After Jesus’ meeting with Zacchaeus the Jewish people supposed the Kingdom of God would appear.
Jesus met Zacchaeus as he passed through Jericho. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector a rich man. He was curious to see who Jesus was, but because of his height he could not see over the crowd. So, he ran ahead in the direction that Jesus was travelling and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. ”And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19: 5-10 RSV Bible
Zacchaeus said to Jesus, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.” Because of Zacchaeus’ repentance and his faith in Jesus, “Jesus said, “Today, salvation has come to this house, since he is also a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19: 8-10.
Jesus proclaiming Zacchaeus’ salvation through him proposing to give generously to the poor and by keeping the Law restoring four-fold those who may have been defrauded. It was expected that the Messiah would uphold the Laws of Moses and establish the Kingdom of God.
After Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, Luke then recorded the expectation that the people and leaders of Israel they were looking for the Kingdom of God. Luke writes, “As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and because they supposed the Kingdom of God would appear.” Luke 19: 11.
Looking for the Kingdom of God.
Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council is recorded by Mark as this was his hope, “When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15: 42,43.
John the Baptist’ message, to those who were looking for the Kingdom of God. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Paul speaking at the Synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia said, “Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.” Acts 13: 24
Jesus constantly spoke to people about the kingdom of God. Luke records Jesus saying,” But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.” Luke 4: 43 Jesus made changes to the law of Moses: Love your enemies, Judge not and you will not be judged, give and it shall be given to you above the measure you give and to do good on the Sabbath day even though it may be classed as work. (Sermon on the Mount)
Jesus ‘message,’ “Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.” Mark 1: 14,15.
Jesus the ambassador of the Kingdom of God. God’s love in their midst. Luke 17: 21. Good news to those ‘looking for’ and seeking God’s kingdom.
Jesus taught about God’s kingdom through parables.
Jesus knowing their expectation that the Messiah would gather an army together to defeat the Romans and remove them from their land, by doing this he would restore the land and throne of King David. Jesus proceeded to tell them the parable of the pounds – Jesus described in the parable: A nobleman who planned to leave his servants in charge of his property whilst he went away to another country. Before he left, he gave each of them £10 to trade with. On his return he expected that they would have traded well and increased the amount he gave them. Those who did well, they would be rewarded. Those who did not do any trading would leave his employment. The parable indicated the delay in the return of the Messiah, (Nobleman) and that he was leaving his disciples in charge to continue his ministry until he returned. Mark 13: 32-37.
“Because he was near Jerusalem and because they supposed the Kingdom of God would appear.”
Jesus told his disciples why he was delayed in bringing in the kingdom.
Jesus informed his disciples that he would die at Jerusalem and rise from the dead. “From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” Matthew 16: 21,22.
Even his disciples did not understand why the Messiah had to die and what rising from the dead was about.
Peter’s response, “God forbid, Lord! This should never happen to you.” Peter’s response coming from the teaching that the Messiah’s coming was his ‘return’. The disciples were taught from the law that the Messiah would not return and die he would remain forever. “The crowd answered, “We have heard from the law that when the Christ comes, he will remain for ever.” John 12: 34. The Jewish people were looking for the return of the Messiah. Jesus was the Messiah during his ministry, but he told his disciples to tell no one.
Luke records Jesus saying, “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” Luke 12: 49,50. The fire was the day of God’s wrath, a day of judgement. The baptism was of his death, to redeem all humanity from eternal death through sin, the wage of sin is death.
Jesus’ victory over sin and death on the cross, by the power of his resurrection from the dead, Jesus completed his Father’s plan of reconciling humanity to God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. John 3: 16.
After Pentecost, the apostles were expecting the return of Jesus the Messiah (Nobleman) The apostles were putting into practice Jesus’ teaching in the early church community at Jerusalem: Sharing their wealth and possessions, working together in the structures that Jesus put in place during his 40 days between his resurrection and his ascension. Time spent together in prayer and worship: communion, praise, and study of God’s word. The ministry to the sick and looking after the widows needs. Working and helping others in the wider community. Ambassadors for Christ reaching out proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah and if the leaders and people repented, God would forgive their ignorance which resulted in the death of the Christ, that fulfilled God’s plan and purpose redeeming his creation from the devil and his principalities and powers. If they repented God would send the appointed Christ, Jesus. Acts 3: 17-20.
The Jewish people were in expectation of the return of their Messiah.
The Jews expected the Messiah to bring in God’s Kingdom, they did not expect him to go away before fulfilling his own message, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1: 15.
We tend to think of Jesus’ appearance as ‘his coming’ on the earth, born at Bethlehem. But for many Jewish people the appearance of the Messiah was of his return. The understanding of this is in connection with the conversation Jesus had with his disciples on the question of “Who do men say the people say the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16: 13
Jesus very often used the title ‘The Son of Man’ and Jesus was curious as to what the people understood the title to mean. “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus instructed to tell no one that he is the Christ (Greek) the Messiah. Matthew 16: 13-16
The general interpretation of Jesus’ question “Who is the Son of Man?” God would raise from the dead one of the prophets: Elijah, Jeremiah, or John the Baptist who was a prophet and priest, to be the Son of Man, the Messiah and return to Jerusalem.
The general belief that one of the prophets or even King David himself would return from the dead as their Messiah. Peter said at Pentecost that King David did not ascend into heaven, “For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,” Jesus ascended, sits at God’s right hand.
In Acts 3: 19,20 Peter proclaimed that if the nation repented, God would send Jesus the raised Jesus, the appointed Christ to restore King David’s throne and land. (Times of refreshing)
On the Day of Atonement the Messianic Prayer may be said, V Buksbazen quotes a Messianic Prayer, from the Last Day of the Feast of Tabernacles:
“A voice heralds, heralds and saith: Turn unto me and be ye saved, Today if ye hear my voice. Behold the man sprang forth – Branch is his name- David himself. Stand up! Be buried in the dust no longer! Ye who dwell in the dust. Wake up and sing. Glad will be the people when he rules. The name of the ungodly shall perish. But to his anointed, the Messiah David, he giveth grace Grant salvation to the eternal people to David and his seed forever. The voice heralds and saith.” V Buksbazen “Gospel in the Feasts of Israel.”
Paul speaking at the Synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia said that King David was not the Messiah, God did not raise him from the dead to return as the Messiah. “For David, after he had served the counsel of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw corruption; but he whom God raised up saw no corruption. Acts 13: 36,37. Jesus was raised bodily from the dead. His own body emerged from the tomb a resurrected body.
The Messiah reigns from Jerusalem on the earth for one thousand years.
John’s vision of the church the Bride of Christ reigning with Christ during his 1,000-year reign on the earth.
“Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20: 6.
Isaiah’s prophecy, “Hark, your watchmen lift up their voice, together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see, the return of the Lord to Zion. Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Isaiah 52: 8-10.
Isaiah prophesied the return of the Messiah to Jerusalem. “For he has redeemed Jerusalem.” This is Jesus’ second coming, Isaiah calls for rejoicing the Lord has shown his strength in his Messiah Jesus, by his victory on the cross over death by the power of his resurrection from the dead. The nations of the world, their eyes are looking towards Jerusalem to see the God of Salvation at work in the world, bringing in a new order through the Messiah .Jesus will rule with a firm hand, a rod of iron. All the nations of the world under his authority so, the care of our planet will be equally shared, and problems solved by the creator himself. Psalm 2: 9. Revelation 19: 11-15.
Historical evidence that Zion and Jerusalem refer to the same place.
Unger’s Bible Dictionary – Zion, originally the rock escarpment on the ridge between the Kidron and Tyropeoean Valleys of Jerusalem. Subsequently the term was widened to include the entire western ridge of the early Jerusalem. Centuries later the term was applied to the entire city (Is 1: 26,27). By the fourth century the name of Zion was adopted to the southern portion of the western hill. Archaeological location Zion constituted a formidable natural fortress which the Jebusites inhabited before Jerusalem was taken by David (2 Sam 5: 7). The Archaeologists show that the city which David captured was like a huge human footprint about 1250 ft long by 400 ft wide. This became the City of David or Zion.”
The redemption of Jerusalem, through Jesus’ death at Jerusalem that took place outside the city walls. Jesus his sacrifice included ‘death.’ Under Jewish Law the Red Heifer was the burnt sacrifice for ‘death,’ the heifer was killed on the Mount of Olives. Its blood was sprinkled by the priest towards the ‘Holy Place’ in the temple and its ashes were used for purification rituals and kept in a clean place outside the city walls, where priests had access to them. Numbers 19: 2-10. Hebrews 9: 13. “The Temple” ministry and services as they were at the at the time of Jesus. A Edersheim pages 351-353. Publisher James Clarke London 1959. (Book on-line)
When Jesus returns to Jerusalem or Zion, Israel’s leaders and people will recognise Jesus as their Messiah and Redeemer.
Isaiah prophesied, “And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the lord. And as for me, this is my covenant with them, say the Lord.” Isaiah 59: 20. Jesus will forgive the Israeli people over their failure to respond to the Apostles message two thousand plus years ago.
Paul quotes Isaiah 59: 21 “As it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” Jesus’ second coming or return Israelis will recognise Jesus as their Messiah.
Jerusalem on the earth will be the seat of government during the Messiah’s reign on the earth. Both Christian Jews and Gentiles through faith in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension; becoming one in Jesus’ body of believers will reign with Christ during the Millennium reign of Christ.
Zacchaeus through his repentant faith, “Jesus said, “Today, salvation has come to this house, since he is also a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost,” Luke 19: 8-10
Gentile Cornelius had faith in God when he sent for Peter, to hear God’s word from him about Jesus. Peter took with him his friends, “And the believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God.” Acts 10: 45,46.
After Jesus calls out the Church from the earth into heaven, and after the Tribulation, Christ’s body of believers reign with Christ for one thousand years. John’s vision, the scene in heaven, “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7: 9,10.
John continues, “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands.” (These are the people who come to faith during the Great Tribulation. Revelation 7: 13,14) “They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.. . . . Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20: 2,4,6.
The church, the Bride of Christ, will reign with Christ during the 1,000-year reign.
Fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham that all the nations of the world would be blessed through him. “And by you (Abram) all the families of the earth will bless themselves.” Genesis 12: 1-3.