The Messiah and the Kingdom

• Central Themes: Jesus as the fulfillment of the covenants within the framework of the Gospels.

Brief Overview of the Gospels

• Timeline of Composition:
  • Written approximately between AD 70 to AD 95.
• Authors Identified as Evangelists: Proclaimers of the Good News.
• Purpose of Writing: To spread the message of Jesus, establish community beliefs, and respond to the needs of their audiences.
• Methodology: Utilizes Source Criticism to evaluate narratives.

Gospels as "Mosaics"

• Each Gospel presents unique perspectives and messages:
  • Matthew:
  • Depicts Jesus as the New Moses.
  • Written around AD 85, it quotes Hebrew Scriptures extensively.
  • Mark:
  • Represents Jesus as the Suffering Servant.
  • Written circa AD 70, emphasizes Jesus’ identity as the Savior but maintains secrecy.
  • Luke:
  • Portrays Jesus as the Universal Savior.
  • Written around AD 90, focuses on outreach to the marginalized.
  • John:
  • Indicates the Word Incarnate.
  • Written about AD 95, it highlights Jesus’ divine omniscience.

The Incarnation

• Concept: God became human, emphasizing the importance of the incarnation in Christian theology.
  • Mary as the New Eve:
  • Mary’s obedience as a counter to Eve's disobedience, fulfilling protoevangelium.
  • Relationship with the Paschal Mystery:
  • The Paschal Mystery (Passion, Death, Resurrection) hinges on the incarnation; it’s less impactful without it.

Names and Titles of Jesus

• Each name reveals aspects of Jesus’ identity and mission:
  • Jesus: Means "God Saves" in Hebrew, indicating his salvation mission.
  • Christ: Translates to Messiah, meaning "Anointed One"—serves as Priest, Prophet, and King.
  • Other titles emphasizing his divinity include:
  • Son of God: Highlights the relationship with God the Father.
  • Lord: A Greek term for God used by the Jewish people (Adonai).

Hypothetical Scenario: Jesus as an Infant

• Contemplation: What if Herod’s decree succeeded?
  • Investigate theological implications of infant mortality on redemption and loss of potential teachings and impact by Jesus if he died as a baby.

The Kingdom of God

• Also known as the Kingdom of Heaven:
  • Various interpretations:
  • Concept of a present kingdom on Earth versus a future reality.
  • Characterized as “Already, but Not Yet,” indicating layers of understanding beyond militaristic or posthumous contexts.

Fulfillment of Old Testament Covenants

• Adamic Covenant:
  • Jesus as the "New Adam," redeeming humanity's disobedience (the "Happy Fault").
• Mosaic Covenant:
  • Establishment of the New Law by Jesus, restoring justice and holiness.
• Davidic Covenant:
  • Jesus identified as the Messiah, a King who reigns eternally.

Messianic Predictions

• Isaiah's Prophecies:
  • Typology of the Suffering Servant prominently paralleling Mark's Gospel.
  • Predictions about the Messiah’s attributes:
  • Born of a virgin
  • Sacrificed for forgiveness
  • Light in the Darkness
• Matthew's Emphasis:
  • Highlights Jesus as fulfillment of Old Testament, quoting Hebrew scriptures nearly 100 times.

Jesus’ Ministry

• **Core Activities:
  • Preaching and Teaching:** Including parables about the Kingdom and the Sermon on the Mount.
  • Miracles: Demonstrations of divine authority and the realization of God’s kingdom.
  • Restores wholeness to individuals in body, mind, and spirit.

Signs of the Kingdom

• Presence of the Kingdom:
  • Characterized through Jesus’ ministry and significant events:
  • The Transfiguration: A pivotal revelation of Jesus’ divine nature, signaling his messianic role.
  • The Eucharist: The sharing of bread and wine as a remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice, described as the "Unbloodied Sacrifice," pointing to his role as the Lamb of God.