Zooming Out: The Bible as Story of the King

Intro

Last time together we discussed that value of one piece of the puzzle gains clarity and meaning truly only in light of the whole puzzle

We can make guesses at the whole puzzle - and may even be right some of the time - by looking at single pieces of the puzzle

But at the end, they are still just guesses

Instead, most of have some formal or informal rules we use to put together a puzzle

Look at cover to see what puzzle is supposed to look like

Turn pieces all face up

Find the corners and then the edge pieces

Group pieces by patterns, colors, etc.

Transition

Challenge from my perspective is that we often try and read the Bible the same way as we look at a single puzzle piece

We guess

We study a single small portion of the Bible in isolation without first putting together the frame

That’s my desire for us

Parts of the Bible

The Bible

Old and New Testaments

Book of the Bible

Scenes / Sections of a book

Episodes

Chapter

Paragraph

Verse

Sentence

Phrase

Word

Activity

In one sentence, write down your definition of the gospel?

What is the gospel?

Pass out index cards - give opportunity to share

The Lede: The Bible is about King Jesus

We work paragraph down, maybe chapter down

But we rarely zoom out and look at the frame around those smaller pieces

Thesis: The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, tells the singular story of God establishing his kingdom here on the earth and installing Jesus as the king forever.

My definition of the gospel: In Christ, God is expanding his kingdom throughout the world, redeeming his elect from sin and indwelling them with his Spirit.

Scripture Reading: Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus as the Great King

All things concerning himself

Bible is about Jesus

Whole Bible can and should be read through the person and work of Jesus

But I think we can narrow it down a little further

Specifically, Jesus as King

In many ways, this is the cover to the puzzle - Jesus as King

From his birth to his death, gospels set forth Jesus as the King

At angel’s appearing to Mary

Luke 1:31–33 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.””

At his birth, Magi inquire of Herod

Matthew 2:2 “saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.””

At his trial

John 18:33–37 “So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.””

At his death

John 19:19 “Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.””

Jesus’ Preoccupation with Kingdom of God

Not only do the gospels set forth Jesus as king, but they also reveal his preoccupation with the kingdom of God

Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 5:3, 6:10, 6:33

Luke 1:33, 11:20, 13:18-20, 14:15, 18:16

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Our First Priority

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

In total, ESV has 116 verses with the word “kingdom” in the gospels

Kingdom of God vs. Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew always uses term “kingdom of heaven” while Mark and Luke both use “kingdom of God”

Is there a difference?

Let me suggest difference is primarily audience

Luke, for example, was writing to Gentiles, so he used the more generic “God” that Gentiles could relate to

Matthew, on the other hand, was writing to Jews, who held the name “God” highly and often substituted word heaven for it

Point: no difference in the meanings of the expressions

My Contention

Expansion of the kingdom of God on the earth is the point of all of history

God didn’t create the world to have a place to show his love or to make people who could choose to love him

He created the world to establish his kingdom on it!

Think already about how that shapes the way we read the Bible!

So let me ask: how does the centrality of the kingdom shape the way we read the Bible?