Resurrection Sunday; The Eternal Kingdom of Peace Made for Us.

Class Outline:

Sunday March 31, 2024

 

 

The kingdom of heaven is founded on love and peace. ZEC 9:9.

 

By the resurrection of Christ, all believers in Him are assured a place in His kingdom. Now. And fulfilled in the future. This should give you great joy, peace, and fill you with love.

 

Idea: A kingdom built on humility and love requires the King’s death and resurrection. Because it requires ours - His subjects.

 

Introduction:

Human kingdoms are built on violence and murder.Cain kills Abel and his progeny build a civilization.

 

Human nature is addicted to the “perpetual and restless desire of power after power, that ceaseth only in death.” (Hobbes)

 

“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” [Federalist #47, James Madison]

 

How can we understand a King of Peace, a kingdom of peace, and live by them in a world built on murder and violence?

 

Promise of a King who will break this pattern and be unlike any other. JER 23:5-6 (GEN 3:15; too many to list). ZEC 9:9. A kingdom not based on violence or murder but on humility, righteousness, and salvation.

 

Understanding the King, Jesus.

 

The disciples came to understand that He was the promised King. They saw His humility and meekness. They could not yet understand all of Him.

 

Three times Mark mentions Jesus teaching the disciples that He would suffer, die, and rise again on the third day (MAR 8:31; 9:31; 10:34 - this last one just as they are entering Jerusalem prior to Passover).

 

They could understand His power, authority, wisdom, and to a certain extent His humility, but His death and resurrection, they could not.

 

From misunderstanding to understanding - Holy Scripture.

 

LUK 24:13-20, “Redeem Israel” indeed. What they think this means vs. what Jesus knows it means.

 

LUK 24:21-27, “Scriptures,” here is something that He likely showed them. Together this group of Psalms tell a story about a King (the King).

 

Psa 15-24 chiasm. 15 and 24. 17 and 23. 16 and 22. 19 - redemption! Triumphant entry of the king: Psa 24.

 

Understanding through the resurrection - an eternal kingdom of servants in love.

1CO 15:50-57; ROM 6:10-11

 

I pray that we feel the joy that they did when they realized that Jesus had risen, which confirmed for them all the promises of the Psalms and prophets. I pray we feel this joy every day. He is risen and the promises of God are yes and Amen!