The Unexpected Messiah

It was only when he died that the Roman centurion in charge of the execution recognized that Jesus was the Son of God.

Everyone in the Gospel of Mark is incapable of recognizing who Jesus is, except for John the Baptist, Peter (momentarily), and the Roman centurion at his execution, and Peter’s moment of insight proved fleeting. Even the Baptist began to question the identity of Christ when he was imprisoned by Herod Antipas.

Messiah and King

Following his Resurrection, Jesus began his reign from the Messianic Throne as prophesied by David – Psalm 2:6-9.

Only Jesus is the Messiah and King of Israel, only he is God’s Anointed. There will never be another, and all competing claimants to this designation are impostors and liars. This same Jesus reigns over the Earth today. His Kingdom is a present reality, and his reign will be consummated when he returns – (1 Corinthians 15:24-28, Revelation 1:4-6).

The Logos

The Prologue of John’s Gospel presents key themes of the Book, including the declaration that Jesus is the Logos, the “Word become flesh.” Life and Light are revealed in him to penitent men and women. He is the true “Tabernacle” where God’s “Glory” resides, not the tent in the wilderness or the Temple building in Jerusalem. The Son of God is the true and full expression of God.

The Royal Servant

Following his baptism in the Jordan, the voice from heaven identified Jesus as the Son of God and the Servant of Yahweh.

The theme of fulfillment is prominent in Matthew’s gospel. In Jesus of Nazareth, the promises of God have found their prophesied fulfillments. He is the Son of God, the one who is destined to rule the nations of the Earth, albeit in unexpected and unprecedented ways.

The Son of Man

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 Kingdom Herald

Following his baptism, the Spirit “drove Jesus into the wilderness… for forty days and nights.” Like Moses on Sinai, the Messiah of Israel was alone in the desert where he was tested by the Devil and molded by God. He was tempted like Israel, only he overcame every challenge and emerged victorious and “full of the Holy Spirit.” Only then did he proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, starting in the villages of Galilee.

Rend the Heavens Asunder!

The Spirit of God and the voice from heaven confirmed the calling and identity of Jesus, Son, Messiah, and the Servant of the LORD.

Jesus first appears in the Gospel of Mark when John baptizes him in the Jordan River. The account identifies him with his hometown, Nazareth, a village of no consequence, though its insignificance plays a role in the story. He is the “Servant of the LORD” anointed by the Spirit, but he does not conform to popular expectations about the Messiah.

Voice in the Wilderness

The Gospel of Mark opens with a declaration from passages in the Hebrew Bible, providing the scriptural basis for the ministry of John the Baptist. It sets the stage for the mission of Jesus and his proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Thus, Mark’s account begins on a note of fulfillment. The Man from Nazareth is the Messiah and Savior promised by God in the Scriptures.

The Son of David

Jesus is the Son of David and heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh.

The Gospel of Matthew declares Jesus to be the promised “Son of David.” This same Jesus demonstrated what it means to be the King of Israel, especially through his sacrificial death. Traditionally and scripturally, the hoped-for ideal king was linked to the House of David. With the arrival of the Nazarene, that understanding was forever altered.

The Salvation of the Lord

'Jesus’ means “Yahweh saves.” In the man of Nazareth, the salvation promised by the God of Abraham has arrived.

The child carried by Mary was “begotten of the Holy Spirit,” and Joseph was instructed to name this child ‘Jesus’: “Call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” The name announced by the angel pointed to the saving act of God that was about to unfold in history – (Matthew 1:20-23).