The Kingdom of God The Mediatorial Kingdom in the Four Gospels Part III.

The Kingdom of GodThe Kingdom of God

The Mediatorial Kingdom in The Mediatorial Kingdom in the Four Gospelsthe Four Gospels

Part IIIPart III

United King.

Northern Kingdom

Southern Kingdom

722 BC

586 BC

The Mediatorial Kingdom of God through History

7

“Mysteries of the Kingdom” (Matt 13)

Prophets

Prophets

The Mediatorial Kingdom in the The Mediatorial Kingdom in the Four GospelsFour Gospels

The interpretive relation between the The interpretive relation between the Old and New TestamentsOld and New Testaments

The announcement of the kingdomThe announcement of the kingdom The identity of this announced The identity of this announced

kingdomkingdom The rejection of the king and His The rejection of the king and His

kingdomkingdom Christ’s ministry in preparation for Christ’s ministry in preparation for

the Interregnumthe Interregnum

Christ’s Ministry in Preparation for Christ’s Ministry in Preparation for the Interregnumthe Interregnum

In a new series of parables, Christ sets forth the mystery In a new series of parables, Christ sets forth the mystery form which the Kingdom will assume during the form which the Kingdom will assume during the interregnum.interregnum.

Our Lord announces the building of a new thing – His Our Lord announces the building of a new thing – His church. McClain understands “keys to the kingdom” as church. McClain understands “keys to the kingdom” as describing special authority in the future kingdom of describing special authority in the future kingdom of heavenheaven

Our Lord begins definitely to instruct the disciples about the Our Lord begins definitely to instruct the disciples about the necessity of His death and resurrection.necessity of His death and resurrection.

Christ also reassures the disciples that His impending death Christ also reassures the disciples that His impending death will not mean any adandonment of the Kingdom, and now will not mean any adandonment of the Kingdom, and now indicates explicitly that its establishment will be connected indicates explicitly that its establishment will be connected with a with a second second coming of the king.coming of the king.

Furthermore, in unmistakable words our Lord also declares Furthermore, in unmistakable words our Lord also declares that His disciples will yet have their promised share in the that His disciples will yet have their promised share in the kingdom when established on earth (Matt 19:27ff).kingdom when established on earth (Matt 19:27ff).

To correct a current expectation that the kingdom would To correct a current expectation that the kingdom would come immediately, Christ outlines in parabolic form the come immediately, Christ outlines in parabolic form the facts of its present rejection, the interval of its delay, and facts of its present rejection, the interval of its delay, and its future arrival (Luke 19:11-28).its future arrival (Luke 19:11-28).

Christ’s Ministry in Christ’s Ministry in Preparation for the Preparation for the

InterregnumInterregnum

Although His rejection had now become Although His rejection had now become historically certain, our Lord nevertheless historically certain, our Lord nevertheless

proceeds to Jerusalem, there to offer Himself proceeds to Jerusalem, there to offer Himself officially and finally as the King of the messianic officially and finally as the King of the messianic

kingdom in exact fulfillment of prophecy.kingdom in exact fulfillment of prophecy.


The journey to JerusalemThe journey to Jerusalem• The logical place for Christ’s messiahship to be heralded.The logical place for Christ’s messiahship to be heralded.• The fact that the offer would be rejected does not The fact that the offer would be rejected does not

overrule the necessity of its being made.overrule the necessity of its being made. Preparation for His arrivalPreparation for His arrival

• Christ sends out 70 heralds to announce the kingdom in Christ sends out 70 heralds to announce the kingdom in the cities that He Himself will visit on His way to the cities that He Himself will visit on His way to Jerusalem (Luke 10:1).Jerusalem (Luke 10:1).

• This mission, along with the raising of Lazarus, resulted This mission, along with the raising of Lazarus, resulted in large crowds along the way as Christ made His way to in large crowds along the way as Christ made His way to Jerusalem….and greater opposition by Israel’s religious Jerusalem….and greater opposition by Israel’s religious leaders.leaders.

• It was also Passover, so there were Jews at Jerusalem It was also Passover, so there were Jews at Jerusalem from all over the Roman Empire.from all over the Roman Empire.


The royal entrance into JerusalemThe royal entrance into Jerusalem• As Christ draws close to Jerusalem, He sends two disciples As Christ draws close to Jerusalem, He sends two disciples

ahead to get the colt of a donkey with its mother, in fulfillment ahead to get the colt of a donkey with its mother, in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy (Matt 21:4-5 with Zech 9:9).of Zechariah’s prophecy (Matt 21:4-5 with Zech 9:9).

• The actions and praises of the people indicated their The actions and praises of the people indicated their awareness of the regal meaning of our Lord’s entry into awareness of the regal meaning of our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:8; John 12:13).Jerusalem (Matthew 21:8; John 12:13).

• “And the multitudes going before Him, and those who followed after were crying out, saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!’” (Matt 21:9; cf. Mark 11:10; Luke 19:38; John 12:13).

• The Pharisees request that Christ rebuke His followers for The Pharisees request that Christ rebuke His followers for these words.these words.

• Christ’s reply? “Christ’s reply? “And He answered and said, ‘I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” (Luke 19:40).

• Christ laments over the city, realizing that in a few short hours Christ laments over the city, realizing that in a few short hours that their shouts of joy will turn to a demand for His death that their shouts of joy will turn to a demand for His death (Luke 19:41-44).(Luke 19:41-44).

• Christ cleansed the temple a second time and healed those Christ cleansed the temple a second time and healed those who came to Him in the temple, both acts that asserted His who came to Him in the temple, both acts that asserted His messianic authority for all Israel to see.messianic authority for all Israel to see.


Following His triumphal entry, Christ speaks a new series of Following His triumphal entry, Christ speaks a new series of parables about the kingdom; and after a final conflict with parables about the kingdom; and after a final conflict with Israel’s rulers, He utters His last lament and judgment over Israel’s rulers, He utters His last lament and judgment over the city of Jerusalemthe city of Jerusalem• The new series of kingdom parables.The new series of kingdom parables.

The first three directed against the leaders of Israel who had The first three directed against the leaders of Israel who had challenged His divine authority (the two sons, the wicked challenged His divine authority (the two sons, the wicked husbandmen, and the king’s marriage feast in Matthew 21 and 22).husbandmen, and the king’s marriage feast in Matthew 21 and 22).

The other four given to his disciples (the budding fig tree, the The other four given to his disciples (the budding fig tree, the faithful and unfaithful servants, the ten virgins, and the talents).faithful and unfaithful servants, the ten virgins, and the talents).

These parables are followed by explicit teaching on the coming These parables are followed by explicit teaching on the coming kingdom in Matthew 25:31-46.kingdom in Matthew 25:31-46.

• The final conflict with Israel’s rulers (Matt 22:17ff) concerning The final conflict with Israel’s rulers (Matt 22:17ff) concerning His own claim to deity – a claim for which He would be put to His own claim to deity – a claim for which He would be put to death (Matt 26:63-66). This leads to a public and very severe death (Matt 26:63-66). This leads to a public and very severe verbal scourging of Israel’s leaders (Matt 23:1-36).verbal scourging of Israel’s leaders (Matt 23:1-36).

• The king’s final lament over Jerusalem (Matt 23:37-39).The king’s final lament over Jerusalem (Matt 23:37-39).


In His last and longest eschatological In His last and longest eschatological discourse, our Lord now unfolds more discourse, our Lord now unfolds more fully the prophetic program of the fully the prophetic program of the end, revealing particularly the end, revealing particularly the parenthesis of time and events which parenthesis of time and events which must intervene between His must intervene between His departure and the beginning of the departure and the beginning of the end.end.

Questions Which Prompt the Olivet Questions Which Prompt the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-3)Discourse (Matthew 24:1-3)

When will these things be?When will these things be? What will be the sign of your coming?What will be the sign of your coming? What will be the sign of the end of What will be the sign of the end of

the age?the age?

Two Distinct Issues in the Olivet Two Distinct Issues in the Olivet DiscourseDiscourse

There are two distinct events described in There are two distinct events described in the Olivet Discourse:the Olivet Discourse:• The judgment that will come upon Jerusalem, The judgment that will come upon Jerusalem,

including the destruction of the temple.including the destruction of the temple.• The return of Christ and consummation of the The return of Christ and consummation of the

age.age. Luke describes the former in his account Luke describes the former in his account

(Luke 21:12-24), while Matthew focuses (Luke 21:12-24), while Matthew focuses more on the latter (Matt 24:4-44).more on the latter (Matt 24:4-44).


The last hours of the King’s ministry before His death are spent in The last hours of the King’s ministry before His death are spent in intimate and loving fellowship with His disciples, during which He intimate and loving fellowship with His disciples, during which He prepares them for the interval of His absence and interregnum.prepares them for the interval of His absence and interregnum.• The last supper with the disciples. The last supper with the disciples.

Five times during this supper He mentions the kingdom of God, and all five Five times during this supper He mentions the kingdom of God, and all five are with reference to the future (Luke 22:16-18, 29-30; Mark 14:25). are with reference to the future (Luke 22:16-18, 29-30; Mark 14:25).

Here also the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of His atoning Here also the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper as a symbol of His atoning death.death.

The Lord sought to prepare His disciples for changed conditions which would The Lord sought to prepare His disciples for changed conditions which would exist between His departure and His return to establish the kingdom (Luke exist between His departure and His return to establish the kingdom (Luke 22:35-36).22:35-36).

• The farewell discourse with the disciples, recorded in John 13:31 – The farewell discourse with the disciples, recorded in John 13:31 – 16:33, in which Christ prepares His disciples regarding the time of His 16:33, in which Christ prepares His disciples regarding the time of His absence from (and the Holy Spirit’s presence with) them. This interval absence from (and the Holy Spirit’s presence with) them. This interval will be a time of both fruit-bearing and persecution by the world.will be a time of both fruit-bearing and persecution by the world.

• The final prayer for the disciples (John 17) – the climax of Jesus’ The final prayer for the disciples (John 17) – the climax of Jesus’ preparation for His own for the period of His absence. It anticipates the preparation for His own for the period of His absence. It anticipates the opposition and harsh treatment that His followers will receive while still opposition and harsh treatment that His followers will receive while still in this world and petitions for their unity and perseverance.in this world and petitions for their unity and perseverance.


During the final indignities of the trials and During the final indignities of the trials and crucifixion, our Lord with great clarity renews the crucifixion, our Lord with great clarity renews the regal claims of the messianic office.regal claims of the messianic office.• When placed under a solemn oath by the high priest to When placed under a solemn oath by the high priest to

tell whether or not He was the Christ, the Son of God, He tell whether or not He was the Christ, the Son of God, He responded, “You have said it” (Matt 26:64).responded, “You have said it” (Matt 26:64).

• When brought before Pilate, Christ was charged with When brought before Pilate, Christ was charged with political treason (Luke 23:2; John 18:33-38). His reply to political treason (Luke 23:2; John 18:33-38). His reply to Pilate was that His kingdom is not of this world, meaning Pilate was that His kingdom is not of this world, meaning it does not originate from the present world system. He it does not originate from the present world system. He also again affirms that He also again affirms that He is is a king (John 18:37).a king (John 18:37).

• Even the thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember Even the thief on the cross asked Jesus to remember him when He comes into His kingdom (Luke 23:39-43).him when He comes into His kingdom (Luke 23:39-43).


The problem of Jewish rejection of The problem of Jewish rejection of the king: Why was the Lord Jesus the king: Why was the Lord Jesus Christ rejected by the nation of Israel Christ rejected by the nation of Israel when He offered Himself and the when He offered Himself and the kingdom for which they had long kingdom for which they had long waited and prayed?waited and prayed?

Next Week: The Mediatorial Next Week: The Mediatorial Kingdom in the Book of Kingdom in the Book of

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The Kingdom of God The Mediatorial Kingdom in the Four Gospels Part III.

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