Who Is Jesus?
The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ and His salvation of people. He is alluded to in Genesis 3:15 as the solution to the ravaging problem of man's sin, and He is the focus of the Revelation of John, which depicts the end of the world. It is interesting to note that “Christianity is the only religion in the world which rests on the Person of its Founder.” Christianity claims that Jesus is divine. Had this doctrine been lost, “Christianity would have vanished like a dream.” As a matter of fact, Christianity claims that Christ is the answer to all of the basic questions of life. Thus it is essential that we begin our quest with looking at who Jesus Christ is.
What Jesus thought about Himself
What do the following passages indicate about Jesus' concept of himself? Matthew 13:41; John 6:35; 8:12, 33-37
If the pastor of the church, or your Sunday school teacher said those kinds of things, what would you conclude? Although Jesus was self-centered in His teaching, He commanded others not to be self-centered, and condemned His disciples for self-seeking.
Other Claims Which Jesus Made: John 5:17,18; 10:30; 14:7-9
What Others Understood Him to Mean: John 1:1-3, 14; 5:18; 10:33; Colossians 1:15-17
Application. In light of the above verses, what can we conclude about...
- Who Christ claimed to be?
- If Christ is who He claims to be, then what can we conclude about our origin, and His part in it?
- Who can best give us the meaning for our existence? Why?
Most people who claim what He claimed are found in insane asylums, or are diabolical deceivers on the level of Charles Manson or Jim Jones. But can we say this about Jesus? Let's consider the evidence of his character, to see if either of these profiles fits Him.
The Character of Jesus Christ
What do you learn about Christ's character in these verses? John 8:1-11,46,29
The Bible never records that Jesus ever confessed sin or asked someone to forgive Him. Yet what was his attitude toward people who were self-righteous, according to Luke 18:9-14?
Compare Jesus' attitude about Himself with the attitude of the Apostle Paul about himself in 1 Timothy 1:15.
What Christ's Friends Said: Peter (1 Peter 1:19); John (I John 1:8-10; 3:5); Paul (2 Corinthians 5:21)
It may be thought that the disciples of Christ were poor witnesses. It has been argued that they were biased and deliberately painted Him in more beautiful colors than he deserved. But the apostles have been greatly maligned. Their testimony is far more valuable than has often been supposed, and their statements on this subject cannot be so lightly dismissed. There are several reasons why we may confidently rely on their evidence.
- First, because they lived in close intimacy with Jesus for about three years. Familiarity normally breeds contempt, but not in this case.
- Second, the testimony of the apostles is reliable in this because they were Jews whose minds had been soaked since infancy in the doctrines of the Old Testament. And one Old Testament doctrine which they cannot have escaped is the universality of human sin.
- Third, the apostolic testimony to the sinlessness of Jesus is the more credible because it is indirect. They do not set out to establish the truth that He was without sin. Their remarks are asides.
What Christ's Enemies Conceded. When a person looses an argument--if he is given to controversy, or not willing to submit to the statements of his opponent--he is likely to attack his opponent's character. Let's consider their accusations: Mark 2:5-12, 16-17; 3:1-6.
Consider some of His other enemies: Pilate (Matthew 27:24); Pilate's Wife (Matthew 27:19); The centurion executing Him (Luke 23:47)
Christ's Character in Differing Circumstances. Flaws in men's characters come to the surface during situations (be they great successes, or great failures) which predispose them to weakness. What of Jesus? Look at the following passages and give your conclusion: did Jesus ever change? Did He ever show a tinge of pride, selfishness, or despair? John 6:1-2,14,15; Luke 23:20-24,28,34; John 12:27-28.
Application. One characteristic of Jesus which stands out above all others is His selflessness. He said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”(Matthew 20:28). Read Philippians 2:3-8 and consider how you can apply this to your life this week
The Resurrection of Christ
The Importance of the Resurrection. According to the testimony of the apostle Paul, if Christ did not rise from the dead, your faith is a dead, worthless faith (1 Corinthians 15:13-19). The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith.
Objections to the Resurrection of Christ. Over the years people have raised certain objections to the resurrection of Christ. How would you answer them?
- The women went to the wrong sepulcher. (Look at Matthew 28:1; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55; 24:10)
- Jesus only swooned on the cross. Later, in the cold atmosphere of the tomb, He revived and came out of the tomb. (cf. John 19:31-34, 40; Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 16:1-4)
- Thieves stole the body of Jesus
- The disciples stole the body
- Mass hallucinations, i.e. Jesus' followers deluded themselves into thinking He rose from the dead. (Mark 16:9-11, 14; Luke 24:10-12, 36-43; John 20:1-13; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
The Evidence for His Resurrection. Consider the previously mentioned passages from a positive light. In other words, how do they point to the fact that Christ was raised from the dead?
Application. Look at Ephesians 1:18-21. The power Paul speaks of here is the supernatural resurrection power of Christ. What difference should this make in how you live your life?
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