Learning Jesus | Week 12
Learning Jesus Week 12
Mystery Kingdom...& King
Key Word – Faith >> Central Passages – Mk 4:35-41; Lk 8:22-25; Mt 8:18, 23-27
We live in the Mystery Kingdom, a kingdom of unbelievers and believers; these believers comprise both Jews and Gentiles surrendered to the Sovereign King who is not dwelling among them on earth. Prior to His rejection, the purpose of all Jesus did and said was to offer to Israel the Messianic Kingdom. Had Israel accepted Him, He would have reigned on earth among them for the promised kingdom. Now Jesus’ purpose is to prepare His apostles to lead believers to establish His Church. Therefore --
1. The purpose of His signs moves from appealing to Israel to accept Him as their King to training His apostles for this Mystery Kingdom (Matt 13:10-13).
2. Before His rejection, Jesus performed miracles before the masses and did not require faith from anyone. Now He will require individual faith before performing a miracle. He will command all Jewish individuals “Don’t tell anyone.” This policy of silence will not apply to Gentiles since they are not part of the Israelite nation who rejected Jesus as their Messiah.
This policy of silence will also apply to His message:
3. He will forbid His apostles to tell anyone that He is the Messiah (until Matthew 28).
4. He will teach in parables and explain only to His apostles the parables’ meanings (Matt 13:10-13).
In lesson 11, we studied the unpardonable sin, and we need to understand these changes in Jesus’ approach to ministry in light of that pivotal event. We live in the Mystery Kingdom waiting for the day when Israel will repent and recognize Jesus as their Messiah. On that day, He shall return again and reign for the promised millennial over every nation, tribe, people and language (Matt 23:33-39; Zech 12:10; Hosea 5:15; Rev 7:9; 20:4)
Day 1 Parable One Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:3-25; Luke 8:5-18
1. Why does the first seed never come to life?
2. Why do the second and third seed never bear fruit?
3. Why does the fourth seed bear fruit?
Background Information – Before giving His explanation for the Parable of the Sower, Jesus quotes from the prophecies recorded in Isaiah 6:9-10 and Psalm 78:2 to help His disciples understand that God sovereignly ordained Jesus’ rejection for His own mysterious purposes. Later Paul writes that God’s purpose was to include Gentiles in the Mystery Kingdom. Because Jesus is rejected, He does not establish the Messianic Kingdom. This is part of God’s plan to give Gentiles time to come into family of God. You can read about this in Ephesians 3 and Romans 9-11.
4. What does this parable teach about the Mystery Kingdom?
Day 2 Parables Two & Three
Background Information – Jesus has already stated that understanding the first parable, the Parable of the Sower, is necessary to understanding the parables that follow. In Mark 4:26-29, Jesus tells the Parable of the Seed, the second parable. Like the first parable the seed is the gospel, and the soil or ground represents the hearts or places where the gospel is sown. The parables that follow the Parable of the Sower progressively reveal the program of the Mystery Kingdom. So for each parable, focus on what NEW information each emphasizes.
1. How is the seed brought to life?
Background Information – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Note that the judgment referenced in this parable is the same as judgment referenced in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25:31-46.
2. How is the sowing of the wheat and weeds the same? How is it different?
3. How is the growing of the wheat and the weeds the same? How is the harvest of the wheat and weeds different?
4. What do these two parables teach about the Mystery Kingdom?
Day 3 Parables Four & Five and an Interruption!
Background Information – Matthew 13:31-32 Again Jesus said that if we understand the first parable, then we can understand the remaining parables. In that first parable, Jesus explained that the birds served Satan. The tree represents Christianity.
1. How do we see satanic elements lodging in Christendom today?
Background Information – Matthew 13:33-35 In the Bible a woman used symbolically often represents a spiritual being. We need to study the context to know if this spiritual being is positive (wife of God, bride of Christ) or negative (Jezebel in Rev 2:20; great harlot in Rev 17:1-8). Since leaven usually represents sin, which is negative, the woman in this parable could be viewed as a negative spiritual being. This would be in keeping with how in Matthew, leaven has already been used to symbolize false teaching.
2. How do we see false teaching within Christendom today?
Background Information – Matthew 12:46-50 Mark and Luke include similar accounts of this next event, but only Matthew states that it occurs while Jesus is still speaking to the people. Jesus often weaves whatever is happening into His teaching, and in doing so here, we see that He is still talking about what characterizes the Mystery Kingdom. In light of His rejection by His own people, it is a kingdom where family relationships are not defined by blood but by belief in Him. This contradicts the Pharisaic teaching that all Jews by virtue of their bloodline shall have a place in the Messianic Kingdom.
3. Whose will and word are we to prioritize over our natural family’s? Why?
4. What do these two parables along with the family interruption teach about the Mystery Kingdom?
Day 4 Parables Six to Nine
Background Information – Following the interruption of His family’s arrival, Jesus tells His last parables. Israel is often referred to as God’s treasured possession (see Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 14:2; Psalm 135:4), so in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, the treasure represents Israel. Since the rejection ushered in the Mystery Kingdom, the family of God has always included a remnant of Messianic Jewish believers until this very day. But it also does include Gentile believers, and it is likely that in The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price, the pearl refers to the Gentiles. Pearls are created in the sea, and in the Old Testament, the sea symbolizes the Gentile world.
1. What similarity do we see regarding God’s perspective on both Jews and Gentiles in The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price?
Background Information – The Parable of the Net is in keeping with that as well. The net gathers the Gentiles from the sea for the final judgment, and they are sorted into believing and unbelieving Gentiles. This will conclude the Mystery Kingdom. The righteous believers are saved, but the unrighteous are cast into the lake of fire. Jesus concludes His description of the Mystery Kingdom on the day of His rejection with The Parable of New and Old Treasure. This parable emphasizes that the characteristics of this new Mystery Kingdom are new, yet not all characteristics are entirely different from the old kingdom.
2. Use the notes above. Why do you think that Jesus saves The Parable of the Net and The Parable of New and Old Treasure for last?
3. What do these last four parables teach about the Mystery Kingdom?
Day 5 Last Words on the First Day of the Mystery Kingdom Central Passage of the Week
Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25; Matthew 8:18, 23-27
Background Information – On the day of this story, Jesus has healed a demon-possessed man who was also both blind and mute. Israel has rejected Him claiming that He performed miracles such as these through the power of Satan. His family has come for Him likely because they are concerned about His mental state. And He has told nine parables about the Mystery Kingdom, the new kingdom program since Israel has rejected Him as King. (As you read the story, do not wonder why Jesus is fast asleep, even during one of the Sea of Galilee’s characteristic sudden storms!)
A common thread that runs through Jesus’ parables is that the enemy is still at work in the Mystery Kingdom, and we see this in this story. It is evening and in the darkness a storm suddenly arises on the sea, a place that in Scripture is often characterized as chaotic. Jesus “rebukes” the storm and sea. This word means “to muzzle” and is a word used in exorcisms. This story is the first of many miracles that Jesus orchestrates to train His disciples to lead in a kingdom where the enemy is working against their efforts. How shall they serve in this kingdom with victory? As you read Mark, Luke and Matthew’s accounts, note how they provide that answer by stating the same main details while emphasizing different supplemental details.
1. Observations
o What is the disciples’ initial two-fold fear? (Mark 4:37 & 38.)
o What is Jesus’ two-fold rebuke? (Mark 4:39 & 40)
The word fearful here means “cowardly.”
o How has the disciples’ fear evolved? (Mark 4:41)
The word feared here means they were “awed,” showing reverence.
Deep Think (Less Optional This Week!)
Review the summaries of the parables of this lesson.
How does knowing all this brainy stuff lead you to worship the God of the Word?
You might choose to answer this in the form of a written prayer to God.
2. Write Jesus’ last words in this climatic story. ____________________________________________
What has Jesus been teaching to His disciples through these parables about the type of faith a growing disciple cultivates that this story reinforces?
3. Write the disciples’ last words in this climatic story. _______________________________________
What has Jesus been teaching to His disciples through these parables about the object of their faith, the King of the Mystery Kingdom that this story reinforces?
Optional -- Memory Verse for the Week Mark 4:41
REFLECTION Questions
1. How would you characterize your faith as a disciple living in the mystery kingdom?
2. As one grows in spiritual maturity, he or she should demonstrate faith even when God’s plan is not clear. Share a story of a time you demonstrated such faith.
3. How has your awe of Jesus, the God-Man Savior of the world, grown as you have been deep in the gospels this semester?
4. In one sentence share an area of growth you would like to pursue as a faithful disciple in the form of a prayer request.
• My prayer for growth –
• Group Prayer Requests –
COMMUNITY GROUP TIME
• Discuss the Central Passage questions. (This week that is Day 5 -- Mk 4:35-41; Lk 8:22-25; Mt 8:18, 23-27.)
• Discuss Reflection questions.
• Is anyone able to recite all or part of Mark 4:41?
• Optional – Plan fellowships or finalize an outreach or plan even a short study for your group for the months of December and January.
• Close in prayer.
God’s joy & strength to you,
kpaulson@gracelaredo.org