Signs and Wonders: Jesus' Ministry and Its Message

III. Christ the Anointed King

I. Jewish Monarchy
Jewish kings: A gigantic failure to trust God as king (1 Sam. 8:1-22)
Only Josiah lived up to expectations (2 Kings 22:1-23:30)
King David went "fully after God" (1 Kings 11:4-5, 2 Sam. 6:14-23)
Successors lose David's dynasty
David's eternal restoration becomes the dream (Ps. 89:4, 132:11)

How can the kingdom of Israel be reconciled to the Kingdom of God?

II. Jesus the King
At birth: Davidic lineage (Matt. 1:1-17), born king (Matt. 2:2)
At baptism: "You are my Son" (Ps. 2), meaning God's heir
Mission: Restoring the Kingdom of David as the Kingdom of God
Satan's vision of royalty: Reject God as King

(Luke 4:5-8, cf. Ps. 2:7-11, Deut. 6:10-15, 1 Sam. 8:1-22)

Beginning of Jesus' royal ministry: Calling twelve disciples

(Matt. 4:17-22, Mark 1:14-20, Luke 5:1-11, John 1:35-51)

Royal highlights: Announcing and bringing the Kingdom of God

(Matt. 12:28/Luke 11:20, Luke 17:21)

III. The Kingdom of God
A public kingdom: Not just new inner selves, but a new politics, a new world of holy relationships
Jesus associates with sinners and the impure (Mark 2:16), breaks tradition (Mark 2:23-28, 7:1-13), becomes famous for it (Matt. 11:19)
Sinners enter his new order simply by following him, not by "repentance"
Jesus' signs inaugurate the Kingdom with power (Mark 6:51-52, 8:1-10, 9:1)

IV. Jesus the King: The Last Week
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem: "Your king comes"

(Mark 11:10, cf. Ps. 118:26; Matt. 21:5/John 12:15, cf. Zech. 9:9)

The outcome as the parable of the vineyard (Mark 12:1-12)
Cross: The Roman execution of a "king" (Matt. 27:11, 27:29, 27:37, 27:42)

V. At the Right Hand of the Father
Jesus gets the Kingdom at Ascension/Pentecost (Acts 2:33-36, Ps. 110)
"Our friend the king": A relationship of both intimacy and power

VI. Ruling Through Us: Jesus the King, Continued
The twelve continue to exercise leadership in Jesus' kingdom
Our keys are the keys to the Kingdom (Matt. 16:18-19)
Jesus shares his rule with us (Rev. 3:21, 5:10):

Authority now (1 Cor. 5:12-13, Luke 10:17-20)
Crowns later (1 Cor. 9:25, James 1:12, 1 Pet. 5:4, Rev. 2:10, 3:11, 4:10)
We (like Jesus) are servant-kings, not "kings of the nations" (Rom. 8:15-17)

V. The Climax of Kingship
We judge (1 Cor. 6:3) and reign with Christ forever (Rev. 22:1-5)