Sandra Seelhammer
Grand Canyon University: BIB - 351
November 28, 2014
When Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of God His focus is on how people get into the kingdom, and how they need to live now. He taught that we enter His kingdom when we seek to live our lives in a reflection of that Kingdom and we respond to God with faith and allegiance. Peter had a difficult time understanding Jesus’ messianic role but after the transfiguration he began to understand that Jesus alone would fulfill God’s plan. This essay will trace the major teachings of the Kingdom and the growing conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders of the time as well as how this conflict ultimately led to the crucifixion of Christ.
The Kingdom …show more content…
The scene on the mountain demanded that all people hear that Jesus now had the authority over human kind. This was also a significant turning point from Old Testament Law, symbolized by the vision of Moses and Elijah, to the Kingdom of God (Romans 3:21). Peter, James, and John were able to get a foretaste of the glory of the Kingdom and the victory of Jesus which would become clearer to them at His resurrection. Finally, when Jesus spoke to the three disciples about his departure (Luke 9:31) He was indicating his commitment to the cross and therefor the glory of the …show more content…
The conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders was part of God’s plan that led to Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain and ultimately his crucifixion. The ever increasing buildup to the day of crucifixion garnered the attention that God wanted for the salvation that his son would give as a gift to the world. The Kingdom is available to all who accept Him as their savior and have faith in Him.
References
Kingsbury, J. D. (1987). The developing conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders in Matthew’s Gospel: a literary-critical study. Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 49(1), 57-73.
Malbon, E. S. (1989). The Jewish Leaders in the Gospel of Mark A Literary Study of Marcan Characterization. Journal of Biblical Literature, 108(2), 259.
Rice, P. (2013). The Rhetoric of Luke’s Passion: Luke’s Use of Common-place to Amplify the Guilt of Jerusalem’s Leaders in Jesus’ Death. Biblical Interpretation, 21(3), 355-376. Doi:10.1163/15685152-1070A0005.
Stein, R. H. (1996). Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ. Illinois: InterVarsity Press.
Thompson, P. E. (2006). Matthew 4:1-11. Interpretation: A Journal Of Bible & Theology, 60(1),