Sunday, May 4, 2008

THE KING DID OFFER THE KINGDOM

THE OFFER AND REJECTION OF THE KING AND THE KINGDOM

There are so many different interpretations and explanations regarding the kingdom; what it is, where it is and when it is, etc. I would like to share a study on the King and His kingdom as I understand it in Scripture.

The King and the kingdom are inseparably joined in Scripture. Many would have gladly received the kingdom and its blessings, but they refused Jesus as King. They resented the call to repentance, assuming they were entitled to the kingdom because they were “sons of Abraham.”

JESUS AND THE KINGDOM MESSAGE

The first recorded conversation of Christ about the kingdom is with Nicodemus:

John 3:3, 5

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
KJV

Nicodemus did not understand what this meant, so Jesus explained:

John 3:6

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
KJV

A new birth is the foundational requirement for all those who would have a part in Christ’s kingdom for it brings together the Messiah’s work as Saviour and King, and solves the sin problem which must be taken care of first. The benefits of Christ’s work are received by believing or trusting in Him (John 3:16).

Israel had tried to keep the law and enter into the promises made in the Mosaic covenant, but had found themselves totally incapable. To meet this need, God promised, in the new covenant, forgiveness of sins and that the Spirit of God would work in the hearts and indwell believers. This is what Jesus spoke of as being born again. It is not only necessary for a person to be born again to see or enter Christ’s kingdom but also to receive eternal life. It is obtained by faith. In the first summer of Jesus’ ministry following His discourse with Nicodemus, Jesus and John the Baptist carried on parallel ministries in the land of Judea, where they preached that “the kingdom of God is at hand.” When John publicly reproved Herod Antipas for living wit his brother’s wife, Herod put John into prison. Jesus returned to Galilee and taught in the synagogues, saying:

Mark 1:15

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
KJV

[See also Matt. 4:17; Luke 4:15. It would be interesting to consider what the “gospel” is].

It is important to see that Jesus presented Himself as the King and offered the kingdom unto Israel. This can be traced through every period of His ministry.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave His standard of righteousness for the kingdom:

Matt 5:20

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
KJV

The scribes and Pharisees thought they were alright and that they alone would be accepted by God because of their knowledge of the law and their many traditions. (Does that have any similarities to the religious leaders of today? Most preachers don’t want to hear anything about the kingdom and even if they do they explain it their way and not according to Scripture). But Jesus was actually saying, “This is not enough. You must be born again. You must have the righteousness that I alone can give.” In Matthew 5 Jesus taught that outward conformity to the law and traditions was not enough. God requires an inward conformity to the law as promised I the new covenant in order to enter His kingdom. In chapter 6 He said that religious observances are not enough, and in addition, they are often done in a hypocritical manner. The teaching brought Him into sharp conflict with the scribes and Pharisees. (The more things change, the more they remain the same).

SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM

Jesus’ ministry was validated by sign-miracles which can be divided into four main classes:
1.Miracles/signs of nature
2.Miracles/signs of physical healing
3.Miracles/signs over demons
4.Miracles/signs over death

Starting in the spring of A.D. 27, when Jesus changed water into wine, He performed sign/miracles in every period of His ministry. These sign/miracles had at least a threefold purpose: (1) they showed that He was God, (2) they brought kingdom conditions wherever He ministered, [remember He was the King offering the kingdom to Israel], and (3) they fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.

KINGDOM CONDITIONS FORESHADOWED

It is interesting to compare the results of these miracles with the prophesied conditions of the kingdom. For instance, turning water into wine and feeding the four thousand and the five thousand points to times of plenty. The land will be very productive and there will not be famine or lack of food in the coming kingdom.

The physical healing reminds us of the prophecy that life will be greatly extended and the curse of disease lifted. The casting out of demons foreshadows the time in the kingdom when Satan will be bound and the forces of evil greatly restricted. The sign/miracles over death remind us that the believers who have died will be raised to have their part in the kingdom, and eventually death itself will be abolished.

FULFILLING OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES

After John the Baptist had been in jail about a year, he began to wonder if Jesus was really the Messiah, so he sent some of his disciples to ask. Jesus performed a special series of sign/miracles that day to answer their question and told them to go back and tell John:

Luke 7:22

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
KJV

These were the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah – His credentials (Isa. 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1).

A few weeks before Jesus had healed a leper and sent him down to Jerusalem to show himself to the priest. The leper was to be a special testimony to them, but the Jewish leaders did not receive this testimony (Mark 1:40-44). Two years later, just before He was crucified, Jesus healed ten more lepers and told them to do the same thing. One was a Samaritan, so it is doubtful that he would go to Jerusalem, but this would still be a ninefold sign/miracle to prove His Messiahship (Luke 17:11-19).

A careful study of sign/miracles should give us a better understanding of their purpose and when understood there will be no need to try to mimic them today. Signs were for the Jews, and they all had reference to the kingdom offered to them:

1 Cor 1:22

22 For the Jews require a sign , and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
KJV

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