THE JEWISH MESSAGE OF JESUS

SALT CHURCH IN BOLTON

Part of the series “The Secret Message of Jesus”
This message will be further explored in your small group this week
The story we became part of

The political message of Jesus

The Jewish message of Jesus

So also, when we were children, we were
in slavery under the basic principles of
the world. But when the time had fully
come, God sent his Son, born of a
woman, born under law, to redeem
those under law, that we might
receive the full rights of sons.
Galatians 4:3-5 (New International Version)
God’s
God’s Revolution:
Revolution:
The
The Messiah
Messiah
bringing
bringing the
the
kingdom
kingdomof ofGod
God
Abraham

 Calling
No temples
 Covenant
No God-given rituals
 Promises No ‘organised’ worship
 Worship:
 Altars But faith and life naturally
mingled together.
 Offerings
 Sacrifices
 Encounters
 Angels
 Dreams
Through Moses – the same calling

Now if you obey me fully and keep my

covenant, then out of all nations you
will be my treasured possession.
Although the whole earth is mine,
you will be for me a kingdom of
priests and a holy nation.‘
Exodus 19:5,6a (New International Version)
…if you obey me fully and keep my covenant…

 It was now more than 500 years since the

covenant was made with Abraham
 It was not just a family, but now millions of
people
 “How can we keep this covenant?”
 “How can we be a kingdom of priests and a
holy nation?”
God’s answer: 1) THE LAW

 Walk with me: "You shall have no other gods

before me and you will respect my name"
 You will honour me by respecting the body I
gave you - take a day of rest (love yourself)
 Be a blessing to people around you - starting
with your father and mother. Do not do harm
to anyone. (love your neighbour)
God’s answer: 2) THE WORSHIP

 Place: Tabernacle / Temple

 Roles: The Levites as full time staff
 Rituals, rules and regulations
A new role: THE PROPHET
They would remind the people about the covenant and their calling
“The multitude of your sacrifices – what are they to me?”
says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt
offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I
have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and
goats…. Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your
incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbath and
convocations – I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your
New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul
hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary
of bearing them… Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the
cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
Isaiah 1:11, 13-14, 16-17
The Prophets

 Would disrupt the status quo

 Their lives and speeches were disturbing,
challenging, sometimes shocking
 Hosea: married a prostitute
 Ezekiel: preached with his back side exposed
 Ezekiel: cooked with excrement to make a point
 Elijah: brought fire from heaven (literally)
Jesus, the Prophet

 Spoke with inflammatory language

 Exposed unrighteousness
 Spoke on behalf of the poor
 Denounced religious hypocrisy
Jesus, the Prophet

 Like the prophets, he spoke of a new world

order to come:
 New heavens, new earth, new heart
 Lions would lie down with lambs
 Swords and spears melted to become farming
implements
 Nations would not learn war any more

A NEW KINGDOM
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4.17 (NKJV)

at hand???
 How is this kingdom
happening in your life?