A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

4. Jesus’ relationship to the Father: unqualified pleasure, Matt. 12.18 – “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.”

VI. The Temptation of Jesus

Matt. 4.4 But he answered,

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’“ Mark 1.12-13 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.[13] And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

A. Biblical citations: Matt. 4.1-11; Mark 1.12-13; Luke 4.1-13

1. The doctrine of recapitulation : Jesus fulfilled perfectly in his own life the history of Israel in every way.

2. Israel’s history is recapitulated in the person of Jesus Christ, that is, it reoccurs in prophetic vision and perfect obedience.

3. Example: the calling of Israel out of Egypt, Matt. 2.13-15 – Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” [14] And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt [15] and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

a. Jesus is identified with the nation, as the Lord’s firstborn son, Exod. 4.22 – Then you shall say to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord, Israel is my first born son.”