Kingdom Disciples

Following his baptism in the Jordan, the voice from heaven identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Servant of Yahweh . The theme of fulfillment is prominent in Matthew’s gospel. In Jesus of Nazareth, the promises of God have found their prophesied fulfillments. He is the Son of God, the one who is destined to rule the nations of the Earth, albeit in unexpected and unprecedented ways.

Jesus is revealed as the Savior of Mankind in his sufferings and self-sacrificial death for others, including his enemies . The inability of men to recognize Jesus as the Son of God until after his crucifixion is a key theme of the Gospel of Mark . Ironically, the first man who did so was the Roman centurion on duty at Christ’s execution. The self-identification of Jesus as the suffering “ Son of Man ” made him unrecognizable to unregenerate men. He was the Savior no one expected or, frankly, wanted.

The sovereignty of Jesus began with his exaltation to the Messianic Throne following his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension – Psalms 110:1. The New Testament connects the enthronement of Jesus to his Resurrection and Ascension by applying key prophetic texts to his life. The Son of God qualified to reign from God’s “ right hand ” because of his “ obedience unto death ,” this was confirmed when God raised him from the dead, and he therefore reigns over the Cosmos with a crown of thorns, so to speak.

Following his Resurrection, Jesus began his reign from the Messianic Throne as prophesied by David – Psalm 2:6-9. Only Jesus is the Messiah and King of Israel, only he is God’s Anointed. There will never be another , and all competing claimants to this designation are imposters and liars. This same Jesus reigns over the Earth today. His Kingdom is a present reality, and his reign will be consummated when he returns – (1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Revelation 1:4-6).

The New Testament applies messianic and royal promises from the Psalms to Christ’s present reign. He alone is, present tense, Lord and Messiah! Since his Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus has reigned as absolute Lord over the Earth. He is seated on the Messianic Throne where he reigns supreme from “ Mount Zion ” as promised by the God of Israel. Because of his “ obedience until death ,” Christ is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth ” who possesses “ all authority in Heaven and on Earth .” His sovereignty knows no bounds.

Jesus is the only true Light of the World, and his light shines all the brighter amidst the darkness that tyrannizes the present age. All competing claims are false . “ Life ” is found in the “ Word ” or ‘ Logos ’ (λογος), and this life is the “ Light of men .” The Light is “ shining in the darkness ,” and the darkness “ cannot seize ” or suppress it. This same “ Word ” has become the Living Word of God in Jesus of Nazareth, in whom the glory, salvation, and life of God are manifested for all men to see - (John 1:1).

Christ’s reign from the Messianic Throne began following his Death, Resurrection, and Exaltation to God’s presence – Psalms 110:1. The New Testament links Christ’s enthronement to his Resurrection and subsequent Exaltation by applying key Messianic texts to his life. He qualified to reign from God’s “ right hand ” because of his “ obedience until death, even death on the Cross .” This was confirmed when God raised him from the dead and seated him “ at His right hand ” where he now rules over the Universe.

The figure of the Son of Man in the Book of Daniel is the source of Christ’s self-designation, the Son of Man . The term “ Son of Man ” is the self-designation found most often on the lips of Jesus. It is derived from Daniel’s vision of the one “ like a Son of Man ” who received the “ dominion and kingdom ” from the “ Ancient of Days .” All the tribes of the Earth will mourn when “ they see  the Son of man  coming on the clouds of Heaven .”

The conspiracy by the Earth’s kings to unseat the Messiah is applied in the New Testament to the plot to destroy Jesus – Psalm 2:1-6. The Second Psalm is a key passage applied to Jesus multiple times in the New Testament. When were its predictions fulfilled, and is the Messiah reigning now on David’s Throne? Is the world still waiting for his enthronement at a future date? What about the “ revolt ” of nations and kings against the Son of God? Is it a prediction of a coming war between Jesus and earthly governments - (Psalm 2:1-6)?

As they approached Jerusalem, Jesus questioned his disciples:  “ Who do men say that I am? ”  The Gospel of Mark declares that he was “ ON THE WAY ” and does so at least nine times. His unrelenting march to Jerusalem echoed the words of Isaiah the Prophet: “ Behold, I send my messenger before your face who will prepare your way .” He was on the road to Calvary and death on the Cross.

The Gospel of Mark opens with a declaration based on passages in the Hebrew Bible, providing the scriptural basis for the ministry of John the Baptist, and setting the stage for the mission of Jesus. In this way, Mark’s account begins on a note of fulfillment. This man from Nazareth was the Messiah and Savior promised by the God of Israel in the Scriptures.

Jesus is the Anointed Son of God, and from the start, his life was characterized by the empowering presence of the Spirit .  When  an angel  informed  Joseph that  the child carried by   Mary was  “ conceived   of the Holy Spirit ,” it indicated that something more than just a miraculous birth was about to unfold. From the beginning, the activity of the Spirit dominated the life of Jesus of Nazareth.  He was “ Jesus, the one called Christ ,” the “ Anointed One ,” the long-awaited Messiah of Israel.

The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus, Son, Messiah, and the Servant of the LORD . Jesus first appears in the Gospel of Mark when John baptizes him in the Jordan River. The account identifies him with his hometown, Nazareth, a village of no consequence, though its insignificance plays a role in the story. He is the “ Servant of the LORD ” anointed by the Spirit, but he does not conform to popular expectations about the Messiah.

Jesus is the Son of David and heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh . The  Gospel of Matthew  declares Jesus to be the promised “ Son of David .” This same Jesus demonstrated what it means to be the King of Israel, especially through his sacrificial death. Traditionally and scripturally, the hoped-for ideal king was linked to the House of David. With the arrival of the Nazarene, that understanding was forever altered.

Jesus is the Son of Abraham and the heir of the promises, the One who fulfills and implements the inheritance for his people . The introduction to the Gospel of Matthew declares Jesus to be the “ Son of Abraham ,” the descendant destined to fulfill the covenant promises made to the Patriarch, Abraham. His identification as the Son of Abraham s tresses the theme of fulfillment. Through Jesus, the promises become reality.

The name ‘Jesus’ means “Yahweh saves.” In this man, the Salvation promised by the God of Abraham has arrived . The child carried by Mary was “ begotten of the Holy Spirit .” The angel instructed Joseph to name this child ‘Jesus’: “ Call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins .” His name pointed to the saving act of God that was about to unfold in History.

In Mark’s Gospel, no one recognizes who Jesus is except demons. Only in his death on a Roman cross was his identity understood by men . In Galilee, the disciples witnessed Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, forgive sins, and even calm violent storms, supernatural acts performed with great authority. However, his words and deeds produced confusion over his identity, and therefore, the question was asked by many, “ Who is this man ?” Only at his execution did a human being finally recognize who he was.

At the end of his journey, his destination was the Temple in the center of the city.  The next several stories prepare the reader for his final days, A full third of Mark’s gospel account concerns the events of that week that culminate in his death and resurrection. All that preceded his arrival in the city was moving inexorably forward to his arrest, trial, and execution in the city of David and the prophets.

The Transfiguration confirms his status as the Messiah and the necessity for Jesus to suffer before receiving glory - Mark 9:2-13.  In Mark , the Transfiguration begins with the clause “ after six days ,” a link to the preceding story where Peter acknowledges Jesus is the Messiah. In response, Christ explains the true meaning of discipleship. To follow him, a man must “ deny himself and take up his cross ” just as the “ Son of Man ” did.

Despite his miracle of calming a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Christ’s disciples still could not recognize who he was  – Mark 4:35-41. After teaching the multitude, Jesus left the area to cross the Sea of Galilee, but a violent storm descended suddenly on the lake, frightening the disciples. Storms were common enough on that body of water, and several of the men with Jesus were fishermen familiar with the region’s weather. Their terror indicates this was an especially severe storm.