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Title: Part II: Incarnation for Restoration Chapters 610 Chapter 6The Role of Master Teacher: Following Jes


1
Part II Incarnation for Restoration(Chapters
6-10)Chapter 6The Role of Master Teacher
Following Jesus Answer to Where?
  • Jesus Five Life Roles
  • Jesus takes on five roles to answer the five
    universal questions of life (analyzed in Chapter
    3).
  • A review of those five universal questions will
    follow.
  • Then a preview of the next five chapters is
    given.
  • Chart 6.1 summarizes all five lifelong questions
    and Jesus five answers from His life roles.

2
Chart 6.1Five Life Questions and Jesus Life
Role Answers
3
Prelude to Following the Master Teacher Return
to Eden
  • Answering the first universal life question,
    Where did I come from?, Jesus grounds His
    instruction in pre-Fall Creation three times.
  • This teaching pattern is not random. It is a
    pointed response to the challenges of human
    origin.
  • The Master Teacher consciously establishes a
    creditable starting pointhistorically in Adam
    and Eve and figuratively in our own birthbecause
    every person ponders his or her beginning.
  • Christs three Creation citations supply a
    three-fold strategy (1) the need to return to
    Eden to understand what we once had (2) the need
    to emphasize Gods Image in all people and (3)
    the need to stress the task of holistic human
    restorationespecially the full health that comes
    from adhering to Gods holy standards.

4
Jesus Use of 3 Pro-Creation Passages
  • In Matthew 191-4 the Master Teacher gives His
    view of divorce, by quoting Genesis 127 on
    humanitys special creation in Gods Image.
  • Mark 223-36 features the Master Teachers
    instruction on two Sabbaths. The first time,
    Jesus reviews the original Seventh Day and
    concludes The Sabbath was made for man, not man
    for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even
    of the Sabbath (227-28). The next time, Jesus
    proclaims people should do goodeven on the
    Sabbath. Then He shows what good looks like, by
    fully restoring a mans withered hand (34-5
    also Mt. 1213).
  • Matthew 2531-40 refers to the Lords eternal
    blessing for the righteous sheep, prepared
    since the creation of the world (v. 34). The
    righteous are given eternal life because they
    genuinely serve the needywithout expecting
    paybackwhich means they are actually serving the
    Lord (v.37-40).
  • A foundational bond is now forged How we treat
    people EQUALS how we treat God (Jer. 22 15-16
    and Jas. 39).

5
The New Eden Standard
  • Jesus consistent Eden focus is so strong in
    these three passages, they are labeled the New
    Eden Standard.
  • By starting with Creation, we gain a
    refreshingly-biblical understanding of people,
    their work and personal ties.
  • Respectively, the three Creation passages cited
    on the previous slide examine these three
    specific topics
  • I. Our Origin
  • II. Our Responsibilities
  • III. Our Relationships
  • Chapter 9 features the second topic the last
    topic is analyzed at the end of Chapter 8.
  • The first topic of origin is discussed below.

6
Another Look at the Eden Standard
  • 1. Origin Our Character
  • Who are we? (Self Others)
  • Mt. 191-8Dust and Creation Breath of God
    (see Gen. 27)
  • Jn. 1034-36 (Ps. 826/ Ps. 85/Gen. 126) A
    little lower than God
  • 2. Responsibilities Our Calling
  • What should we do?
  • Mk 223-28Do good (w/ goal of Restoration)
  • Cultural Mandate
  • Other Verses (Ac. 1038) Jesus doing good
  • Mt. 1213Hand completely restored like the
    other hand
  • 3. Relationships Our Community
  • Why are relationships so important?
  • Mt 2531-46Creation Equation
  • Other Verses Gen. 12-27 Jer. 2216 Jas. 39

7
I. Our Origin More Matthew 191-8
  • Christs bold recall of the sinless Garden days
    supports the Creators consistent plans for His
    people to live holy lives.
  • Matthew 191-8 begins with our Lord being
    verbally attacked by Pharisees, who push Him to
    validate Moses extremely lenient divorce
    policyto divorcefor any and every reason (v.
    3b).
  • Instead of supporting the Pharisees by
    compromising Gods Word, the Master Teacher
    deliberately communicates a half dozen concepts,
    each of which upholds the New Eden Standard.
  • The New Eden Standard is neither an unrealistic
    look at the past nor a nostalgic good ol days
    pep talk.

8
More Than Some Good Ideas
  • Jesus flashback to Eden is not merely
    descriptive. This Great Physician issues a
    prescription for all humankind, the way we must
    live if we desire complete health.
  • We can also lean hard against the Fathers
    corresponding character of goodness as Faithful
    Creator (see 1 Peter 419b). That title means
    God not only creates everything, but He
    graciously sustains and nurtures it.
  • James 117 says it best Every good and perfect
    gift is from above, coming down from the Father
    of the heavenly lights, who does not change like
    shifting shadows.
  • The Father is the Source of every good gift and
    He is changeless.
  • The way from the beginning (Mt. 198b)Jesus
    prescribesis the path of life that obedient
    disciples need to always pursue. It is the
    Standard for all saints.
  • The Son essentially instructs, Dont undo what
    the Creator did! Dont even think about messing
    with it!
  • So, in response to Life Question 1 Where did I
    come from?, Jesus sufficiently answersas Master
    Teacherwith the provision of the New Eden
    Standard.

9
Process of Following Master Teacher Restore Image
  • Nine education-formation directives arise from
    Jesus public instruction. Each identifies a
    specific human trait that represents Gods Image.
  • Each trait reveals God's character, yet each
    trait needs restoration.
  • 1Trait of Ability Honor Learners
    Self-Initiated Input
  • From Eden, people are commanded to rule over
    creation and are blessed by the Creator to
    actually accomplish that task (Gen. 128).
  • Humans are endowed with the talents to both learn
    and to teach (Gen. 215-23), and they are given a
    range of communicative skills to express both
    reason and emotion (Gen. 220b-23).
  • By similarly watching for student needs, teachers
    today are also empowered by Gods image to
    understand these concerns.
  • Perhaps the most powerful contribution comes when
    a teacher simply values the learner as a person,
    not for what he or she can do. This virtue lies
    at the heart of Christian education and formation.

10
2Trait of Personality Know Students as
Individuals
  • From the Creation account, the theme of
    personality arises through Gods multiple gifts
    to Adam and Eve (the abilities to learn, teach,
    solve problems, to rule over creation, to work
    and to care for the garden, and to communicate).
  • Perhaps the most important gift (which tends to
    ignite these other gifts) is the individual
    blessing of human will, enabling us to choose to
    choose to obey/disobey and to choose to serve
    (Gen. 216-17).
  • Since this gift is individual (everybody chooses
    for himself/herself), its possible that the
    Creator customized the other noted gifts, tooat
    least, in terms of gender differencesso that
    Adam and Eve both learned, taught, and solved
    problems, yet each in their own way, their own
    style.
  • Prudent teachers know that circumstances
    (including personalities) in the classroom
    constantly change. Effective leaders read these
    circumstances, both proactively and reactively,
    just as Jesus did (see next slide).

11
Jesus Deliberate Study of Students
  • Our Lord often intentionally studies the
    situation, accessing learners individually and
    collectively, before He ministers.
  • He purposefully sat down opposite the place
    where the offerings were put and watched the
    crowd putting their money into the temple
    treasury (Mark 1241).
  • Jesus carefully observes that many wealthy people
    toss in large amounts of money meanwhile, a
    poor widow gives only two insignificant copper
    coins.
  • Calling His disciples, Jesus concludes I tell
    you the truth, this poor widow has put more into
    the treasury than all the others. They gave out
    of their wealth but she, out of her poverty, put
    in everythingall she had to live on (Mark
    1243-44).
  • Jesus careful observation of an individual
    person (among several others) produces
    significant findings regarding our responsibility
    to participate in offerings.
  • By proactively reading their own students,
    classrooms, and larger culture, todays
    instructors emulate Jesus. Patient observation
    like His can bring a wealth of insight into
    students motives, values, aims, and behaviors.

12
Reactivenot justProactiveStudy
  • Besides proactive skills, reactive abilities are
    critical for the skillful teacher.
  • Christ demonstrates His skills of both reaction
    and the study of people groups in Luke 131-5
    Now there were some present at that time who
    told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate
    had mixed with their sacrifices.
  • Upon hearing this gory report, Jesus turns the
    gruesome news into a relevant lesson by quizzing
    the listening crowd. Do you think that these
    Galileans were worse sinners that all the other
    Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell
    you, no!
  • Jesus knew how to take a familiar local news
    item and link it to His listeners
    misunderstandings about that particular event.
  • Its similar to todays teacher who, upon
    inferring how his or her students might be
    processing a disaster, like hurricane Katrina in
    New Orleans, tells the class Dont think of
    this awful event as necessarily Gods judgment.
    Those victims were no more evil than those who
    were spared. Be careful what you tell yourself
    about such tragedies and be sure you are walking
    righteously.
  • Good Christian educators know their students as
    individuals, whether its before, during, or
    after an educational encounter.

13
3Trait of Boundary Know Your Learners Limits
  • One underrated characteristic of Gods Image is
    that it contains limits.
  • Humanseven perfect humansrequired limits and
    boundaries.
  • We are made to function best and to experience
    our most satisfying lives within Gods
    boundaries. Besides theological boundaries, less
    substantial borders in Christian
    education-formation must also be heeded.
  • Effective teaching often boils down to balance
    and moderation. This wisdom is particularly
    needed in cases involving the teachers basic
    question How far do I push my students? What
    represents too little and too much?
  • Jesus accommodates His followers. He demonstrates
    the need for all teachers to precisely know
    where the student is. Jesus knows how to locate
    an instructional starting point. Mark 433
    records With many similar parables Jesus spoke
    the word to them, as much as they could
    understand.
  • Imbedded in this pivotal verse on Christs
    strategy is the implicit fact that He realizes
    exactly how much His disciples could understand,
    before He tries to teach them something new.

14
How Jesus Knew When to Say When
  • How did Jesus determine His learners
    comprehension level? He reads their nonverbals,
    from puzzled looks to enlightened countenances.
    He listens to their feedback, from questions to
    commentary.
  • He observes how they respond to each other
    regarding what He says. He thoroughly knows each
    disciples idiosyncrasies, abilities and
    weaknesses.
  • At least twice Jesus is prevented from discussing
    certain issues because His audience is not ready.
    John 312 states, I have spoken to you of
    earthly things and you do not believe how then
    will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?
    Likewise, John 1612 notes Jesus confession
    that, I have much more to say to you, more than
    you can now bear.
  • Translated into modern teaching-learning
    settings, Jesus encourages instructors to admit
    to their hearers Weve got to stop here. We
    cant finish the complete lesson. We must spend
    more time on this material weve discussed before
    we move on.

15
4(Twisted) Trait of Deformity Dare to Confront
Ignorance, Stubbornness and Prejudice
  • At some point we need to move to the distorted
    realities of Image traits we face and not just
    focus on our sinless beginnings. For the sake of
    balance, the next insights locate educational
    challenges on this side of Eden.
  • When godly instruction and nurture are conducted
    properly in a fallen world, all types of broken
    human bridges hold out hope for repair. Jesus is
    the ultimate model for how to rebuild those human
    bridges.
  • This is best expressed by His enemies who
    criticized Him by calling Him, ironically, the
    friend of sinners. The Son of God serves both
    the down-and-outers and the up-and-outers
    extending dignity to all people.
  • Since most people are receptive to what He says,
    our Lord is empowered to minister freely to those
    who admit their need for Him.

16
Jesus Reaction to the Unteachable
  • Consider the converse perspective, which reflects
    ignorance In the minds of some, Jesus isnt the
    successful educator everybody thinks He is.
  • These cynics revisit the time Christ tells the
    rich young ruler what he has to do to gain
    eternal life. As the man turns sorrowfully and
    walks away, Jesus doesnt pursue him.
  • On a harsher note, some refer to when Jesus finds
    no time for those who attempt to entrap Him. In
    Matthew 2123-27, the plotting religious leaders
    challenge Jesus to know where he gets His
    authority. Jesus promises to satisfy their
    inquiry, if they first answer His question about
    the authority of Johns baptism. The religious
    leaders know their trap has been sprung on them,
    so they stubbornly refuse to answer Jesus return
    question. Our Lord stops talking with that small
    group.
  • Jesus has little time for those who think they
    know it all. He doesnt teach the unteachable. In
    fact, thats impossible to do.
  • In such cases where He does get heard, however,
    the wide range of societal castaways who
    participate in learning seems endless. He
    consistently serves the unlovely. He attacks
    every form of human bias known.
  • It is within this hostile milieu that Jesus
    radically revolutionizes the social order. Once
    again, He sees people for who they are, not for
    what they will become or produce. Its a sobering
    lesson for twenty-first century Christian
    education and formation.

17
5Trait of Sentimentality Appeal to Basic
Emotions
  • Another example of Jesus educative-formative
    skills is His ability to address the emotional
    conditions of His hearers.
  • In the Sermon on the Mount alone (Matthew 5-7), a
    broad spectrum of topics deal with various
    emotions, mostly damaged and distorted ones
  • mourning (54)
  • anger (521-26)
  • lust (527-30)
  • retaliation (538-42)
  • love for enemies (543-48)
  • giving to the needy (61-4)
  • lure of materialism (619-24)
  • worry (625-34)
  • criticism of others (71-6)
  • Today we speak of emotional intelligence, but
    centuries ago Jesus promotes relevant learning
    from knowing His hearers emotional states. He
    capably addresses human needs by pinpointing
    virtually every inner drive.

18
6Trait of Inclusivity Involve Learners in
Their Learning
  • From the start in Eden, Adam is invited to
    problem-solve the first assignment that comes
    from ruling over Creation to name the animals.
    God provides Adam with all the necessary human
    tools he will need.
  • The Creator models a task similar to that of
    naming the animals when He gives names to every
    star (Psalm 1474). He gets more involved in Eden
    by gathering all creatures and brought them to
    the man to see what he would name them (Genesis
    219b).
  • Repeatedly, the Son of God follows His Fathers
    lead, on earth. Jesus seeks active involvement
    from His pupils, as they confront lifes
    problems.
  • Contrary to the superficial version of this
    strategy, which values activity for the sake of
    activity, Jesus participatory strategies are
    purposeful, even from the very beginning of His
    work in Luke To show his control over nature,
    Jesus commands Peter, who is fishing on the lake,
    Put out into deep water and let down the nets
    for a catch (54). Peters obedience yields a
    large catch and prompts Peter to leave his nets,
    follow Jesus, and be a fisher of men.

19
7Trait of Rationality Have Learners Use Their
Heads
  • Several times Gods Image links up with skills of
    reasoning. The example of Adam naming the animals
    represents both a right-brain and a left-brain
    phenomenon.
  • Luke 1425-33 exemplifies the imperative to
    think. In verses 28-32, Jesus sets the stage with
    two potent illustrations. First, Jesus asks what
    a person does who wants to build a tower?
    Answering his own question with more rhetorical
    ones, he then asks, wont this builder initially
    sit down and estimate the cost?
  • Second, Jesus raises the topic of a king, who is
    contemplating war with another ruler. Wont he,
    likewise, sit down and initially determine
    whether he (with 10,000 soldiers) can defeat an
    approaching army of 20,000?
  • In other words, both of the Lords illustrations
    could not be more straightforward We use our
    heads before important decisions are made. Were
    logical. Were rational. We plan accordingly or
    we might lose everything.
  • The very next verse (v. 33) commands, In the
    same way, any of you who does not give up
    everything he has cannot be my disciple. What
    way? The way of thinking. Jesus pleads for
    followers to count the costby consciously
    counting.

20
8Trait of Teachability Serve Hungry Learners
  • Jesus hears of a lame man by the pool of Bethesda
    for thirty-eight years. Jesus first words are
    Do you want to get well? (John 56). Upon
    encountering two blind men, Jesus initial
    response is Do you believe that I am able to do
    this? (Matthew (928).
  • Why did Jesus take what seems like a
    dont-get-involved-too-quickly attitude?
    Nothing happens between a teacher and a student
    until that student identifies his own personal
    need.
  • In the second case above, the students Jesus
    meets need to claim they believe Christ (versus
    someone else) can help them. Admitting a personal
    need is one thing, but acknowledging someone
    could help is another matter.
  • Paralleling the principle to serve the hungry
    is the concept of readiness. In schools we speak
    of reading readiness, writing readiness, and
    readiness for physical activities based upon
    psychomotor development.
  • In the example of the lame man (John 56) and the
    two blind men (Matthew 928), personal desire is
    virtually synonymous with readiness. Do they
    acknowledge they are ready for Christs healing?
    Christ does not heal until they are ready.

21
9Trait of Identity Press for Personal Ownership
  • Again, the most awesome privilege-responsibility
    God gives is the human will We choose to obey or
    not, and we choose who we will serve.
  • Choice helps define our identity, who we are and
    who we are becoming. It ultimately provides the
    backdrop necessary for ownership (what we really
    value) as it asks each of us, What is it that
    you genuinely believe for yourself?
  • Jesus demonstrates His insights into these
    concepts when He takes the time to poll His
    followers. Who do people say the Son of Man is?
    (Matthew 1613).
  • No personal ownership is required to answer the
    first inquiry. No need to incorporate what they
    personally believed. They replied, Some say
    John the Baptist others say Elijah and still
    others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets (v.
    14).
  • Jesus follow-up question, however, quickly moves
    the discussion to the heart of ownership But
    what about you? Jesus asks. Who do you say I
    am? (v. 15).
  • Peter answers You are the Christ, the Son of
    the living God (v. 17). With Peters wordsa
    verbal extension of his identitya commitment to
    Jesus shifts from public opinion to private
    viewpoint.

22
Summary of Chapter 6
  • The need for disciples to obey and to emulate
    Jesus as Master Teacher never demand perfect
    completion. But every step towards accomplishing
    that first task goes a long way in satisfying our
    first life question of origin.
  • Christ-Centered Restoration, as odd as it might
    sound, originates in Eden. We are indebted to our
    Faithful Creator, who makes all this possible.
  • Like Christ, we value the sanctity of each
    persons existence (based on Image) and we honor
    all of the Word by our teaching and living.
  • As obedient disciples, we take active steps
    toward holistic restoration.
  • We understand what we initially possessed as
    humans, what we lost in sin, and howin Christwe
    continue to renew all creation.

23
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24
Chapter 7The Role of Faithful Learner Jesus
Answer to What?
  • Scriptures greatest indictment of those who
    disconnect themselvesand their learningfrom
    their past is Judges 210-11 After that whole
    generation had been gathered to their fathers,
    another generation grew up, who knew neither the
    LORD nor what he had done for Israel. Then the
    Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and
    served the Baals.
  • The disgraceful testimony identifies two serious
    transgressions (1) Israels ignorance of the
    Lord, at a personal level and (2) Israels
    ignorance of the Lords work within their nation,
    at a historical level.
  • That neglect begins a devastating cycle for
    centuries Israel rebels through idolatry and,
    after several years, God turns His People over to
    an oppressive enemy. Following captivity, the
    Jewish nation repents, which ushers in Gods
    human judge who rules, until Israel lapses back
    into her rebellion.
  • The entire Book of Judges repeats that depraved
    cycle. The chaotic anarchy is best described in
    that Books last verse (2125) In those days
    Israel had no king everyone did as he saw fit.

25
The Other Side
  • By contrast, one of the best passages that links
    Israels learning with their culture and faith is
    I Chronicles 1232 Men of Issachar, who
    understood the times and knew what Israel should
    do.
  • Issachar was part of the Twelve Tribes. They
    settled west of the Jordan River and just south
    of the Sea of Galilee (called Sea of Kinnereth in
    ancient Israel).
  • Jesus hometown of Nazareth was later established
    close by Issachars northern-most border.
  • This tribes priceless testimony produces two
    specific types of knowledge, which are difficult
    to master, yet critical for todays
    Christ-follower (1) they had descriptive
    understanding to know the timesto comprehend
    what was happening in their particular culture
    and (2) they had prescriptive understanding to
    know what Israel should do.
  • In biblical history, this second knowledge was
    always accompanied by faithful obedience to the
    Lord God.

26
Two Common Image Traits
  • In these two extreme cases, a pair of human
    characteristics emerge the ability to learn and
    to worship. Both are permanently fixed to Gods
    Image inside all people.
  • Both require individual choice. Both are tied to
    the following questions, which everybody asks
    themselves throughout life
  • What will I learn (including personal values)?
    and
  • Who (or what) will I worship?
  • These questions dont say, Will I learn? or
    Will I worship?,for that is like asking Will
    I breathe? and Will I eat?
  • Learning and worship are automatic. Whats
    important is how we regularly answer those two
    inquiries by our personal decisions.

27
Behind the Scene of Jesus Second Role
  • The second life question is, What is my
    backgroundmy history and culture?
  • Jesus embodies the complementary side of teaching
    through His second role of Faithful Learner.
    Jesus is not only a dedicated learner, but His
    witness as a faithful learner speaks of His
    intentional holy living.
  • Correspondingly, the Fathers role is Holy One.
    The word for holiness is found at least
    eighty-four times in the Old Testament, counting
    only the references to the Fathers nature and
    how He makes His people holy.
  • Our Image traits reflect both learning and
    holiness. Learning is described by Adams careful
    observation of the animals before he names them.
    Two distinct categories are noted (in Genesis
    220) by the terms livestock and beasts of the
    field. Faithfulness centers in Adams devotion
    to His Maker.
  • Jesus is also a consecrated learner. Luke 240
    and 52 signal our Lords holistic growthas a
    few-days-old infant and as a twelve-year old. And
    His active learning continues throughout life.
    Jesus is also devotedly obedient to His father.

28
Two Sources of Jesus Faithful Learning
  • Jesus basically learns the same ways all people
    do, while He maintains holiness.
  • He learns from two sourcesNatural and
    Supernaturalthe same sources available to us
    today. We can become more like our Faithful
    Learner as we emulate our Lords routines of
    learning and righteous living, while trusting
    God.
  • Natural Sources of Jesus Learning
  • Five sources (known as general revelation) are
    selected from our Lords personal life
  • Source 1Diverse Settings
  • We forget Jesus lives a fairly ordinary Jewish
    life up to age thirty. His avenues of
    understanding are like all Jewish boys
  • Learning by formal dialogue with temple teachers
    (Lk. 246-48), like the rabbinical structure of
    listening to them and asking them questions
    and
  • Learning through the informal education in the
    home.

29
Jesus Learning at Home Work
  • What was Jesus home life like? Though few verses
    reveal direct answers, several biblical
    statements indirectly address that topic. Matthew
    119 describes Joseph as a righteous man and one
    who was kind toward Mary. He is also obedient to
    Gods revelation through his angel (Mt. 124).
    And he exhibits realistic human fear (Mt. 222).
    Mary is described as highly favored (Luke
    128), the Lords servant, and also obedient
    (Luke 138).
  • Together Jesus parents abide by the Jewish laws
    that especially nurture the family (Luke 221-39,
    esp. v. 39 and 241-42). Both adults indicate
    concern for their twelve-year-olds disappearance
    following the Passover (Luke 243-50). And, even
    though neither Joseph nor Mary understand Jesus
    explanation for being in the Temple, the fact
    that Jesus still obeys his parents illustrates
    the positive learning atmosphere in Jesus home
    (Luke 250).
  • Jesus learning also occurs through his
    apprentice work as a carpenterand, ultimately,
    from being a full-fledged carpenter Himself (Mt.
    1355 Mk. 63a). The Faithful Learners
    attendance at annual Jewish holidays (as a child
    and adult) indicates the consistency found within
    his healthy upbringing and learning (Luke
    221-41).

30
Source 2Past Knowledge
  • Several facts launch Jesus into routines of
    lifelong learning.
  • First, as a student of humanity, Jesus knows the
    evil nature of people (Jn. 224-25), the evil
    thoughts we have (Mt. 94), and our evil deeds
    (Jn. 319b). The Son of Man also knows basic
    people needs, such as physical nourishment (Mt.
    1532 Luke 853-55).
  • Second, Jesus is able to learn from errant ideas
    within His culture, like a popular
    misunderstanding of His day, which claims that a
    blind person is handicapped because of somebodys
    sin, usually his or his parents (John 91-2).
    Christ states the real reason for this blindness
    is so the work of God might be displayed in his
    life (John 93).
  • Third, our Lords specific knowledge of people
    (like Peters unrelenting love for fishing)
    provides a helpful learning source. From that
    insight, Jesus designs a hands-on learning
    activity for Peter, which requires him to fish
    for tax money! (Mt. 1724-27).
  • Three divergent sources of informationone in
    anthropology, one in theology, and one in
    ichthyology! (the study of fish in
    zoology)assist the Faithful Learner to modify
    His ministries to needy people.

31
Source 3Current Experiences
  • The Master Teacher shifts to the vital role of
    Faithful Learner when He attends to present-day
    understandings.
  • Three sources of knowledge are modeled by our
    Faithful Learner
  • learning through human senses (Mk. 532)
  • learning through purposeful observation (Mk.
    1241-44) and
  • learning through active listening (Lk. 131-5).
  • In the first case, somebody touches Jesus in a
    crowd in order to be healed, so the Lord attempts
    to locate that person. As He continues looking
    around, He relies on His sense of sight, along
    with His sense of being touch.
  • In the second example, Jesus intentionally
    watches a poor widow give her offering. The
    Faithful Learner is quite deliberate as to where
    He sits, who He watches, and how He distinguishes
    between two types of givers.
  • In the third case, as an excellent listener, the
    Faithful Learner hears the conversation about a
    well-known regional tragedy.

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Source 4Dialogue
  • The simple give-and-take of conversation prompts
    many learning experiences for our Lord. Here are
    a half dozen settings where dialogue occurswhere
    the Messiah learns the way we can learn
  • 1. what great faith is (Mt. 85-10)
  • 2.what are the publicly stated needs of the blind
    (Mt. 2029-34)
  • 3. how many loaves and fish Jesus has on hand
    (Mt. 1534 Mk. 638)
  • 4. what happens in a couple of separate mission
    trips (Lk. 910
  • 1017)
  • 5. who the crowds claim Jesus to be, according to
    the polling of His
  • disciples.

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Source 5Broader Culture
  • Across the culture, the Faithful Learner
    continues growing in knowledge. A half dozen
    references are cited below, and all are
    negative because each points toward some
    criticism. Each identifies popular sayings the
    first, Physician, heal yourself, is linked to
    Jesus hometown, who try to force Jesus to do
    miracles, which He refuses (Luke 423).
  • The second reference, Luke 424, reminds us that
    a prophet is not accepted in His hometown.
  • The third passage (Mt. 161-4) says the religious
    leaders read weather from the colors in the
    sky, but they can not interpret signs of their
    wicked generation.
  • Two passages announce unhealthy practices the
    religious hypocrites prayer life (Mt. 61-18)
    and their inadequate curriculum, standardized
    for their culture (Mt. 521-48).
  • Lastly, Jesus proclaims that the ungodly
    tradition of the Pharisees (Corban) actually
    breaks the Commandment to honor parents (Mt.
    151-11).
  • Each citation notes cultural traditions in
    Jesus day. Unfortunately each is twisted. Yet
    these are expressions of specific cultural needs.

34
Supernatural Sources of Jesus Learning
  • The God-Man, for thirty-three years, is always
    God. Nothing changes that.
  • However, because of kenosis (Jesus commitment to
    not independently use any of His powers), our
    Lord always depends upon the First and the Third
    Persons of the Trinity.
  • Many of the Sons blessings are transferable,
    meaning that the Father or the Holy Spirit may
    also direct those same blessings our way, as we
    also seek divine assistance.
  • Chart 7.1 is inserted next, so readers may study
    where Jesus receives aid from the Father and the
    Holy Spirit.
  • Remember some of Jesus blessings are only
    intended for Him (e.g., the Holy Spirits power
    to bring about his Virgin Birth).

35
Chart 7.1Outline of Supernatural Sources
  • I. Assistance from the Father
  • A. Direct blessings from the Father
  • 1. After His baptism (Mt. 319) God says, My
    Son, whom I love with him I well
    pleased. See Mt. 175. (Note Jesus Father is
    also our Father as in Mt. 516 545,48
    64 66-8 69 614-25 618 626, 32 and
    711. Also Mt. 229)
  • 2. After Pharisees try to kill Jesus From
    Matthews prediction in 1214-21
  • (from of Isa. 421-4), God
    says I will put my Spirit on him.
  • B. Necessary time with and understanding and
    strength from the Father But Jesus often
    withdrew to lonely places and prayed to his
    Father (Lk. 516).
  • C. Extraordinary power from the Father to heal
    (Lk. 1120) Jesus exorcises demons by the
    finger of God.
  • D. Contentment that comes from trusting the
    Father (1 Peter 223) Jesus demonstrates how to
    trust the Father when enemies insult Him.
  • II. Assistance from the Holy Spirit
  • A. Divine help pertaining Christs Virgin Birth
  • 1. Mt. 118 (through the Holy Spirit)
  • 2. Mt. 120 (from the Holy Spirit)

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More Help from the Spirit
  • B. Divine presence subsequent to Christs
    baptism And as Jesus was praying, heaven was
    opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in
    bodily form like a dove (Lk. 321b-22a) (see Mt.
    316-17)
  • C. Divine anointing by the Spirit for Jesus to
    begin ministry
  • 1. Lk. 417-21 (based upon Isa. 611-2) the
    Spirit of the Lord is upon me
  • 2. Peters message in Acts 1037-38
    proclaims the Father anointed Jesuswith the
    Holy
  • Spirit and power.
  • D. Divine leading of Christ (Lk. 41-14) (Mt.
    41-11)
  • 1. (Lk. 41a) Jesus was full of the Holy
    Spirit, as He returned from the Jordan
  • 2. (Lk. 41b) and he was led by the Spirit to
    be tempted.
  • 3. (Lk 414a) Jesus returned to Galilee in the
    power of the Spirit
  • E. Divine power of the Spirit for Jesus to do
    ministry
  • 1. Lk. 415 implies the Holy Spirits power
    enabled Jesus teaching
  • 2. (Mt. 1215-21) Jesus fulfills Isa. 421-4
    promise of the Chosen Servant, which includes
    the blessing of the Spirit to proclaim justice
    and hope.
  • 3. Jesus exorcizes demons by the spirit of God
    (Mt. 1228)
  • F. Divine joy for Jesus, who was full of joy
    through the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1021 also see Lu.
    1017 regarding the joy of His 72 disciples).

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Chapter 8 The Role of the Son of Man Jesus
Answer to Who?
  • If someone asked you So tell me what is a
    Christ-follower? What do they stand for? What do
    they look like?What would you say?
  • Probably the best answer to the question, What
    is a Christ-follower?, is someone who is
    recognized as having been with Jesus (Acts
    413b).
  • Jesus Third Role as Son of Man
  • The third universal human question, Who am I?,
    is best resolved by studying the person of
    Christ. Nothing helps us know ourselves better
    than first understanding the One who created us
    the One who voluntarily became totally like us
    the One who told us to follow Himliterally.
  • Here are three practical areas of Jesus life,
    which directly influence our lives in those same
    categories
  • Who is Jesus?
  • What does Jesus believe about people?
  • Who does Jesus loves?
  • One of my students put it this way For the most
    part, the better I understand Jesus nature, the
    better I know my own.

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Who is Jesus? Both Negative and Positive
  • Jesus favorite name for Himself is Son of Man,
    which means totally human. This all-time
    favorite name conveys significance for us.
  • As the Son of Man, Jesus fulfills all
    requirements for Gods perfect sacrifice for our
    sins. That title also connects the sinless
    God-Manas the Last Adamto the First Adam (1
    Corinthians 1545-49).
  • Scripture tells us who we are and who we will
    become in Christ.
  • Correspondingly, the First Person of the Trinity
    holds the title of Heavenly Father to complement
    Son of Man (Matthew 69).
  • When discussing a new topic, sometimes it helps
    to first discuss what not talking about. The
    Apostle Paul did this when he initially describes
    Israel as what ungodly people look like, the kind
    of example not to follow (I Cor 1011-12).
  • Figure 8.1 provides a half-dozen heresies about
    Jesus, which we should not follow.

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  • Figure 8.1Heresies Concerning Jesus (Biblical
    Views in Parentheses)

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More about Who Jesus Is Notand Is
  • Those six falsehoods about Christ are grouped
    into three major categories (1) whether or not
    Christ is actually God or man or both
    (technically known as the subject of reality)
    (2) whether Christ is fully divine and human
    (integrity) and (3) whether Christ remains God
    or man, after the Incarnation, when His two
    natures merge (union).
  • Figure 8.1 summarizes these six heresies along
    with their evangelical responses (parenthesized
    words in bold capital letters).
  • So, Who is Jesus?
  • One of the simplest, illustrations of Jesus
    total humanity (and ours) is shown in Figure 8.2,
    the Hand Model created by Ted Ward.
  • From the thumb to the pinky finger, five distinct
    domains are represented. The palm stands for the
    human spirit, our spiritual dimension. The human
    soul is symbolized by the complete hand.

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  • Figure 8.2The Hand Model of HumanityChrists
    and Ours

Emotional
Social
Mental
Physical
Spiritual (the Spirit)
Moral
The entire hand represents the human soul.
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What Jesus Believes About Human Beings
  • Jesus View of People in General
  • Jesus believes people are basically evil because
    of their sin. That probably doesnt surprise most
    readers, if they are familiar with these verses
  • Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, Why do you
    entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?
    (Matthew 94)
  • Jesus tells Nicodemus, but men loved darkness
    instead of light because their deeds were evil.
    (John 319)
  • But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for
    he knew all men. He did not need mans testimony
    about man, for he knew what was in a man. (John
    224-25)
  • Jesus makes it clear, in John 318 that, unless
    an individual turns to Him for salvation, because
    of his thorough depravity, he is condemned
    already.
  • The Son of Man does not need to be persuaded
    about the devastation sin makes inside every
    individual.

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Jesus View of Christian People
  • But Jesus also sees believers as saintly, because
    of what He has done.
  • Somebody once harmonized these two views about
    people by saying that humans are both in need of
    saving and worth saving.
  • Reflect upon the Wilderness temptations. Two of
    the three challenges begins with, If you are the
    Son of God (Luke 43 and 9). The tempter
    cruelly questions Christs divine identity.
  • Yet, every time we view Christiansincluding
    ourselvesdifferent than this balanced two-part
    view that God holds of us, we do exactly what the
    tempter did!
  • How does God actually see us? Chart 8.1 provides
    ten out-of-this-world bountiful blessings.

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Chart 8.1Five (of Ten) Out-of-this-World
Blessings for All Believers
  • I am born again in Christ.
  • (John 33 John 37 1 Peter 123)
  • I am forgiven of all my sins.
  • (Ephesians 17 1 John 19 and 1 John 212)
  • I am free from the power of darkness and welcomed
    into Gods Kingdom.
  • (Colossians 113)
  • I am victorious through God.
  • (Revelation 217 1 Corinthians 1557 1 John
    54 2 Corinthians 214-16)
  • I am strong in the Lord.
  • (Ephesians 610)

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Five More Blessings (from Chart 8.1)
  • I am safe from the Evil One.
  • (1 John 518 2 Thessalonians 33 2 Timothy
    418)
  • I am being changed to become more like Christ.
  • (2 Corinthians 318 Philippians 16)
  • I am loved by God and called to be a saint.
  • (Romans 17 1 Thessalonians 14)
  • I am blessed because I now have eternal life.
  • (John 524 Matthew 1929 John 647)
  • I can do all things through Christ.
  • (Philippians 413)

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Even More Blessings of Gods Love
  • Never settle for anything less than how your
    All-Knowing FatherWho just so happens to have
    created youdescribes you!
  • And dont let others be treated in sub-human ways
    either.
  • Who Jesus Loves Background Information
  • The third and final sub-topic to the universal
    question, Who am I?, centers on Gods love for
    all people.
  • Scriptures say He even loves His enemies.
  • But the Church could benefit from even more
    specific Bible teachings of how to love ourselves
    in godly ways.

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A Practical and Necessary Curriculum
  • Four lessons of godly self-love need to be
    taught to the Church.
  • Lesson 1 Explain What Godly Self-Love Means.
    Godly self-love is the biblical way to love
    ourselves exactly as God loves usnothing more,
    nothing less, and nothing other than that.
  • Review Chart 8.1 which provides ten
    too-good-to-be-true blessings. In your mind, add
    to the front of each entry God loves me so much
    that For instance, God loves me so much that
    I am forgivengiftedfreed from sins
    dominionetc.
  • Thats how high into the heavens God sets the bar
    of His love for you! Thats God's Love Level or
    Standard for you as His beloved daughter or son.
  • You must now ask Do I really believe Gods
    loves me this much?
  • Any time any one (including yourself) loves you
    at a level that is different than that specific
    mark our Maker has set (whether too high, too
    low, or just different), Gods Love Level is
    ignored, abused or rejected.

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Lesson 2 Explain What Godly Self-Love Does Not
Mean
  • From the definition in Lesson 1, anything more,
    less, or other than Gods biblical love for us
    is what godly self-love can not be.
  • The best passage that describes ungodly love is 2
    Timothy 31-5 But mark this There will be
    terrible times in the last days. People will be
    lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful,
    proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents,
    ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving,
    slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not
    lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited,
    lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
    having a form of godliness but denying its power.
    Have nothing to do with them.
  • The primary reason this passage illustrates
    ungodly love is that all six words for love or
    lovers come from the Greek root phileo, meaning
    brotherly love. But, godly self-love is
    described in terms of Gods unconditional love,
    or agape love.

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Lesson 3 Provide Biblical Examples of Godly
Self-Love
  • Ephesians 522-33 show expressions of Gods love
    for us in Christ. It simultaneously shows two
    related concepts (1) how husbands should love
    wives and (2) how husbands are already loving
    themselves in godly ways.
  • Ephesians 5 tells every husband to love his wife
    just as Christ loved the church and gave himself
    up for her (v. 25).
  • In contrast to the previous 2 Timothy 31-5
    passage, every reference to love here in
    Ephesians 5 is agape (unconditional) love (in the
    Greek).
  • Ephesians 528-33 also commands husbands to love
    their wives as he already loves his own
    bodywhich is Gods standard (as) for how he
    now must love his wife.
  • Verse 29 adds No one hates himself because, by
    feeding and caring for his body, each husband
    already exhibits godly self-loveloving himself
    in ways that the Creator loves him and wants him
    to love himself and his wife.

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Lesson 4 Provide Examples of Jesus Godly
Self-Love for Himself
  • Recall the biblical principle from Ephesians
    528-29 Anytime Jesusor anybody elsefeeds or
    cares for Himself, godly self-love and care
    occurs.
  • This daily behavior is nothing more or nothing
    less or nothing different than how the Heavenly
    Father wants all people to mirror His love for
    them.
  • It is another illustration of Gods Love Level or
    standard.
  • Several passages portray Jesus feeding and
    caring for Himself. But just consider a handful
    of passages where the Son of Man withdraws from
    the world. Why does He withdraw? For various
    reasons, including protection, relaxation,
    prayer, rest, restoration, and just to get away.
  • Our Lord is motivated byand He experiencesgodly
    self-love when
  • Jesus exhibits godly self-love by His withdrawals
    from the public with His disciples (Mark 37a
    434b 631 92-13 1432-34) and
  • Jesus exhibits godly self-love when He
    purposefully leaves everybody (Mk. 135 Mt.
    1413-15 Mk. 1435a Lk. 2241)

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Mark 724More of Jesus Own Self-Love
  • The most extreme case in Scripture is when our
    Lord completely gets away. Today we would say He
    turns off His cell phone and leaves behind the
    company car along with all credit cardseven His
    personal identification.
  • The Son of Man goes beyond what most of us ever
    imagine He actually does Christ desiresHe longs
    forabsolute secrecy!
  • Mark 724 says Jesus takes off for Tyre, far off
    the beaten path, all the way to the Mediterranean
    coastto a non-Jewish seaport town, of all
    places. His motive? He entered a house and did
    not want anyone to know it.
  • How many sermons have you heard on this
    incognito Jesus passage? Have you been taught
    that, for a while, Jesus did not want to be known
    as Jesus?
  • Our Creator wants every Christ-follower to
    emulate our Lord by similarly loving ourselves
    and by occasionally getting away from it all.

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Life Application Suggestions
  • There are numerous ways we can love and care for
    ourselves as God does.
  • Sleep is a great illustration. Read Psalm 1272b,
    he God grants sleep to those he loves. This
    is a vital truth of Gods love for us and our
    responsibility for self-care.
  • Brainstorm more holistic strategies of self-care
    and care for others.
  • Maintain a balanced diet
  • Laugh a lot
  • Think virtuous thoughts
  • Study Gods Word (and other truth)
  • Pray for others (intercession, praise and
    supplications)
  • Learn to receivenot just give
  • Be ready to help the needy
  • Live simply Stay out of debt
  • Worship with your whole heart and mind
  • Value leisure time dont think about the clock
  • Give freely to the poor
  • Have a plan of exercise and sleep
  • Maintain healthy relationships
  • What are other ways you can experience Gods love
    for you?

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Conclusions about Godly Self-Love
  • Gods Love Level is the standard we personally
    use and the standard we apply to love all people.
  • Recall the second half of the Great Commandment
    Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 1213a
    Lev. 1918b).
  • That command notes these realities, even if some
    are implied
  • 1People already love themselves (or Scripture
    would not note the guideline as you love
    yourself
  • 2The godly self-love referred to in this
    command is both acceptable and good (or
    Scripture would not cite in such a favorable
    way) and
  • 3This acceptable love of self is, in fact, the
    standard (based on the word as) by which we
    are to love others.

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II. Our Relationships Applications of Self-Love
  • Chapter 6 introduces 3 areas of duty as
    Image-bearers Chapter 6 begins to describe
    duties from Our Origin. Duties from Our
    Relationships are our second responsibility,
    noted here.
  • Godly self-love also influences our next duty to
    others You can not love another person any more
    than you properly love yourself.
  • Early in Chapter 6 this statement was made How
    we treat people EQUALS how we treat God.
  • This profound truth is taughteither implicitly
    or explicitlyin the whole Bible. (Prov. 1431
    175 1917 Jer. 2216 Jas. 39).
  • Matthew 2531-46 provides Christs lengthy
    instruction on this same EQUATION True
    Christians (sheep) will help needy
    peoplewithout expecting a rewardand that is
    what it means to serve Christ.

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57
Chapter 9The Great Physician Jesus Answer to
Why
  • The fourth (of five) life question asks Why am
    I here? or What should I do with my life? The
    answer lies within a fresh look at what Jesus
    did.
  • Jesus Job Description
  • Jesus comes to earth to obey His heavenly
    Fathers Will. He says exactly what the Father
    wants him to say (John 1249-50), and He does
    exactly what the Father asks Him to do (John
    1431).
  • Consequently Jesus assesses that He fully
    completes and satisfies the job description His
    Father gave Him.
  • Our Lord also claims that, by finishing every
    work detail, He is actually glorifying the Father
    (John 174), because He worships God through His
    work. The Hebrew word for work (abed) holds
    some fascinating meanings, like manual labor, or
    service, or worship.
  • So, for Jesus, work for and worship of God are
    one in the same.

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Jesus Three Tasks
  • Describe Jesus total work He preaches. He
    teaches. And He heals.
  • Matthew 423 is one of several verses that
    highlights these three tasks in concert Jesus
    went throughout Galilee, teaching in their
    synagogues, preaching the good news of the
    kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness
    among the people.
  • Why those three tasks? Each is part of Gods
    restorative plan restoration of soul, mind, and
    body. Our Creator desires His children to be
    holistically restored.
  • I did a study of these three tasks. I counted
    every verse in the four Gospels that mentions
    Jesus preaching (that is, specific topics related
    to the Good News), teaching (on matters not tied
    to the Gospel, like godly living) and healing.
  • Of the 3, 779 verses in all four Gospels, a
    whopping 2, 701 of themseventy-two
    percentmention Jesus doing one of these three
    tasks. Forty-eight of the seventy-two percent
    feature Jesus teaching. Healing and preaching
    each represent twelve percent. (The remaining
    twenty-eight percent includes passages like
    Jesus travel patterns or background
    information).

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The Biblical Purpose of Restoration
  • Consider the details of one of Jesus healings.
    Remember the remarkable Matthew 129-13 story of
    Jesus healing the mans shriveled hand in the
    Temple? There is literally no other verse like
    it.
  • Again, the Hebrew word abed means both work and
    worship. So it is easier to see why Jesus had
    no problem workingand worshippingon the
    Sabbath.
  • On the seventh day in the Temple, Jesus
    saysStretch out your hand. So he stretched it
    out and it was completely restored, just as sound
    as the other.
  • The distorted hand is completely restoredmade
    just like his healthy hand. It returns to the
    complete condition the Creator intendednothing
    more or less.
  • The Greek for restored means returned to its
    former state, the same word used in Acts 3,
    where Peter heals a beggar, gives the crowd a
    brief history lesson, and then tells them Good
    News It is Jesus name and the faith that comes
    through him that has given this complete healing
    to him (Acts 316b).
  • Peter further tells the crowd to repent and be
    ready for Christs return He Jesus must
    remain in heaven until the time comes for God to
    restore everything (Acts 321).

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More on Biblical Restoration
  • Restore everything. Thats the Fathers intention
    for His Creation, because His role for this
    fourth universal question is Ultimate Restorer.
  • By preaching, teaching, healingwhich the Great
    Physician performs in 75 of all Gospel
    versesJesus work brings restoration.
  • His work combines redemption for salvation and
    rejuvenation for all other forms of complete
    health, such as that of mind, body, and
    relationships.
  • The core of restoration is redemptionit is
    essential if we are to be reunited with God. Then
    God continues of holistic rejuvenation in our
    lives and in the world.
  • Jesus job description was R and R. Normally,
    R and R means Rest and Relaxation. But Jesus
    upgrades that term to a revolutionary version of
    R and R Redemption and Rejuvenation.
  • Our Great Physician knows we all need complete
    healing.

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III. Our Calling The Same Restoration
  • Chapter 6 cites our first Image duty from Our
    Origin. Chapter 8 gives our second duty Our
    Relationships. The third duty is Our Calling.
  • We believers offer the same Christ-centered R
    and R to the world. Thats why we are here.
  • Christs disciples are so eager for the Bibles
    promise of complete restoration of creation they
    press Him for it immediately prior to His
    ascension to heaven Lord, are you at this time
    going to restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts
    16).
  • The disciples timetable is a little
    short-sighted, because our Makers calendar calls
    for that event to occur a bit later. But they are
    absolutely correct that the Father has a
    restorative Plan for all Creation.
  • Ultimate restoration is yet to occur, so we are
    confident it will happen one day, for two
    reasons (1) Scripture promises it, and (2) daily
    restoration describes Jesus earthly workand
    ours.

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How R and R Compares to The Great Commission
  • Again, Jesus only work is to do the Fathers
    Will. The core of that Will is the message of
    redemption (John 638-40). The Great Physicians
    comprehensive work becomes the same work His
    disciples inherit. Note the word we (in John
    94a) when Jesus says to His followers As long
    as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent
    me.
  • As those saints labored with Jesus, we disciples
    are given similar obligationslike the duties to
    love other believers (John 1334-35) to teach
    and to practice all of the Bible (Mt. 517-20)
    to love our enemies (Mt. 543-48) to honor God
    and to obey government, as much as it is possible
    (Mt. 2215-22) to be a Good Samaritan to needy
    people (Luke 1025-37) and to both love and fear
    God (Mk. 1218-34 Lk. 124-7)
  • Those commands indicate diverse rejuvenation
    ministries showing the complete restoration of
    all human domains the physical, mental,
    emotional, social, moral, and spiritual life.
  • As in the earlier case of redemption (Jn.
    638-40), it is crucial to see our Lord did not
    simply tell us to do rejuvenation ministries, He
    first shows us.
  • In Chapter 2, this equation noted redemption
    rejuvenation restoration. We partner with the
    Restorer of all things to help people become
    holy whole.

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More R and R Comparison with Great Commission
  • Only this full job description does justice to
    all of the Great Physicians restoration
    ministries. Anything less discredits the Sons
    total service and the fullness of Gods Word. If
    we settle for less, the Great Commission of
    Matthew 2818-20 is dishonored, as it reduces
    Christs command to disciples.
  • Our life purpose, then, is to continue Jesus
    life purpose (except for His role as Messiah)to
    partner with the God of ultimate restoration, so
    that we leave people, places, and things more
    complete than when we found them.
  • Note these few clarifications First, all
    nations in Matthew 2819a includes the person in
    the mirror. Dont forget your own discipleship
    needs. Second, value human choice. When any
    individual refuses your attempt to help him
    toward restoration, never manipulate him. Third,
    since we never fully know the Fathers mind, let
    Him handle the outcomes. God only asks us to be
    faithful.
  • In sum, Jesus performs a wide range of
    rejuvenation ministries to make people, places,
    and things more renewed. The Great Physician
    dispenses a comprehensive plan for restoration.
    We followers can never do less.

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Restoration Does Not Equal Professional Ministry
  • You might respond Okay, so the Churchs life
    purpose is to continue Jesus life purpose, but
    how does His R and R design specifically apply
    to me?
  • Jesus indirectly supports all kinds of vocations
    and avocations as He champions the causes of
    people involved in building, gardening, and
    farming, ruling and leading, educating,
    worshiping and playing musical instruments,
    banking and managing money, and judgingamong
    others.
  • Jesus values work within the family, church,
    personal relationships, and business. And we are
    further assured that these important activities
    continue to find their upgraded significance in
    heaven (see Isa. 6517-22 Rev. 224-5).
  • On a related topic the Churchs diverse work does
    not require every believer to be part of
    professional service. Christians who are not
    officially in ministry can restore Gods
    creation just as saints who are called to a
    Christian profession. Recall that Jesus
    represents both categories, modeling life as a
    carpenter for eighteen years and then as a
    minister for three.
  • Regardless of His job title, the Son obeys the
    Father by doing restorative work for all
    twenty-one of His adult years (starting at
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