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

a. His opening announced his identity as the living presence of the Kingdom, Mark 1.14-15.

b. His inauguration announced his ministry as that of the Suffering Servant of YHWH, Isa. 61.1-4 (cf., Luke 4.18ff).

B. His character was matchless: all his character revealed the in-breaking of the Kingdom of God.

1. His birth and childhood revealed Jesus as the one chosen by God to bring God’s sovereign rule back to the world , cf. Luke 1.31-33.

2. His baptism and temptation reveal the depths of his own righteous character.

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a. The baptism reveals God’s divine favor, Matt. 3.16-17.

b. The temptation reveals his resolve to obey the Father to the absolute exact degree that the Father desires and demands, Matt. 4.10.

3. His entire Galilean ministry (the first year of his public ministry) was not ease and comfort, but engagement and spiritual warfare, Matt. 4.23-25.

4. He glorified the Father in all that he said and did, John 17.3-5.

5. He did precisely what the Father commanded of him; he did nothing of his own accord or authority.