The Prophesy Fulfilled The King’s Rejection Foreshadowed – Chapter 12 From a Sheep to a Fish

Did you drive your car to church? Will you prepare dinner tonight? Paying any bills today? What do you do on Sundays? What’s your “Sabbath” like? What is meant by “legalism”? Did you eat fish on Friday? Ladies, did you cover your head today? Men, did you wear your dark suit today?

JESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATH Matt. 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”

SHEEP IN THE PIT, OX IN THE DITCH Matt. 12:9-14 “Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.” What is the source of “good”? Luke 15:4

BOUND BY REGULATIONS, SUBMISSION TO RULES… The impact of human commands & self-imposed worship When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Colossians 2:13-17, Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

From a shriveled hand to a “hand” of truth… a deck of 52! The “Ace” – it reminds us that there is only one God The “2” – it represents 2 parts of the Bible, Old & New Testament The “3” – it represents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit The “4” – it stands for the 4 Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke & John The “5” – it stands for the 5 loaves of bread Jesus used to feed the 5,000 The “6” – it stands for the 6 days God took to create the Heavens and Earth The “7” – it stands for the day God rested after working 6 days The “8” – it stands for family of Noah that God saved from the flood The “9” – it stands for the 9 fruits of the Spirit The “10” – it represents the 10 Commandments The “Jack” – a reminder of Satan who seeks to temp us & turn us from God The “Queen” – it stands for the Virgin Mary The “King” – it stands for Jesus, for He is the King of all kings Count all the dots – 365, one for every day 52 cards – 52 weeks in a year 4 Suits – 4 seasons of the year Each suit has 13 cards – 13 weeks/quarter

GOD’S CHOSEN SERVANT…GENTLE & HUMBLE Matt. 12:15-21 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations (Jews & Gentiles). He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations (Jews & Gentiles) will put their hope.” Isa. 42:1-4 What was Jesus “aware of”? Because of the plotting of his death, did He hide and stop ministering? Who would Jesus proclaim justice to and give hope to? Jesus was chosen, empowered, merciful, sympathetic, humble, quiet, meek, compassionate…yet strong and faithful to the end!

JESUS AND BEELZEBUB Matt. 12:22-24 What are the Pharisees proclaiming here? “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”.” In who’s name, power and authority did Jesus heal?

WHAT IS THE DESTINY OF A KINGDOM DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF? Matt. 12:25-29 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. EXTRA! EXTRA! Michael Jordan throws championship final in his last game! BREAKING NEWS! Arnold Swartzeneager allows a 98 lb. burglar to rob his Beverly Hills mansion!

THE UNFORGIVEABLE SIN Matt. 12:30-32 Therefore, "blasphemy against the Holy Ghost" can be understood as a continued and persistently stubborn rejection of the gospel of salvation. This would be an "unpardonable sin" because as long as a person remains in unbelief, he voluntarily excludes himself from forgiveness of sin. What is the “unforgiveable sin”? “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” The only unforgivable sin is the rejection of Jesus Christ's offer of salvation, his free gift of eternal life, and thus, his forgiveness from sin. If you deny the Holy Spirit's entrance into your life, to work his sanctification in you, you cannot be cleansed from unrighteousness.

A TREE IS RECOGNIZED BY ITS FRUIT! Matt. 12:33-37 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words (FROM YOUR HEART) you will be acquitted, and by your words (FROM YOUR HEART) you will be condemned.” Good Soil vs. Bad Soil Good Seed vs. Bad Seed Good Water vs. Bad Water

Red & Juicy, Sweet, Cool & Delicious? …or not? Sweet, Succulent Strawberries Hot, Hellacious Habaneras Two Military & National Leaders of German Descent

THE SIGN OF JONAH Matt. 12:38-42 What is the “Sign of Jonah”? Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here. How did Nineveh respond to Jonah’s preaching? Who was the “Queen of the South”?

Jonah, the Big Fish & the Gentiles Nineveh was a the capital of Assyia Assyrians worshiped a Fish-God called Dagon Jonah was swallowed and thrown up by a “big fish” in the presence of witnesses Jonah was very likely bleached very white by the fish’s digestive acids Jonah’s appearance and route of arrival caused a city-wide response of fasting and prayer A 3 rd Century Babylonian priest/historian wrote of a mythical creature named “Oannes” (Assyrian name for Jonah) who emerged from the sea to give divine wisdom to men Nineveh was re-discovered in the 19 th century after more than 2,500 years of obscurity and is now believed to have been one of the largest cities in the world at that time The city was found buried beneath a pair of “tells” or mounds in the vicinity of Mosul, Iraq. One of the tells was named “Nabi Yunus”, Arabic for “the Prophet Jonah” In April 2006, a Whale Shark was reported off the Carmel Coast in North Palestine (the Whale Shark is the largest shark species in the world and can attain a length of over 40’ and weight of more than 23 tons) It swims with it’s mouth open, feeding on plankton It has the unique ability to invert it’s stomach and push objects out that it can’t digest (gastric inversion)

The Whale Shark

King Solomon & the Gentile Queen of the South AKA Queen of Sheba The queen of Sheba has been called a variety of names by different peoples in different times. To King Solomon of Israel she was the Queen of Sheba. In Islamic tradition she was called Bilqis or Balqis by the Arabs, who say she came from the city of Sheba, also called Mareb, in Yemen. Traditionally her lineage was part of the Ethiopian dynasty established in 1370 BC. “Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.”— 1st Kings 10:1-5 The queen was awed by Solomon's great wisdom and wealth and pronounced a blessing on Solomon's God. Solomon reciprocated with gifts and "everything she desired."

The Queen of the South AKA Queen of Sheba

The Hard Heart of Israel Matt. 12:43-45 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” What is Jesus saying in this this analogy? To start with, he refers to “this wicked generation”. Who is he upset with? Who first brought the message of “repentance”? Who brought the “good news of salvation”? What “house” largely ignored the Coming King? What “house” did largely respond to Jesus and the Holy Spirit and called on them to come in and “occupy”?

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Matt. 12:46-49 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” How did Jesus’ family regard Jesus at this point in time? (Mark 3:21) They had heard of the commotion that Jesus’ ministry had been causing They loved him and feared for his safety They wanted to escort Jesus home They did not fully understand Jesus’ mission Jesus wouldn’t let family loyalty deter him from his Messianic ministry. His mission was 1 st and foremost to obey His Father and usher in the Kingdom of Heaven, despite that he loved his mother and brothers. “Get thee behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (another temptation)