McKnight and Wright (3)

McKnight and Wright explain how the story of Israel was fulfilled in Jesus ministry. They do not deal with the role of Israel in the New Testament age. With his second speaker, Wright emphasises that God has returned to Israel in Jesus. He does not discuss the fact that after Jesus ascended out of Israel, Israel was sent into exile. Now some of Israel seems to have returned to the promised land, but God has not returned with them. How does this fit within in God’s plan.

This leaves some big questions. What is happening to Israel now? How will they be grafted back into the vine? When will that happen? What will be the impact on the Kingdom of God, and how will it bring blessing to the world. How does Israel come into the Kingdom of God, without reverting to the militaristic version of the Kingdom that Jesus rejected?

The McKnight and Wright account of the gospel does not answer these questions, although they are an important part of the story of Israel. The gospel was good news for Israel, not just good news for the world. The good news for Israel is more than just some land defended with nuclear weapons and F16 jets. To fully understand the gospel, we must understand how it is good news for Israel.

I explain how the gospel is good news for Israel in my book Times and Seasons, and it is good news for the whole world.