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

Ses s i on 3: The Gospe l s : The Man i fes tat i on of Chr i s t , Par t I I 77

diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. [22] And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. [23] And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 3. His verification of Zacchaeus’ salvation, Luke 19.8-10 – And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” [9] And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

4. His complete identification with the poor at the last judgment, Matt. 25.34-40, (Matt. 25.40 – And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”)

IV. The Messiahship of Jesus Is Revealed through the Mighty Power of His Works

Our Lord’s ministry and announcement of the Good News of the King dom were characterized by healing, and most notably by the casting out of demons. He proclaimed the Good News of the Kingdom of God, and he demonstrated the Good News of the Kingdom of God by delivering men from the bondage of Satan . . . What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? What means the announcement that the Kingdom of God has come near? It is this: that God is now acting among men to deliver them from bondage to Satan. It is the announcement that God, in the person of Christ, is doing something–if you please, is attacking the very kingdom of Satan himself. The exorcism of demons is proof that the Kingdom of God has come among men and is at work among them. The casting out of demons is itself a work of the Kingdom of God. ~ George Eldon Ladd. The Gospel of the Kingdom . p. 47.