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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comes

Lesson one

YOUR KING IS COMING . . .Introduction

By the time Christ began his ministry, expectations of the Messiah’s coming were running high. Perhaps anticipation was aroused by rabbis and scribes eager for the prophecies from their scriptures to be proven true. Patriotic Jews probably fanned the flames seeking justification for pushing Israel’s independence. Perhaps the stir may have begun several decades earlier when reports began circulating about a priest named Zechariah who claimed to have seen an angel in the Temple, informing him that he and his wife, though well up in years, were to have a special child. Reports were that the child was born and now grown and attracting thousands to his unusual preaching in the wilderness areas of Judea. That child was believed to be the one prophesied by Isaiah as one who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare a people for the Lord. There were reports also that a well-known Temple figure named Anna, as well as a man named Simon (see Luke 2:22-38) had actually seen the Messiah shortly after his birth. Whatever the reason, hope was in abundant supply. Israel was expecting that at any time there would be a true descendant of David returning to claim the throne. This anticipation is seen in an incident connected with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

LessonRead Matthew 21:1-11

1. In the village of ___________, Jesus sent ______ of his disciples. He told them they would find a ___________ tied, along with her colt.

2. Matthew tells us that this fulfilled a prophecy (found in ____________) saying ‘Behold your _______ is coming to you, ___________ and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt.’

3. As Jesus approached the city many in the crowd spread their ___________ on the road, cutting branches from the trees, shouting ‘Hosanna to the _________ of ___________’

4. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem the ___________ city was ___________ up, saying, ‘Who is this?’ Some were saying he is the ____________ Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.

The anticipation of a kingly Messiah and a descendant of David goes back to numerous prophecies in the Old Testament (see 1 Chronicles 17:11-15 for example, also Psalm 132:11-18). Isaiah’s prophecy (9:6-7) clearly planted this hope in Israel. Thus, by the time Jesus began his ministry, showing signs he was indeed the long-awaited Messiah, it was not unusual that people regarded him as “the son of David.” Consider the following scriptures and make a note of who spoke to him in that way:

Matthew 9:27 _________________________________________________ Matthew 15:22 ________________________________________________ Matthew 21: 9 _________________________________________________ Matthew 21:15 ________________________________________________

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King ComesOne of the reasons the Jewish rulers rejected Jesus as the Messiah was that they did not believe he was a descendant of David. They thought of Jesus as being from Nazareth (see John 1:46), not Bethlehem. They failed to see him as a king. He did not raise an army or lead in any actions against the Romans. In their mind, he qualified neither as a king or descendant of David. They truly misinterpreted even own scriptures, failing to see the spiritual nature of either the king or his kingdom. That confusion was at the heart of a discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees recorded for us in Matthew 22.

Read Matthew 22:41-45 1. Jesus asked the _____________ a question: “What do you think about the _________?

Whose Son is He? 2. They answered, “The _______ of _________.”3. Jesus then inquired of them, “How is it then that __________, in the Spirit, calls him

__________?4. The passage Jesus was referring to is found in _____________ where it reads: “The Lord

said to ______ Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.’”5. Jesus wanted to know from them, if _________ calls him (i.e. his son) ________, how is

he his ______?

Clearly, the coming of Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s intention to raise up a king over His people. In 1 Samuel 8 we read of the Israelites growing tired of being ruled over by judges. They wanted to have a king like the nations around them. They came to the prophet Samuel, demanding that he appoint for them a king. Samuel was upset by their request and he prayed to the Lord about it, and the Lord replied to him, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” In bringing His Son into the world, God was once more asserting His rightful place over his people as king.

Working with the descendants of Israel (i.e. Jacob) God sought to make them his “treasured possession among all people,” (Exodus 19:5, 6). His desire for them was that they would be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” However, just as Saul’s disobedience led to God rejected him as Israel’s king (see 1 Samuel 15:26), so too, the persistent disobedience of the nation of Israel led God to rejecting them as His people. That is why the prophets were given a message not only about a redeemer and savior to come, but also that of a kingdom to come (see Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 2:44; 7:14). That is also why, when John the Baptist began preparing the way for the coming of the Lord, and when Christ and His disciples began preaching, their messages were the same, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7). In describing God’s people today, the apostle Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10) Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy,” ( 1 Peter 2:9-10).

Indeed the king had come and His kingdom was at hand!

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Discussion Questions:

1. Obviously, Christ came to be recognized as king. In John 6:5-15, however, after performing a miracle and people wanting to make him a king, he eluded them and withdrew to the mountains. Why do you suppose he did that?

2. Aside from the fulfillment of prophecy, when Jesus made his triumphant entry, what was the significance of his coming on a donkey? (Matthew 21:1-11),

3. Read the 2nd Psalm. What references do you see to Jesus? ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Three times in the New Testament, Christ is spoken of as “king of kings and Lord of Lords.” Where are these passages? _______________ _______________ _______________

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1. The key concept you learned or took away from this lesson?

2. What comment or question do you have about the ideas presented in this lesson?

Looking Ahead

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King ComesLesson Two continues our look at the coming of the King as we take a closer look at His divine nature.

Lesson Two

WHO IS THIS KING?Introduction

The preceding lesson revealed that by the time of Christ’s ministry, expectations were running high among the Jews that very soon their Messianic hopes would be realized. They knew from various prophecies that a son of David would one day return to the throne. Daniel had foretold of the days when a king would come and set up an everlasting kingdom (2:44). These hopes had become Israel’s “consolation” (see Luke 2:25) during the many centuries of being subjugated by first one nation and then another. After the Persians had allowed them to return to their homeland (following the Babylonians captivity), they had been ruled over by the Greeks, Syrians, Egyptians and were currently under the thumb of Rome. Not so patiently they waited for the “restoration of all things” spoken of by the prophets beginning with Moses (Acts 1:6; 3:20-21). They knew also that “before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord,” Elijah must first return (Malachi 4:5). For those living at the beginning of the first century, they had waited long enough, and indeed their king had come. But just who was this person?

LessonRead Isaiah 9:6-7; Daniel 7; John 1:1-14; and Philippians 2:3-5

1. Isaiah foresaw a _________ being born, a _______ given, who would have upon his shoulders the _____________. His name would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty ________, Everlasting __________ and _________ of Peace. There would no end to his rule on the throne of _________ and over _______ kingdom.

2. Daniel had a dream in which he saw ______ great beasts coming up out of the sea. The fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong, had iron ________ and _______ horns.

3. As Daniel looked, he saw with the clouds came one like a ______ of _____. He was given dominion and glory and a ___________; an _____________ kingdom.

4. Daniel learned that the four beasts represented four _______, but the _________ of the Most High would receive the kingdom forever, _________ and ever.

5. John tells us that in the _____________ was the ________ who was with God and _____ God. All things were made through this person, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was ______.

6. John says of this person that the ________ became flesh and dwelt among. He came into the world and the world was _______ through him, yet the world did not ______ him. His glory was that of the only Son from the _______, full of _______ and ______.

7. The apostle Paul affirms that Christ Jesus was in the ________ of God, but he did not count __________ with God a thing to be grasped (held on to). He made himself __________, and took upon himself the form of a _________.

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8. This servant was ______ in the likeness of men, and found in _________ form, humbling himself by being __________ to the point of death on a _________.

9. Because of that, Paul said God __________ exalted him, and bestowed on him the ________ that is above every name, and that at name every knee should bow, every tongue confess that ________ ________ is _________.

The Jews did not understand that their king would not be just another man, even a great man like David. He very much would be a “son of man” (Matthew 8:20; 12:40; 26:2; Mark 9:31; Luke 12:40 and John 12:34) in the sense of being born of woman and having a physical body (see Hebrews 10:5), but he was more than that; much more than that. In Jesus was the incarnation of God Himself! An interesting comparison can be found between the two genealogies of Jesus found in the New Testament, Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38. In Matthew the genealogy counts 42 generations from Abraham to David to Christ. Luke account traces the lineage all the way from Jesus to Adam and then God!

While most Christians today are not troubled by it, most first century Jews found it shocking to think or hear that Jesus was in fact the Son of God. This was a claim that most would not accept. As the following scriptures show, for many of the Jews, and especially their rulers and leaders all such talk of Jesus being divine was outright blasphemy and drove them to want to see him put to death.

Read and consider the following references: John 5:18 The Jews were seeking all the more to _______ him because they believed he

was breaking the __________ and by calling God his _________, he was making himself __________ with God.

John 8:56-59 Talking about __________, Jesus said he had seen his day, and was made glad because of it. Incredulous the Jews asked, “have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said, “before Abraham _____, ___ _____.” Because of that the Jews picked up stones to throw at him.

John 10:31-33 On another occasion the Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus. Jesus asked them, for which of the _______ ________ I have shown you are you going to stone me?” They said, “it is not for a good work, but for ___________, because you, being a _______, make yourself ________.

Matthew 26:62-66 After Jesus had been arrested and brought before the high priest, he was asked to tell them plainly if he was the _________, the _____ of _____. After giving them his reply, the high priest went into a rage, saying that Jesus had uttered _____________. Many in the council said Jesus deserved _________.

In Revelation 19:11-16, John gives us a picture of heaven opening, revealing a white horse and one sitting on it who “is called Faithful and True.” This one is further described as having a robe “dipped in blood” and the name by which he is called, “The Word of God.” Furthermore, John tells us “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords .” Indeed, Israel’s king had come. Most of Israel did not recognize him for who he was, and in fact, many quarreled with him and plotted against him. Even so, at long last, God himself had

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comescome to the rescue of His people. Indeed, before Him now, let every knee bow and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord, the very Lord of Lords, and King of Kings!


1. What was the “restoration of all things” (see Acts 1:6; 3:20-21) that the Jews were expecting?

2. Obviously the many miracles and signed that Jesus did should have been enough to convince people, but many of the Jewish leaders regarded them works of Beelzebul. Why do you think they could not see the obvious? Are there people today with the same problem?

3. What do you understand from what is said about Christ in Philippians 2:6,7 that he did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing?

4. In the gospel accounts Jesus is often referred to as the “son of David” and the “son of

man.” What are we supposed to understand from those expressions?

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Looking Ahead

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Lesson Three takes us in for a closer look at the events surrounding the birth of our King.

Lesson Three

SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A MAN CHILD . . .Introduction

In Galatians 4:4, we read, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law.” Clearly this passage reveals that even the timing of Christ’s coming into the world and the events surrounding his birth were a part of God’s eternal plan (see Ephesians 3:9-11). Thousands of years had passed after God brought the universe and world into existence. He had patiently worked with all of the nations arising from Noah’s three sons, though most of their history is not included in the inspired record. That which was preserved for us concerns the mostly unfaithful descendants of Shem (through Abraham). Now, in the days of Caesar Augustus (ruler of the Roman empire, 27 B.C.- A.D. 14), it was time for the most critical element in God’s plan—the coming of God’s Son into the world to destroy the works of the devil. Often referred to as the incarnation, this incredible event is captured for us symbolically in Revelation 12; the historical details being found in Matthew and Luke.

LessonRead Matthew 1 & 2; Luke 1 and 2:1-39; Revelation 12

1. Matthew begins his record by calling attention to the genealogy of ________ ________, the son of ___________, the son of ___________.

2. _________ was the father of Joseph, the husband of _______, of whom _________ was born, who is called __________.

3. Joseph was told not to fear taking Mary for his wife because that which is ___________ in her is from the _______ __________. She would bear a _______, and he was to be named __________.

4. When the wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ________ the king assembled the chief priests and scribes, seeking to learn where the __________ was to be born. They told him, in ______________, because it had been foretold by the prophet ___________

5. After the death of Herod, Joseph and his family returned from __________ to Galilee, settling in a city called __________.

6. Six months after an angel told Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son (to be named _________), the angel named __________ appeared to a virgin in Nazareth named Mary, telling her that she would conceive in her womb and give birth to a son (to be named _________). He would be given the throne of his father _________, and of his ____________ there would be no end.

7. Because of a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered (census), so Joseph, along with Mary, his __________, went to the city of _________ which is called ____________.

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8. Mary gave birth to her __________ son, and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a ___________ because there was no room for them in the inn.

9. ____________ were the first to hear the good news that in the _________ of David, a ____________, who is Christ the __________ had been born that day.

10. A man in Jerusalem named ____________ was waiting for the ______________ of Israel and it had been revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the ________ __________.

11. John saw a great sign appearing in heaven, a _________ clothed with the ______, and the ________ under her feet, and wearing a crown of _________ stars. Another sign, a red ___________ with seven ________ and _____ horns. He stood before the woman so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a ________ child.

12. The dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war with the ______ of her ______________, those who _______ the commandments of God, and ________ to the testimony of _________.

Without a doubt, the birth of Jesus was one of the most critical moments in history. His coming changed everything. The Apostle John tells us (1 John 3:8, see also Hebrews 2:14) that “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Keep that in mind that at least since the Garden of Eden the devil had known his time was limited (Revelation 12:12). We are not surprised then by the drastic effort he made to prevent Christ from succeeding. Remember also, that although the devil is powerful, he is not an eternal, divine being like God. He is not omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), or omnipresent (everywhere at once). While he may have known some things because of what was revealed by the prophets and their preserved scriptures, he did not know everything.

He could have known, as did Herod and the wise men from the east that the appointed ruler would come out of Bethlehem, but he had no way of knowing the time or the manner in which that would take place (even the angels were unaware of many facets of God’s plan, see 1 Peter 1:10-12). He had no way of knowing that a chance trip to Bethlehem by a young girl from Nazareth in Galilee would somehow lead to his worst fears. He had no way of knowing that a grand announcement of Christ’s arrival would be made, not from the heights of the temple in Jerusalem, but at night to a group of shepherds outside a small village. Nothing about that remarkable event could have been expected or anticipated, even by Satan and his forces. That the almighty God, who resides in unimaginable glory, should come in the way that He did was beyond knowing—stable, manger, mere rags for clothing. It was strangers from the east, not Jewish leaders or priests who brought the event to light. No wonder the dragon became furious and went off to make war with the rest of the woman’s children!

It is clear from Luke’s account that Joseph and Mary were people of very modest means. The offering for Mary’s purification (see Leviticus 12:6-8) was that of those who could not afford a lamb. That suggests that the visit of the wise men, who brought rich gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11) came after the trip to the temple in Jerusalem. Thus, in the providence of God, when a warning was given to Joseph that Herod would soon be trying to find the child and kill him, they had the means by which they could flee and hide for a time in

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King ComesEgypt. Truly the child was under God’s protection and care. Even so, Matthew informs us that the devil, working through Herod exacted vengeance on the people of that famous city of the savior’s birth. When Herod died, Joseph, assured that it was now safe to return to Israel moved his family, not back to Bethlehem, but to a small, out of the way village called Nazareth. There, in relative obscurity, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, would grow to become a man.


1. In what sense did the birth of Christ occur “in the fullness of time?”

2. Read John 1:1-14 and Philippians 2:5-8 and explain why the “incarnation” is such an amazing event.

3. Is there a biblical basis for the celebration of Christmas as Christ’s birthday? What is your opinion about Christmas?

4. What do we know about Mary that might explain why she was chosen to be the

woman by whom God the Son would come into the world?

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Looking Ahead

Lesson Four gives us a look at the work of John the Baptist, Christ’s forerunner; how he prepared the way for the coming of the king and His kingdom.

Lesson Four

THE KING’S FORERUNNER. . .Introduction

We remember from previous lessons that a promise was made concerning a messenger who would be sent to the people of Israel to “prepare the way” for the Lord or Messiah, (Malachi 3:1). One chapter later (4:5), that person was identified as “Elijah the prophet.” The prophet Isaiah described this person as “a voice crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,’” (40:3-4). Not only would this person sound the trumpet for the arrival of the king, his work would be an unmistakable sign intended to cause people to open their arms and hearts to the rightful heir of David’s throne. That forerunner was the person known to us as John the Baptist.

LessonRead Mark 1:1-8; Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 1:5-25; 57-80; 3:1-18 and John 1:6-8; 19-28

1. Mark begins his gospel referring first to Jesus Christ, the son of _______, and then cites a reference from ____________. In verse 4, he said, _________ appeared, baptizing in the _____________ and proclaiming a ____________ of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

2. John began his work in the wilderness of _________, telling the people to “ __________ for the ___________ of ____________ was at hand.

3. John wore a garment made of _______________, and had a __________ belt around his waist. His food consisted of __________ and _______ ________.

4. John (the Baptist) said he baptized with _________ but the one coming after him would baptize with the ___________ and ________.

5. John’s parents were named _____________ and ____________ and Luke describes them as ____________ before God, walking ____________ in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. Both were ___________ in years.

6. The angel told Zechariah that his son would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and would go before him in the ________ and _________ of _________.

7. Zechariah praised God for raising up a ________ of salvation in the house of God’s servant __________. This was done to show the mercy that had been promised to the _________, and to remember His holy ___________.

8. The child would be called the ___________ of the Most High, and he would go _______ the Lord to prepare his ways.

9. John (the Baptist) began his preaching in the ______ year of __________ _________ (around A.D. 29)

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10. Luke tells us that the people were in __________, and were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the ____________.

11. John came as a __________ about the _________ . He denied that he was the Christ, or ___________, or the __________. He said, “I am the ________ of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’”

When John began his work, it wasn’t long before he began to gain a lot of attention. No doubt his odd dress and lifestyle (see also Matthew 11:18) made him an object of curiosity to many. Matthew tells us, “Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,” (3:5). John informs us that John worked in an area known as Aenon, which was near Salim; the reason being because water was plentiful there, (3:23). John’s popularity among the people and the possibility that he might be the long-awaited Messiah caused the Jewish leaders to send delegates to hear John’s message and observe his actions (John 1:19-28). Not since the days of Malachi (c. 400 B.C.) had God sent a prophet among the people of Israel, and according to Matthew 14:5, many people believed John was truly a prophet from God.

Many who came to John were ordinary people, including some who might not have been welcome in most synagogues—tax collectors and soldiers (see Luke 3:10-14). To each one who came, John’s message was the same (see Luke 3:3-14). The kingdom of God was nearing and if people wanted to be ready for the King when he came, they were to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8), and confessing their sins they were to be baptized for the remission of their sins (Mark 1:4; see also Luke 3:3). He warned people about trusting in their genealogical connection to Abraham, and called on them to live upright lives and be considerate of those in need. On one occasion, among those present hearing him preach was his cousin, whom he regarded as more righteous than himself (see Matthew 3:13-14). Jesus wanted John to baptize him and when he did so, it became quite evident that this was indeed the one for whom he had been sent to prepare the way (Matthew 3:16-17). It wasn’t long until Jesus began gathering disciples and soon he and his followers were baptizing even more than the baptizer (John 4:1-3; see also John 1:29-38).

Sometime later, John found himself under arrest and placed in a prison. Perhaps on some occasion, John was asked about Herod, ruler of Galilee. Not long before this time, Herod had taken his own brother’s wife (Herodias) for himself. John condemned the illicit union and rebuked him openly for other evil things he had done. John’s words led to being arrested and held in prison. During that time, alone and perhaps suffering from poor conditions and a lack of proper nourishment, John seems to need assurance that Jesus is indeed the One who was to come. Sending some disciples to Jesus with an inquiry, Jesus replies that the many things he has been doing—giving sight to the blind, healing the lame, the deaf and lepers, as well as preaching the gospel was all the proof that anyone might need, (see Matthew 11:2-6).

It is believed that John remained in prison for about two years before being executed to satisfy an angry woman’s desire (see Matthew 14:1-12; also Mark 6:17-29)! The news of John’s death hit Jesus very hard, and he went off to be by himself (Matthew 14:13). Not only had John been a relative, and perhaps a lifelong friend, Jesus knew that he was unlike any other person on earth; strong and faithful, fulfilling his appointed role even to the point of death. Jesus said of

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comeshim that he was no “reed shaken by the wind.” He was not “a man dressed in soft clothing.” He was a prophet, but one who was more than a prophet. Jesus gave these words of praise for John: “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he .” (Matthew 11:11)


1. What did Jesus mean when he said that “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven” is greater than John (see Matthew 11:11)?

2. Sometime after baptizing Jesus, John was arrested by Herod because he dared to publicly and personally reprove him for taking his brother Philip’s wife (see Matthew 14:4 and Mark 6:18). His actions eventually led to his being beheaded. What, if anything, should we learn or take from his example?

3. John’s baptism was one of “repentance for the remission of sins (see Mark 1:4; also Matthew 3:6 and Luke 3:3). Jesus had no sins to repent of or be forgiven. What then was the purpose for his baptism?

4. Obviously Jesus highly regarded John but he himself did not emulate John in the strikingly different lifestyle John chose for himself (consider where and how he lived, see Matthew 11:18-19). Why was John like that?

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Looking Ahead

In lesson five we will begin looking at Jesus’ message as he began his ministry following the baptism by John.

Lesson Five

THE KING’S PROCLAMATION, Part 1Introduction

As seen in the previous lesson, the prophet Isaiah foretold (40:3) of one who would come and as it were, be a voice “in the wilderness” preparing “the way of the LORD” and making “straight in the desert a highway for our God.” John began his preaching in “the wilderness of Judea,” a largely unsettled area along the Jordan River south of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 3:1). His message was strident, punctuated with stern warnings and an emphasis upon moral and spiritual reform (see Luke 3:7-17 for an example of his preaching). John’s basic message was “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew records, “Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins,” (3:5-6). One of the ones who came to John for baptism was the very one for whom John had been sent to prepare the way—the King himself.

LessonRead Matthew 3:13-17 (see also Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; and John 1:29-37)

1. Jesus came from __________ to the _________ so that he could be ___________ by John.

2. When John said that he needed to be baptized by Jesus, Jesus insisted that John baptize him in order to __________ all _____________.

3. After Jesus was baptized he went ____ from the water, and the __________ were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, coming to _______ on him.

4. A _________ from heaven said, “This is ____ __________ Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

5. Following his baptism, the next time John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, “Behold, the ________ of God, who ________ ________ the sin of the world!”

Following his baptism Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where he underwent a severe testing by Satan (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13). After being alone and fasting for a period of 40 days, the devil came to him and began trying to get Jesus to do things that would have essentially ended Jesus’ mission before it had really begun. He first tried to taunt Jesus into using his divine power to turn stones into bread. It is important to keep in mind, that it was the Holy Spirit who had led Jesus into this wilderness. For Jesus to choose to satisfy his fleshly appetite would have been a sin. A second temptation involved taking Jesus up on a high mountain to show him, not just the surrounding area, but “all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” Satan told him that they had been given to him and if Jesus would worship

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comeshim, they would all belong to him. It is true that Jesus came to save the world, but if he had accepted the devil’s offer, he would have gained the world, but the world would still be lost. Finally, the devil tried to taunt Jesus once again by suggesting that he cast himself off the temple heights in order to fulfill a prophecy as a way of proving he was the Son of God. Though Satan failed turn Jesus from his mission, he did not give up (Luke 4:13). After the arrest and imprisonment of John the Baptist, Jesus returned to his home territory of Galilee, fulfilling yet another prophecy of Isaiah (9:1-2). His preaching was rejected by those of his home synagogue in Nazareth, and afterwards, Jesus relocated to Capernaum, a city about 24 miles distant at the north end of the Sea of Galilee. This became his base until a few years later when he and his disciples went to Jerusalem for the last time.

Read Luke 4:14-31 and Mark 6:1-61. According to his _________, on the __________ day, Jesus went to the _____________.

Given the opportunity to read the text that day, Jesus opened to the prophet ________, and after reading the text, he sat down and said, “Today this ___________ has been fulfilled in your hearing. At first the people spoke _________ of him, marveling at his gracious words. They could hardly believe it, this was ___________ son!

2. As Jesus continued teaching, Mark tells us that since the people knew his mother Mary, his brothers ___________ and __________ and ___________ and __________, and also his __________, they were offended at his words. Jesus marveled at their ___________ and could do no mighty work there except heal a few sick people.

It is important that Bible students pay attention to the things that Jesus taught, even as his mission got underway. His basic message was very similar to that of his cousin John. It contained an announcement and a challenge. He taught the people, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). He clearly proclaimed that the kingdom was near. There are those today (millennialists, pre and post) who assert that Jesus came to establish God’s kingdom, but when the Jews rejected him, he had to settle for an alternative—setting up the church instead. That isn’t what happened at all, and what Jesus came to do, he finished (John 19:30).

The Jews were probably not surprised by the announcement that the kingdom was near. As indicated in earlier lessons, excitement about that possibility was running high at this time. What was surprising to them was the nature of that kingdom. The kingdom they were expecting would be like other kingdoms or nations of the time. They were expecting a political and perhaps militaristic change of rulers; the heavy rule of the Romans being cast off. They expected a restoration of their sovereignty and clearly defined borders (see Acts 1:6 for example). They had no idea that the kingdom of heaven, like the God of heaven, would be spiritual in nature, not political and territorial.

It had to also be a surprise to people to learn the kingdom of heaven required them to make spiritual and moral changes. It must have been a shock for them to learn that being a Jew physically did not automatically qualify them for inclusion in the new kingdom (see Luke 3:8-9). As Jesus told a man named Nicodemus (John 3:1-5), entrance into the kingdom of God requires

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comesbeing “born again” and only those with a penitent heart will experience the new birth. The king’s coming meant that the groundwork for his kingdom was now being laid. People were being confronted with their sins and the great need for them to repent. The king’s proclamation, though many misunderstood it then and may do still, the message was clear, and still is. Let everyone who hears, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”


1. What is repentance and why was (is) it commanded? What does it have to do with the Kingdom of God? Explain

2. When the devil was tempting Jesus in the wilderness, do you think he was suggesting that Jesus was really not the son of God?

3. Look closely at John 3:1-5 (Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus). Is there some distinction to be made between “seeing the kingdom of God,” and “entering the kingdom of God?”

4. Is there some sense in which the kingdom is still “at hand?”

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Looking Ahead

In lesson six we will take a look at some of the men Jesus called and trained and commissioned as he went about establishing of his kingdom.

Lesson Six

THE KING’S MEN . . .Introduction

In lesson four we learned that before Jesus began his mission, a messianic sign would be seen foretold by Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah (40:3-5) and Malachi (3:1). The work of John the Baptist proved to be remarkable. Mark tells us (1:5) that almost all of the people of Judea and Jerusalem were going out to John, and many were being baptized by him (though not all, see Luke 7:30). He was widely believed to be a true prophet of God (Matthew 21:26; also 14:5). After John’s arrest by Herod, Jesus began preaching and attracting large numbers of followers, called disciples. From John 4:1 we learn that Jesus was baptizing more people than John. Crowds numbering into the thousands gathered around Jesus at every opportunity (see Matthew 14:21 and 15:38). He personally called some to follow him and from his many disciples Jesus chose twelve to fill a special role in his mission. Christ came to establish a kingdom, and for three years Jesus went about laying the foundation for that kingdom with the help of these men.

LessonRead Matthew 4:17-22; Mark 2:13-14 and John 1:35-49 (see also Luke 5:1-11)

1. John’s gospel reports that one of the first persons to become one of Christ’s followers was a man named ____________ who told his brother ____________ that “we have found the _____________.

2. In Galilee, Jesus found a man named Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Philip then found a man named ___________, reporting that “we have found the one Moses wrote about.”

3. Andrew and Simon were ____________ by trade. Jesus found two other brothers named __________ and _________, sons of ____________

4. According to Matthew, the sons of Zebedee ____________ left the boat and their _________ to follow Jesus.

The word apostle means “one sent” and in numerous passages the word (either in English or Greek) is used for some besides the twelve (cf. Acts 14:4 and 14; also 1 Corinthians 4:6 and 9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2:6; also 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25). Saul of Tarsus had a special encounter with the Lord which led to his becoming an apostle, especially chosen to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-30; 13:1-3). Even so, the twelve chosen by Jesus “ to be with him” (Mark 3:14) received the opportunity to travel with Jesus in both Galilee and Judea. They watched, they listened, they assisted, and many times they were awed by Him (e.g. Mark 9:2-8). For three years they were eyewitnesses to His power and majesty (2 Peter

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comes1:16). They would have gladly given their lives for Jesus (John 11:16). Jesus called them “fishers of men,” (Matthew 4:19; Luke 5:10), and week after week they became more and more committed to his soul-saving mission (Luke 19:10). Even so, there were many things about Christ and His mission they did not fully understand (Luke 9:44-45; John 16:12). To their shame, following his arrest, all forsook him, Peter denied him three times, and Judas went and committed suicide.

Read and consider the following references: Luke 6:12-16 Jesus spent the night __________, and the next morning chose _________

from among his disciples whom he named _____________. Matthew 10:5-7 When Jesus sent out the twelve, they were to go nowhere among the

___________ or to any city of the ___________; only to the ______ ________ of the house of Israel. As they went, they were to proclaim ____________________________

Mark 6:7-12 Jesus sent the twelve out ______ by _______. They went out and proclaimed that people should ___________.

Luke 22:24-30 The apostles were disputing among themselves about ______________ ________________________. Jesus said to them, they would _____ and ________ at his _________ in his __________, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Mark 14:27-31 Jesus foretold the twelve that they would all ______ ________, that the ___________ would be struck, and the __________ scattered. Peter said, even though they all fall way, I will not. Jesus said, “this very night, before the rooster crows ______, you will deny me three times.” Peter said, “If I must ______ with you, I will not deny you.” And they all _______________

John 14:16-17, 25-26; 16:7-15 Jesus promised the twelve that he would ask the Father to give them a ___________, and he called him the Spirit of _________. The Spirit would bring to their _____________ everything Jesus had said to them. He would _________ them into all the __________.

Following his resurrection, appearing to the eleven, Jesus showed them he was very much alive and that God had given Him all authority. They were then given the “great commission” (Matthew 28:18-19). They were promised that they would receive the Holy Spirit and when He came upon them they were to become his “…witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” (Acts 1:8). While waiting for the Holy Spirit to come upon them, Peter led the group in selecting a replacement for Judas and a disciple named Matthias was chosen and numbered with the twelve, (Acts 1:15-26). According to Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and with Peter using the keys of the kingdom given to him (Matthew 16:18-19) the gates of the kingdom were opened wide! About three thousand souls responded that first day (Acts 2:41). The kingdom had indeed come!

These men not only provided leadership for the infant church (see Acts 2:42; 15:1-3), they also provided eyewitness testimony to the life and work of Jesus (see Acts 1:6-8; also 2 Peter 1:16-18; 1 John 1:1-4). Though strongly opposed by the Jewish leaders, they refused to be threatened into silence. Devoting themselves “…to prayer and the ministry of the word,” (Acts

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comes6:4), they went on to provide leadership and guidance needed by the budding kingdom, (Ephesians 2:20; 4:11-16).

There is not a lot of information about the apostles at least in the New Testament, however a number of accounts of these men and their work have been written (both in ancient and modern times), but most of it is anecdotal. It is believed that all but one of the apostles—the apostle John—died at the hands of those opposing the Christian faith.

Read Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16 and Acts 1:13, 26 and fill in below the names of the apostles found in each list: Matthew Mark Luke Acts1 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________2 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________3 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________4 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________5 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________6 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________7 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________8 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________9 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________10 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________11 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________12 _________________ ______________ ______________ _______________


1. Why twelve apostles? Why not five or ten, or twenty?

2. In 2 Corinthians 12:12, with reference to his own work, Paul wrote about “the signs of a true apostle.” What do you think those signs were and what was the purpose of those signs (see also Mark 16:17-20 and Hebrews 2:3-4)?

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2. What comment or question do you have about the ideas presented in this lesson?18


Looking Ahead

In lesson six we will take a look at some of the men Jesus called and trained and commissioned as he went about establishing of his kingdom.

Lesson Seven

THE KING’S PROCLAMATION, Part 2Introduction

In Luke 19:10, Jesus described his own mission, saying “the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” He would do that by offering himself as a sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. He would also do that by preaching and teaching the good news. This too had been prophesied by Isaiah (61:1, see also Luke 4:18). Speaking of Jesus, Matthew 4:23 says, “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.” Jesus’ preaching and teaching caught many people by surprise (see John 7:44-46; Matthew 7:28) but he soon came to be recognized as a rabbi (John 1:38; 3:2), as one whose knowledge commanded great respect and followers. He is regarded by many scholars today as having been a master teacher.

LessonFor a period of about three years, Jesus traveled about Galilee and Judea both preaching and teaching and doing all kinds of mighty works (Acts 10:38). Several opportunities opened up to him as he attended various synagogues, particularly in Galilee (Luke 4:16-21, 44). He taught at least once from a ship with a crowd of people listening from the shore, (Luke 5:1-3). It appears that he frequently took the opportunity to visit and then teach in private homes, (Luke 5:17-19. 7:36-50). One day he taught while going through a grainfield (Luke 6:1-5) and on another occasion, he taught a woman at a well in Samaria while his waiting for his disciples to return from the market with something to eat (John 4). He taught people while going from one place to another (Luke 9:57-62). He taught one-on-one and to large crowds. He taught those already his disciples, those who were seeking the Lord, and even his enemies.

Read and consider the following references: Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to _________, saying, “__________, for the

___________ of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 11:1 After sending out the twelve (chapter 10) on the limited commission, Jesus

went on to __________ and __________ in their cities. Matthew 13:54 And coming to his ___________ he taught them in their synagogue, so that

they were _____________, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?”

Mark 6:34 Once, seeing a great crowd, Jesus had _____________ on them because they were like _______ without a _________. And he began to teach them _______ ________.

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comes Luke 20:21 Some came to Jesus and said, “__________, we know that you speak and teach

_________, and show no partiality, but ________ teach the way of God.

The four gospel accounts—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—do not give a word-for-word recitation of the things Jesus taught and proclaimed, but the essence of his many lessons punctuate many pages in each of the gospels. Jesus’ coming was to bring about the establishment of the Kingdom of God so it is not surprising that much of his teaching and preaching concerned that kingdom. Take his well-known parables, for example. often these simple comparisons were given in order to illustrate something about God’s kingdom (see Matthew 13:24, 31, 33; Mark 4:30). After giving the parable of the sower (or soils) in Luke 8, his disciples came to him wanting to know what it meant. Jesus told them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'”

The Sermon on the Mount is another good example of his kingdom-themed teaching. Without a doubt this amazing summary of the kinds of things probably repeated daily for almost three years contains some of the most important words of history. For more than two thousand years these words have inspired millions. Someone has observed, that sermon has little to do with what Christians are to believe, but it is full of what Christians are to do. It is also full of information about the kingdom that Christ came to begin. Someone described the sermon’s theme as follows: “the Kingdom of God; Its Subjects and Its Righteousness.”

Read Matthew 5, 6 and 7 and Luke 6:17-491. Matthew has Jesus sharing these things on a ___________; Luke has him sharing them

on a ______________.2. Matthew’s account has Jesus beginning with _______ sayings called beatitudes. 3. The kingdom of heaven is for those who are ___________________________________,

or those who are ___________________________________4. This sermon also contains the model, or “Lord’s Prayer,” which is found in ___________5. If one hopes to enter the kingdom of heaven, their ____________ must exceed that of

the _________ and ___________.6. Being _________ can make one liable for judgement; and saying “______ _______!”

can make one liable for the _______ of fire.7. The law said, “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus said, “Everyone who looks at a

woman with __________ intent has already committed adultery ___ ____ ________.”8. The law required a man to give his wife a ___________ of divorce. Jesus said, “Everyone

who divorces his wife, _________ on the ground of sexual immorality, ________ her commit __________. Whoever marries a divorced woman ____________ adultery.

9. Jesus said “Do not take an oath at all, either by _________ or by _________. Let what you says be simply ______ or _______.

10. The Law may have called for “an eye for an eye” but Jesus said, “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, _______ to him the other also.”

11. It was said, “Love your neighbor but hate your enemy.” Jesus said, “______ your enemies and _______ for those who persecute you.” This would help them to become

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true _______ of the heavenly Father. Christians are to be _________ as their heavenly Father is ___________.

12. Jesus warns against ____________ your ___________ before others in order to be seen by them. If you give alms to help the needy in such a way that you may be praised by men, Jesus said, you have __________ your ________.

13. Kingdom people are not supposed to ________ like the hypocrites, doing it so they may be seen by others. Instead go into your room (or closet) and shut the door. Your Father who sees in _________ will ________ you.

14. In teaching disciples how to pray, Jesus taught them to pray for the __________ to come. He reminded people that if they do not forgive others their __________, neither will their Father forgive theirs.

15. Fasting is encouraged but it is to be done in such a way that others will not know, but by the Father who ______ in ___________

16. Disciples are not supposed to lay up for themselves __________ on earth, but rather in _________, where neither _______ nor _______ destroys and __________ do not break in and steal.

17. It is impossible to serve two masters. You will _______ the one and ________ the other. You cannot serve both _______ and _________.

18. Kingdom people are not supposed to be _________ about their ______; about what they will _______ or ________ or put on. God knows what your needs are and you are of more value than the _________ of the ______, or the __________ of the ________.

19. Jesus told his disciples, “_______ first the __________ of _____ and his _____________. If they did that, their needs would all be provided.

20. Jesus tells people, “Do not ________, so that they will not be judged. You are a hypocrite if you have a ______ in your eye at the same time you are trying to help someone get a _______ out of their eye.

21. ______ and it will be _________ to you; ______ and you shall ________; ________ and it will be opened to you.

22. Whatever you wish that others would do to you, ____ also to them. Jesus said that is the ______ and the __________.

23. There are ______; one narrow and one wide. There are _____ ways; one easy and one hard. There are _____ destinies, one called _____________, the other called _______

24. Jesus also warned against ________ __________. They may look like ________ but they are _________ ________. You can recognize them by their ________.

25. Not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord” will ________ the kingdom of heaven. It is those who _____________________________________

26. When one _______ the words of Jesus and _______ them will be like a ________man who builds his house on the rock. The one who hears Jesus’ words and does not do thm is like a __________ man who builds his house on the sand.

27. Those who heard Jesus speak on that occasion were ____________ because he taught them as one who had _____________, and not like the ___________.

28. In Luke’s account, Jesus told a _________ about a ________ man leading a _________ man. Both ended up in a _______

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29. Jesus said, “_______, and it will be given to you. _______ __________, pressed down, _____________ together, and running over, it will be put into your lap.


1. Which of the “beatitudes” (Matthew 5:3-11) seem the most difficult for you to understand?

2. How many times is the word kingdom found in Matthew 5, 6 and 7?

3. Matthew 5:20 has been described as the most demanding verse in the Bible. What do you think Jesus is saying?

4. What one verse or set of verses from the Sermon on the Mount is the most memorable to you, and why?

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Looking Ahead

Lesson eight will turn from the things Jesus said to the things that Jesus did; it will take a look at the King’s power.

Lesson Eight

THE KING’S POWER . . .Introduction

The gospel of Luke was written to provide a man named Theophilus with an “orderly account” of the mission of Jesus (Luke 1:1-3). Since the word Theophilus means “lover of God” some scholars think that name referred to all who through obedience to the gospel had become true lovers of God. It was to provide for them a kind of well-researched biography of the Christ. The book of Acts appears to be book written for a similar kind of purpose. In a very real sense, it is Luke’s sequel to the gospel that bears his name. Speaking of the first book, Luke says, “ In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teac h,” (Acts 1:1). That tells us that Jesus wasn’t just a talker; he was a doer. He did more than preach and teach; He performed many miracles and did things that no ordinary human could do. In demonstrating power that could only be supernatural, Jesus was giving convincing evidence that He was indeed, the divine Son of God and that the Kingdom of which he spoke was none other than the kingdom of God!

LessonThe apostle John concluded his gospel account of the life of Christ by stating that if all the things Jesus did were written, the world would not be big enough to contain all of the books that would be needed (21:25)! He had earlier said (20:30-31) that “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Consider the things that John did include in his gospel.

Read John 1:45-51; 2:1-11, 23; 3:1-2; 4:16-19, 46-54; 5:1-9; 6:1-15, 16-21; 9:1-7; 11:37-45; 12:36-37; 18:1-11 (see also Luke 22:49-51); 20:1-8, 19, 26; 21:4-6

1. Surprised that Jesus knew him, Nathanael asked “How do you know me?” Jesus said, “_________ Philip called you, when you were _________ the fig tree, I ______ you.

2. Jesus’ first sign involved what? ______________________________________________3. When Jesus was in Jerusalem at the __________ Feast, ________ believed in his name

when they _______ the ________ he was doing.

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4. For Nicodemus, the _________ Jesus was doing was evidence that Jesus was a teacher come from _______.

5. Jesus told the woman at the well to go call her husband. She said, “I have no husband.” Jesus told her she was right in saying that because she had had ______ husbands and the one she had at that moment was not her husband. Because of that, the woman perceived that Jesus was a ____________.

6. While in _______ in Galilee, an official from __________ came requesting Jesus to help his son who was at the ________ of death. At that very moment, the son in Capernaum was healed.

7. In Jerusalem, at a pool called __________, Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for _______ years. That took place on the ___________ day.

8. After feeding the crowd of five thousand people, “When the people saw the _________ that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the ___________ who is to come into the world!”

9. One night, after the disciples had rowed about _________ miles, they saw Jesus come walking on the ________.

10. Jesus gave sight to the man who had been born blind by ___________ on the ground, making some ________. He anointed the man’s eyes with the _______ and told him to “Go, _______ in the pool of Siloam.” He went, washed and _______ _______ seeing.

11. By the time Jesus arrived where Mary and Martha lived, Lazarus had been dead _______ days. When Jesus, standing before the tomb, cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out,” the man who had died came out, his _______ and _______ bound with linen strips, and his ________ wrapped with a cloth.

12. John tells us, “Though he [i.e. Jesus] had done so many ________ before them, they ________ did not believe in him.

13. Peter having a sword struck the servant of the High Priest, cutting off his _________ ear. Jesus touched him and healed him. The servant’s name was ___________

14. When Mary Magdalene reported that the tomb was open and empty, the first of the two disciples who ran to the tomb arrived and went in, and he ______ and __________

15. That evening, of the day Christ arose from the dead, the disciples were together, but hiding for ________ of the ________. The door was locked, but Jesus came and stood among them. The same thing happened _________ days later.

16. One of Jesus’ final signs involved helping his disciples catch _______ fish, even though they had fished all night and had caught nothing.

Many people misunderstand the nature and purpose of Jesus’ miracles. Jesus did not go around healing the sick because there were many sick people and a shortage of physicians. He didn’t raise the dead because there was a shortage of tombs. He didn’t miraculously multiply bread and fish everywhere he went or turn all of the water in Judea into wine. His miracles and signs and wonders were done to prove His claim of being the Messiah and Son of God. In John 10:25, Jesus said, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me.” Even so, the signs and wonders did not always have the intended effect. Sometimes, in spite of the miracles he performed, people still refused to believe (see Matthew 13:58). In John 6, one of the scriptures looked at above, Jesus miraculously fed a multitude of five thousand people. That night the disciples left by boat, and Jesus walked

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comesacross the sea to join them. Verse 21 says “and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” The next day, the crowd went in search of Jesus again. Jesus told them that they had sought him out, not because of the miracle but because of the free food. Then he admonished them to work for the food that endures to eternal life and not just for food that perishes. In verse 30, they said to Jesus: “…Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?” Imagine that, just the day before, five thousand of them received a miraculous meal, but now they want yet another sign in order for them to believe! The king had come; the kingdom was nearing and the evidence for his being the Messiah and David’s heir was irrefutable. Even so, just as some people were (and are) unconvinced by the things Jesus taught, some also were (and are) unconvinced by his signs and wonders.


1. In your opinion, was John’s claim in 21:25 and exaggeration, or an understatement?

2. What was the purpose of the powerful signs Jesus performed according to John’s words in 20:30-31?

3. What miracle of Jesus would you have most liked to see, or the one that would have been the most convincing to you?

4. What can account for people still not believing in Jesus as the Son of God when they knew he had performed miraculous signs and wonders?

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Looking Ahead

In lesson nine we will take time to look at Jesus’ announcement that he was going to build his church.

Lesson Nine

THE KING’S ANNOUNCEMENT . . .

IntroductionFor centuries prophets had spoken of the coming Prophet, Son of David, Suffering Servant, and Messiah. They also spoke of a kingdom, an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:27). The two events were not separate; they were joined together as the final piece in God’s eternal plan. When John began his work of preparing the way for the coming of Jesus, he spoke of one who was coming after him, a person whose shoes he was not worthy to untie. He also said the kingdom was near at hand. When Jesus the Messiah began to manifest himself, he repeated John’s message telling people they needed to “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Of course, many people refused to believe that this Jesus of Nazareth could indeed be the Christ. There was also confusion about what the kingdom would be like; just how and when it would begin. Even so, expectations were rising and a palpable excitement was running throughout Judea. When the time was right (see John 16:12) Jesus took his disciples aside and shared with them one of the most important announcements in history. The Kingdom of God that was nearing would take form in the shape of something Jesus referred to as my church.

Lesson

Read Matthew 16:13-19; Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20

1. Jesus and his disciples had gone into the __________ of __________ Philippi.2. During that time, Jesus asked his disciples, “______ do people _____ the Son of Man is? 3. Both Mark and Luke record the question as, “Who do people say ___ ______?”4. Some people were saying that Jesus was _______ the __________; others thought he

was _________, still others thought he was ____________ or one of the ____________.5. Jesus then asked them, “But who do ______ say that I am?”

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6. _________ __________ answered, “You are the __________, the ______ of the ________ God.”

7. Only Matthew records more of the discussion between Jesus and his disciples at that time. Jesus said to Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon __________! For ________ and _________ has not ____________ this to you, but my ___________ who is in heaven.”

8. Jesus went on to say, “I tell you, ______ are _________, and ____ this _______ I will ________ my __________, and the gates of hell shall not __________ against it.”

9. Jesus continued speaking to Peter, saying, “I will give you the ______ of the __________ of __________, and whatever you _______ on earth shall be _________ in heaven, and whatever you ________ on earth shall be __________ in heaven.

Notice Jesus spoke of building his church. It is noteworthy that this is the first time in the Bible where this word is found although it is used more than 70 times in the rest of the New Testament. Jesus said he was going to build his church on “this rock.” Interestingly, the Greek word for “Peter” is the word petros. The Greek word for “rock” is the word petra, which is a feminine form of the same word as Peter’s name. The idea that the two words have different meanings is inaccurate. Both words have the same meaning—a rock. Many people, especially those of the Roman Catholic persuasion believe Jesus was saying Peter is the rock upon which the church was built. However, if Jesus meant that he would not have changed the gender form of the word (i.e. from petros to petra). Jesus was making a play on words in the use of Peter’s name but the rock upon which the church was to be built was not the apostle himself. Instead it was the truth confessed by Peter that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

The gospel (see Mark 16:15-16) is the good news about a king and his kingdom. That kingdom is Christ’s church. In Romans 16:16, refers to “the churches of Christ.” The Greek word for church is ekklesia (ek-klay-see-ah), a compound word (ek/”out” and kaleo/”to call”) meaning “to call out” or “the called out.” This was a word commonly used to refer to an assembly (see Acts 19:32, 39 & 41; also James 2:2), or to a gathering or congregation (see Acts 7:38; 13:43). Whereas the Jews had their synagogues, which most of the time referred to a building, Christians had their assemblies (see Acts 11:26; Hebrews 10: 25). They gathered in all sorts of places for the purpose of worshipping God and remembering the sacrifice Christ made on their behalf (see Acts 20:7 and Romans 16:5 for example).

Read and consider the following references: Mark 9:1 Jesus told his apostles, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will

not ______ of _______ until they see the Kingdom of God come with ___________ Acts 1:3 Following his resurrection, Jesus presented himself _______ to the apostles,

appearing to them during __________ days and speaking about the ____________ of God. Acts 1:6-8 The apostles asked Jesus if he was going to restore the __________ to Israel at

this time. Though Jesus did not answer them directly but he told them that they would receive _______ when the _______ ________ came upon them.

Acts 2:1-4 On the day of ___________, from __________ came a sound like a mighty rushing wind, filling the house where the apostles were staying. What appeared to be

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divided _________ of ______ appeared and came to rest on each of them. They were all ________ with the _______ _______ and began to speak in other tongues.

Acts 5:11; 8:1 After the death of Ananias and Sapphira (for lying to the Holy Spirit), great fear came upon the whole _________. With Paul leading the charge, a great ___________ arose against the church in ____________.

Acts 8:12 Philip, one of the early converts went about preaching _______ _______ about the _____________ of ______ and the name of Jesus Christ. In response to his preaching, both men and women were being ___________

Acts 19:8 On his third missionary journey, In Ephesus Paul entered the __________ and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the __________ of God.


1. Many understand about Christ coming as a king but seem clueless about his kingdom (i.e. the church). Why is that?

2. In what way did Jesus “build” his church?

3. What are some erroneous notions about Christ’s church believed by some today?

4. In Acts 11:26 the Bible says that for a whole year Barnabus and the apostle Paul met with the church in Antioch. Is there any way of knowing which church that was?

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Looking Ahead

Lesson ten will begin looking into the resistance, animosity and hatred Jesus suffered for presenting Himself as the Christ and Son of God, and for his teachings concerning the kingdom.

Lesson Ten

THE HATED KING!Introduction

In so many ways human nature is inexplicable. It is a mystery why so many people refused to believe in Jesus when he came into the world preaching and working miracles. With all of the fulfilled prophecies about his coming one could imagine there would have been a red carpet waiting for him. Instead, many people in his day, especially religious leaders among the Jews hated Jesus. At the beginning of his gospel, John tells us, “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him,” (John 1:9-11). Regretful as it was, Jesus was not surprised by the negative reaction he received. He knew the Psalm (69:4, see also John 15:25) was true” “They hated me without cause!”

Lesson

Read Luke 4:14-30; 6:6-11; John 5:16-18; 7:7; 10:19-39; 15:18, 23; Matthew 16:211. Jesus came to ___________, where he had been brought up. And as was his

_________, he went to the ___________ on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.2. At first all were impressed and spoke _______ of him, saying, “Is not this __________

son? Jesus then quoted a popular proverb, “Physician, heal yourself.” He knew what they were thinking, that they wanted him to so some healing and setting folks at liberty in his own hometown.

3. When the people heard Jesus’ words, ______ in the synagogue were filled with ________. They rose up and drove him out of the town, and were planning to ________ him down a _________. But passing through their midst, he went away.

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4. On another Sabbath day, Jesus went into a synagogue where there was a man whose right hand was withered. The _________ and ___________ watched Jesus to see if he would heal on the Sabbath and they would have a _________ to accuse him.

5. After healing the man, they were _________ with fury and discussed what they might do to Jesus.

6. John tells us that one reason why the Jews persecuted Jesus was because he was healing people on the ___________, and they wanted to _______ him because he was calling _______ his __________, making himself __________ with God.

7. Jesus said the reason why the world hated him was because he testified that its ______ were ________.

8. The Jews said they were going to stone Jesus for ___________. They sought to have him ____________

9. Jesus told his disciples, if the world ________ you, just know that it _________ me before it hated you. He said those who hate him, hate his __________ also.

10. Jesus prepared his disciples for what awaited him in ____________, that he would _________ many things from the elders and _________ _________ and scribes, and be __________, but that he would rise on the third day.

As indicated above, the hatred shown to him did not catch Jesus by surprise. In fact, the knowledge that Jesus would be despised was a key element in God’s eternal plan of salvation. God knew His son would be loathed and that hatred would lead to his being put to death. Even so, their act of hatred led to an avenue of mercy (propitiation, 1 John 2:2). Because of that death, even those who hated and killed Jesus received access to grace of God found in his blood. On the cross Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do,” (Luke 23:34).

Read and consider the following references: Psalm 2 The Psalmist asks ______ do the nations ________ and the people ______ in vain.

Kings and rulers took counsel together ________ the Lord and against his ___________. He who sits in the heavens _________ and holds them in __________. God’s plan was to set a ________ on Zion, and say to him, “You are my ______, today I have begotten you.” The people are urged to “________ the Son, lest he be angry.” __________ are all who take refuge in him.

Matthew 21:33-41 Parable of the Tenants: When the season for fruit drew near, the master sent his __________ to the tenants to get his fruit. They _______ on, ________ another and _________ another. Finally he sent his _______ to them. The tenants took him and threw him out of the vineyard and ___________ him.

Luke 19:12-27 Parable of the Ten Minas: Jesus is pictured as a _____________. It is said that his citizens ___________ him, and did not want him to ________ over them.

As seen in several of the passages cited above, not only would people hate Jesus, they would also hate His disciples. That became true as is clear from a study of the book of Acts. Paul could say, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted ,” (2 Timothy 3:12). The Hebrew writer, attempting to spur the saints on in faithful service reminded them of the experience many of them shared after being “enlightened.” He said they had

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comes“endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction…the plundering of your property,” (Hebrew 10:32-34).

In Revelation 12 a picture of a dragon is given who is seeking to devour a child as soon as it is born. When the child was caught up to God, and the woman fled into the wilderness, the dragon declared war on heaven itself. After being defeated in the heavenly realm, the dragon was cast down, and verse 17 says, “Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Indeed, as Jesus said, “If the world hates me, it will hate you.” Both the king and his kingdom are hated by the world.


1. After reading the gospel of Luke, a young Japanese lady who had no previous knowledge of Christianity struggled to understand why the people hated Jesus so deeply. How would you explain that to someone?

2. What kind of hatred is it that would lead someone to want to kill another?

3. After reading Psalm 2, what do you think is behind the hatred and rejection of God and His Son?

4. Have you ever felt the “sting” of hatred or scorn because of the faith you have in Christ and your commitment to live a faithful Christian life? Please describe.

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Looking AheadIn lesson eleven we will focus in on the final few days of Christ’s life, looking at his suffering, abuse, mockery and cruel death.

Lesson Eleven

DEATH TO THE KING!

IntroductionFinally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' Matthew 21:37-38

Isaiah the prophet said Jesus would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, (Isaiah 9:6). When the angels announced his birth (Luke 2:14), they sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Jesus called his followers to be peacemakers, saying they would be called “sons of God,” (Matthew 5:9). How then could one so dedicated to bringing peace and reconciliation, who was a living demonstration of God’s love, mercy, and grace how could he so hated that people would want to kill him? As Peter expressed it to the Jews in Jerusalem, “But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses, (Acts 3:14-15).Use this lesson to return yet again to the greatest yet darkest moment in human history; the day that mankind demanded, “Death to the King!”

Lesson

Read Matthew 20:17-19; 26:1-5, 26-35; Luke 22:39-65; Mark 15:1-391. While Jesus and his disciples were on their way to _____________, he took them aside

and began telling them that there he would be delivered over to the _______ ________ and scribes, and they would _________ him to ________. He would be delivered over to the _________, be mocked and _________ and crucified.

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2. A couple of days before the _________ feast, the chief priests and elders of the people gathered together in the palace of the high priest named __________. They _________ together to arrest Jesus by ________ and ______ him. Because they didn’t want to create an uproar among the people, they said, “Not _________the ________.”

3. As they were gathered for a meal together, Jesus took _________, and after _________ it broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is _____ blood of the __________, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

4. Jesus told them his next drink of that _______ of the _______ would not be until he drank it new with them in my Father’s __________

5. Jesus foretold that they would all _______ away because of him that night. The __________ would be struck, and the _________ would be scattered.

6. He also foretold Peter that he would deny him three times, before the rooster crows. Peter said, “Even if I must _______ with you, I will not ______ you. And ______ the disciples said the same.

7. Jesus had a _________ of going to the ________ of _________. The disciples followed him there, and he urged to _______ so they would not enter into temptation. He went a distance from them, and when he had ________ down, he prayed. An ________ from _________appeared to him, ____________ him.

8. While talking with the disciples, a crowd came, led by Judas, who drew near to _______ him. One of the disciples (Peter) took a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ________ ear.

9. That night, warming himself around a fire built in the courtyard of the high priest, Peter was accused of being one of Jesus’ disciples, and he denied it three times. The third time, the rooster crowed, and Peter went out and _______ __________.

10. The men holding Jesus were __________ and began to ________ him. They said many things against Jesus, ____________ him.

11. When it was __________, Jesus was led away to ________. Pilate asked him, “_______ _________________________?” Jesus said, “_____________________.”

12. Pilate perceived that it was out of _______ that the chief priests had delivered Jesus up. He asked, “What shall I do with the man you call the ________ of the _______?” The people cried out again and again, “Crucify him!”

13. Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate ____________ Barabbas, he had Jesus ______________ and then delivered him to be crucified.

14. He was clothed in a purple cloak, and a crown of thorns put on his head. The began to ___________ him, saying “Hail, _________ of the _________!” They struck his head with a ________, __________ on him, and kneeling before him, mocked him. Then he was led away to be crucified.

15. A passerby named ___________, who was from __________, was compelled to carry the cross for Jesus. They came to the place called _______________. He was _____________ a drink of _________ mixed with ____________, but he ____________ it.

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16. After crucifying Jesus, the soldiers _____________ his garments among them, casting lots. It was about the __________ hour of the day. An inscription was placed on the cross which read, “________________________________________.”

17. While hanging on the cross, with two _____________ on his left and right, people taunted him, saying “…save yourself and come down from the cross.”

18. At the ___________ hour, _____________ covered the land, until the _________ hour. At that time Jesus cried out with a loud voice: “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” Which meant, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some thought he was calling for _____________. After that, Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his _______.

19. At Jesus’ death, the _____________ of the ____________ was torn in two, from _______ to _______________. The centurion who witnessed this said, “__________ this man was the Son of God!”

Ironically, as men stand before the cross having turned against God, God is on the cross being faithful to them. Some had clamored for him to come down from the cross and then they would believe in him. While that option was clearly available to him, (see Matthew 26:53), had Jesus done so, he would have betrayed the very mission God had sent him to accomplish. Only by staying on the cross and tasting death for every man (Hebrews 2:9) could he in fact become the Savior of the world, and truly the King of Kings.

Read and consider the following references: Matthew 20:28 Jesus said that the _____ of Man did not come to be _________ but to

serve and give his _______ as a ___________ for many.” John 12:32 “And I, when I am _________ up from the ________, will _______ all people to

myself.” John 15:13 Speaking to his disciples, Jesus said, “Greater _______ has no one than this,

that someone _______ down his ________ for his __________.” Acts 20:28 Paul taught that the ___________ was ____________ with Christ’s _________. Romans 5:8 God showed his ________ for us in that while we were still ___________,

Christ died for _____. 1 Corinthians 5:7 Paul called Christ, our ___________ _______, saying that he had been

_____________. Galatians 5:13 According to Paul, Christ redeemed us from the ________ of the Law by

becoming a ___________ for us. Ephesians 5:2, 25 Christ _________ us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant ____________

and ___________ to God. Husbands are urged to be like Christ, who __________ the ___________ and gave himself up for her.

Colossians 2:13-14 Even though we have been dead in our __________, God made us alive together with Christ, having ___________ us all our trespasses, by ___________ the record of debt that stood against us, with its legal demands, setting it aside by __________ it to the ________.

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comes Hebrews 2:9 He who was for a little while made _________ than the ________ was

crowned with ________ and ________ because of the ____________ of death, so that by the _________ of God, he might _________ death for everyone.

Hebrews 12:2 Christians are urged to look to _________, who is the __________ and ___________ of our ________, who for the ________ set before him, __________ the cross, despising the __________ and is now __________ at the right hand of God.

1 Peter 1:18-19 Christian have been __________ from our futile ways not with perishable things such ________ or _______, but with the ___________ blood of Christ, like that of a ________ without ___________ or ________.

Revelation 5:9 John saw four living creatures and twenty-four elders bowed and singing before the Lamb, saying “you were ________, and by your _________, you ransomed people for God, from every tribe and language and people and nation, and have made them a ___________ and _________ to our God.”


1. From the cross Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them.” In Romans 5:8-10, Paul not only calls us sinners, but also “enemies.” Reflect on the death of Christ in light of your status as an enemy of God?

2. If the darkness at midday (from noon to three) can be thought of as a sign from God, what might it have symbolized?

3. Does Matthew 26:29 teach or imply that the Lord’s Supper is for those who are in the kingdom? What does partaking of that supper imply?

4. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “you were bought with a price.” We know what the price was, the blood of Christ (see also 1 Peter 1:18-19). If God were to ask, “Were you worth the life of my son?” how would you answer?

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Looking AheadLesson twelve takes a look at the incredible resurrection of Christ. This awesome event is only surpassed by its results.

Lesson Twelve

THE KING LIVES!Introduction

No doubt the enemies of Christ thought they had succeeded when Pilate ordered Jesus to be crucified. They were nearly certain of it when a few hours later his lifeless body was taken down from the cross and placed in a nearby tomb. Even so, worry filled their hearts. No doubt the strange darkness at midday left them with a sense of uneasiness (Matthew 27:45), as had the report that the veil in the Temple was found torn in two (Matthew 27:51). They were very much aware of the fact this one many believed to be the Messiah (see Matthew 16:16; John 4:25-26; Acts 8:37) had claimed he would be put to death and then rise again in three days, (Matthew 16:21). In their minds was the possibility that his disciples might try to steal the body away in order to give credence to the resurrection claim, (Matthew 27:62-66). Securing Pilate’s help, they had the tomb sealed and Roman guards posted. They didn’t have long to wait, however, before word began to circulate that the tomb was open and empty. All four of the gospel writers tell us about that day, the first day of the week when Jesus rose from the dead. The King had indeed come, and the King was here to stay!

Lesson

Read Matthew 27:55-28:10; Mark 15:42-16:13; Luke 23:50-24:40; John 19:38-20:29

1. A rich man from ____________ named _____________ went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Permission was given and Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud, and laid it in his own _______ tomb.

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2. According to Mark’s account, at first Pilate was ___________ to hear that Jesus was already dead. He summoned a __________ to ask if it was true. After that he granted the corpse to Joseph.

3. Concerning Joseph, Luke tells us that he was a member of the____________, and a ________ and ___________ man. He had not consented to the decision to have Jesus killed, and he was looking for the ____________

4. John tells us that Joseph was a _________ of ________, but __________ for fear of the Jews.

5. To the request made by the chief priests and the Pharisees, Pilate told them, “You have a _________ of soldiers. Go, make it as ________ as you can.”

6. It was ________ the Sabbath, at the dawning of the first day of the week, ______ ____________ and the other _______ went to see the _______.

7. Mark tells us that the other Mary was the mother of _______ and _________ and they brought _________ with which to _________ Jesus’ body.

8. An ____________ took place, and an ________ descended from heaven, and ________ back the stone, then ______ on it.

9. When the women left the tomb, running to tell the __________, _________ met them and said, _________. They came and took hold of his ________ and ____________ him.

10. When the women entered the tomb, they saw a _________ ______ sitting on the right side dressed in a _________ robe. That caused them to be ___________.

11. Jesus’ first appearance was to ______ ___________ from whom _______ demons had been cast out.

12. When the women first reported Jesus’ resurrection to the apostles, they were not believed, but even so, ________ rose and ran to the tomb.

13. Later that day, two disciples were going to a village named _________, which was about _________ miles from Jerusalem. While they were talking together, Jesus joined them, but their ________ were kept from ____________ him. One of the two was named __________.

14. That same evening, the two disciples returned to Jerusalem, and finding the _________, told them what had happened on the road and how he was known to them in the __________ of _________.

15. When Jesus appeared to the disciples, they were __________ and thought they were seeing a ________. Jesus said, “________ me, and see. For a spirit does not have _______ and ________as I have.”

16. Before leaving Jesus in the tomb, Joseph and ___________ brought a mixture of _______ and ________, about ___________ pounds in weight. They bound the body in the linen cloth along with the spices.

17. In addition to Peter, another apostle, the one whom ________ loved, ran to the tomb. The other man stooped to look in , and saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. When Peter arrived, he went in, saw the _______ ________ that had been on Jesus’ head, _________ up in a place by itself.

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18. After the disciples left, Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb, weeping. When she stooped to look inside, she saw ______ _________ in _________. When she turned around, she saw ________ standing before her but she did not know it was him. She thought he was the ___________.

19. It was on the evening of that first day that Jesus came to the apostles, showing them his hands and feet. He said to them, “________ be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. He then breathed on them, saying ‘_________ the ______ ________.’”

20. __________ wasn’t present when Jesus appeared to the apostles, but _______ days later, and again with the doors locked, Jesus came and stood among them. Thomas said, “My ________ and my _______!”

The resurrection of Jesus meant more than simply his return to life. It was irrefutable proof for the claim that he was indeed the Christ and Son of God (see Paul’s argument in Romans 1:3-4). And, as Jesus had said (Matthew 16:18), it also demonstrated that the gates of hades (or death) could not stop the coming of His Father’s kingdom. Christ’s resurrection became one of the central elements of the gospel message proclaimed by the apostles.

Read and consider the following references: Acts 2:22-36 Though Jesus of ___________ had been crucified and ___________ by the

hands of lawless men, _______ raised him up, loosing the ________ of death. Peter said that David, being a _________, foresaw and spoke about the ______________ of Christ.

Acts 4:33 The writer tells us that it was with great power the ___________ were giving their ______________ to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 5:29-32 Peter told the members of the Jewish council (Sanhedrin), “The God of our fathers _________ Jesus, whom they had _________, and God had _________ to his right hand as __________ and __________ by giving ____________ to Israel and ____________ of _______

Acts 10:37-41 Peter preached that God had anointed Jesus with the ______ ________ and with power, and he went about doing _______, healing those oppressed by the devil. He was put to death, but God raised him on the _______ ______ and made him to ________.

Romans 1:1-4 Paul said he had been set apart for the _________ of God that had been promised beforehand through the __________ in the holy Scriptures. This gospel concerned God’s Son who descended from _________ according to the flesh and was _________ to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his ____________ from the dead.

For many people, the idea of Jesus being raised from the dead is hard to believe (see Acts 17:32), and there is not room in the space of this one lesson to look at the many arguments in its defense. Suffice it to say, if Jesus had not been raised, there would be no Christian faith today and the world would have been far different than it is. Such was the case made by the apostle Paul for the resurrection.

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King ComesRead 1 Corinthians 15:1-52

1. Paul was writing to the Corinthians about the _________ which he had preached to them, which they had __________, and by which they had been _________ providing they remained faithful.

2. That message was built around four historical facts, which had also been foretold in the scriptures: that Jesus _________ for our sins; that he was _________; that he was _________ on the ________ ______, and that he ___________

3. Jesus appeared first to __________, then to the __________, then he appeared to more than ______ brothers at one time. Then he appeared to _________, then to all the apostles, and last of all to ________.

4. Paul argued that if there is no resurrection, then _________ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, the apostles ___________ was in vain and their ________ was in vain. If Christ had not been raised, the apostles were false witnesses for teaching that he was, and their faith was futile and they were still in their ______.

5. Christ was raised, and Paul says, “_________ be to God, who gives us the __________ through our Lord Jesus Christ.”


1. Jesus rose from the dead, and yet many of the Jews still did not believe in him; many people today still do not believe in him. How can you explain people’s unbelief?

2. What are some reasons you are convinced that Jesus truly rose from the dead?

3. Much of the so-called Christian world recognizes Easter as a holiday celebrating Christ’s resurrection. Is there anything in the New Testament suggesting the apostles and early Christians did that?

4. The church is “the body of Christ” (see Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). What does that fact and the fact of his resurrection say about the church/kingdom?

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Looking AheadThe final lesson in this second quarter of study will set forth the King’s authority and final orders to his disciples. With the King sitting on His throne at the right hand of God, everything is ready. It is time now for the kingdom to come!

Lesson Thirteen

THE KING REIGNSIntroduction

Following his resurrection, it took time for Jesus to convince His disciples and apostles that He was alive. Once they were finally and fully persuaded of his resurrection, Jesus used several different occasions to meet with and prepare the apostles for the mission he was about to place in their hands (Acts 1:1-8). Luke tells us “To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” Speaking about the kingdom naturally aroused their curiosity and they wanted to know when it would come; when would it be restored “…to Israel.” It is important to note that even though Jesus had been raised from the dead, the kingdom had not yet come. The moment for that had to wait for Christ’s return to His Father to begin his High Priestly work of intercession. In the meantime, the apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit, whose coming would bestow on them great power. After giving these men his final teaching and instructions, Christ then entrusted them with the greatest work anyone has ever known, taking the gospel into all the world and to every creature! Hear then, the words of him who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, (1 Timothy 6:15).

Lesson

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King ComesRead Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:44-53; John 20:19-23; 21:15-17 and Acts 1:1-11

1. Appearing to the eleven disciples in __________ , Jesus told them that all ____________ in __________ and _________ had been given to him. Based upon that, they were told to ______ therefore and make ____________ of _____ nations, _____________ them in the name of the _________ and of the _______ and of the _______ ________.

2. He further told them to teach those disciples to _________ all that he had commanded them (the apostles). He said, I am _______ you ________ even to the end of the age.

3. In Mark version of the “great commission,” Jesus said, “_____ into all the _________ and proclaim the __________ to the ________ __________.” He went on to say, “Whoever __________ and is ____________ will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be ____________.”

4. In a kind of follow-up explanation, with reference to the apostles, Mark says, “they went out and preached _____________, while the ________ worked with them and ____________ the __________ by the accompanying _________ (see also Hebrew 2:3)

5. After opening their minds to _____________ the ____________, Jesus told them that _____________ and ______________ of _______ was to be proclaimed in Jesus’ name to ______ nations, ____________ from Jerusalem.

6. He told them to stay in the city (i.e. Jerusalem) until they were _________ with _______ from on _________. Jesus said, “I am sending the __________ of my Father upon you.”

7. On the evening of the first day of the week, the _________ were ___________, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “__________ be with you.” Then he told them, “As the Father has __________ me, even so I am _____________ you. After that he _____________ on them and said, “Receive the __________ ____________.”

8. Jesus told the apostles not to _________ from Jerusalem but to wait for the __________ of the Father. He went on to tell them that in not many days they would be __________ with the Holy Spirit.

9. The apostles asked Jesus a question. They said, “Lord, will you ___ ______ ______ restore the __________ to ________?” Jesus told them it was not for them to know the _______ or ___________ the Father has _________ by his own authority. They would soon receive _________ when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and then they would be his _________ in Jerusalem, in all _________ and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

10. While Jesus talked with the apostles, he was ________ up, and a ________ took him out of their sight. Two _____ in white robes (i.e. angels) told them that Jesus would come back in the same way they saw him go into heaven.

Jesus said that all authority has been given to him, in heaven and on earth. He was not simply stating that he had more authority than any other ruler on earth, but that none of the so-called “rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (see also Ephesians 1:21; 3:10; 1 Peter 3:22) could keep God’s eternal purpose from its fulfillment. We recall (lesson 9) that Jesus had promised to build his church, saying that not even “…the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,” (Matthew 16:18). The time had come, literally within days for that church/kingdom to

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Thy kingdom come Part II—The King Comesbegin. Christ wanted the apostles to understand that when the church began, they were to begin a world-wide calling of people into this kingdom. This too had been hinted at in the writings and prophets of the Old Testament.

Read and consider the following references: Psalm 67:1-2 The Psalmist prayed that God would be _________ to them, blessing them,

and making his face to shine upon them. Then his _____ would be made known on ________ and his __________ power among all the ___________ (see also verses 3-7)

Isaiah 49:6 God’s plan was that his people might be his servant be a _________ for the __________ that his ___________ might reach to the end of the _________

With his ascension into heaven, final preparations were complete. The works of the devil had been destroyed (see Hebrews 2:14; also Colossians 2:15). All things were now ready and it was time for the good news of victory to be proclaimed in all the world; an invitation given to every man to make Christ their king. Indeed, the time had come for deliverance to begin from the domain of darkness…into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, (see Colossians 1:13).


1. Even as late as just before his ascension, why did the apostles seemingly still not understand Jesus about the kingdom he had spoken of building?

2. What does the idea that Jesus was given “all authority” have to do with the gospel and the church?

3. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus used the word “observe.” What does that word imply? Do you think Christians today are under the “great commission?”

4. What about the signs that are to “accompany those who believe” spoken of in Mark 16:17-28; are those signs available for Christians today? Please give a reason (and or scripture) for your answer

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Looking AheadIn this series, Thy Kingdom Come, we have looked at the kingdom in promise and prophecy, the coming of the King, and now we will take a more in-depth look at the kingdom itself; the church.

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