Disciples Global Network

Following his baptism in the Jordan River, the Voice from Heaven identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Servant of the LORD . The theme of fulfillment is prominent in Matthew’s Gospel . The promises of God are fulfilled in Jesus, the Anointed Son sent to redeem Israel and rule the nations. Peter confirmed that he was the “ Messiah ” but failed to understand that he would undertake that role as the suffering “ Servant of Yahweh ,” a misunderstanding that persists to this day. Christ’s true identity and the significance of his mission are revealed in his Death and Resurrection.

The Spirit of God descended on Jesus, equipping him for his Messianic mission. He would baptize his followers in the Holy Spirit and Fire . John proclaim ed   a baptism in water  “ for the remission of sins ,” and  he announce d the arrival of  the  “ Coming One .”  He was the Forerunner sent before the  Messiah as promised in the Book of Isaiah -  “ Behold,  I send my messenger before  your  face … .” He was the promised King of Israel. He would baptize his people “ in Spirit and Fire .”

John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah’s arrival, the herald of the Good News of the Kingdom of God – Mark 1:4-8. All four gospel accounts apply the same passage from the Book of Isaiah  to John the Baptist, the messenger who summoned men to repent “ for the remission of sins ” in preparation for the Messiah’s arrival in Israel. John is identified as the forerunner expected before the “ Day of the LORD ” - “ The voice of one crying, in the wilderness, prepare the way of the LORD ” - (Isaiah 40:3-5).

Jesus is the son of David, the heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh . The Gospel of Matthew calls Jesus the “ Son of David .” In his life and death, he demonstrated what it meant to be the King of Israel and the “ Son of God .” Traditionally, the last designation was linked to the House of David; but in Matthew’s account, the old understanding of the Messiah is altered radically. The Greater Son of David is far more than the Ruler of Israel or the Nations. He is a King and Messiah of a very different kind.

Jesus is the Son of Abraham, heir of the promises, the Anointed King who fulfills and implements the inheritance of his people . The introduction to the Gospel of Matthew  declares Jesus to be the “ Son of Abraham ,” the descendant destined to fulfill the covenant promises made by the God of Israel to the Great Patriarch. His identification as the Son of Abraham stresses the theme of fulfillment that dominates Matthew . Through Jesus of Nazareth, the promises become reality.

The promised Kingdom of God arrived in the ministry of Jesus the Messiah, commencing with his baptism – Mark 1:1-3. The  Gospel of Mark opens with a declaration combining passages from the Hebrew Bible, thereby providing the scriptural basis for the ministry of John the Baptist and setting the stage for Christ’s mission. Mark begins on a note of fulfillment . The Man from Nazareth was the Messiah of Israel, the “ Good News which God promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ” - (Romans 1:1).

Jesus is revealed as the Savior of Mankind in his sufferings and self-sacrificial death for others, including his enemies . The inability of men to recognize Jesus as the Son of God until after his crucifixion is a central theme of the Gospel of Mark . Ironically, the first man to do so is the Roman centurion on duty at his execution. His self-identification as the suffering “ Son of Man ” made him unrecognizable to unregenerate men. He was the Savior no one expected or wanted .

The conspiracy by the Earth’s kings to unseat the Messiah is applied in the New Testament to the plot to destroy Jesus  – Psalm 2:1-6. The  Second Psalm  is a key passage applied to Jesus by the New Testament. When were its predictions fulfilled, and is the Messiah reigning now on David’s Throne? Is the world still waiting for his enthronement at a future date? What about the “ revolt ” of nations and kings against the Son of God? Is it a prediction of a coming war between Jesus and earthly governments -  (Psalm 2:1-6)?

The New Testament links the enthronement of Jesus to his resurrection and ascension by applying key Messianic texts to him. He qualified to reign because of his “ obedience unto death .” This was confirmed when God raised him from the dead and seated him  “ at His right hand ,” making this Crucified man both “ Lord and Messiah . ” He now rules over the Cosmos  as King  and Sovereign – (Acts 2:36).

As they approached Jerusalem, Jesus queried his disciples: Who do men say that I am? At least nine times, the Gospel of Mark declares that Jesus was “ ON THE WAY .” His march to the City of David echoed the words in the Book of Isaiah applied previously to John the Baptist- “ Behold, I send my messenger before your face who will prepare YOUR WAY .”

When an angel informed Joseph that the child carried by Mary was “ conceived of the Holy Spirit ,” it indicated that something more than just a miraculous birth was about to unfold. From the beginning, the activity of the Spirit dominated the life of Jesus of Nazareth. He was “ Jesus, the one called Christ ,” that is, the “ Anointed One ,” the long-awaited Messiah of Israel.

According to the Psalmist, the anointed “ Son ” would reign “ on Mount Zion… my holy mount .” As attested by the New Testament, that king is Jesus of Nazareth. His reign over the Earth began following his Resurrection and Ascension. Ever since he has been extending his sovereignty by sending his envoys to the “ uttermost parts of the Earth ” to announce his Gospel to the nations.

In the three synoptic gospels, the term “ Son of Man ” is the self-designation found most often on the lips of Jesus. It is derived from Daniel’s vision of the one “ like a Son of Man ” who received the “ dominion and kingdom ” from the “ Ancient of Days .” According to Jesus, “ All the tribes of the Earth ” will mourn when “ they see the Son of man coming on the clouds of Heaven .”

The promises of God find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. “ IN HIM ,” they find their “ yea ” and “ amen .” The things that were once “ hidden ” are revealed in the life, words, death, resurrection, and exaltation of the Son of God, the one in whom all the shadows and types prefigured in the Hebrew Bible are actualized. All God’s “ mysteries ” are laid bare for all men to see in the Nazarene, especially in his death and resurrection.

Jesus is the only true Light of the World, and his light shines all the brighter amidst the darkness that tyrannizes the present age. All competing claims are false . “ Life ” is found in the “ Word ” or ‘ Logos ’ (λογος), and this life is the “ Light of men .” The Light is “ shining in the darkness ,” and the darkness “ cannot seize ” or suppress it. This same “ Word ” has become the Living Word of God in Jesus of Nazareth, in whom the glory, salvation, and life of God are manifested for all men to see - (John 1:1).

The saints overcome the Dragon through the death of the Lamb and their faithful witness even unto death  – Revelation 12:11.  In Chapter 12 of the book of  Revelation , the “ sign of the Great Red Dragon ” appears in the heavens, signifying that the “ war ” has commenced between his forces and those of the “ son ” who is destined to “ shepherd the nations .” But the result of Satan’s attempt to destroy the “ son ” is his expulsion from “ heaven ,” and the proclamation of the victory of the “ brethren. ”

At the end of his journey, his destination was the Temple in the center of the city.  The next several stories prepare the reader for his final days, A full third of Mark’s gospel account concerns the events of that week that culminate in his death and resurrection. All that preceded his arrival in the city was moving inexorably forward to his arrest, trial, and execution in the city of David and the prophets.

The Transfiguration confirms his status as the Messiah and the necessity for Jesus to suffer before receiving glory  - Mark 9:2-13.  In  Mark , the Transfiguration begins with the clause “ after six days ,” a link to the  preceding story  where Peter acknowledges Jesus is the Messiah. In response, Christ explains the true meaning of discipleship. To follow him, a man must “ deny himself and take up his cross ” just as the “ Son of Man ” did.