Who Is Jesus

Who is Jesus? (Mark 8:27-35,9:2-7) The Encyclopedia Britannica has more information on Jesus than any other religious figure or political leader, over 20,000 words. More than 300 prophecies from the Old Testament were fulfilled through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Historians such as Josephus (c.37-110 AD), Ignatius (c.50-115 AD), Justin Martyr (c.100-165 AD) and Tertullian (c.160-220 AD) were convinced of the authenticity of the resurrection. The Christ/The Messiah (Matt. 16:16, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20, John 1:41, 6:69, 11:27, 20:30-31) Gk. Christos = Anointed One of God Anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38) Ordained as a high priest (Heb. 5:10) The Son of Man A term often used by Jesus Himself to refer to himself a) Human, carrying the connotation of humility, weakness and mortality (born of a woman, grew, hungered, bled, etc.) b) Messianic title: symbolically denotes the fifth kingdom in Daniel 7:13 and by this term its humanity is indicated in contrast with the barbarity and ferocity of the four preceding kingdoms (the Babylonian, the Median and the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman) typified by the four beasts. c) In the book of Enoch (2nd Century) it is used of Christ. e) head of the human family f) pattern of the perfect man g) one acting on behalf of all mankind The Son of God (Matt. 16:16, 17:5, Mark 1:1, 3:11, 5:7, 9:7, John 3:16, 6:69, 11:27, Acts 8:37, 9:20, Rom. 8:32, Heb. 5:5, 1 John 4:15, 5:1) Note: This term is also used to describe angels, Adam (Luke 3:38), those who are born again of the spirit (Luke 20:36) and those whose character God, as a loving father, shapes by chastisements (Heb. 12:5-8) Who do you think I am? Our choice to believe or not believe this A popular song by Joan Osborne is titled, "What if God were one of us." It goes: "If God had a face what would it look like? And would you want to see (it) if seeing meant that you would have to believe in things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints and all the prophets?"

“You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." – C.S. Lewis One of the most popular modern biographies about Jesus was written 100 years ago by a man named Strauss. He called it the "Life of Christ". Strauss stripped away the supernatural stuff and focused exclusively on the high ethics of Jesus. One of those influenced by the book was a young Russian who was studying to be a priest. When he finished reading Stauss's book, he felt his eyes had been opened. Jesus had no more power or authority than anyone else. The young Russian dropped out of the church and joined the Communist Party. His ruthlessness became legendary, and he rose to become the leader of the entire Soviet Union. His name was Joseph Stalin, and historians claim he killed more people than even Hitler, perhaps up to 20 million. The Servant of God (Isaiah 42:1-9, Matt. 12:17-21) Lord (Phil. 2:9-11, Rev. 19:16) The Savior (Luke 2:11, John 4:42, 14:6, Acts 4:12) A Ransom (Isa. 53:5, Mark 10:45, John 3:16) God (Isa. 9:6. Heb. “el”, Matt. 28:18, John 1:1, 1:14, 14:9-11, Col. 1:15, 2:9) The “Word” = the expression of the mind of God Sits at the right hand of the Father? (Ps. 110:1, Luke 22:69) Preexistent/Co-Creator (John 1:1-3, Col. 1:16) How can we know who Jesus is? Because God Himself opens our eyes (Matt. 11:27, 16:17) Because the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits