The Story of Jesus “Jesus the Christ- The Perfect Storm”

Jesus’ Manifesto: Luke 4 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The Perfect Storm: Massachusetts Oct. 1991

Western Gale: Rome (Pagan Power)

High Pressure System: Jewish Expectation

Jewish Expectation: Storm Gathering “The Jews had been living in their great story for, they believed well over a thousand years. Their story like a great costume drama going on for many generations, stretched back to Abraham, Moses, David, and other heroes of the distant past. But it was all going to come to it’s great climax, they believed, any moment now.” –Wright p. 32 Simply Jesus

Storm Gathering: Exodus – 1. Wicked Tyrant- Pagan Power – 2. Chosen Leader – 3. Victory of God – 4. Rescue by Sacrifice – 5. New Vocation and Way to Live as Covenant People – 6. Presence of God – 7. Promised/Inherited Land

Storm Gathering: King David’s Covenant 2 Sam 7:14- Lord himself will establish your house…your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me, your throne will be established forever.

Storm Gathering: Exile to Babylon After 600 years of idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, Israel was taken into exile by Babylon losing their Land, Temple and King.

Storm Gathering: Daniel Dan 2: “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” Dan 9:24- “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.”

Hurricane: God’s Sovereign Purpose

God’s Return, Messiah & Suffering Servant Isa 52:7-10- “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of YHWH to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for YHWH has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. YHWH has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all nations; and the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Zech 8:3- “Thus says YHWH: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of YHWH of hosts shall be called the holy mountain.”

Jesus: Andrea Gail Jesus Stepped into his ministry at 30 years old in the middle of God’s sovereign hurricane, confronting both the western gale of Rome’s powerful empire and Israel’s national aspirations of take over and high pressure expectations of a King.

“Repent the Kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matt. 4:17)

Jesus Called His Disciples “Come, Follow me” (Matt. 4:19)

“Come Follow Me”

Following Jesus “To follow a rabbi meant something other than sitting in a classroom, and absorbing his lectures. Rather, it involved a literal kind of following, in which disciples often traveled with, lived with, and imitated their rabbis, learning not only from what they said but from what they did—from their reactions to everyday life as well as from the manner in which they lived. The task of a disciple was to become as much like the rabbi as possible.” (Spangler and Tverrberg: Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus p.53)

Total Commitment “Jesus called them, and immediately they left their father and followed him.” (Matt. 4:21-22)

Jesus’ Disciples: True Family Jesus replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? Pointing to his disciples, he said, here are my mother and brothers, for whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matt. 12:48)

From Fascinated to Fascinated Follower Forsaking All Else

Luke 9:23- “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”