The Scandal of the Kingdom: Jesus’

DeathThe Symphony of Scripture

Chapter 15

Summary

Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God pointed eventually to his own role in it. That role took him to his death. He was convinced that this death (and resurrection) was the key to fulfilling the OT hopes of forgiveness. He believed also that his death (and resurrection) was the key to the kingdom coming in power and to his Father creating a new people of God. The writers of the letters in the NT confirmed this. They believed that Jesus’ death (and resurrection) was the turning point of history and the ultimate basis of a new relationship with God. This event held such value for these writers that they searched for many different perspectives through which to explain its significance.

-- Mark Strom

What Was the Messiah’s Mission?

Jesus, God’s anointed one, the Lord of Glory, came to die?!? It was his destiny, and he knew it. Mark 10:45 For even

the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

God’s people should have known it from the OT. Isaiah 53:5, 9 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

What Was the Messiah’s Mission?

The death of Jesus would glorify God John 12:23-28 And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for

the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 27  "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."

Weaving OT Themesand Hopes into…

The Last Supper The Garden of Gethsemane The Crucifixion

The Last Supper

Jesus’ “last supper” with his 12 disciples was celebrated in the context of Passover, when Jews retold the story of their exodus from Egypt

The first Passover was the night when the Israelites killed firstborn lambs as substitutes for their own children, putting the blood on their doors, symbolizing their need of atonement, forgiveness and redemption

As the Firstborn Son of God and the Lamb of God, after supper he went outside on Passover night to expose himself to God’s wrath

At the Last Supper, Jesus called his blood “the blood of the new covenant” (Luke 22:20; Jeremiah 31:31-34; cf. Exodus 24:8)

The Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus understood and predicted Peter’s denial based on the OT (Zechariah 13:7). Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”

The cup that Jesus prayed to escape drinking was filled with the Father’s wrath against sin. Isaiah 51:17 Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering.

The Crucifixion

The Romans reserved the cross for the worst of criminals (cursed by men)

The Jews viewed those who hung on a tree (e.g., a cross) as cursed by God. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.

Jesus understood and feared the cross (Mark 15:34 quoting Psalm 22:1)

The Crucifixion’s Cosmic Signs

If Jesus’ crucifixion was indeed the turning point of history (the first installment of the Day of the Lord), we might expect historically significant events to accompany it

Matthew 27:45, 54 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

What Does Jesus’ Death Mean?

Propitiation: Jesus turned away God’s anger Redemption: Jesus paid for our freedom Justification: Jesus made us right with God Reconciliation: Jesus brought God and us together Adoption: Jesus made us children of God Victory: Jesus conquered death, Satan, and all evil

Propitiation(image of temple/sacrifice)

God instituted the temple sacrificial system in the OT to turn his wrath away—temporarily—from his sinful people whom he loved

By his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus finally and permanently turned away God’s anger from his sinful people whom he loves

1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 3:24b-25 …Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Redemption(image of slave market)

Jesus’ death was a ransom for sinners. The cost God paid to redeem his people from slavery to sin was the blood of his Son. His holy justice demanded this high cost.

John 8:34, 36 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 3:13a Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Justification(image of law court)

By means of legal imputation, Jesus made us right with God. We are therefore not declared guilty, nor merely declared innocent, but instead God declares “righteous” all who are in Christ. Our righteousness is his righteousness which Jesus earned by perfectly obeying God.

Romans 3:21-24a But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift,

Reconciliation(image of warfare & family disputes)

Our sin had offended and alienated the God who created and loved us. Through the cross, Jesus brought God and us together by removing the barrier of sin that estranged us from a holy God. This was the eternal agreed-upon plan of the triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Man reconciled to God clears the way for all of creation’s reconciliation to its Creator (Romans 8:18-24; Revelation 22:1-5).

Romans 5:10-11 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Adoption(image of family & a people)

Jews were God’s people, yet estranged as a whole. Gentiles were “not my people.” The cross of Jesus made a new people of God. Jews and Gentiles who follow God’s Son Jesus are no longer strangers, but children of God, and fellow heirs with Christ.

Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Victory(image of kingdom conquest)

In his death and resurrection, Jesus conquered all his and our enemies: the power of the law (Galatians 5:18), the tyranny of the world (Romans 6:6, 14), death itself (2 Timothy 1:10), and the powers of Satan (Colossians 2:13-15).

Salvation in the Cross of Christ

Romans 8:31-36 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

Salvation in the Cross of Christ

Romans 8:37-39 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Discussion

A friend of yours says he wants to be a Christian. He says that he has repented but he doesn’t feel forgiven. Would you tell him to keep repenting until he does feel forgiven? Or perhaps that he should just get on with doing Christian things until he feels right? Does Jesus’ death offer your friend any other ways forward?