Page 50 - Christology - Student Textbook

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that by including their names, Matthew demonstrates “the universal relevance of Jesus’ coming.”
Also, Walter C. Kaiser notes that God divinely used those women “to open up the invitation of
salvation to Gentiles, if not also to stop those who were murmuring and whose tongues were
clucking over the virgin birth of Jesus.” That is reinforced by Jesus’ reaching-out to the Gentiles
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during His ministry (Matt. 15:21-28).

Jesus’ genealogy demonstrates that we all are beneficiaries of God’s redemptive plan.

Ministry of Jesus Christ

Galilean Ministry (Matt. 4:12—18:35; Mark 1:14—9:50; Luke 4:14—
9:50; John 4:43—8:59)
The Galilean ministry of Jesus Christ lasted for about a year and nine
months. It is during this ministry that Jesus called the twelve disciples
who later would become the twelve apostles. His message was built
around the kingdom of God which was near. His proclamation was
about calling people to repentance (Matt. 4:17). He called His first
disciples who were fishermen by profession and told them that He will
later on send them to be fishers of men (Matt. 4:19). In His sermon on the mount (known as the
Beatitudes [Matt. 5:1—7:28; cf. Luke 6:20-23]), Jesus’ focus was solely on the kingdom of God.

In that sermon, Jesus discussed the living standards in the kingdom of God. He talked about being
poor in spirit; to solely depend on God for provision (5:3). In the kingdom of God, ultimately, our
hunger should be for righteousness. We should live to bring glory to God (Phil. 1:27). Jesus invited
His listeners to seek God’s glory as their priority.

Notice that the act of glorifying God is not something that is forced. It is resident in us but has been
marred by sin. Being redeemed by Christ causes us to honor, uphold, exhort, and bring glory to God
Himself in response to God’s redemptive plan.

Jesus talked about a number of great topics including love for enemies, giving to the needy, fasting,
prayer, adultery, divorce, murder, etc. Our priorities should be those that honors God. That
exhortation is pithily seen when Jesus told them to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and
all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33).

Jesus validated His claims to be the Son of God by miraculous
healings. He also taught His followers that there would be a cost
to following Him (Matt. 8). Jesus was continually questioned. The
religious rulers questioned His authority in representing God, for
example, fasting (Luke 5:33-39; Luke 20:1-8). The Pharisees were
fasting often, but His disciples were not, and they demanded for a
sign (Matt. 9:14-17; Mark 8:11-21) to prove His claims. They
wanted to know why Jesus was healing on the Sabbath (Matt.
12:1-14). In some cases, Jesus was accused by the Pharisees that
He was driving out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince
of demons (Matt 12:22-37). Jesus replied by warning them that continued and determined rebellion

131 R. T. France, Matthew: The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, ed. Leon Morris (Downers
Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1985), 1: 74.
nd
132 Walter C. Kaiser, The Promised-Plan of God: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments, 2
ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008), 309.

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