Signs and Wonders: Jesus' Ministry and Its Message

I. Christ the Anointed Prophet

I. Introduction to the Threefold Office (Munus Triplex)
Israel's anointed offices: Prophet, priest, king

II. Baptism Grounds the Anointed Offices
Baptism as Jesus' inauguration
Offices are Spirit-empowered
Each office begins in Jesus' baptism, is tested in the wilderness, unfolds in Jesus' career, climaxes on the cross, continues in the Church, and culminates on the Last Day

 

III. Jewish Prophecy
What is Jewish prophecy? (Jeremiah 1:4ff)
Speech-acts as prophetic (Hosea 1, Jeremiah 19:1ff)
The "prophet like Moses" (Deut. 18:15-19, Acts 3:18-26)

IV. Signs and Wonders of What?
Signs interpret, and need interpreting (counterexample: David Blaine)
Competing accounts of Jesus' signs: Demons; crowds; authorities; disciples

(Mark 8:27ff, Mark 1:24)

V. Jesus the Prophet
The messianic mission: Bring the Kingdom (Isaiah 61:1-2, Luke 4:18-22)
Satan's vision of prophethood: Seek a sign (Luke 4:3-4, Deut. 8:3; Matt. 12:38-39)

Beginning of Jesus' prophetic ministry (Mark 1:22, Luke 4:14-22 again)
Prophetic highlights: Doing God's work on earth
Climax: Clearing the Temple, then the cross
Summary:

The Kingdom is at hand; the end is near/here (Acts 2:19, Matt. 25:31ff)
Jesus is at its center, even as God's ultimate prophecy (John 1:18)

VI. That All Were Prophets (Num. 11:29): Jesus the Prophet, Continued
We too are prophets (Acts 2, on Joel 2; 1 Cor. 11:5; John 16:12-15; Matt. 28:20)

We are like Moses, with whom Jesus speaks clearly and not in figures

(Num. 12:6-8; Mark 4:11-12, John 16:29)

Rules of prophesying: Faithfulness to Jesus' tradition; his Church's edification

(i.e., the work of Christ; 1 Cor. 14)

As prophets, we saints reveal Jesus to each other
Continuation (John 16:12-15, Matt. 28:20, Acts 2, 1 Cor. 11:5)

VII. The Climax of Prophecy
Jesus' words bring on the final act (Rev. 5:1-5)