Who is Jesus Christ?
What others said about HimImagine yourself boarding an aircraft and travelling, not only to another country, but back in time! Eventually you land in Israel as it was almost 2,000 years ago. When you get off the plane you discover that everyone is talking about a man named Jesus, from a town called Nazareth. Some people like Him, while others hate Him. Some say that He is a troublemaker and deceiver, and others that He is a special messenger of God, a prophet. And there are yet others who believe He is the Son of God, the Christ.
As you listen to them, you are genuinely surprised that He can provoke such strong feelings of hostility in some, and at the same time win the loving devotion, and even worship, of others. One thing is clear as you watch Him for yourself. Here is a person who is remarkably kind, forthright and courageous!
In this study we shall consider what people said about Jesus, and what Jesus said about Himself.
First note:
The curiosity of the crowdsVast numbers gathered to hear Jesus and be healed.
Luke 5 v15Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of peoplecame to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
What is significant in this passage?
Historic NoteChrist’s life on earth began in the days of the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus (27 BC – AD 14).
The opinion of some
Matthew 16 v13-16When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets". "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
John 7 v12Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said,"He is a good man." Others replied, "No, he deceives the people."
Matthew 26 v7A woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
Matthew 14 v33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
What is significant in these passages?
What Jesus said about himselfSome people are like peacocks, proudly displaying their own glory. They like to boast about who they are and what they can do. They like to be important. We soon realise the kind of people they are, and take no notice of them. But when a person with the moral character of Jesus speaks, it has to be taken seriously. How could someone as humble and selfless as Jesus speak great things about Himself unless, of course, they were true? We saw earlier what other people said about Jesus. Now let us see what Jesus said about Himself.
Either Jesus was mad or telling the truth
The claims of JesusNo previous spiritual leader or prophet ever spoke about themselves as Jesus did. They pointed men to God, but Jesus directed people to Himself. He declared Himself to be the way to God, and the solution to man’s greatest needs. No wonder some found His language blasphemous and insulting to God. They were forced to either believe Him, or condemn Him!
Jesus claimed to be the Bread of Life, Light of the World, and Door of Salvation. He also claimed to be the Way to God.
John 14 v6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The claim to have pre-existedJesus spoke of a time, before the world was created, when He lived with God.
John 17 v5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
He implied that He existed before Abraham – a man who lived as long before Jesus, as we do after Him.
The claim to be God's SonFinally, by calling God His Father, Jesus claimed to be God’s Son in a special sense. It was a claim to equality with God.
John 5 v18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath,but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
What the miracles of Jesus showEverywhere around us are signs – and they all have a meaning of some kind. The sign on your right tells drivers to take care, as men are working on the roads. The miracles Jesus did were signs, and they too have a meaning. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record many of the miraculous signs Jesus did. Most of His miracles were compassionate. He healed those who had diseases, and made the lame to walk and the blind to see. He even raised the dead.
But Jesus also performed miracles that showed His power over nature. He walked on water, stilled a storm and multiplied food to feed thousands of hungry people. On one occasion He turned water into wine.
The meaning of the signs Jesus didThe miracles of Jesus were to confirm the things He said about Himself. They were signs to show that He really was, in a unique sense, God’s Son.
John 20 v30-31Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Why Jesus gave signsNo one should need a sign to believe. Jesus did miracles so that they would have no excuse for their unbelief.
John 15 v22-24If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.
His miracles are recorded for our sake, so that we too should have no excuse.
Forming an opinion of your ownCourts of law are meant to weigh evidence carefully in order to discover the truth. In a similar way, the New Testament writers want us to weigh the evidence about Jesus – and this is what this course is seeking to do. You are the jury, and the disciples of Jesus (the apostles) are the witnesses.
Acts 2 v32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.
Further Evidence: Jesus forgave sinYou have been weighing the things Jesus said about Himself, and the significance of His miracles. You should also consider the way Jesus forgave sin. No prophet or religious teacher ever did this, as only God can forgive sin. Jesus angered many people by declaring a person’s sins forgiven. It implied that He was God.
Luke 5 v18-21Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
It also implied that Jesus could read a person’s heart, and know when he or she was genuinely sorry.
Still more evidence: The virgin birthTo reach a verdict about Jesus we must also weigh up what the New Testament writers say about His birth. They plainly state that He was born to a virgin – someone who had never been intimate with a man! God’s Spirit brought about His conception.
Luke 1 v26-35In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you."
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
This also sets Jesus apart as being very different to other men. It suggests that He is much more than a man – that He is also God.
So FinallyWhat is your conclusion? Jesus began His stay on earth in a unique way, and left the world in an equally unusual manner.
His death would not be final. He would come alive and never die again. The resurrection of Jesus is an historic event, and so important that we shall devote a complete study to it later.
Then, who is Jesus Christ? He made an amazing impact on the people of His day. They wanted to discover the truth about Him, just as you do. But in looking at the same person they came to different conclusions.
As a member of the jury you are expected to give your verdict. Will you say, like the disciple Thomas, that He is your Lord and God?
Historic NoteJesus was 33 years old when He died an excruciating death by crucifixion.But it wasn’t the end.
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