gospel

The week when the King Died…

The Gospel of Matthew describes Jesus as the King. He was born in the lineage of David, Israel’s greatest king (Matthew 1). The Magi came to worship the one born King of the Jews (Matthew 2). Jesus announced the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4). Jesus preached about the kingdom (Matthew 5-7). Over and over again in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus taught and acted with the authority of a King. Even in his death, Jesus ruled.

His cross was the King’s cross.

When the religious leaders, Pilate, and the soldiers mocked Jesus, the irony of their charges fulfilled Matthew’s claim that Jesus was King (Matthew 27:11-14; 27-31; 37-44). The charge written above Jesus on the cross was “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (Matthew 27:37). As Jesus faced the prospect of the cross, he remained silent in the face of the unrelenting charges revealing his authority (Matthew 27:14). He remained in control of his words while he hung on the cross (Matthew 27:46). As you read Jesus cry of dereliction, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”, recognize that Jesus was quoting David from Psalm 22. Read the entire Psalm and consider how Jesus’ quotation is more a declaration of victory/salvation, than a question of what God was doing. Jesus chose to suffer by way of crucifixion (Matthew 27:38). His suffering on the cross was exacerbated by the exhaustion of his deeply moving prayer in Gethsemane, his sleepless night, the trials in front of the religious leaders, Herod, and Pilate and his scourging and beating (Matthew 27:26-31). Jesus was in control on the cross–his cross was the King’s cross.

I think most significantly in Matthew’s account, Jesus “yielded up his spirit” (Matthew 27:50). He chose the time when he would die. Jesus was not murdered. Jesus was not martyred. Jesus ruled even as he hung on the cross. He died at the moment of his choosing. He gave up his life on the cross. His death happened on his time and was under his control–his cross was the King’s cross.

It is not at all surprising when people die. It happens every day. It is not surprising when a royal dies. They’re just like everyone else; they die too. It is not surprising that people were crucified in and around Jerusalem some two thousand years ago. That wasn’t unique either. Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, thousands of others had been crucified by the Romans in and around Jerusalem. But the reality and inevitability of death beg the questions, “Why are we still talking about this death? What makes Jesus’ death unique?”

The Bible teaches that Jesus’ death is unique because He was in control when he died. Jesus was not the unfortunate recipient of unjust treatment or the disappointing conclusion of a failed religious revolutionary. His death was planned not merely by his enemies, but by his Father. Not only did Jesus tell his followers that his death was going to happen (see Matthew 16:21-23), but Jesus’ death for redemption of sinners was God’s plan for salvation (Ephesians 1).

Jesus’ death is also unique because he didn’t remain dead. If Jesus had just been another crucified victim or criminal, everything would be different. But Jesus didn’t stay dead. The King’s Cross wasn’t the end of the story. More was to come. The King did not remain in the tomb.

For this week, Christians across the world remember the week the King died. For this week, Christians will remember the message and seek the meaning of Holy Week. Here are some ways that Holy Week 2024 can bring significance to your life:

  • Read through the Passion week accounts (Matthew 21-28; Mark 11-16; Luke 19-24; John 12-21). Prepare your heart and mind in reflection on the crucified King.
  • If you are a part of a church where the Lord’s Supper is a part of your passion week experience, make sure to participate. Ready your heart through confession and prayer. Confess your sins. Eat in commemoration (remembering Jesus’ death), communion (fellowship with believers) and celebration (life with God through Jesus now and forever).
  • Anticipate the Resurrection. Celebrate the life you have in Jesus.

Let’s rejoice in Christ our King and Risen Savior.

Photo by Toni Castillo on Unsplash

Matthew and the Gospel of the Kingdom

Although not an easy decision, Matthew is my favorite book in the Bible. It is the first Gospel in the New Testament, beautifully organized by setting and theme, and emphatic regarding the important person and work of Jesus as our Savior King. Currently, we are working through a doctrinally themed sermon series at Wilkesboro Baptist Church, entitled “The Gospel of the Kingdom.” This post is a complimentary guide to helping us explore Matthew’s Gospel and discover the important truths, observations, and applications regarding Jesus and his Kingdom.

Here are several thematic emphases in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew highlights Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Fifteen times Matthew explicitly claims that Jesus or the events around Jesus fulfilled OT prophecies (1:22; 2:15, 17, 23; 3:15; 4:14; 5:17; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14, 35; 21:4; 26:54, 56; 27:9). These fifteen instances are more than any other New Testament writer. Matthew wants his readers to see Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s plans for the prophecies in the Old Testament.

Matthew points to Jesus as the better Moses, Israel, and King. Moses functioned as the redeemer figure during the Exodus and God’s prophet when God gave the Law. As such, Moses functioned as Israel’s priest (representative) between Israel and God. But Moses was glaringly imperfect, though highly revered by Israel’s first century religious leaders. Matthew connects Jesus and Moses in a variety of ways: see Exodus 1 and Matthew 2 with the slaughter of the innocents; see Moses going up the mountain for the law in Exodus 19:20 and Jesus going up on the mountain to preach in Matthew 5:1. Matthew connects Jesus and Israel in several ways. Israel faced temptations in the wilderness and failed over a 40 year period of time, and Jesus went to the wilderness in Matthew 4 to face temptation over a period of 40 days. God rescued and redeemed Israel so the nation would represent God’s glory, grace, and goodness to the surrounding nations. Israel’s unbelief and idolatry over and over again (particularly right after the Exodus) reveals the doctrine of original sin and the depravity of mankind. Israel failed in her purpose as God’s people just like we all do. Yet Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness successfully. This means that Jesus is the perfect representation of God (he is God incarnate), but he is also the perfect representation of God’s people (where Adam sinned in the garden, and Israel sinned in the wilderness, Jesus obeyed in the wilderness). Thus, Jesus is the perfect Prophet (Lawgiver) and Priest (representative between man and God). See below for Jesus as King.

Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ Kingdom. While each Gospel includes references to Jesus’ kingdom, it is the emphasized theme in Matthew’s Gospel. More than any other Gospel, Matthew references the kingdom (53x) and uses the term authority (11x). Matthew’s emphasis on Jesus as King can be seen as an inclusio in the beginning and end of his Gospel. In Matthew 1:1, Jesus’ genealogy begins with him as the “son of David, the son of Abraham,” and then his genealogy is traced back through Joseph to the line of King David. In Matthew 2, the wise men come seeking the “King of the Jews” (2:2). The inclusio is completed in Matthew 28:18 when Jesus affirms, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus came announcing the kingdom of heaven (4:17) and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (4:23). Much of the content of Jesus’ preaching and teaching as well as his ministry is shaped by the them of the kingdom and his authority as King. For more on this theme, join us for worship at Wilkesboro Baptist or if you attend another church, watch or listen to our services during this series.

Matthew organized his Gospel beautifully in structure and theme. Matthew organized his Gospel in Narrative and Discourse sections. Dale Allison observes the following organizational structure in Matthew:

         1-4       Narrative                                 Intro: main character introduced
         5-7                  Discourse                    Jesus’ demands upon Israel
         8-9       Narrative                                 Jesus’ deeds within and for Israel
         10                    Discourse                    Ministry through others’ words and deeds
        11-12  Narrative                                 Israel’s negative response
        13                    Discourse                    Explanation of Israel’s negative response
       14-17   Narrative                                 Founding of the Church
       18                     Discourse                    Teaching for the Church
       19-23   Narrative                                Commencement of the Passion
       24-25              Discourse                   The future: judgment and salvation
       26-28   Narrative                                Conclusion: passion and resurrection

Dale Allison, Studies in Matthew, 141-142.

Not only did Matthew organize the Gospel beautifully, but he recorded and organized Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount beautifully. The framework of Matthew 5:1-8:1 can be seen as follows:

5:1-2 Situation
   5:3-12 Blessings (Beatitudes)
      5:13-16 Heading for Sermon Body and General Description for Discipleship (Salt and Light)
      5:17-20 Introduction of Main Section (Righteousness and Law)
         5:21-48 Jesus and the Torah (Law and Prophets)
            6:1-18 The Christian Cult (Worship)
                6:1-6 Almsgiving
                   6:7-15 Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
               6:16-18 Fasting
         6:19-7:11 Social Issues (Law and Prophets)
      7:12 Conclusion of Main Section (Righteousness and Law)
   7:13-27 Warnings
7:28-8:1 Reaction of Hearers (Dale Allison, The Sermon on the Mount, 37).

In the above structure, the Sermon’s centerpiece is the model prayer with the other sections complementing each other in recurring themes. While this is not the only attempted thematic structuring of Jesus’ Sermon, it is helpful in observing the overall interconnectedness of the Sermon’s structure, themes, and applications.

My hope in sharing some of this analysis is that we will be encouraged and indeed inspired by the intentionality of inspired Scripture. In reflecting on our current sermon series: “The Gospel of the Kingdom” and Matthew’s Gospel as a whole, here are some reading and study practices that would overlap helpfully with our Sunday morning worship services:

  • Have your devotions with a pen and journal in hand, noting any place in Scripture that highlights the sovereignty, authority, or Kingship of God.
  • Make the Gospel of Matthew your devotional content for several weeks/months. Note or highlight the places in Matthew that emphasize the kingdom and Jesus’ authority.
  • Memorize and meditate on key verses in Matthew in general or the Sermon on the Mount in particular. Our church memory verses for January and February are below. Matthew 6:33 is another excellent verse to memorize.
  • Memorize the model prayer and use it as a template for your prayer life (Mt. 6:9-13).
  • Practice (apply) what you learn. When you read and study and glean from your personal devotions or our gathered worship, remember that God gave us his Word to transform us not merely inform us. When convicted about a sin, confess it. When an insight becomes clear, learn from it. When you read and understand what you are to do (7:24), obey it.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

“The Gospel of the Kingdom” is about Jesus’ compelling vision for his people and their allegiance to him as King. Jesus’ gospel message about the kingdom confronts our sins, allegiances, and vision for life. Too often as Christians, we spend too much time complaining about the decay and rot in our world than we do living and speaking as citizens of the Kingdom. May God help us rightly discern Jesus’ vision for his followers and obediently practice his teaching.

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash