Vineyard Church of the Peninsula Vineyard Church of the Peninsula

Jesus was the instructor, and the disciples were his open-air, traveling classroom of twelve. The constant crowds clamored for spectacle while each display was intended to show his students further aspects of the character of the Kingdom of his Father. Jesus often tired of the sensation-seeking of the people, frequently retiring alone to pray or sneaking off with his small band of friends. Jesus’ intentionality of these times away often failed to register with his apprentices, but the truths were tucked away by the Holy Spirit for future reference.

Mark 9:30-37

1. v. 30 – Intense, _______________________________________________________

2. vv. 31,32 – Intense ____________________________________________________

3. vv. 33-37 – Intense ____________________________________________________

Jesus came embodying the Kingdom of God. All he did was à la Kingdom. Undoubtedly, it was also à la Galilee, the rural region where he had been raised. Once he had chosen the twelve young Jewish men who would become his representatives, his number one priority was to communicate to them the values, the ways, of his Father’s Kingdom. There was much for them to learn and even more to un-learn.

John 2:1-11

1. vv. 1-5 – Kingdom value – __________________________________________

2. vv. 6-10 – Kingdom value – _________________________________________

3. v. 11 – Kingdom value - ____________________________________________

Three and a half years. One mission. No Plan ‘B.’ Mission now complete. Sin and death forever vanquished. Guilt and shame washed away, things of the past. Abundant life, the new and irreversible reality: signed, sealed, and delivered. Jesus’ Resurrection can never be a ‘then’ event. It is eternally the new normal, the Divine invitation to be included in this Kingdom of Resurrection – this Kingdom now ours.

John 11:1-44
1. vv. 1-16 – ________________________________ of this Kingdom now ours


2. vv. 17-37 – _______________________________ of this Kingdom now ours


3. vv. 38-44 – _______________________________ of this Kingdom now ours

The most intense week in the life of Jesus is kick-started by an intense worship celebration as he makes his way into Jerusalem. There is also intense criticism and intense hatred in the air. No longer years or months or weeks, his ministry window is now just a few short, and very intense, days. But today, Jesus accepts, even welcomes, possibly craves, the praise and noisy chaos of his jubilant followers. He is aware of the contrasting atmosphere awaiting him elsewhere in this city that has his heart. His 3½ years of doing the work of his Father have all led to this pivotal week and the pulling together of the one common thread running throughout.

Luke 19:35-44, John 9:1-41

1. The blind man – __________________________________________________

2. The neighbors – ___________________________________________________

3. The Pharisees – _____________________________________________________

4. The man’s parents -__________________________________________________

5. The disciples – ________________________________________________________

In the brief span of 3 ½ years, Jesus is tasked with the wildest of missions – to convey to an unsuspecting people, the height and depth and breadth of his Father’s love and to demonstrate the power, authority, majesty, and character of His kingdom; approximately 42 months to convincingly display this vast, long-misunderstood realm of his Father. At the direction of his Father, then, he selects twelve very ordinary, very ill-prepared, men to be trained and equipped as prototype disciples for every generation of believers who will follow. We are they.

John 6:1-13

1. vv. 1-4 – No ________________________________________________wasted

2. vv. 5-9 – No ________________________________________________wasted

3. vv. 10-13 – No _____________________________________________ wasted

Jesus’ public ‘mission field’ was only about 3½ years. So very much to teach and to demonstrate in so very short a time! He spoke only the words of the Father because every word was of tremendous importance, every opportunity laden with crucial truth. His miracles were uniquely effective communicators of the powerful, loving riches of the Kingdom, this Kingdom soon to be conferred on these often-bewildered men who had been given him by his Father.

John 4:43-54

1. vv. 43-46a – Galilee __________________________________________________

2. vv. 46b-47a – Capernaum ___________________________________________

3. vv. 47b-52 – Healing _________________________________________________

4. vv. 53,54 – Kingdom growth _________________________________________

Nothing can wholly satisfy the life of Christ within his followers except the adoption of Christ’s purpose toward the world he came to redeem. . . [Those] who are putting everything into Christ’s undertaking are getting out of life its sweetest and most priceless rewards.

J. Campbell White (1909)