswell notes that this second Beast will arise out of the earth, out of an established civil order.4  Clearly by the mid-point of the tribulation the Anti-Christ will have achieved the peace sought out by the world's inhabitants. The false prophet will be raised up by Satan to provide the spiritual power and persuasion to dupe the unbelieving world into worshiping the first beast or the anti-Christ. 

b. Jesus Christ will defeat Satan's main plots through the Gospel. Revelation 14:1-20

-Jesus will defend Israel, thus defeating plot #1 through the Gospel. Revelation 7:1-9; 14:1-5

-Jesus will defeat Satan's second plot, Anti-Christ, through the Gospel. Revelation 14:6-7; 19:19-20

-Jesus will defeat Satan's third plot, the false prophet, through the Gospel. Revelation 14:8-13; 19:19-20

The amazing characteristic about Revelation 12:10-14:20 is in how it begins and ends with reference to the Gospel.  Revelation 12:10-12 predicts what will be the announcement from heaven of the goodnews.  The saints of God who will be born-again and martyred in the tribulation (as well as what could be said about church age saints who are martyred today) will be noted as having overcome by the "blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony". The blood of the Lamb refers to what Christ came to do in His first coming: conquer sin.  

We then come near to the end of Revelation 14 in 14:6 where we read of the angel announcing the Eternal Gospel.  This is the Gospel's final swan song, the final time that the good news will ever be heard on planet earth.  Sadly for those in the latter half of the tribulation who would not repent, it will be too late. Despite what clearly is an outmatching of Satan, the anti-Christ and the false prophet by Jesus Christ at His second coming, the unbelievers left will refuse to repent. 

Closing thoughts
John MacArthur notes concerning Revelation 13-14 "Rather, it stands as a warning to the unbelieving world. It challenges believers to lead careful, watchful, godly lives (cf. 1 Pet. 4:7; 2 Pet. 3:11).5  May you and I this Christmas season proclaiming the King's Conquering Gospel that Christ came to conquer sin and that Christ is coming again to conquer Satan's plots. 

Endnotes:
1. The two ordinances Jesus gave to his church to depict the Gospel: believer's baptism and the Lord's supper, emphasize both comings. In baptism I'm publicly recognizing what God did by His Spirit in calling me to prior saving faith that partakes of the power of His resurrection, the first first fruits of things to come (James 1:18) while relying on what Christ has done in His cross and resurrection. (Romans 6:4-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17) In the Lord's Supper I'm reminded in a joyful celebratory covenant meal of what Christ accomplished on the cross in His first coming while doing so until He returns. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

2. The first mention of the word "gospel" in the New Testament is found in Matthew 4:17 where Jesus begins preaching the "Gospel of the Kingdom".  The middle mention of the Gospel, the Gospel of salvation, is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 where clearly Jesus' accomplished work in His first coming is in view - (died, buried, raised according to the scriptures).  In Revelation 14:6-12 we see the final mention of the word Gospel (the Eternal Gospel)  and the combined testimony of various angels in the latter half of the tribulation period alluding to or referring to both Christ's finished work and soon return.

3. W.A Criswell. Expository Sermons on Revelation - Volume 4. Zondervan. 1966. Page 114. Undoubtedly Criswell is referring to the 1st 3 1/2 years of the whole seven year tribulation wherein the Anti-Christ makes a peace-pact with Israel in Daniel 9:26b-27a. The world will be looking for one ruler to bring order and peace to the middle east, and the Anti-Christ will be the man they will follow.

4. W.A Criswell. Expository Sermons on Revelation - Volume 4. Zondervan. 1966. Page 114. 

5. John MacArthur. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Revelation 12-22. Moody Press. 2000. Page 65