The Rescue Story

The Rescue Story (Why Did Jesus Die) To many Christians it would make little or no difference if Jesus had been born and shortly afterwards been crucified and resurrected. Are the Gospels simply a long preface to the crucifixion, or do they tell a much bigger story? A Strange Combination “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Acts.2:23 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. Acts 4:27-28 We have read Jesus through Paul rather than Paul through Jesus. The gospels have an atonement message that is told in narrative form, rather than dogma. Kingdom of God…67x in NT, 53x in the gospels Kingdom of heaven…33x in NT, 31x in gospel of Matthew The cross is the cross of the king of the Jews. The kingdom of God is salvation (Paul) saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22 In the ministry of Jesus, He proclaimed the availability of eternal life (life in the kingdom of God) At the cross, He secured the kingdom of God Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jn.12:31-32 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Jn.19:30 At the Resurrection, He launched the kingdom Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jn.20:15 Jesus’ tomb was in a garden. The new creation was launched in the midst of the old creation And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ II Cor.4:3-6 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. II Cor.5:17 Listening to the Evangelists All four tell the story of Jesus as Israel’s God returning at last Mark The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” Mk.1:1-3 John In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-5,14 Matthew “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Mt.1:23 I am with you always, to the end of the age. Mt.28:20 Luke And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. Luke 1:35 Luke And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 9:41-44 What is God Like? Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Heb.1:1-3 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Jn.14:9 God’s Compassion and Love Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mt.11:28-29 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. Jn.13:1 The Balancing Element in this Portrait of Jesus The progressive buildup of hostility (evil) towards Him, His message and His works… Matthew: Herod’s scheme to kill baby Jesus Mark: The Pharisees and Herodians plotting against Jesus early on Luke: The people of Nazareth wanting to throw Jesus off a cliff John: Jesus is a marked man as early as the Temple incident in chapter 2 The four gospels tell not only the story of God’s kingdom being inaugurated, but also the story of how evil draws itself up to its height so that it can then be defeated by the Messiah And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” Mk.1:23-25 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Mt.12:28-29 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him… So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Jn.13:1-2, 26-27 How Jesus Became King A Power Play Mt.20:17-28 Jesus and Pilate Jn. 18:33-38 Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” None of the rulers of this age understood this (the wisdom of God), for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. I Cor.2:8 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Heb.2:14-15 “Jesus was not the kind of revolutionary who would call for 12 legions of angels, sweep all his enemies away in a moment…the revolution he accomplished was the victory of a strange new power, the power of covenant love, a covenant love winning its victory not over suffering, but through suffering. This meant that the victory would have to be implemented in the same way, proceeding from a slow road of love rather than a quick road of sudden conquest. That is what the sermon on the mount was all about” NT Wright “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Mt.5:38-39 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Mt 5:43-44 “It is generous love, Jesus shaped love, that draws people into the Christian family in the first place, not the complex crossword puzzles of subtle theologians.” Wright And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mt.28:18-20