Ch.4: The Ministry and Message of Jesus Christ

Jesus Announces the Kingdom of God

• Jesus’ ministry and message centered around the proclamation of the Kingdom of God—a Kingdom of peace, justice, truth, and goodness.

• As the Messiah, Jesus himself not only announced but also inaugurated the Kingdom of God.

• Jesus’ taught the following essential points about the Kingdom:– The Kingdom begins small in the

present but flourishes in the future.–Ex. parable of mustard seed

(Mt 13:31-33)

– Although the Kingdom is open to everyone who accepts it, Jesus announces the Kingdom in a special way to the poor and lowly.

• God’s mercy to sinners is a characteristic of the Kingdom of God.

– Ex. Jesus dining with Levi (Lk 5) and Zacchaeus (Lk 19)

• The Beatitudes instruct us how to live in and be a part of God’s Kingdom.

Jesus Teaches About the Kingdom of God in Parables

• Jesus taught using parables, short and memorable stories that relate common experiences to religious truths.

• Jesus’ use of parables demonstrate that he was an outstanding teacher and give an idea how he was able to defend himself against his opponents.

• Jesus’ parables taught important lessons about the Kingdom of God:

– Salvation is here– the Kingdom is a pure gift

of love – the requirements of the

Kingdom for the present and promises of the Kingdom for the future

• Jesus’ parables taught important lessons about the Kingdom of God:

– God loves even sinners

– the Kingdom requires an urgent response

– the Good News demands repentance

– following Jesus may bring suffering

Activity: Analyze the parable of the vineyard owner (Mt 20:1-16).

– What everyday experience does Jesus employ?

– What is the point Jesus is making about the Kingdom of God?

Jesus’ Miracles: Signs of the Kingdom of God

• These “wonders, words, and signs” of Jesus accomplish many things:

– testify to the coming of God’s Kingdom in the world

– attest that Jesus is the Son sent by God the Father

• demonstrate Jesus’ dominion over Satan and the forces of evil

• invite people to faith

• demonstrate God’s love and compassion for us

• These “wonders, words, and signs” of Jesus accomplish many things:

Jesus’ Miracles: Physical Healings

• demonstrate Jesus’ power over sin, reveal the coming of God’s Kingdom, and reveal who Jesus is

• Ex. Jesus healed paralytics and blind men

• performed by Jesus to establish his power over Satan

Jesus’ Miracles: Exorcisms

– attest to Jesus’ power over nature– Ex. calming the storm and multiplication of loaves

and fishes

Jesus’ Miracles: Nature Miracles

• demonstrate Jesus’ mastery over life and death

Jesus’ Miracles: Raisings from the Dead

Discussion: What do you think is the most important purpose of the miracles Jesus performed?

• The primary purpose of these miracles was not to abolish earthly suffering but to lead us to the Kingdom of God.

The Two Great Miracles of Jesus

The Transfiguration

• Provided his apostles with a glimpse into the glory Jesus, the Son of God, would enjoy after his Resurrection

• Confirmed Peter’s faith but also revealed Jesus’ coming death

The Transfiguration is significant because:– it indicated how Jesus reflects the light of God

– the appearance of Moses and Elijah recall how the Law and the Prophets had announced the coming of the Messiah

– it revealed all three persons of the Trinity (voice = Father, Jesus = Son, shining cloud = Holy Spirit)

The Institution of the Eucharist

• Jesus commanded his disciples to celebrate the Eucharist as a memorial of his Death and Resurrection

The Eucharist is significant because:

• it fulfills the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the Church into the glory of the Kingdom

• it is the source of our nourishment for this world and beyond.