12. Salvation God Christ Man Satan “ I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. I John 3:8 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men; the man Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:6
15. The Messiah comes to change the lineage God Satan True Father True Mother Eve Adam Sinless children Sinful Children Rebirth “ Unless one is born anew, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
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17. Complete salvation Messiah Spirit Body Spiritual Salvation Physical Salvation Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
18. What were the Jewish people expecting 2000 years ago? Egyptians Assyrians Greeks Romans Babylonians Persians
26. Zechariah’s family Elizabeth Zechariah Mary John Baptist Jesus Joseph Abraham Jacob Hagar Rachel Sarah Leah Archangel Cain At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:39
30. Foundation to receive the Messiah Jewish people John Baptist God (Abel) (Cain) Foundation of faith Central figure: John the Baptist Conditional object: Word Period: 400 years Foundation of substance Central figure: John Baptist Indemnity condition: remove fallen nature Love, Respect, Submit and Multiply goodness
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39. Second foundation for messiah Jewish people Jesus God (Abel) (Cain) Foundation of faith Central figure: Jesus in place of John Baptist Conditional object: 3 temptations Period: 40 day fast Foundation of substance Central figure: Jesus Indemnity condition: remove fallen nature Love, Respect, Submit and Multiply goodness
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44. Jesus baptises Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptised. John was also baptising at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were baptised. John 3:22-23
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62. The problem Jesus John the Baptist Jewish people ? Jesus: “ John is Elijah” John: “ I’m not Elijah”
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64. The significance of John John as Elijah Supports Jesus Denies Jesus Jesus accepted Jesus in difficulty John’s ignorance of God’s providence, which led him to insist that he was not Elijah, became the principal reason why the Jewish people did not come to Jesus. EDP, 126
Before we examine the life of Jesus we need to remind ourselves of God’ original will, his purpose of creation. The original will is in the theology of creation. Too often we focus on salvation. God had a dream, a vision and ideal. He wanted to create beings like himself with which he could share his love and everything. So God created human beings as his children in his image and likeness so that he could enjoy a relationship of love with us.
These three fold blessings are a central concept in the Bible. God gave these blessings to Adam and Eve and later to Noah and Abraham
Goal is to be perfect, “You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Mt. Due to fall came under the dominion of Satan. Instead of God as parent worshipped other gods. Rejected God’s way of life – purity, honesty, goodness and embraced Satan’s way of life – impurity, selfishness, dishonesty, murder, violence. Resemble Satan more than resemble God. “ You are of your father the devil and your will is to do your father’s desires.”
In the garden of Eden was the archangel Lucifer who rebelled against God and refused to bow down to Adam and Eve who he did not respect. Lucifer undermined Eve’s faith and tempted her to disobey God’s commandment. In giving into her desire for the fruit she turned away from God and become self-centred. Eve offered the fruit to Adam and he also disobeyed God’s commandment and ate it. Through this Adam and Eve became slaves to sin and Satan came to rule humanity. People came to be part of SATAN’s lineage. “You are of your father the devil.” People born with original sin. Dominated by physical desire. Finding identity in idolatry, false and empty religion, nationalism etc. This broke God’s heart. But God looked forward to the day when everything would be put right.
Because the fall was man’s fault, man has to restore it not God’s. So the messiah is a person – not God. He is a perfect person so fully human and fully divine
Have to cut off from Satan – at the risk of life deny Satan’s way of life and follow the Messiah. Leave the dead to bury the dead. Complete, unconditional self denial and sacrifice. Cut off all ties to Satan.
The messiah means the anointed one. The Jews had a very clear vision of what the messiah’s job was – to liberate Israel and establish peace and justice
The messiah comes to bring salvation to the individual, family, society, nation and world – to be a light. He comes to ‘set the captives free’, to release people from from Satan’s sovereignty into the freedom of the sovereignty of God. to restore the fall of man, destroy Satan’s soverngity and establish ideal family and peace
One of the messiah’s titles is Everlasting Father. The messiah comes to establish God’s original ideal – Kingdom of Heaven. To do this he has to save people from their sin, to restore people back to the position they would have had before the fall – i.e. sinless and able to give birth to children without original sin. Change people from Satan’s lineage to God’s lineage. This is why have to be born again. Jesus came as the second Adam, as the True Father to sinful people. When Jesus forgave sins he referred to himself as the father of those he healed. Mt 9:2,22 Wild olive trees grafted onto true olive tree.
The messiah doesn’t just come to liberate the Jewish people but the whole world. Prisoners of Satan living in ignorance. Jewish people for the world
Jesus prayed was for spiritual and physical salvation
The Jews were longing for the messiah to come. They had been occupied or controlled by one foreign power after another for 1000 years – the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and finally the Romans. The last two in particular had tried hard to destroy and undermine the Jewish religion. As a result the Jewish people longed for freedom and independence. They longed for a deliverer and were expecting God to send the messiah.
On the oft chance that people wouldn’t recognize and accept the Messiah and thus be cursed, God said he would send the prophet Elijah to prepare the way for him. Elijah was the greatest of the Old Testament, second only to Moses. He lived during the period of the divided kingdoms and his mission was to separate the people from Satan by exposing the emptiness of idol worship and destroying the priests of Baal. Unfortunately he was unable to complete his mission and it was passed on to his follower Elisha. The next 400 years from Malachi until the birth of Jesus was a time for the people to prepare to receive the messiah by rejecting idol worship and uniting in worshipping God and living according to the Torah. Picture is Malachi - Ezra the Scribe
An angel spoke to Zechariah and told him that his wife Elizabeth would have a child who they were to call John and prophesied that he would be the Elijah figure foretold by Malachi.
John’s father Zechariah prophesied that John would be the one to prepare the way for the Messiah. Prepare the way for what – for Christ to be accepted. John’s mission wasn’t to prepare the people to reject and kill him. As it says in John his job was to bear witness that all might believe.
John the Baptist was the person foretold by Malachi. His job was to prepare the people so that they would believe in and follow the Messiah when he came so that he could realise the vision of Isaiah. In Biblical Hebrew, the idea of repentance is represented by two verbs: שוב shuv (to return) and נחם nicham (to feel sorrow). Sincere repentance is manifested when the same temptation to sin, under the same conditions, is ever after resolutely resisted "The Holy One, blessed be His name, said to Elijah, 'Behold, the precious gift which I have bestowed on my world: though a man sins again and again, but returns in penitence, I will receive him'" (Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 28b). "Great is repentance: it brings healing into the world"; "it reaches to the throne of God" (Hosea 14:2, 5); "it brings redemption" (Isaiah 59:20); "it prolongs man's life" (Ezekiel 18:21; Talmud Yoma 86a). "Repentance and works of charity are man's intercessors before God's throne" (Talmud Sabbath 32a). Sincere repentance is equivalent to the rebuilding of the Temple, the restoration of the altar, and the offering of all the sacrifices repentance is the prerequisite of atonement No one need despair on account of his or her sins, for every penitent sinner is graciously received by God. (Jeremiah 31:9). Jewish doctrine holds that it is never too late, even on the day of death, to return to God with sincere repentance for "as the sea is always open for every one who wishes to cleanse himself, so are the gates of repentance always open to the sinner" [13]. Jewish doctrine states that the hand of God is continually stretched out to receive a sinner [14]. One view in the Talmud holds that a repentant sinner attains a more exalted spiritual eminence than one who has never sinned (Talmud Berakhoth 34b.) It is a sin to taunt a repentant sinner by recalling their former sinful ways
Shortly after Elizabeth conceived John, her cousin Mary also received a visit from an angel who told her that she too would bear a son called Jesus: This is similar to the vision of Isaiah. No hint here of the cross being the purpose 36. But when she was delivered of it, she said: 'O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!' - and Allah knew best what she brought forth - 'and nowise is the male like the female. I have named her Mariam, and I commit her and her offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One, the rejected.' 37. So her Lord accepted her with a gracious acceptance: He made her grow in purity and beauty: to the care of Zakariya was she assigned. Every time Zakariya entered her chamber to see her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: 'O Mariam! Whence (comes) this to you?' She replied: 'from Allah; surely Allah provides sustenance to whom He pleases without measure'. "
Anne is Mary’s mother. She wanted a boy to offer to the Temple. But had a girl. She expected Mary to have children but wanted them to be pure and protected from Satan. According to the Qur’an Mary was given to Zechariah the priest to be looked after. She grew up in a room and he was the only person who visited her bringing her food etc.
Josephcould have dumped Mary but didn’t. good man. Some say shouldn’t have gone on to have sexual relations with Mary. Did had other children. How to experience sibling love if no bros, sis. James, brother of Jesus, became head of church in Jerusalem after death of Jesus. Other relatives killed 70.113 AD
As the messiah Jesus wanted to prepare for his mission by studying with religious scholars and leaders to learn and also to get to know them.
You can see in this painting by Simone Martini the tension between Jesus and his parents. Jesus is clearly angry with them for not realising where he would be and also for taking him away. They should have supported him to stay there. Other verses that show that Jesus’ family didn’t support him: “ And Jesus said [to his mother], ‘Woman, what have you to do with me?’” John 2:4. “ His mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man that told him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? . . . For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.’” Matthew 12:46-50. “ For even his brothers did not believe in him.” John 7:5. “ And when his friends heard it they went out to seize him, for they said, ‘He is beside himself.’” Mark 3:2
John B representing Elijah - strong life of faith. Preached. Peopled followed him Messiah came
John created some a powerful impression by his ascetic lifestyle and message that he wonder the respect of even the religious leaders who even thought he might be the Messiah himself.
For some reason John denied the mission that had been revealed to his father. This was to have serious consequences for Jesus Maybe didn’t want mission. Too hard. Difficult relations with father? Over expectations?
John baptises Jesus and declared “behold the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” John 1:29 Picture by Ivanov
With his acceptance by the Jewish people Jesus would have united with other religious groups in the East that were awaiting a saviour too and finally convert and transform the people of the Roman empire.
There is no record of John following Jesus. On the contrary the only time he is mentioned it is doing something different to Jesus. After the 3 temptations
Did 1ohn have difficult relationship with father? If father told him he was John was deny?
1 st temptation – overcame the temptation of the flesh – turning stone into bread – c.f. Adam and Eve who gave into physical desire – established mind – body unity. Dt 8:3 Man shall not live by bread alone 2 nd temptation – overcame temptation to think he could violate the law (of gravity) (fall off the temple) with impunity – without suffering the consequences. Adam and Eve thought they could break God’s commandment, Fall, and not die. You shall not test the lord your God Dt. 6:16 “ You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Dt 6:16 3 rd temptation – overcame the temptation to gain power at the compromising integrity. Means – ends. You shall worship the lord your God and him only will you serve. Dt 6:13 Temptation Satan approached when Jesus alone, isolated Son of god can do as he pleases. At baptism Jesus definded as pleasing God Jesus responds with exact quote of the divine word
1 st temptation – overcame the temptation of the flesh – turning stone into bread – c.f. Adam and Eve who gave into physical desire – established mind – body unity. Dt 8:3 Man shall not live by bread alone 2 nd temptation – overcame temptation to think he could violate the law (of gravity) (fall off the temple) with impunity – without suffering the consequences. Adam and Eve thought they could break God’s commandment, Fall, and not die. You shall not test the lord your God Dt. 6:16 “ You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Dt 6:16 3 rd temptation – overcame the temptation to gain power at the compromising integrity. Means – ends. You shall worship the lord your God and him only will you serve. Dt 6:13 Temptation Satan approached when Jesus alone, isolated Son of god can do as he pleases. At baptism Jesus definded as pleasing God Jesus responds with exact quote of the divine word
Preaching the kingdom was the good news. Theologians and Bible scholars agree that the imminent kingdom was the chief message of Jesus. So many kingdom verses
To restore the lost foundation established by John, Jesus also started to baptising people .
There were also disagreements about fasting Mt. 9:14 Also about purifying Jn. 3:25
Had John been about his Father’s business – namely supporting and following Jesus he wouldn’t have been arrested Without John’s support Jesus’ mission became more difficult. He needed John to be actively testifying to him. Anyway Jesus got on with his job.
Meanwhile, Jesus burst onto the scene and galvanised the people. Rembrandt’s 100 Guilder Print. Gospel of the kingdom
The ordinary people were attracted to Jesus
After feeding 5000
The constitution of the Kingdom of God. The popularity that Jesus had soon led to jealousy from the traditional religious leaders
Despite or maybe because of his popularity among ordinary people, some of the religious leaders who attended Jesus’ meeting to listen to him were becoming increasingly sceptical and critical of his teaching and actions. When he said to the cripple lowered through the roof, “Your sins are forgiven” they were shocked as they believed that only God had the authority to forgive sins. So Jesus did miracles as a way to prove to the sceptical religious leaders that he had authority from God for what he was saying and doing. He didn’t need to die to forgive sins. He could forgive them because he was who he was. If John had followed him he would not have had to do miracles.
The work of God was to believe in Jesus. And what of John? Did he continue to believe in Jesus?
At the same time Jesus told his disciples not to proclaim him as the messiah.
Messiah a very political concept. What would the Romans think about that? From 4 B.C. to A.D. 135, several Jews (including Jesus) claimed to be the "Messiah". The announcement of each new "Messiah" was accompanied by an armed struggle against the Romans. Each of the Messiahs was executed (crucified) by Roman authorities without a trial. The Romans used instant punishment with immediate crucifixion as a public warning and deterrent against the Messiahs' inspiration for a Jewish revolt against Roman rule. Philo wrote that Pilate's tenure was associated with "briberies, insults, robberies, outrages, wanton injustices, constantly repeated executions without trial, and ceaseless and grievous cruelty." Claiming to be the "Messiah" was a capital offence. Jesus didn’t have the foundation in occupied Palestine to be proclaimed the Messiah.
Now some time later John sent disciples to Jesus. By this question John reveals that he is no longer sure that Jesus was the messiah. He is doubting revelation he received. By asking the question publicly he is undermining the testimony he gave at Jesus’ baptism. This meant that people who respected John would also start having second thoughts about Jesus. If even John was unsure, why should they follow? They would now also have legitimate reasons not to believe in Jesus
Jesus couldn’t say “Yes, I am the messiah” without discrediting himself completely. So he asks John to judge him by his deeds. “You shall know them by their fruits.” Jesus’ comment that the ‘poor have the good news preached to them’ is full of irony. He is not happy that he is not preaching to the religious leaders – the rich people who ought to have had the foundation to be able to understand him - which he would have been doing if he had had John’s support. Picture Samuel van Hoogstraten “St. John the Baptist in Prison receives Christ ’ s answer”
John didn’t make it into heaven. Not because belonged to previous dispensation but because he didn’t obey and follow Jesus.
Jesus implied that it was John’s fault that the kingdom of heaven was not established. Immediately after this Jesus condemns the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for rejecting him. All three were destroyed by earthquakes and never rebuilt.
Jesus was very upset about the death of John because it meant that the person who was supposed to tell everyone about him was now dead. This meant that his mission became much more difficult and that there was a real possibility that he would be rejected. Salome danced for John’s head
Now comes the famous Elijah problem. Malachi’s prophecy was that before the Messiah came, Elijah would come. If there is no Elijah anyone claiming to be the Messiah must be an impostor.
John had denied that he was Elijah. Jesus said that he was the Elijah. Only one could be correct or telling the truth. Who were the people to believe? John’s public questioning of Jesus did huge damage to Jesus’ mission.
With his acceptance by the Jewish people Jesus would have united with other religious groups in the East that were awaiting a saviour too and finally convert and transform the people of the Roman empire.
As it emphasises is the Gospel of John, it was John’s job to bear witness to Jesus. But he didn’t do it properly. So Jesus was left unprotected and vulnerable. Picture Holman Hunt
