Dear Lord,Dear Lord,All the nations shall come to adore YouAll the nations shall come to adore YouAnd glorify Your name, O Lord And glorify Your name, O Lord For You are great and do marvelous deeds,For You are great and do marvelous deeds,You alone are God. You alone are God. Show me, Lord Your way, so that I may walk in your truth.Show me, Lord Your way, so that I may walk in your truth.Guide my heart to fear Your name.Guide my heart to fear Your name.Oh Jesus my God, You showed me God’s love for me.Oh Jesus my God, You showed me God’s love for me.Help me always to do your will to truly show God I love HimHelp me always to do your will to truly show God I love Himtoo. Amentoo. Amen

D- Describe the historical Jesus and D- Describe the historical Jesus and his message.his message.

M- Appropriate Christ’s message M- Appropriate Christ’s message and values in one’s daily life.and values in one’s daily life.

W- Pray regularly as Jesus did.W- Pray regularly as Jesus did.

Jesus’ Jesus’ preaching.preaching. The controlling The controlling horizon of horizon of the the mission and mission and ministry of ministry of JesusJesus. .

The Kingdom of The Kingdom of God message God message is is the center of the center of Jesus’ preachingJesus’ preaching. . His Passion, His Passion, Death, Death, Resurrection and Resurrection and Ascension Ascension express the express the reality of this.reality of this.

aa.) Jesus’ K o G Message….) Jesus’ K o G Message…K o G in the Preaching of K o G in the Preaching of JesusJesusb1) b1) K o G- message of K o G- message of JesusJesus Programmatic Programmatic Statement Statement

- (Mt.1:15) - “The time has - (Mt.1:15) - “The time has come near and the KoG is come near and the KoG is at hand repent and at hand repent and believe”. believe”.

- This might not be the very - This might not be the very word of Jesus but this word of Jesus but this might be the intention of might be the intention of Jesus to preach the Jesus to preach the Kingdom. Kingdom.

-Jesus only says this word only at the -Jesus only says this word only at the beginning of His ministry continuously beginning of His ministry continuously until the end of His ministry. until the end of His ministry.

-This is the summary of Jesus -This is the summary of Jesus preaching. It is placed at the beginning preaching. It is placed at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. of Jesus’ ministry. This is programmaticThis is programmatic – – something that would tell about Jesus something that would tell about Jesus teaching throughout His entire ministry.teaching throughout His entire ministry.

b2) b2) K o G – Kingdom sayings of K o G – Kingdom sayings of JesusJesus

▪ ▪ Direct State: Mk.9:1; 10:15; Direct State: Mk.9:1; 10:15; Mt.3:2; 5:3; Lk.$:43; 9:62Mt.3:2; 5:3; Lk.$:43; 9:62

▪ ▪ Indirect Statement: many parables Indirect Statement: many parables about the Kingdom. about the Kingdom.

- - There are two kinds of parables There are two kinds of parables about the Kingdom:about the Kingdom:

about a heavenly banquet – about a heavenly banquet – Mt.8:11ffMt.8:11ff

growth parables – Mk.4:1-9growth parables – Mk.4:1-9

The word “ Parable ”The word “ Parable ” comes comes from the Latin parabola, from the Latin parabola, meaning a comparison.meaning a comparison.

A parableA parable is a word-picture is a word-picture which uses an image or story to which uses an image or story to illustrate a truth or lesson illustrate a truth or lesson

ParablesParables invite us to make invite us to make comparisons between a story comparisons between a story drawn from familiar everyday drawn from familiar everyday life and some other less evident, life and some other less evident, perhaps hidden, reality.perhaps hidden, reality.

In most of the parables, we have:In most of the parables, we have:

The The adventadvent of the coming of God of the coming of God through the preaching and activity through the preaching and activity of Jesus. of Jesus. The discovery of the The discovery of the Kingdom present in the world brings Kingdom present in the world brings about a dramatic change and about a dramatic change and reversalreversal in lifestyle. in lifestyle.

This brings about This brings about change of values change of values and set of prioritiesand set of priorities. But most . But most outstanding is the content emphasis outstanding is the content emphasis that is placed on the that is placed on the praxispraxis (action). (action). It is directed towards a It is directed towards a transformation of historical situation transformation of historical situation of individuals and existing structures of individuals and existing structures within society. within society.

b3) b3) Kingdom actsKingdom acts – this refers to the – this refers to the miracles of Jesus.miracles of Jesus. Understanding the miraclesUnderstanding the miracles::

-The Bible defines miracle as an -The Bible defines miracle as an extraordinary occurrence, a sign or extraordinary occurrence, a sign or wonder which allows one to surmise wonder which allows one to surmise that God is at work.that God is at work.

A miracle-A miracle- is an unusual event which is is an unusual event which is understood as one of God’s mighty understood as one of God’s mighty works.works.

These unusual events are called These unusual events are called miracles or wonders because of their miracles or wonders because of their ability to astonish and surprise people, ability to astonish and surprise people, their ability to make man marvel and their ability to make man marvel and wonder.wonder.

The word The word “ Miracle ”“ Miracle ” itself is misleading. itself is misleading. The word derives from the The word derives from the Latin mirareLatin mirare, , to gaze at, to stare fixedly at, to wonder to gaze at, to stare fixedly at, to wonder atat

In the In the original Greekoriginal Greek however, the however, the word used by the synoptic gospels is word used by the synoptic gospels is dynameis,dynameis, meaning meaning “ works of God’s “ works of God’s power. ”power. ”

By miraclesBy miracles, we are , we are told about liberation told about liberation and reconciliation. and reconciliation.

There is harmony There is harmony and unity of all and unity of all things especially things especially between God and between God and humanity.humanity.

Theological Significance of Theological Significance of MiraclesMiracles::

a.a. The miracles are signs of The miracles are signs of Kingdom of God’s arrivalKingdom of God’s arrival. .

The K o G is not purely Spiritual The K o G is not purely Spiritual reality but physical one too. reality but physical one too. Hence, the physical-visible Hence, the physical-visible dimension of the Kingdom is the dimension of the Kingdom is the restoration of all well being in the restoration of all well being in the worldworld..

b. The miracles are signs of b. The miracles are signs of Jesus’ eschatological Jesus’ eschatological power. power.

- His mission and authority - His mission and authority is to be understood not is to be understood not through power but through power but through obedience to through obedience to God’s will.God’s will.

c. c. Miracles are signs for faith but Miracles are signs for faith but not the basis of faith, but the not the basis of faith, but the sense of wonder created by a sense of wonder created by a miracle can lead us to faithmiracle can lead us to faith. .

- In the case of the Gospel - In the case of the Gospel miracles it presupposes faith, miracles it presupposes faith, confidence and trust in Jesus, but confidence and trust in Jesus, but it is not yet the post-Easter faith.it is not yet the post-Easter faith.

Miracles of JesusMiracles of Jesus- Jesus as a Miracle Worker – He Jesus as a Miracle Worker – He performed miracle normally performed miracle normally responded to human needs.responded to human needs.

- In performing miracle, He In performing miracle, He relies on His own power. Signs relies on His own power. Signs flowed out from Him.flowed out from Him.

Miracles are classified:Miracles are classified:1. Exorcism1. Exorcism - Exorcism points to the - Exorcism points to the coming of coming of the reign of God. the reign of God. - We find Jesus restoring the - We find Jesus restoring the person person back to himself so that he back to himself so that he may use his may use his power for his personal power for his personal decision. decision. - Jesus has to destroy the - Jesus has to destroy the kingdom of kingdom of Satan Satan..

2.2.HealingHealing – when Jesus – when Jesus performed performed healing for healing for sick people.sick people.

- they are still active thus - they are still active thus they can still make a they can still make a decision for themselves. decision for themselves.

3. Miraculous Rescues and 3. Miraculous Rescues and GiftsGifts

– – these miracles points to the these miracles points to the new community of the saved. new community of the saved. It is Jesus’ intervention for It is Jesus’ intervention for the benefit of the people. the benefit of the people. Example: multiplication of Example: multiplication of breadbread

4.4.Rising of the DeadRising of the Dead

– – they are really experiences they are really experiences of resurrection, but should of resurrection, but should not give an impression that not give an impression that their experience of raisings their experience of raisings from the dead be equated from the dead be equated with the resurrection of with the resurrection of Jesus.Jesus.

Purpose of the Purpose of the Miracles of Miracles of

JesusJesus – – miracles miracles is is

proofs of Jesus’ proofs of Jesus’ divinity.divinity.

- The reason: only - The reason: only God can perform God can perform miracles, thus miracles, thus Jesus is divine.Jesus is divine.

Jesus’ Motive for Jesus’ Motive for miraclesmiracles

- Jesus’ only motive - Jesus’ only motive for for performing miracles performing miracles was was his his great great compassion for compassion for the people the people. . - His only desire was - His only desire was to to liberate people liberate people from suffering from suffering..