Kingdom Of God

• Around David’s time there was a belief that

One day a son of David would be raised up who would let

God rule and bring God’s peace to the land .At the time of

Jesus the Rabbi’s taught that they should live as though the

Kingdom of God had already come so that their quality of life

Would change .Jesus,however,announced that the kingdom

had indeed arrived.

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Prophetic Tradition

• Moral and ethical Life

• Conversion

• God would judge

• Escatology Concern with end of time

Apocalypticism

• Concern with end of world or end of life as we know it

• From 200 BC to 200 AD people were very concerned with Apocalypticism

• Because of the political situation there was an awarenss of this.

• Radical apocalypticts gave up on the age and had a desire for a new age.

• This effected how one lived .

Kingdom of God.(Foundation)

• The expression the kingdom of God has its roots in the early political history of Israel.The people believed that God created everything and and sustained the jewish nationhe was the one and onl king of Israel.

• But as time went on they felt that they needed an earthly king who would rule them with God’s justice and be his representative in this world.King David was the very best of Israel’s kings but even he had his shortcomings

• Around David’s time there was a belief that

One day a son of David would be raised up who would let

God rule and bring God’s peace to the land .At the time of

Jesus the Rabbi’s taught that they should live as though the

Kingdom of God had already come so that their quality of life

Would change .Jesus,however,announced that the kingdom

had indeed arrived.

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are needed to see this picture.

Kingdom /Reign of God

• The reign of God is the situation that results when God’s will is actually done .What is God’s will?

• As revealed in Jesus ,

God’s will is our well being .God wants the wholeness, the healing and the salvation of every creature and of all of us taken together.The reign of God involves Justice and Peace among everyone healing and wholeness everywhere fullness of life

enjoyed by everyone .

• Elizabeth Johnson

Characteristics of the Kingdom

Peace as an alternative to ViolenceInclusion as opposed to the emergence of elites

Sharing of goods as an alternative too the amassing of wealthA God of the powerless as an alternative to a God who sanctions

inequalities..The Kingdom is centred on God The Father who forgives sinners and

frees the poor.(Abba)Not a Patriarchy(A system in which the father or eldest male hold

power)but proposes an image of God as a loving parent.Beatitudes Mt 5:9

They shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life.Jesus promotes a peace an art of loving that creates a new world or

Kingdom.(Love others love your enemy)Present Future Tension

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Characteristics of the kingdom• It is because Jesus himself experiences the sustaining merciful

compassionate and liberating aspects of the father that he goes out to the poor the afflicted the the hungry saying God is near you he saves you he frees you.This inclusive outreach is a trait of the kingdom.

• It is shown when he eats with sinners parables such as LK 15 (Mercy parables Mt 22:1-14 9Those invited to the banquet the exorcisms the healings are all signs that all are welcome into the kingdom.

• The kingdom has a religious dimension as well as a social dimension God is to be put first(Deut 6:4)Shema he links this with the love of our neighbour

• In the community that Jesus set up it was for men and women .It is about equality and mutuality.If Jesus serves and washes his disciples feet they too are to serve one another.Women are the most faithful of his followers.Jn 4(Samaritan woman,Mt19:3-9)Lk7:36-50(Sinful woman in the pharisees House)Lk8:1-3 woman sharing his mission.

Characteristics of the Kingdom

• Jesus brought God’s kingdom in his own person words and deeds .Its concrete signs are Jesus himself and his teaching his praxis, his deeds for the poor and the vunerable.

Why was Jesus put on trial

• Kingdom of God • Claimed to be the Messiah• He spoke with God’s authority -blasphemy• Was a challenge to the Pharisees.• Challenged the temple priests by uprooting

the traders.

Trial

• First before the Sanhedrin It had a religious function.

• They could not carry out his death just pronounce it.

• They convinced the roman governor Pilate that he was a political threat.

• The Sanhedrin asked him two Questions• Was he the Messiah? Are you the son of

God?jesus said yes Caiaphas tore his garment a sign of blasphemy

• Pilate interrogated him about his Kingship.• Jesus explains his Kingship is not of this

world.• Pilate knows he is innocent but has him

scourged at the pillar crowned with thorns and humiliated.

• Then he has him presented to the crowd.• The Pharisses have the crowd convinced

• Barabbas the rebel Zealot

• Pilate pronounced the deathsentence through crucifixion.

• My God My God why have you forsaken me.

• Write an account of the sentencing and death of Jesus

The Resurrection

• The earliest followers of Jesus focused on the resurrection.

• In Corinthians Paul says if Christ has not been raised then our belief is useless.

• It is central to christian belief.• His kingdom had arrived through the

Resurrection.• God has conquered death and

The Resurrection

• The two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

• The Gospel highlights the Resurrection .The empty tomb.

• The post resurrection appearances appear in all of the Gospels.(See P16 of your notes)

The Resurrection

• They do not harmonise regarding time and place.(Not all the same)

• They all agree they were for people real experiences.

• Jesus was seen heard touched and spoken to.(Not a gost)

• The witnesses fail to recognise him because it is believed he is a person who now has conquered death.

• He is recognized in meals.• Hope

The Resurrection

• The resurrection is associated with women.They were perplexed .

• Accusations of stealing the body were it is unlikely the early believers would have chose martyrdom for something they knew to be untrue.

• The early community were shocked by his death.