Disciples Global Network

The “ promise of the Father ” is the gift of the Spirit, and Paul links it to the Abrahamic covenant. Its promises find their fulfillment in the new covenant inaugurated by Jesus. The bestowal of the Spirit marks the commencement of the age of fulfillment, and “ in Christ ,” Gentile believers are now full heirs of Abraham.

The Gospel of  Matthew  begins by declaring that Jesus is the “ son of Abraham .” This is more than a genealogical notation - it sets the stage for the theme of fulfillment in this gospel account. The lowly man from Nazareth is the Messiah and King of Israel, the promised “ seed ” of the Patriarch. In him, all the covenant promises find their fulfillment.

In Romans , Paul details the gospel, and declares it is the “ power of God for salvation .” Due to humanity’s sin, two forces are at work - righteousness and wrath. In his Son, God has provided the solution to mankind’s desperate plight, one that is available to all men through the “ faith of Jesus Christ .”

The parable of the “ budding fig tree ” is a graphic illustration of Christ’s answer to the question – “ When will these things come to pass? ” The fig tree sprouting foliage is the clue for the “when” of the predicted events. Its leaves signal the arrival of “ summer ,” the time when “ all these things ” will be fulfilled.

He is the Son of Man foreseen by Daniel who has absolute authority from Yahweh over the earth . After defeating Satan in the wilderness, Jesus began to proclaim the “ good news ” of the kingdom – “ The season is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel .” The term “ Kingdom of God ” is a summary statement that means different things to different people, but he identified his mission with the “ Son of Man ” in the book of  Daniel .

To follow Jesus means emulating his life of self-sacrificial service for others, especially to the weak and the insignificant .  On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus explained what it meant to be the Messiah. He was about to face his final confrontation with the Temple authorities, and he would suffer death on a Roman cross. It was the place where the prophets of old were killed, and where Yahweh’s anointed servant must endure rejection and death?