Recap
What qualifies as “news”[1]?
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- An Announcement of an event that has happened
- A larger context (Backstory) within which this makes sense
- A sudden unveiling of the New Future that lies ahead
- A Transformation of the Present moment, sitting between the event that has happened and the further event that therefore will happen
The “gospel” (euangelion) was a royal announcement about a king and about a kingdom.
The gospel is the full Story of Jesus, and it is the availability to everyone of living right now in the reality of the Kingdom of God, as He did, through trusting and following Him as King.
Acts 2:36 (ESV) “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus is what the Apostle Peter preached as the Good News.[2] Jesus’ life was marked by announcing and enacting the Kingdom of God. His death and resurrection vindicated Him as God’s “Anointed King” (Messiah / Christ). He ascended to the heavenly throne, at the right hand of God, where He is Lord of all.
Introduction
“Christ”[3] — This noun refers to a person divinely anointed, but more primarily to the Messiah. The title “Messiah” or “Christ” became a way of talking about a future deliverer and savior who would rescue God’s people, Israel.
Luke 24:17-27 (NLT) He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.” Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah[4] would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Old Testament Backstory
The Garden of Eden & The Serpent — Genesis 1-3
We looked briefly at this last week, but again, to understand what “Messiah” means, we must begin at the beginning. In Genesis 1:26-28, humans are created in the “image of God,” which means “representation and rule.”[5]
Humans made in the “image of God”: Representation and Rule
The idea is that God would rule creation through his royal representatives, they would rule the world together in partnership and relationship. The Scriptures give us an extremely dignified vision of all humans: humans were to “co-rule” over the earth with God, under His authority and direction. They are provided a choice between living submitted under God’s authority, represented by the Tree of Life, or to seize the knowledge for ourselves, grasp the power and wisdom of defining good and evil for ourselves without submission to God, ourselves as ultimate authority, represented by the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
A serpent arrives on the scene, telling a different story of this tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and Adam and Eve believe it. The humans launch a coup against God’s rule and try to seize the rule for themselves, making themselves into God. The goodness of the garden is tragically lost and evil and death enter into God’s good world.
The serpent enters strangely and without explanation, it’s just presented as a creature in rebellion and wants to get humans to doubt God’s goodness and generosity and lead them on a path towards death. Whatever this snake is, it is seen to be the source of evil that pervades our world and our lives even still today. But this story is not without hope…
Genesis 3:14-15 (NLT) Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring[6]. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
God makes an interesting promise. Someone will come in the future, a “offspring (seed) of woman,” a “snake-crusher” will come and who will destroy evil at its source, but it will be at the cost of his own life, a type of mutual destruction. He will be a “Wounded Victor” as the Snake Crusher. Its a strange and beautiful promise, and it’s just left hanging there…
Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor offspring of Woman (Genesis 3:15)
The story of the Bible continues to show the downward spiral of humanity into sin and rebellion, asserting their rule over one another in violence, even asserting their rule by attempting to hold the position of “gods” at the Tower of Babel. Instead of defeating evil, crushing the snake, humanity is completely overtaken by evil (the snake). God scatters humanity across the globe, but out of the scattering, He calls a man, Abraham[7], that He chooses as His partner and makes a promise to bless the world through him.
Through this man’s family, God will restore goodness and blessing to all of the nations of the world.
Genesis 22:17-18 (ESV) “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring[8] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor offspring of Woman (Genesis 3:15), in the family of Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18)
And as we follow this family, we get to one of Abraham’s great-grandsons named Judah[9]. He receives a promise…
Genesis 49:8-10 (NLT) “Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. All your relatives will bow before you. Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? 10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.”
A king will come from his line, and that the whole world is going to follow this guy, and he’s going to bring peace and harmony, with lots of food and wine and vineyards and it’s going to be awesome.
Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor offspring of Woman (Genesis 3:15), in the family of Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18), from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10)
The first king we meet from the line of Judah is a guy named King David. And he is a hero, maybe he’s the snake crusher? God makes a promise to David, that a king will eventually come from his line…
2 Samuel 7:12-14a (ESV)[10] “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son…”
Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor offspring of Woman (Genesis 3:15), in the family of Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18), from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10), a Son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
But it turns out David is infected with the same evil like the rest of humanity. He never crushes the snake, but just the opposite. As you go on into the rest of the story, you see that each generation of David’s sons are total chumps. They give into the snake, they choose evil and go after money, sex, and power, and following other gods. But the hope for a King from the line of David is kept alive through prayers and psalms, the highest form is found in Israel’s prayer book:
Psalm 2:1-8 (ESV) Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
This is where we see that a King will come from the line of David as God promised, who will be “God’s Anointed” or God’s “Messiah,” whom God will establish as King of the whole world and all the nations and over all humanity (“the peoples”). This Anointed King will rule over Israel (“on Zion, my holy hill”) as the Son of David, but that Kingdom will be over the whole world, and will be so intimately close to YHWH that it will be as a Father—Son relationship, thus this Messiah’s Kingdom will be an expression of the Kingdom of God.
Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor offspring of Woman (Genesis 3:15), in the family of Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18), from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10), a Son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13), known as the Son of God (Psalm 2:7), who will be God’s Anointed King.
Even though this hope is kept alive, none of the “Sons of David” come even close to this Anointed King. Things get so bad that they run the nation of Israel into the ground. And the nation of Babylon takes them out. Babylon destroys the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, murders the family of the king from the line of David, takes the nation into exile. Now, there are no more kings to fulfill this promise. It seems like the whole plan is lost…
The Exile and the Prophets
During these dark days of the exile in Babylon, there’s this crazy group of guys called “prophets.” They just keep talking about this coming Messiah, this snake-crushing king, who will come defeat evil, and restore the garden.[11]
Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)[12] “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
Isaiah 42:1, 6-7 (NLT)[13] “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations… I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.”
Isaiah 49:5-6 (NLT)[14] “And now the Lord speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength. He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Isaiah 52:7-10 (ESV)[15] How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 53:2-5 (NLT)[16] “My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed…
This prophet Isaiah tells us more as to why this Servant King is bitten. Isaiah says this promised king (Anointed King) will receive this wound because of humanity’s evil and that it kills him. This “Suffering Servant” in Isaiah 53 will be “pierced” (or “crushed”) for humanity’s evil and will die.[17]
Isaiah 53:10-12 (NLT) But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.”
Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor offspring of Woman (Genesis 3:15), in the family of Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18), from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10), a Son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13), known as the Son of God (Psalm 2:7), is God’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:4-5), who will be God’s Anointed King.
But the Suffering Servant comes back, and because he suffered this wound from evil and death, now he can be a source of healing and forgiveness for many. [18] But the Old Testament ends and the snake-crushing King never shows up…
The Story of Jesus
Matthew 1:1 (NLT) This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:
Jesus is intentionally being presented to us in the Gospels as coming from the line of David and the family of Abraham.
Luke 1:31-33 (NLT) “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”[19]
Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor offspring of Woman (Genesis 3:15), in the family of Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18), from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10), a Son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13), known as the Son of God (Psalm 2:7), is God’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:4-5), who will be God’s Anointed King: Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus overcomes the temptations of the serpent.[20] He announces and enacts God’s Kingdom on earth.[21] Jesus goes around announcing that the goodness of God’s Kingdom is here, has arrived, and begins confronting the effects of evil in people’s lives by healing, and cleansing, and forgiving people of their sins and evil.[22] Jesus sees casting out demons and healing as challenging the serpent’s power, and liberating people from slavery to evil and death.[23]
1 John 3:8 (NLT) But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor offspring of Woman (Genesis 3:15), in the family of Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18), from the line of Judah (Genesis 49:10), a Son of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13), known as the Son of God (Psalm 2:7), is God’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53:4-5), who will be God’s Anointed King: Jesus of Nazareth[24]
Matthew 16:15-16 (ESV) He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 11:25-27 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Many people begin to believe that this is this promised, snake-crushing king. Jesus began to tell his closest followers that he is going to become king and bring peace by taking the full effect of humanity’s evil into himself.[25] Jesus believed he was fulfilling those prophecies. He saw himself as the king who would suffer and die on the cross.[26] He quoted Isaiah 53…
Mark 10:42-45 (NLT) So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world Lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus predicts his death and suffering, and ultimate victory in resurrection.[27] And so it seems like the serpent wins. And this story would be a tragedy except for what happens next… Jesus rises from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection robbed the serpent of its power over humanity, and now he has ultimate, cosmic authority, the power of evil and death himself.[28]
Hebrews 2:14 (NLT) Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.
Jesus of Nazareth, in His suffering and death, was God’s Suffering Servant, becoming the Wounded Victor, defeating evil and death. Jesus’ resurrection vindicated Him as God’s Anointed King, and His ascension positioned Him with ultimate, cosmic authority.
Acts 2:22-36 (ESV) “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, [29] that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The Apostolic Gospel is that God has vindicated Jesus as Israel’s Messiah by raising Him from the dead [30] and promoted Him to the highest authority in heaven and earth. Because of this, everything must change. And because Jesus is King of the world, everyone is called to believe in Him and trust in Him.
Putting It Into Practice
To enter into the reality of the Kingdom of God Jesus made available to us as the Messiah, crucified and risen again, you must receive what He has done for you that you could not do for yourselves. [31] To live in the reality of the Kingdom of God, you must live in and from the finished work of the Messiah, the Snake-Crusher, who defeated sin, evil, death, and the serpent (the satan, the devil) at the cross and in his resurrection.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
The good news is good for right now in the situations we find ourselves in that are less than good, because the New Testament keeps making this claim: Jesus’ power over evil and death has now become available to us to begin confronting the effects of evil in our lives and world…Jesus offers new life and to share his victory with us, instructing us to resist the serpent. [32]
James 4:7 (ESV) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We can resist temptation to sin, confront the evil in our lives, and overcome the devil, not by exerting ourselves in our own strength, but stand in the work of Jesus the Messiah who defeated sin, evil, and the devil on our behalf. This is the work of grace, God’s empowering strength, [33] in our lives; the power to defeat the works of the devil.
Romans 16:20 (NLT) The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
Conclusion
Acts 2:37-38 (ESV) Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
In a sense, when you hear this story, you’re invited to make a choice: will I continue to give in to the temptation of the serpent, or follow the humble, Messianic, Snake-crushing King? When I choose to submit to, follow, and obey Jesus, the humble, snake-crusher, His story becomes my story. I am connected to him in baptism to his death, burial, and resurrection. His victory becomes my victory.
FOOTNOTES
[1] N.T. Wright, Simply Good News, pg. 23
[2] Acts 2:14-36 is Peter’s full gospel message on the day of Pentecost
[3] χριστός (christos) — In the Septuagint, the Hebrew word מַשִׁיַח (māšîaḥ, or mashiyach, “anointed one”) is translated by the Greek term christos. The title became a way of talking about a future deliverer and savior who would rescue Israel, as well as usher in a time of prosperity and blessing.
[4] The statement that will build out the theme of the “Messiah” from the Old Testament is: The Snake Crusher: Wounded Victor Offspring of Woman, in the Family of Abraham, from the Line of Judah, a Son of David, known as the Son of God, is God’s Suffering Servant, who is God’s Anointed King
[5] Genesis 1:26a — “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion…”
[6] זֶרַע (zeraʿ). seed, sowing. The word zeraʿ appears frequently in the OT. Its fundamental meaning is agricultural, but can also refer to the “seed” of animals as well as plants, and in that context may refer to semen (Lev 15:16), pregnancy (Num 5:28), or offspring (Gen 15:3). This is the main “thread” that will connect to the theme of the Messiah. It is the word “zera’” that makes you start looking for the “offspring” or “seed” of woman.
[7] Originally named “Abram,” God will later change his name to Abraham. The key texts of God’s promise to Abraham to bless the world through his family is found in Genesis 12:1-3 and 22:17-18, among other places.
[8] NLT – “descendants” – plural
[9] The full blessing Jacob speaks over Judah is Genesis 49:8-12
[10] Cross reference God’s covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7:11-16 with 1 Chronicles 17:10-14; and see the poetic reflections on this covenant in Psalms 2, 72, 89, 110, 132.
[11] Key texts are found in Isaiah 2:1-4, 9:1-7, 11:1-7, 42:1-7, 49:1-7, 53:1-12
[12] Isaiah 9:6-7 is connected to David, and a “son” from his line — 2 Samuel 7:11-16 and 1 Chronicles 17:10-14
[13] God’s “Servant” in Isaiah 42:1-7 is connected to God’s promise to Abraham (cross-reference Genesis 22:17-18)
[14] God’s “Servant” in Isaiah 49:5-6 is connected to Jacob’s blessing over Judah (cross-reference Genesis 49:10)
[15] Isaiah 52:7-10 prophecies God’s return to Israel in a powerful act of salvation and establishing Himself as King (“Your God reigns”), which precedes chapter 53 and the “Suffering Servant.”
[16] This “Suffering Servant” is connect to the Wounded Victory (Snake Crusher) of Genesis 3:15
[17] Cross reference with God’s covenant with David in 2 Samual 7:14, where “stripes” is mentioned.
[18] Isaiah 65:17-18, 25 gives hope for a new heaven and earth and that “the snake will eat dust,” evil will be destroyed finally.
[19] Jesus is the “Son of God” and the “Son of David” and will be King, quoting from Isaiah 9:6-7.
[20] Jesus’ wilderness temptations and subsequent defeat of the tempter: Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13
[21] We’ve examined Mark 1:15, but with Matthew 4:17, these are summary statements of Jesus’ teachings and ministry.
[22] A few examples: Mark 1:40-45, 2:1-12, Matthew 9:1-8, Luke 7:36-50, John 8:2-11
[23] A few examples: Mark 1:21-28, 3:22-27, Luke 4:17-21, Luke 7:11-17, Luke 10:17-19, Acts 10:38
[24] Two examples of Jesus being recognized as God’s Anointed King (Christ): Matthew 16:16 and John 11:27
[25] Jesus understands that to be the Messiah, He must be the Wounded Victor of Genesis 3:15, and suffer death
[26] Jesus quoted Isaiah 53, specifically from 53:10-12 in Mark 10:42-45 and Matthew 20:25-28.
[27] Jesus predicting his own death and resurrection: Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:18-19; Mark 8:31, 9:30-31, 10:32-34; Luke 9:21-22, 9:43-45, 18:31-33; John 3:14-15, 8:28, 12:27-33
[28] See 2 Timothy 1:10 and Jesus’ parting words in Matthew 28:18-20, as well as Hebrews 2:14
[29] The writer of Hebrews also connects 2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 2 to Jesus in Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5.
[30] “The early Christians regarded Jesus’ resurrection from the dead as God’s vindication of Jesus as the Messiah of Israel.” Chris Kugler, “Messiah,” ed. Douglas Mangum et al., Lexham Theological Wordbook, Lexham Bible Reference Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014).
[31] See Peter’s sermon in Acts 3:17-21
[32] See also Romans 6:4-14, 1 Peter 2:24, Ephesians 2:6, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 , 1 Peter 5:8-9
[33] See 2 Corinthians 12:9-10