Page 410 - ILIAS ATHANASIADIS AKA RO1

That Jesus shared this view is indicated by his call of 12 disciples, who
apparently represented the 12 tribes (Matthew 19:28).

Moreover, he proclaimed the arrival of the kingdom of God; he predicted the

destruction of the Temple (Mark 13:2) and possibly its rebuilding “without
hands” (Mark 14:58);

he entered Jerusalem on a donkey, symbolizing his kingship (Mark 11:4–8;

Matthew 21:1–11; see Zechariah 9:9 for the symbol);

and he had a final meal with his disciples in which he said that he would “drink

no more of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it in the new kingdom

of God” (Mark 14:25).

It is no surprise that after his death his disciples formed a small community that

expected Jesus to return and inaugurate a kingdom in which the world would be
transformed.

In this light, Jesus can be seen as an eschatological prophet, grouped historically

in the same general category as John the Baptist and a few other 1st-century
Jewish prophets, such as Theudas.

Like John, Jesus believed in the coming judgment, but he stressed inclusion

more than condemnation and welcomed “customs officers and sinners” in the
coming kingdom of God (Matthew 11:18–19; 21:31–32).

Moreover, his teaching was rich and multifaceted and was not limited to

eschatological expectation.

The kingdom of God

While the Gospels agree that Jesus proclaimed the eschatological kingdom of

God, they offer different versions of his view of that kingdom.

One is that the kingdom of God exists in heaven and that individuals may enter
it upon death (Mark 9:47).