Exploring Jesus -The Radical Revolutionary

8/9/2019 Exploring Jesus -The Radical Revolutionary

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The Radical RevolutionaryAndre P. Llewellyn2010


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KINGDOMThe OF GOD

A RADICAL MOVEMENT


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At the very beginning of Jesus ministryhe preaches the message of theKingdom of God. It is a movement

where Jehovah is reclaiming the wholeworld as his own, through his Messiah.


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So He spearheads God's kingdommovement that is radical,

revolutionary and is rejected bymany.


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In those days John the Baptist came, preaching inthe Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the

kingdom of heaven/God is near. Matt. 3;1 -2

"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom ofGod is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Mark 1;15

The Kingdom of God


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When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he

gave them power and authority to drive out all

demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them

out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the

sick. Luke 9;1-2

The Kingdom of God


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FOLLOWCOME MY RELIGION

CHRISTIANITY ?


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Jesus wasnt starting a new religion. Thisradical movement;

a. Starts with Jews [Jesus & his disciples]

b. Directs allegiance to the Jewish Godc. Is rooted in Jewish expectation & traditiond. Functions within Jewish religious practices.

The Kingdom of God


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KINGDOMThe OF GOD

A REVOLUTIONARY MESSAGE


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REDEFINITION OFHOLINESS


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TABLE FELLOWSHIP AND HOLINESS

In seeking to redefine what holiness andpurity really meant, Jesus directlychallenged one of the most common

social practices by his dining practicesand the choice of people he ate with.

Who were his table companions and what

was wrong with his table etiquette?


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The Pharisees and some of the teachersof the law who had come from

Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and

saw some of his disciples eating foodwith hands that were "unclean," that is,

unwashed. " Mk. 7;1-2


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So the Pharisees and teachers of thelaw asked Jesus, "Why don't your

disciples live according to the tradition

of the elders instead of eating their foodwith 'unclean' hands? " Mk. 7;5


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While Jesus was having dinner at Levi'shouse, many tax collectors and "sinners"were eating with him and his disciples,

for there were many who followed him. "Mk. 2;15


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When Jesus reached the spot, helooked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus,come down immediately. I must stay at

your house today." Lk. 19;5


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Now the tax collectors and "sinners"were all gathering around to hear him.

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the

law muttered, "This man welcomessinners and eats with them." Lk. 15;1-2


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The Son of Man came eating anddrinking, and they say, 'Here is aglutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax

collectors and "sinners. Matt. 11;19


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Why did Jesus table practice invite such

sharp hostility among his Jewishopponents and what does his tablefellowship have to do with Holiness andthe Kingdom of God ?


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Fellowship around meals symbolizedsocial relationships - it meant intimatefellowship based on honour and trust.From a religious standpoint it symbolized

holy separation and purity to God. Jesusactions were seen as sacrilegious, andviolations of Jewish social and

ceremonial codes.


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Jesus actions were deliberate actionparables aimed at defining the truemeaning of holiness.

1. Purity is about inward condition.Religious and social traditions do notmake someone holy.

2. True holiness means connecting andrestoring those considered

unrighteous.


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REDEFINITION OFHOPE


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The Jews expected the Messiah to establisha physical Kingdom that would overthrowRoman rule, and secure political andreligious freedom. Therefore, to the averageJew, Jesus' actions and teachingsregarding the Kingdom did not fit such ablueprint.


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Thus Johns the Baptists doubts -

Calling two of them, he sent them to

the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who wasto come, or should we expect someoneelse?" Lk. 7;18-19

Th Ph i i ti


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Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does

not come with your careful observation,nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There itis,' because the kingdom of God is within

you." Lk. 17;20-21

The Pharisees misconception -


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The crowd was listening to everything

Jesus said. And because he was nearingJerusalem, he told them a story to correctthe impression that the Kingdom of God

would begin right away. Lk. 19;11

The Crowds misconception -


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Undoubtedly, because of his radicalactions many Jews saw Jesus as a rebeland a liar teaching falsely about theKingdom. But what was a bigger slap in theface of the Jewish leaders was that Jesustaught that the Kingdom of God was not anexclusive club. Everyone had Hope of

entering the Kingdom of God!


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many will come from the east and thewest, and will take their places at the feast

with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in thekingdom of heaven. But the subjects of

the kingdom will be thrown

outsideMatt. 8;11-12


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"Therefore I tell you that the

kingdom of God will be taken awayfrom you and given to a people

who will produce its fruit.

Matt. 21:43


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Jesus revolutionary message of hope was

aimed at showing Israel that

1. Their hope does not lie in a physical

kingdom but a spiritual one whereresistance to Rome was to be replacedby love and prayer. That the enemy

was not Rome rather it was sin.


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2. Gentiles racial identity is no automaticbar from the kingdom, and that theirJewish identity is no guarantee of

entering the kingdom. That faith in Himis the means of entry John 3;16.

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Exploring Jesus -The Radical Revolutionary