A Bible lesson by Ivor Jefferies
1. What do the following prophecies reveal about the Messiah?
Read Gen. 49:8-12, Ps. 132:11-12, 110:1 (cf. Matt. 1:1, 22:41-45, Rev. 5:5).
2. How is Jesus greater than the various kings of Israel and Judah?
- Saul: 1 Sam. 13:13, 15:28, 2 Sam. 7:15-16, 1 Pet. 2:22.
- David: 1 Sam. 13:14, 1 Kings 15:5, Matt. 3:17, John 8:29, 46, Acts 2:29-31.
- Solomon: 1 Kings 8:13, 10:23, 11:4, Hag. 2:9, Matt. 12:42, Phil. 2:8, Col. 2:3, Heb. 1:2.
- Ahab: 1 Kings 20:31, Matt. 12:20, Heb. 4:15-16.
- Jehu: 2 Kings 10:16, Hos. 1:4, John 2:17, 8:50.
- Uzziah: 2 Chron. 26:16-18, Ps. 110:1, 4, Zech. 6:12-13, Phil. 2:6-11.
- Hezekiah: 2 Kings 20:1, 6, Ps. 21:4, Heb. 7:16.
- Manasseh: 2 Kings 21:1, Luke 1:32-33.
- Josiah: 2 Chron. 34:2, 35:22, Luke 23:47.
- Zedekiah: 2 Kings 25:1-11, Col. 1:13-14.
3. Where do we see Christ as King in his earthly ministry, and what kind of kingdom did He have?
Read Matt. 1:1, 2:1-11, 12:28, Luke 1:32-33, 12:12-15, John 19:2-5, 19-22 & Luke 17:20-21, John 6:15, 18:33-37.
At the cross Jesus was mocked as Prophet, Priest, and King (Luke 22:64, 23:34-38). However, his enemies spoke better than they realized: as Prophet Jesus revealed God’s love to the world, as Priest He sacrificed Himself for our sins, and as King He defeated Satan, sin, death and hell (John 1:29, 3:16, 12:31, Col. 2:14-15, Heb. 2:14-15, Rev. 1:18).
4. How is Christ currently exercising and extending his kingly rule, and what will it look like at his coming?
Read Pss. 72, 110, Isa. 9:6-7, Eph. 1:20-22, Matt. 13:31-33, 28:18-20, 25:31-33, 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Rev. 19:16.
5. Who will partake of this kingdom, and who will be crushed by it?
Read Matt. 25:34-40, Luke 22:28-30, John 3:3, 5, 1 Cor. 6:9-11, Gal. 5:19-21, Rev. 3:15, 19-21, 5:9-10, 22:5.
6. What is your responsibility toward Christ and his kingdom, and what does this look like in practice?
Read Ps. 2:11-12, Matt. 6:10a, 33, Luke 14:31-32, 1 Thess. 2:12, Heb. 12:28.
He will set up His kingdom within you,
filling the void with delight,
taking dominion over selfish desires,
transforming the darkness to light.Oh, that I would be
his perfect dwelling place.
Oh, that my King
would fill up the empty space,
then flood every room, every part;
sanctify this temple,
then build his throne in my heart.When His kingdom comes,
what a difference;
when things are in earth
as they are in heaven!
When all has been settled,
and my heart is his throne:
oh, what a difference
when his kingdom comes!1
1 Steve Green from his album, He Holds the Keys.