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Ch.4: The Ministry and Message of Jesus Christ
Jesus Announces the Kingdom of God
• Jesus’ ministry and message centered around the proclamation of the Kingdom of God—a Kingdom of peace, justice, truth, and goodness.
• As the Messiah, Jesus himself not only announced but also inaugurated the Kingdom of God.
• Jesus’ taught the following essential points about the Kingdom:– The Kingdom begins small in the
present but flourishes in the future.–Ex. parable of mustard seed
(Mt 13:31-33)
– Although the Kingdom is open to everyone who accepts it, Jesus announces the Kingdom in a special way to the poor and lowly.
• God’s mercy to sinners is a characteristic of the Kingdom of God.
– Ex. Jesus dining with Levi (Lk 5) and Zacchaeus (Lk 19)
• The Beatitudes instruct us how to live in and be a part of God’s Kingdom.
Jesus Teaches About the Kingdom of God in Parables
• Jesus taught using parables, short and memorable stories that relate common experiences to religious truths.
• Jesus’ use of parables demonstrate that he was an outstanding teacher and give an idea how he was able to defend himself against his opponents.
• Jesus’ parables taught important lessons about the Kingdom of God:
– Salvation is here– the Kingdom is a pure gift
of love – the requirements of the
Kingdom for the present and promises of the Kingdom for the future
• Jesus’ parables taught important lessons about the Kingdom of God:
– God loves even sinners
– the Kingdom requires an urgent response
– the Good News demands repentance
– following Jesus may bring suffering
Activity: Analyze the parable of the vineyard owner (Mt 20:1-16).
– What everyday experience does Jesus employ?
– What is the point Jesus is making about the Kingdom of God?
Jesus’ Miracles: Signs of the Kingdom of God
• These “wonders, words, and signs” of Jesus accomplish many things:
– testify to the coming of God’s Kingdom in the world
– attest that Jesus is the Son sent by God the Father
• demonstrate Jesus’ dominion over Satan and the forces of evil
• invite people to faith
• demonstrate God’s love and compassion for us
• These “wonders, words, and signs” of Jesus accomplish many things:
Jesus’ Miracles: Physical Healings
• demonstrate Jesus’ power over sin, reveal the coming of God’s Kingdom, and reveal who Jesus is
• Ex. Jesus healed paralytics and blind men
• performed by Jesus to establish his power over Satan
Jesus’ Miracles: Exorcisms
– attest to Jesus’ power over nature– Ex. calming the storm and multiplication of loaves
and fishes
Jesus’ Miracles: Nature Miracles
• demonstrate Jesus’ mastery over life and death
Jesus’ Miracles: Raisings from the Dead
Discussion: What do you think is the most important purpose of the miracles Jesus performed?
• The primary purpose of these miracles was not to abolish earthly suffering but to lead us to the Kingdom of God.
The Two Great Miracles of Jesus
The Transfiguration
• Provided his apostles with a glimpse into the glory Jesus, the Son of God, would enjoy after his Resurrection
• Confirmed Peter’s faith but also revealed Jesus’ coming death
The Transfiguration is significant because:– it indicated how Jesus reflects the light of God
– the appearance of Moses and Elijah recall how the Law and the Prophets had announced the coming of the Messiah
– it revealed all three persons of the Trinity (voice = Father, Jesus = Son, shining cloud = Holy Spirit)
The Institution of the Eucharist
• Jesus commanded his disciples to celebrate the Eucharist as a memorial of his Death and Resurrection
The Eucharist is significant because:
• it fulfills the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the Church into the glory of the Kingdom
• it is the source of our nourishment for this world and beyond.