The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW13

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T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

The Messiah Opposed

Segment 2: Opposition from Spiritual Forces

Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

Even though the contemporary Jewish concept of the Kingdom of God at the time of Jesus emphasized the glory of Israel and defeat of the Gentiles, Jesus came announcing the Kingdom of God as present and visible in his person and works. In the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Kingdom of God had arrived, but not in a way that the Jews had predicted. Still, in his person and through his good deed works of miracles, Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom present, and demonstrated its reality in his healings and exorcisms. Our objective for this segment, Opposition from Spiritual Forces , is to enable you to see that: • The Jewish concept of the Kingdom of God at the time of Jesus was rooted in the power and glory of the nation of Israel, and the hope of Israel to defeat their oppressing Gentile powers. • The Jewish concept further understood the Messiah as one who would come in mighty and awesome power, restoring the Kingdom of God in the material universe, and in a decisive moment of salvation would liberate humankind from the control of Satan. • Jesus’ view of the Kingdom conflicted with his contemporaries in that Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom to be present in his very person and works of power, demonstrated in his healings and exorcisms. • As the true - albeit unexpected - Messiah, Jesus opposed those underlying spiritual powers which have held the world and humanity captive since the fall.

Summary of Segment 2

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• Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the kingdom promise, and therefore as Messiah opposes the effects of the curse and the works of the kingdom of darkness.