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Jesus the Pattern Son: The Gospel

of the Kingdom

Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His

mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall
and rising for many in Israel, and a sign which
will be spoken against (Luke 2:34, emphasis
added).

God purposed before the foundation of the Earth to

bring forth many sons to glory. So, God created
Adam in His image as His son (Luke 3:38) and into
the likeness of His divine nature. He was the
embodiment of divine dignity and royal nobility
manifested in the graciousness of His love and
magnificence of His divine humility. When the
Serpent breathed his venomous pride – the desire
to be like God, “knowing good from evil” (Genesis
3:5) – into the hearts of our first parents, they fell
from their high estate of sonship into the pit of
pride and self-exaltation of the Serpent, the hell of
separation from God.

Though our first parents fell from their glory in

Christ, their Creator, as sons of God into the
likeness of sinful flesh, God never deviated from His
original purpose, to bring forth a harvest of sons,
but perpetuated His vision in Christ. Christ’s vision
to see His seed (Isaiah 53:10) was fulfilled on the
cross. The blood of the Lamb is the seal of the New
Covenant, which is the guarantee that men will,
one day, walk as fully manifested sons of God on
the face of the earth. By one offering He has
perfected those who are being sanctified. We who
were once far off were brought nigh by the blood of
Christ. As many as receiving Christ, God places in
the body of His Son, they become one Spirit with
Him because they are joined to Christ and they
have been empowered in Christ to grow up
from infants (Greek: paidion) to children
(Greek: teknon) and eventually into the sons
(Greek: huios) of God, to the measure of the
fullness of Christ. The vision of God and of Christ
is our vision, which is to know God as Father and to
fully mature in Christ as His sons. Christ’s life is the
truth about and the way to follow toward our
adoption as sons, which is His glorious image.

The life of Jesus the pattern Son is the vision and

prophecy about the road that you must travel to
mature into a son of God. To study the life of Jesus
is to interpret the prophecy concerning your life
because He is the first among many brothers and
you will have to follow along the same way if you
wish to mature into sonship and to be glorified in
your body with the glory which Jesus had before the
world was made.

At the tender age of six weeks Simeon prophesied

over Jesus. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to
Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for
the fall and rising for many in Israel, and a sign
which will be spoken against (Luke 2:34,
emphasis added). Just as Jonah was a sign pointing
to the resurrection of Christ, so, is Jesus’ life for a
sign given to this generation. And while the crowds
were thickly gathered together, He began to say,
“This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no
sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the
prophet. For as Jonah became a sign to the
Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this
generation” (Luke 11:29-30). Jesus is a sign that
points to many sons of God that will come into His
glory.

He is a sign which will be spoken against. For many

deceivers have gone out into the world who do not
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confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a
deceiver and an antichrist (2 John 1:7). Today,
many, even heathens, acknowledge Jesus’ coming
in the flesh as a historical fact and they also believe
He will physically come again. However, not many
believe He is coming again in the flesh of His body
of believers. Just as God fashioned Adam in His
image likewise He is bringing forth a new man into
the image of His son. To deny that Jesus is coming
forth in the flesh of His Church is deception and the
manifestation of an antichrist spirit.

Even the spirit of antichrist has subtly infiltrated the

Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan do not mind
the Church to place much emphasis on the physical
coming of our Lord; even the secular world
broadcast many end-time messages on TV
programs based on the pre-tribulation rapture
theory. The Church is neglecting the message of
the Lord coming in the flesh of His believers, which
is the undiluted message of the cross. That I may
know Him and the power of His resurrection, and
the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed
to His death, if by any means, I may attain to
the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have
already attained, or am already perfected; but I
press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me (Philippians 3:10-12,
emphasis added). This is the message of the cross,
to conform to His suffering, death and
resurrection by laying hold of Christ with the
same intensity that He laid hold of us; the
message that needs to be restored to the Church of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Satan hates this message
because it spells out his defeat. When Christ
appears bodily in His saints Satan will be bounded
for a thousand years. Off cause Christ will also
appear physically. In the mean while let us live our
lives, like Paul did, as if we have attained to
resurrection life and perfection, knowing that it will
be ours at the Last trumpet. That is called faith.
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Not only must the message of the Church be
restored but also the fivefold ministry gifts. Till we
all come to the unity of the faith of the knowledge
of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure
of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13). The
great commissioning that Christ gave to the Church
was not only to make converts but disciples and to
bring forth the Church of our Lord to the measure of
the fullness of Christ. It is to invest more into
people than in structures of buildings and
organizations. Both are necessary but the emphasis
should be much more on equipping the saints.

The gospel of the Kingdom of God will be easier to

understand if you grasp the three major events that
drew public attention in the life of a Hebrew boy,
which applied also to Jesus’ life as a Hebrew, which
also have spiritual significance in your life.

The first major event in Jesus’ life was His birth

and circumcision on the eighth day after His birth.
Jesus was born a Hebrew boy. On the basis of His
nationality He was included under the Covenant of
the Law, God made with His people Israel. Thus, by
virtue of His Hebrew heredity He belonged to God’s
covenant people.

To be part of God’s family, under the New

Covenant, you need to be born from the Spirit of
God. Who is born of the flesh belongs to earthy
families and who is born of the Spirit belongs to
God’s family. Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I
say to you, unless one is born of water and the
Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That
which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is
born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:5-6). Those
outside of Christ have no part in the New
Covenant that was made in the sacrificial
blood of the Lamb. They cannot see the kingdom
of God nor enter in.
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Traditionally Jesus’ circumcision ceremony
composed of three main parts which was performed
by a priest at the temple: Firstly, The priest would
recite a blessing over Jesus that probably goes like
this, “Praised are you, Adonai our God, King of the
Universe, who has sanctified us with Your
commandments and commanded us in the ritual of
circumcision.” Then Jesus’ physical circumcision
was performed and Joseph most probably recites
the following blessing thanking God for bringing the
child into the covenant of Abraham: “Blessed are
You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, who has
sanctified us with your commandments to make
him (Jesus) enter into the covenant of Abraham our
father.” And when eight days were completed for
the circumcision of the Child, His name was called
Jesus [the Lord is salvation], the name given by the
angel before He was conceived in the womb (Luke
2:21).

Jesus’ circumcision was the surety that He would

fulfill the covenant between God and Abraham and
also fulfill the Old Covenant and make it honorable.
And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your
foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant
between Me and you (Genesis 17:11).

For the believer in Christ circumcision takes place

in the heart. And the Lord your God will circumcise
your heart and the heart of your descendents, to
love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul, that you may live (Deuteronomy
30:76, emphasis added). To live according to the
flesh is death but according to the Spirit life and
peace.

Circumcision symbolizes the cutting away of the

fleshly nature. Those who live according to the
dictates of the flesh are enmity against God and
cannot please Him. For all that is in the world – the
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lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride
of life – is not of the Father but is of the world (1
John 2:21). The uncircumcised of heart always
resist the Holy Spirit. If you want the blessing of
Abraham to come upon you do the works of
Abraham. Through faith Abraham was circumcised;
do you like wise and be circumcised in the flesh of
your heart.

The knife of circumcision is the word. For the word

of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of
soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart
(Hebrews 4:12). Our uncircumcised hearts are
manifested in error. Jesus answered and said unto
them, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor
the power of God (Matthew 22:29).

Secondly, the blessing over the wine (Kiddush) is

said and a drop of wine is put into the baby’s
mouth. A prayer for his well-being is recited,
followed by a longer prayer that gives him his
name. The prayer probably was the following,
“Creator of the Universe. May it be your will to
regard and accept this performance of
circumcision, as if I had brought this baby before
Your throne. And in Your abundant mercy, through
Your holy angels, give a pure heart to Jesus son of
the Most High (perhaps son of Joseph [John 1:45
and John 6:42]) who was just circumcised in honor
of Your great Name. May his heart be wide open to
comprehend Your holy Law, that he may learn and
teach, keep and fulfill Your Law.” From that day
forward they called Him Jesus the name that was
given to Joseph by the angel (Matthew 1:20-21).

The name (Hebrew: sign, mark with which one is

marked) Jesus and all other names by which He is
known signifies His glory – the purpose for His
existence. Circumcision of heart includes the
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discovery of the purposes for your life on earth that
you may run your race and completes your course,
not being disobedient to the heavenly vision which
God placed in your heart. You shall be known by
God’s anointing in your life.

Thirdly, there is the Seudat Mitvah, which is a

celebration meal that is required by Jewish Law. In
this way the joy of a new life in this world is
connected with the joy of sharing food with family
and friends.

Jesus’ meat was to do the will of Him that sent Him

and to finish His work. For the joy (celebration)
that was set before Him, He endured the cross. His
flesh is meat indeed and His blood is drink indeed.
To partake (celebrate) of the table of the Lord
with an uncircumcised heart is to partake of it in an
unworthy manner.

Breaking of bread also refers to return to New

Testament Church living but the glory of the Church
of the kingdom of God will come in greater glory
than that of the Early Church. So continuing daily
with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they ate their food with
gladness [as in a celebration] and simplicity of
heart (Acts 2:46).

Breaking of bread with circumcised hearts also

refers to divide the word of God rightly. Be diligent
to present yourself approved [circumcised of heart]
to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed
[uncircumcised of heart], rightly dividing the word
of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

Typical the circumcision ceremony was held in the

morning because Jewish tradition says one should
be eager to perform the circumcision ceremony. As
a child Jesus grew up and became strong in spirit,

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filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon
Him (Luke 2:40).

We should be eager to perform the circumcision of

heart. Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord (Romans 12:11, emphasis added).
We also need to become strong in spirit, filled with
wisdom. Therefore, leaving the discussion of the
elementary principals of Christ, let us go on to
perfection, not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works and of faith toward
God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of
hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment (Hebrews 6:1-2). Not growing spiritually
is a symptom of an uncircumcised heart.

The second major event in Jesus’ life was His Bar

Mitzvah. Bar Mitzvah means “son of obligation,” in
other words the person is now obligated to keep
the commandments of God (mitzvoth of the Torah).
Bar Mitzvah is a status. A Hebrew boy automatically
becomes Bar Mitzvah when he turns thirteen years
old whether there is a Bar Mitzvah celebration or
not.

Jesus’ Bar Mitzvah also signified the time when He

became an apprentice under His father in the
family business. Joseph was a carpenter (Matthew
13:55; Mark 6:3), thus, his family business was
carpentry. So, Jesus at his Bar Mitzvah must have
entered with him into an apprenticeship to become
a carpenter in view for Him, as oldest son in the
family, to inherit it at His adoption ceremony.

When Jesus was twelve years old He came into His

Bar Mitzvah. He announced it to His parents,
saying, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know
that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke
2:49). Jesus told them He came into His Bar Mitzvah
and He is an apprentice in His Father’s business.
They were supposed to understand what He was
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telling them because they were acquainted with the
Hebrew culture but they did not understand the
statement He spoke to them. He went back with
them to Nazareth and was subject to them. He
increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with
God and man (Luke 2:50-52). Jesus both developed
in a secular profession and His spiritual calling.
Over an eighteen-year period Jesus was maturing
into sonship by occupying Himself with His Father’s
business according to the anointing that was
working in Him.

By now we should have discovered the anointing

that is working in us, the calling of God in our lives.
Our Bar Mitzvah is an apprenticeship under the
leading of the Holy Spirit in all anointed areas in
our lives. All areas not anointed by the Spirit of God
should be avoided.

Paul was both a tentmaker and called as an apostle

to the gentiles. To the Hebrews he was no apostle
(parameters of his anointing). The ministry (secular
and spiritual) is “for the equipping of the saints for
the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and
of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Maturity in Christ will
lead to the third significant event in your life.

The third event was what was known as the

“Huiothesia” or the young man’s adoption
ceremony. The word “Huiothesia” means “Son
Placement” and indicates the time when a male
child reached what was considered to be the age of
maturity, somewhere around thirty years old. It is
the time when a young man completed his
apprenticeship with his father and proved his
responsibility, faithfulness and worth over time
serving his father.

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The adoption ceremony of the Lord Jesus took place
when John baptized Him, the heavens were opened
to Him, the Spirit of God descended like a dove and
remained upon Him and the Father declared Him,
His beloved Son. This was Jesus’ public adoption
ceremony. Only three and a half years after His
adoption ceremony, when He was raised from the
dead in power, He was glorified in His body.

In the Near East, during biblical times, the word

adoption had an entire different meaning than in
our present Western civilization. The Western
civilization perceives adoption as an orphan or a
homeless child being adopted by foster parents.
This is not the biblical meaning or the way the
people in the Near East understood it. In Israel and
in the Near East, adoption was a public ceremony
where a young man who had proved his
responsibility, faithfulness and worth over time
serving his father was proclaimed a son. The
ceremony is called adoption.

At the ceremony of adoption, with friends,

neighbors and relatives present, the father publicly
proclaimed his matured boy his son. This
proclamation gave the son certain privileges not
enjoyed by him before this time. Firstly, the son
was given power of attorney. He could buy or sell or
do business in his father’s name. Jesus, at His
adoption ceremony, received the Spirit without
measure, hence His unlimited authority. Secondly,
he received his inheritance, and thus was able to
use the wealth that his father had provided for him.
It was his from then on and he did not need to ask
any question about its distribution. Previously, as
long as the heir is a child (not a son) he does not
differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all.
Thirdly, the son was given equality with the father.
The Jews sought to kill Jesus for making Himself
equal with God. Jesus that came into His adoption
as Son of God had God’s authority and backing to
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make Himself equal with God. The Jews understood
their tradition of sonship but never believed Jesus
to be Son of God but thought Him to be
blasphemous.

Enoch (without the law) received a similar

testimony of sonship that Jesus received. Enoch’s
adoption took place when he received the
testimony, that he pleased God. Before He was
taken he had this testimony that he pleased God.
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not
see death, and was not found, because God had
taken him; for before he was taken he had this
testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it
is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
(Hebrews 11:5-6). Enoch’s adoption took place
when he received the testimony, that he pleased
God, only afterward, like Jesus, he was caught up to
God and His throne and was glorified in his body
and perfected in his soul.

Elijah (under the law) received a similar testimony

of sonship than Jesus and Enoch. He testified that
he stands in the presence of God (1Kings 17:1) like
Jesus who testified that He was living with His Spirit
in heaven while His body was on earth. No one has
ascended to heaven but He who came down from
heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven
(John 3:13, emphasis added). Only sometime after
Elijah’s testimony he went up by a whirlwind into
heaven. His mortal body must have put on
immortality because flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit
incorruption.

The first 30 years of Jesus’ life show you the road to

follow from being birthed by the Holy Spirit until
you mature into sonship. Before the foundation of
the world God predestined those whom He
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foreknew to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Thus, God made the Firstborn’s life the prophecy,
pattern or blue print of the lives of the other
brothers to follow. The most prominent
characteristic of mature sons is the testimony they
receive from the Father that He is well pleased with
them because they are led by the Spirit of God and
not by the carnal mind. Only after they have
received the testimony that they are well pleasing
to the Father follows their redemption or
glorification of the body.

However, Paul sees the adoption as sons and the

glorification of the body (their inheritance) as one
event. Not only that, but we also who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan
within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the
redemption of our body (Romans 8:23).

Just like Enoch and Elijah, Paul also pressed on for

resurrection life. That I may know Him and the
power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by
any means, I may attain to the resurrection
from the dead. Not that I have already attained,
or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may
lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold
of me (Philippians 3:10-12, emphasis added). I am
convinced that if God did not willed for Paul (under
grace) to die for his name sake he would have
attained to the resurrection from the dead because
he manifested the same manner of faith in God as
these two faith heroes.

During Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain,

witnessed by Moses and Elijah from heaven and
Peter, James and John from the earth, the Father
confirmed Jesus’ sonship again with the promise
(transfiguration of His body) that He would raise
Him from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection is the
guarantee that our bodies will be raised from the
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dead in glory. In a moment, in a twinkling of an
eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality (1 Corinthians 15:52-53).

Enoch and Elijah are types of the mortals that will

put on immortality. Those many bodies that came
out of the graves at Jesus’ resurrection that
appeared to many in the holy city are pointing to
many, many more that will be resurrected from
their graves and be clothed with incorruption at the
last trumpet. And the graves were opened; and
many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep
were raised; and coming out of the graves after His
resurrection, they went into the holy city and
appeared to many (Matthew 27:52-53).

As it may be the Scriptures said emphatically that

in Adam we all die, but in Christ all shall be made
alive but each one in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His
coming. Each one in his own order may also refer to
people that will be quickened to God in their bodies
at various stages. I wish to refer Revelation 12 as a
future event of resurrection and some Old
Testament saints during Christ’s resurrection as a
historical event. I doubt it if there is anybody at this
moment in time with the full picture. Now we know
in part and we prophecy in part. Now we who have
the Spirit in part see only dimly as in a mirror,
Christ walking in a far distance but when the
fullness has come then we will see Him face to face
just as He is. However, now we press on into the
higher calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Our hope is, to ever-grow in the Father-son

relationship, which is in Christ by maturing
into sonship to the full measure of Christ and
to constantly press in for a testimony that we
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are pleasing to Him in hope that we will be
caught up to God and His throne and thus not
see death. Our faith is audacious like that of
Enoch and Elijah that were transformed
before the sounding of the last trumpet.

The message of Jesus’ life is the roadmap to

conform to His death in hope to attain to the
resurrection from the dead. This is the Gospel of
the Kingdom.

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