JESUS Series 1: Course 3 of the Net Bible Institute By Don Stewart

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About The NET Bible Institute (NBI) Welcome to the global classroom! In order to allow anyone, anywhere in the world, to learn more about the Christian faith, AusAmerica Ministries has created the Net Bible Institute (NBI) www.nbible.org. Our Vision Our vision for NBI is that it will be a complete course of study about what Christianity believes and teaches. The Net Bible Institute, when eventually completed, will consist of forty-four individual courses in five different series, and will cover all major areas of Christian belief and practice. A separate textbook will be prepared for each individual course. The various textbooks are now in the process of being written. The entire course of study is called Understanding The Christian Faith. The textbooks for the various courses are produced as educational tools explaining what Christians believe and why they believe it. Each course in the program is designed to be used for either self-study, home Bible study, or for the classroom. It is our goal to make the Net Bible Institute the most comprehensive course of study that is available anywhere. Everything Is Free Everything in the Net Bible Institute is free. All materials (textbooks, audio, tests) are provided on our Web site without charge. There will never be a charge for anything that we offer. It is our vision to reach the entire world with the truths of the Christian faith. It is our conviction that this should be done totally without charge. We invite you to join us at the Net Bible Institute for a thorough study of the Bible – the Word of God. We trust you will be greatly enriched by your experience. Until the whole world hears, AusAmerica Ministries

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JESUS Series 1: Course 3 of the Net Bible Institute

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JESUS (Series 1: Course 3 of the Net Bible Institute) www.nbible.org. By Don Stewart © 1998 AusAmerica Ministries Published by AusAmerica Publishers Box 15 Murrieta, California 92564 USA All Rights Reserved. Although the material in this book may be copied and distributed it must not be used for resale. The material must be used unedited and in its entirety. Duplication of more than one hundred copies must be made with permission of AusAmerica Ministries.

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Table Of Contents

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Topic 1

THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS What We Know About The Historical Jesus

Question 1.

Is It Important To Examine The Life Of Jesus?

Question 2.

How Do We Know That Jesus Existed?

Question 3.

What Do Early Non-Christian Writings Say About Jesus?

Question 4.

Why Don’t We Have More Secular Sources Referring To Jesus?

Question 5.

Who Wrote The Four Gospels?

Question 6

Why Are There Four Gospels?

Question 7.

Were The Writers Of The Four Gospels Qualified To Write About Jesus ?

Question 8.

Why Should We Trust The Four Gospel Writers Account Of Jesus’ Life?

Question 9.

Did Jesus Write Anything?

Question 10.

What About Alleged Sayings Of Jesus That Are Not Found In The New Testament? (Agrapha)

Question 11.

What Year Was Jesus Born?

Question 12.

Was Jesus Born On December 25th ?

Question 13.

What Do We Know Of Jesus’ Earlier Years?

Question 14.

What Did Jesus Look Like?

Question 15.

What Do We Know About Jesus’ Earthly Parents Joseph And Mary?

Question 16.

Did Jesus Have Brothers And Sisters?

Question 17.

What Historical Facts Do We Know About The Life Of Jesus? Summary To The Existence Of Jesus (Topic 1)

Topic 2

THE WORLD INTO WHICH JESUS CAME The First Century A.D. World

Question 18.

What Was The World Like In The First Century A.D.?

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Question 19.

What Were The Different Political Divisions In The Land When Jesus Came?

Question 20.

What Language Or Languages Did Jesus Speak?

Question 21.

Who Were The Caesars Mentioned In The Four Gospels?

Question 22.

Who Was Pontius Pilate?

Question 23.

Who Were The Herods?

Question 24.

What Was The Sanhedrin?

Question 25.

Who Were The High Priest’s Annas And Caiaphas?

Question 26.

Who Were The Scribes? (The Teachers Of The Law)

Question 27.

Who Were The Pharisees?

Question 28.

Who Were The Sadducees?

Question 29.

Who Were The Herodians?

Question 30.

Who Were The Samaritans?

Question 31.

Who Were The Essenes?

Question 32.

Who Was John The Baptist?

Question 33.

What Do We Know About The Twelve Disciples?

Question 34.

What Was Golgotha? (Mount Calvary) Summary To The World Into Which Jesus Came (Topic 2)

Topic 3

THE IDENTITY OF JESUS Who Is Jesus Christ?

Question 35.

Is Jesus Christ A Name Or A Title?

Question 36.

Is Jesus Christ The Main Subject Of The Entire Bible?

Question 37.

According To The New Testament, Who Is Jesus?

Question 38.

Was Jesus A Human Being?

Question 39.

Does The New Testament Give Direct Evidence That Jesus Is God?

Question 40.

Does The Bible Indirectly Teach That Jesus Is God?

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Question 41.

Why Was Jesus Called Immanuel? (God With Us)

Question 42.

What Does Jesus’ Preexistence Mean?

Question 43.

What Did Jesus Do Before He Came To Earth?

Question 44.

What Prophetic Pictures Are Given Of Christ Before He Became A Human Being?

Question 45.

Does The Fact That Jesus Received Worship Prove That He Is God?

Question 46.

What Are Some Common Objections To Jesus’ Deity?

Question 47.

Why Did Jesus Say My Father Is Greater Than I? (John 14:28)

Question 48.

In What Sense Is Jesus The Firstborn Of All Creation?

Question 49.

In What Sense Is Jesus The Beginning Of God’s Creation?

Question 50.

Why Was Jesus Called The Only Begotten Son?

Question 51.

Why Was Jesus Called The Logos?

Question 52.

Why Was Jesus Called The Son Of God?

Question 53.

Was Jesus Always The Son Of God? (The Eternal Generation Of The Son)

Question 54.

In What Sense Was Jesus Christ God And Man Simultaneously? (The Hypostatic Union)

Question 55.

What Are Some Common Misconceptions About The Two Natures Of Jesus Christ?

Question 56.

How Could Christ Be Both God And Human At The Same Time? (The Communion Of Attributes)

Question 57.

What Are Some Of The Problems Connected With Jesus’ Human And Divine Nature?

Question 58.

In What Sense Did Jesus Empty Himself? (Kenosis, Condescension Of Christ)

Question 59.

Did Christ Have One Will Or Two? (Monothelitism)

Question 60.

Why Did Jesus Call Himself The Son Of Man?

Question 61.

Did Jesus Ever Sin?

Question 62.

Could Jesus Have Sinned? (Peccability)

Question 63.

Was It Impossible For Jesus To Sin? (Impeccability)

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Question 64.

What Common Ground Do Believers Have With Respect To Christ’s Ability To Sin?

Question 65.

What Was The Purpose For Jesus’ Temptation?

Question 66.

Why Is Jesus Called The Last Adam And The Second Man?

Question 67.

Is The Virgin Birth To Be Understood Literally?

Question 68.

Why Do We Find The Virgin Birth Only Recorded In Matthew And Luke?

Question 69.

Why Is The Doctrine Of The Virgin Birth Important?

Question 70.

How Could A Virgin Birth Be Possible? (The Generation Of Christ)

Question 71.

Why Was Jesus Called The Son Of David?

Question 72.

Was Jesus The Messiah?

Question 73.

If Jesus Was The Messiah, Why Did His People Reject Him? Why Did John The Baptist Question Him?

Question 74.

Was Jesus The Prophet That Moses Predicted Would Come Into The World?

Question 75.

Was Jesus A King?

Question 76.

What Are The Different Ways In Which Jesus’ Claims Can Be Viewed?

Question 77.

Is It Possible That The Claims Of Jesus Christ Were Legendary?

Question 78.

Is It Possible That Jesus Lied About Who He Was?

Question 79.

Is It Possible That Jesus Was Insane?

Question 80.

Is It Possible That Jesus Was Only A Great Prophet?

Question 81.

Was Jesus Always Confident Of His Identity?

Question 82.

Will Jesus Christ Have Two Natures Forever? Summary To The Identity Of Jesus (Topic 3)

Topic 4

THE PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST What Jesus Did When He Was On The Earth

Question 83.

Why Did Jesus, As God, Become A Human Being? (The Incarnation)

Question 84.

Why Did Jesus Come At That Particular Time In History?

Question 85.

If Jesus Was Without Sin, Then Why Was He Baptized?

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Question 86.

Did Jesus Fulfill The Prophecies About The Messiah?

Question 87.

Did Jesus Come To Bring Peace On Earth?

Question 88.

Did Jesus Get Involved In The Contemporary Politics In Israel?

Question 89.

What Was Jesus’ Relationship To The Law Of Moses?

Question 90.

Why Was Jesus Called Lord?

Question 91.

What Was The Significance Of The Transfiguration Of Jesus?

Question 92.

Did Jesus Perform Miracles?

Question 93.

What Was The Purpose Of Jesus’ Miracles?

Question 94.

Why Should Anyone Believe In The Miracles Of Jesus?

Question 95.

What Objections Have Been Made To Jesus Miracles?

Question 96.

Could The Teachings Of Jesus Have Come From A Different Source Than God?

Question 97.

Why Did Jesus Speak In Parables?

Question 98.

Did Jesus Know The People Would Reject Him?

Question 99.

Was Jesus A Prophet?

Question 100.

In What Ways Did Jesus Fulfill The Prophetic Ministry?

Question 101.

Did Jesus Make Predictions That Have Come True? Summary To The Public Ministry Of Jesus Christ (Topic 4)

Topic 5

THE BETRAYAL, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF JESUS The Last Days Of The Ministry Of Christ On Earth

Question 102.

What Was The Chronology Of The Events Surrounding The Death Of Christ?

Question 103. Why Was Jesus Betrayed By Judas Iscariot? Question 104. Why Did The Religious Leaders Want To Kill Jesus? Question 105.

Was The Death Of Jesus Planned Ahead Of Time?

Question 106.

Did Jesus Receive A Fair Trial?

Question 107. Why Did Jesus Die On The Cross? Question 108.

Why Was Jesus Crucified Rather Than Being Stoned To Death?

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Question 109.

What Is The Significance Of The Words Jesus Spoke While On The Cross?

Question 110.

What Was Responsible For The Death Of Jesus?

Question 111.

How Important Is The Resurrection To Christianity?

Question 112.

Did Jesus Predict His Own Resurrection?

Question 113.

What Precautions We re Taken To Keep The Tomb Of Jesus Secure?

Question 114

What Historical Facts Are Undisputed About Jesus And His Resurrection?

Question 115. To Whom Did Jesus Appear After His Resurrection? Question 116.

What Observations Can Be Made About Jesus’ Resurrection Appearances?

Question 117.

What Do We Know About The Characters Of The Witnesses Who Testified Of The Risen Christ?

Question 118.

What Is The Indirect Evidence That Jesus Came Back From The Dead?

Question 119.

Who Brought Jesus Back From The Dead?

Question 120.

What Objections Have Been Made To The Resurrection?

Question 121.

Was Jesus Raised Bodily From The Dead?

Question 122.

What Were The Differences Between Jesus’ Body Before And After His Resurrection?

Question 123.

Haven’t People Apart From Jesus Come Back From The Dead?

Question 124.

What Is The Meaning Of The Resurrection?

Question 125.

How Did Jesus Leave The Earth? (The Ascension)

Question 126. What Is The Meaning Of The Ascension? Question 127

What Is Jesus’ Ministry Today?

Question 128.

How Is Jesus’ Priesthood Better Than That Of Earthly Priests?

Question 129.

What Will Be The Ministry Of Jesus Christ In The Future?

Question 130.

What Objections Do People Have From Becoming A Christian? Summary To The Betrayal, Death, Resurrection, And Ascension Of Jesus (Topic 5)

Introduction

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JESUS (Series 1, Course 3) INTRODUCTION Jesus Christ is the most influential person who has every lived. In this course we will consider the Person and work of Christ. The main questions we will deal with are, “Who is Jesus?” and “What has He done?” Topic 1 THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS What We Know About The Historical Jesus The first topic will deal with the existence of Jesus. We will concentrate on the records that we have in the New Testament that give the only firsthand source of the life and ministry of Jesus. Topic 2

THE WORLD INTO WHICH JESUS CAME The First Century A.D. World

Next we will look at the world in which Jesus came. We will briefly consider the history that led up to Jesus’ coming as well as the conditions in the land in the first century A.D. We will also look at some of the main characters that came into contact with Jesus’ life and ministry. Topic 3 THE IDENTITY OF JESUS Who Is Jesus Christ? The character of Jesus will be the subject of our next topic. Was He God or merely a man? We will discover that the Scriptures teach that Jesus was God who became a human. In this section various aspects of the humanity and deity of Christ will be discussed. Topic 4 THE PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST What Jesus Did When He Was On The Earth Jesus public ministry will be our next focus. Why did He as God become a man? Why at that particular time in history? Topic 5 THE BETRAYAL, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF JESUS The Last Days Of The Ministry Of Christ On Earth We will then consider the final days of Jesus’ life on earth, His resurrection from the dead, and His ascension into heaven. Consideration will also be given to the promise of His return. These are the main topics we will consider in our course. We trust that the study of the Person and work of Jesus Christ will be of tremendous benefit to all who undertake it.

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Topic 1

THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS What We Know About The Historical Jesus Introduction This section looks at the question of the existence of Jesus Christ. Did Jesus exist? Was He a genuine historical figure? How reliable are the records about Him? Why should we trust what they say? What historical facts can we know for certain about the life and ministry of Jesus? We will explore these and other important questions about the most influential person in history.

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QUESTION 1 Is It Important To Examine The Life Of Jesus? Why is it so important to consider the life of Jesus Christ? Granted, He is a famous historical figure, but what makes Jesus so special? The reason that it is important to examine the life of Jesus goes beyond historical curiosity. When Jesus came to earth, He claimed that the eternal destiny of every man, woman, and child would depend upon how they viewed Him. If His claims are true, the decision we make about Jesus will determine whether we spend eternity with Him or without Him. Nothing could be more important. The Story Of God And Humanity The message of the Bible can be summed up as follows: In the beginning an all-powerful, personal God created the heavens and the earth. In His final act of creation God created man and woman. God put them in a perfect environment giving them everything they needed for happiness. But the man and woman sinned against God; disobeying the only negative commandment He had given them. Their disobedience led to a separation between them and God. They were banished from the paradise that God had provided for them. God’s Promise To The Human Race But God did not want it to stay that way. He promised that He would take care of the sin that separated humanity from Himself. The Old Testament contains a number of promises that a Savior or Messiah would come and solve the sin problem. The New Testament opens with the birth of this Promised One. His name is Jesus, which means “Yahweh is my salvation.” He is also given the title Christ, which means “the Messiah.” The Ministry Of John The Baptist Some thirty years after Jesus’ birth, a rugged individual named John the Baptist appeared in the Judean desert announcing the soon appearance of the promised Messiah. When Jesus arrived at the Jordan River where John was baptizing, He was identified as the “Lamb of God,” the one who would take away the sins of the world. After He was baptized, Jesus was tempted for forty days in the wilderness by the Devil. Once His temptation was complete, the sinless Jesus began His public ministry. Jesus’ Public Ministry Jesus’ public ministry lasted some three short years, but in that time He lived a life such as no one has lived before or since. He did things that no one else has ever done. He healed the lame, the blind, the deaf and the mute. On one occasion Jesus caused a storm to immediately cease. His friend Lazarus was four days dead but Jesus brought him back to life. The people of His day, upon seeing the miracles that Jesus did, testified, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:12).

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Jesus’ Unmatchable Words Jesus also said things such as no one else has ever said. After finishing the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the Scripture records that the people were astonished at His teaching. He spoke to them as one who had authority. Jesus claimed authority: authority over disease, authority over nature, authority over the supernatural, and authority over life and death. He claimed to be the One who had the power to forgive sins, to raise the dead on judgment day, and to grant eternal life to whoever believed in Him. Jesus Died For The World’s Sins He was betrayed by one of His own disciples and crucified under the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Yet the New Testament records that three days later He appeared to Peter—and to others—alive. He had risen from the dead just as He said He would. By doing this, Jesus demonstrated the truth of His claims. The Bible says Jesus’ death on the cross was for the sins of the world. His death has made it possible for humankind to be back in relationship with God. One must believe in Jesus and accept His sacrifice on their behalf to have forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. He Will Return Someday The Bible also says that Jesus will return again someday. Those who believe in Him will enjoy everlasting life; those who do not believe in Him will spend eternity apart from God. Summary Jesus Christ’s identity is of utmost importance. It is crucial that we consider Him and see if He is the one whom He made Himself out to be. If He is the eternal God who became human, then what we decide about Him will determine our eternal destiny. There is no issue more important.

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QUESTION 2 How Do We Know That Jesus Existed? Did a person named Jesus of Nazareth exist? What is the historical evidence? Before we can answer questions on the life and ministry of Jesus, we must first establish the fact of His existence. This is not difficult to do, for both friend and foe alike testify that the man, Jesus, did exist. WE HAVE A FIRSTHAND SOURCE—THE NEW TESTAMENT The only firsthand source that we have of the life and ministry of Jesus is found in the New Testament. The New Testament consists of twenty-seven separate documents that were written by people living in the first century who had personal contact with Jesus. All of these writings testify to the existence of Jesus Christ. These New Testament witnesses can be divided as follows: the Four Gospels, the Book of Acts, the Letters of Paul and the Universal Letters. The Testimony Of The Four Gospels The four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, each give an account of the life of Jesus. Matthew and John were two of Jesus’ twelve disciples. They wrote with firsthand knowledge of what Jesus said and did. Mark wrote about the life of Jesus from the viewpoint of Simon Peter, also one of the twelve. Luke wrote from the perspective of Jesus’ mother, Mary. He asserted that his account was based upon the testimony of eyewitnesses. The four gospels chronicle the ministry of Jesus in a historic al setting. Luke, for example, provides the names of the rulers living at the time when John the Baptist, Jesus’ forerunner, appeared. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, Anna and Caiaphas being high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness (Luke 3:1,2). Note the fact that there are seven specific historical reference points in these two verses. Among other things, Luke tells us who was the reigning Caesar, who governed Judea, as well as the names of the current High Priest’s in Israel. The detailed historical nature of his account is clear. The same holds true for the other gospels. Therefore, we have four independent writings, each of them recording specific eyewitness testimony to the fact that Jesus did exist. This puts the existence of Jesus Christ beyond all reasonable doubt. The Testimony Of The Book Of Acts There is more evidence. The Book of Acts, written by Luke, records the birth and rise of the New Testament church. After Jesus came back from the dead, He gave His disciples instructions on how to proclaim His message. The Book of Acts records the struggles of His disciples to do this task. Their experiences and preaching give further testimony to Jesus’ existence. The Writings Of Paul The letters of Paul make up a large part of the New Testament. Paul, formerly named Saul, was a devout Jew who hated Christians to the point that he put them in jail and consented to their execution. Yet one

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day when he was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians, Jesus appeared to him. This resulted in Saul’s conversion. The remainder of his life was spent spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul’s letters give convincing testimony to Jesus’ existence. The Writings Of Other Disciples The remainder of the New Testament consists of letters by certain disciples of Jesus. We have two from Simon Peter (1 and 2 Peter), one from James, one from Jude, four from John (1,2,3 John and the Book of Revelation) and the anonymous letter to the Hebrews. These writings contain instruction and encouragement to the believers in Jesus. They give firsthand testimony to the fact of Jesus’ life and ministry. Summary A man named Jesus of Nazareth existed. Both friend and foe testify to that fact. There is no real doubt to the fact that He lived. The twenty-seven different New Testament documents unanimously testify to Jesus existence. Given the fact of the numerous historical reference points as well as specific details of Jesus’ ministry, the fact of His existence should not be an issue.

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QUESTION 3 What Do Early Non-Christian Writings Say About Jesus? The twenty-seven separate documents of the New Testament testify to Jesus’ existence as well as providing information about His public ministry. In addition, there are several early non-Christian sources that mention Jesus. These non-Christian writings are recognized as secondary sources because they are not based on firsthand knowledge of the events of the life of Christ. Nevertheless, these sources are valuable because they: 1. 2.

Testify to Jesus’ existence; and Confirm the basic record of Jesus’ life as recorded in the New Testament.

We will now consider the testimony of these early non-Christian witnesses to the life of Jesus. FLAVIUS J OSEPHUS (A.D. 37-100) Apart from the New Testament, the earliest testimony of Jesus that has survived is from the Jewish writer Flavius Josephus. He had this to say. Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those who loved him at first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day (Antiquities, XVIII, III). The complete trustworthiness of this passage has been called into question because it refers to Jesus as the Messiah (the Christ). Whether entirely authentic or not, the passage gives testimony to Jesus’ existence. The following historical facts can be derived from Josephus’ statement. 1.

Jesus of Nazareth existed.

2.

Some people believed Him to be the Messiah.

3.

He had many disciples from both Jews and Gentiles.

4.

He was condemned to death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate.

5.

His disciples testified that Jesus rose from the dead three days after His death.

6.

His disciples proclaimed the resurrection of Christ.

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THALLUS (C. A.D. 52) Thallus was a Samaritan-born historian whose writings have not survived to the present day. Another writer, however—Julius Africanus (A.D. 221)—cites the writings of Thallus saying that Thallus attempted to explain away the three-hour period of darkness at the time of Christ’s crucifixion. Thallus, in the third book of his histories, explains away this darkness as an eclipse of the sun— unreasonable, as it seems to me. In attempting to explain the three-hour period of darkness, Thallus gives testimony that such an event did occur. His nonsupernatural explanation of the event is impossible because Christ died at the time of Passover when there was a full moon; and a solar eclipse cannot take place at the time of a full moon. We are indebted to Julius Africanus for this glimpse into the writings of Thallus. THE LETTER OF M ARA B AR-SERAPION (AFTER A.D. 73) In the British Museum there is a letter written during the first century A.D. by a father to his son in prison. The father compares the death of Socrates, Pythagoras and a wise king. What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King? It was just after that their kingdom was abolished . . . . But Socrates did not die for good; he lived on in the teaching of Plato. Pythagoras did not die for good; he lived on in the statue of Hera. Nor did the wise King die for good; he lived on in the teaching which he had given. It is very probable the wise king referred to was Jesus. The writer mentions the Jews lost their kingdom soon after they executed their wise king. Less than forty years after the crucifixion of Jesus, the Romans destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Jews were scattered from their land. RABBI ELIEZER (AROUND A.D. 90) Rabbi Eliezer is believed to have written the following in the last decade of the first century. Rabbi Eliezer said, Balaam looked forth and saw that there was a man, born of woman, who should rise up and seek to make himself God, and to cause the whole world to go astray. Therefore God gave the power to the voice of Balaam that all the peoples of the world might hear, and thus he spoke. Give heed that you go not astray after that man; for it is written, God is not man that he should lie. And if he says that he is God he is a liar, and he will deceive and say that he depart and comes again at the end. He says and he shall not perform (Joseph Klausner, Jesus of Nazareth, London: Collier-Macmillan, 1929, p. 34). Though Rabbi Eliezer does not name the person under consideration, it is obviously Jesus. He confirms that fact that Jesus claimed to be God as well as Jesus’ promise that He would come again. CORNELIUS TACITUS (EARLY SECOND CENTURY) Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman historian living in the early second century, wrote about the reign of Caesar Nero. Tacitus records that Nero shifted the blame for the burning of Rome from himself to the Christians. Hence to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius:

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not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also (Annals, XV, 44). Tacitus also refers to Christianity in another section of his Histories when speaking of the burning of the temple. We know about this reference from another writer, Sulpicius Serverus (Chronicles, 30.6), who preserved the reference from Tacitus. Tacitus’ writings confirm the existence of Jesus as well as the spread of Christianity at an early date. Several other details that he mentions line up with the New Testament. 1.

Christ’s public ministry began during the reign of Tiberius Caesar (Luke 3:1).

2.

Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea at the time of Christ’s death (Matthew 27:6).

3.

Jesus was put to death as a criminal (Luke 23:2).

4.

His death occurred in Judea (Mark 11:6).

5.

Jesus’ death stopped the “ superstition” for a short time but it soon broke out again.

PLINY THE YOUNGER (C. A.D. 112) Pliny the Younger was governor of Bithynia. He wrote a letter to the Emperor Trajan saying that he had killed numerous Christians. He also had this to say of the Christians. They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verse a hymn to Christ as to a god, and bound themselves to the solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, and never to deny a truth when they should be called upon to deliver it up (Epistles, X, 96). Pliny confirms the historical accuracy of some of the details of the New Testament. 1.

He says the Christians met on a fixed day (Acts 20:7).

2.

Pliny noted that the Christians prayed to Jesus as God.

SUETONIUS (C. A.D. 120) Suetonius was a court official under the Emperor Hadrian. He wrote of Claudius Caesar. As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chestus [an alternative spelling of Christ] he expelled them from Rome (Life of Claudius, 25.4). Suetonius also wrote. Punishment by Nero was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition (Lives of the Caesars, 26.2). LUCIAN (SECOND CENTURY) The Greek satirist Lucian alluded to Jesus.

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Lucian confirmed the New Testament record that Jesus had died in Palestine by means of crucifixion. THE TALMUD The Talmud is a collection of Jewish writings constituting the religious and civil law. They were completed by A.D. 500. The Talmud states: On the eve of Passover they hanged Yeshu (of Nazareth) and the herald went before him for forty days saying (Yeshu of Nazareth) is going to be stoned in that he hath practiced sorcery and beguiled and led astray Israel. Let everyone know aught in his defense come and plead for him. But they found naught in his defense and hanged him on the eve of Passover (The Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a, “Eve of Passover”). The Talmud contains a further reference to Jesus: “I found a genealogical roll in Jerusalem wherein was recorded, Such-an-one is a bastard of an adulteress” (R. Shimeon ben’ Azzai Yeb, IV, 3.49a). Both of these references corroborate the New Testament picture of how unbelievers viewed Jesus. They accused Him of being demon possessed. But when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (Matthew 12:24). They also accused Him of being an illegitimate child. “We were not born of fornication” (John 8:41). This reference also confirms that Jesus death took place at the time of the Passover. THE VALUE OF THESE WRITINGS These are some of the early references, from non-Christian sources, that testify to the existence of Jesus Christ and His followers. As we can readily see, the references are limited and are not of a firsthand nature. They are extremely valuable, however, in that they corroborate the basic outline of the life of Jesus as given in the New Testament and give further testimony to the accuracy of the New Testament record. The secondary sources testify to the following things. 1.

There was a controversy concerning the birth of Christ. Those who did not believe Him to be virgin born concluded He was an illegitimate child.

2.

The religious leaders believed Jesus’ miraculous deeds were due to Him being demon-possessed.

3.

Jesus was crucified during the Passover when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea.

4.

There were three hours of unexplained darkness at His crucifixion.

5.

His disciples believed that Jesus had risen from the dead.

6.

The early Christians worshiped Christ as God.

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Christianity spread to Rome at an early date.

8.

The Roman emperors persecuted the early Christians.

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Summary The question of the existence of Jesus is not an issue. Twenty-seven separate documents written by people who had personal contact with Jesus testify to the fact that He did indeed exist. In addition, there is the testimony of Jesus’ enemies, the Jews and Romans. They did not endorse the ministry of Jesus and tried—without success—to stop Christianity from growing. In all these efforts, however, we never find them denying Jesus’ existence. They attempted to make Him out as a deceiver and blasphemer, and by doing so, admitted that He existed. From non-Christian sources we find that Christ’s public ministry began during the reign of Tiberius Caesar; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea at the time of Christ’s death; Jesus was put to death as a criminal; His death occurred in Judea; Jesus’ death stopped the “superstition” for a short time but it soon broke out again. All of these facts confirm what is written in the New Testament. Thus we can confidently say that the issue of Jesus’ existence is not an issue at all. Every source, friendly and unfriendly, testified that He existed.

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QUESTION 4 Why Don’t We Have More Secular Sources Referring To Jesus? While the secular sources do tell us that Jesus existed, there are some common objections that arise when this subject is brought up. First, why wasn’t Jesus more noticed by historians? In addition, why do the references we do have contain so little detail? If Jesus did what the New Testament says that He did, then why didn’t other writers living at the time mention it? WHY IS J ESUS NOT M ENTIONED M ORE OFTEN? Why don’t we find more references of Jesus by ancient historians apart from the scattered reports that have come down to us? If He did the sort of things the New Testament claims that He did, should we not expect others to record these miraculous deeds? Should not we have expected Jesus to be more noticed? Why do we only have brief excerpts in a few writings from early non-Christians? There are several observations that should be made. 1.

We Have Limited Knowledge Of That Period

First, we must realize that our knowledge of the first century is limited. The majority of books that were written in the ancient world have not survived. For example, the Roman Emperor Claudius wrote thirtyseven books, but not one of them survives. We only know the existence of his works, as well as other lost books, through references and quotations from them found in other works. Therefore our knowledge of any historical figure or event in the ancient world is limited by the lack of existing sources. Furthermore, the very few writings that have survived are only fragmentary. Therefore we should not expect to find much information about any figure living at that time. The information is just not there. Consequently the shortage of ancient testimony about Jesus should not surprise us. 2.

They Would Not Have Foreseen His Impact

In addition, we should not expect these ancient writers to have foreseen the influence that Jesus would have had on the world. Therefore we should not expect them to carefully document the life and ministry of Jesus—seeing they had no idea of how Christianity would develop. Many new religions sprung up in the Roman Empire and to them Christianity was just another one of the many. 3.

Jesus Lived In A Remote Area

There is another fact to keep in mind. Judea was in a remote part of the Empire—it held little importance for Rome. The fact that some religious figure was executed would not have been that exceptional. First century writer Flavius Josephus tells us that about two thousand Jewish insurgents were put to death after disturbances following the death of Herod the Great in approximately 4 – 2 B.C. Therefore the death of a single religious figure in this remote area of the Empire would not have been a cause for much notice in Rome—not matter what had been claimed about Him. 4.

The Key Issue: How Reliable Are The Sources?

The real issue concerns the reliability of the source, not necessarily how close the source was to the event under consideration. The key question is, “How accurate is the information that the historian gives us?”

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The fact that Jesus is not mentioned in any contemporary non-Christian source does not prove He did not exist. 5.

We Have Sufficient Testimony About Jesus

We must emphasize that there are non-Christian sources that mention Jesus life and ministry. They are sufficient to testify that Jesus Himself did exist. Not only do we have the firsthand eyewitnesses testimony of the New Testament, there are also these secular sources that confirm many of the events recorded in the New Testament. Consequently, we conclude that Jesus was an historical figure whose existence is beyond all doubt. Both the secular sources and the New Testament give evidence of His existence. Therefore the objections— that the non-Christian evidence about Jesus is too little and too late—do not hold any weight. Jesus did exist and there are many things that we can know about His life and ministry. Summary We do not find Jesus Christ mentioned by contemporary historians. This is not surprising. The nonChristian evidence is what we would expect to find from the sources that we have. It is wrong to expect them to say more about Jesus. There are few sources that still exist from His time. Jesus would have not attracted that much attention living and ministering in far off Israel. In addition, they would not have known the impact that His life was going to make. We do have accurate testimony about the life and ministry of Jesus from firsthand sources. These are found in the New Testament. They are sufficient to give us a correct portrait of who Jesus is and what He accomplished during His time on the earth.

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QUESTION 5 Who Wrote The Four Gospels? The only firsthand testimony that we have about the life and teachings of Jesus comes from the four Gospels. Who were the people that wrote these books? The authorship is credited to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are three basic reasons why we believe these men wrote the four gospels that bear their names. 1.

There Is Unanimous Tradition As To The Authorship Of The Four Gospels

The four gospels are unanimously attributed to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - there are no other candidates. Every ancient source that deals with their authorship attributes the gospels to these men. Since the gospels were accepted as authoritative at an early date, it is unlikely that the original authors would have been forgotten. To quickly command acceptance from the people it had to have an author that was known. 2.

Three Of The Four Are Unlikely Authors

The authors of our four gospels would not have been the obvious choices to write the accounts of the life of Christ. Only one of these four men (John) was a prominent character in the New Testament. Why attribute a book to Matthew, Mark, and Luke if they were not the authors? The unanimous attestation of these unlikely authors is another strong reason for accepting the traditional view that they penned their respective gospels. 3.

The Documents Were Identified By Tags

The early preservation of the name of the author is another consideration. It was a common literary practice during the time of Christ to preserve the name of the author of a written work. Scrolls with written text on both sides had tags glued to them (called a sittybos in Greek) that insured the preservation of the author’s name. They were attached in such a way that a person could see who authored the scroll without unrolling it. This is similar to the function of the spine on our modern books - one does not have to open the book to find out who wrote it. With four different written gospels circulating, there needed to be a way to distinguish them from each other. The term “gospel” would not be enough, seeing that there was more than one circulating. Therefore the church had to preserve the name of each gospel writer at an early date. The tag on the outside of the scroll would accomplish that purpose. It would read in Greek, “Gospel of Matthew” or “Gospel of Mark.” The fact that this happened is clear in that there are no variations in the titles of the gospels. Every source is unanimous that Matthew wrote Matthew, Mark wrote Mark, Luke penned his gospel, and John wrote his. These three reasons - the unanimous testimony of the church, the unlikely authorship of these men, and the early identification of the document, all present a strong case for the traditional authorship of the gospels.

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Summary Four separate works known as gospels have recorded the life of Christ for us. The traditional authorship is credited to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are three basic reasons why we believe these men wrote the four gospels. The early church was unanimous in their testimony as to the individual authorship of each gospel. Apart from John, the writers of the various gospels were obscure figures. Why attribute these sacred writings to them if they did not compose them? There was also a tag that was glued on the outside of the scroll that would identify the individual author of the gospel. This made certain the name of the author was retained. The evidence is clear and convincing. The traditional belief that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote the four gospels is the only view that fits the known facts.

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QUESTION 6 Why Are There Four Gospels? Is there something special about the number four when it comes to the gospels? Could there have been more or less gospels written? Why do we have four authoritative gospels? EACH GOSPEL WAS WRITTEN FOR A DISTINCT PURPOSE It is important that we understand these sources and what they are trying to accomplish. The Gospels are neither biographies of the life of Christ nor are they a disinterested record of certain events in His life. Each writer wants the reader to know the truth about Jesus and become a disciple. To accomplish this purpose, each Gospel is aimed at a certain audience and each writer is selective of the events he includes. Matthew The Gospel according to Matthew is aimed primarily at the Jew, the person familiar with the Old Testament. Jesus is portrayed as Israel’s Messiah, the King of the Jews. Matthew records how the promises God made in the Old Testament, with regard to the Messiah, are fulfilled in Jesus. Matthew begins his book by stating the family tree of Jesus: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). This genealogy demonstrates that Jesus is the rightful heir to the kingdom that was promised to David and his descendants and sets the tone for the book. The remainder of the book emphasizes that Jesus has the credentials to be Israel’s Messiah. Mark Mark, on the other hand, is not writing to the Jew or to those who are familiar with the Old Testament. His audience is basically those people in the Roman Empire who are unfamiliar with the religion of the Jews. Consequently, Mark’s Gospel does not start with the birth of Jesus or any family tree that demonstrates Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecy. It starts, rather, with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1). Mark’s is a Gospel of action. Jesus is portrayed as the servant of the Lord doing that job that God has sent Him to do. Thus, the emphasis is on doing, and Mark shows that Jesus got the job done. Consequently Mark’s gospel records more miracles of Jesus than Matthew, Luke, or John. Luke Luke was written to those more intellectually minded. He states his purpose in the book’s prologue: Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which are most surely believed among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account (Luke 1:1-3). Luke is not writing as an eyewitness but as one who is recording eyewitness testimonies. His portrayal of Jesus is as the perfect man. Hence, he focuses on those events in Jesus’ life that stress His humanity. The

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Greeks in their art and literature were always looking for the perfect man. The Gospel of Luke reveals that man. John John, the writer of the fourth gospel, was an eyewitness to the life of Jesus. The things he recorded were for the purpose of establishing the fact that Jesus was the eternal God who became a man. John wanted his readers to exercise faith toward Jesus. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30,31). When John states his purpose he also states that he is selective in what he has recorded. Summary The four gospels were written to cover four aspects of the life and ministry of Jesus. Each gospel writer wrote from a different perspective to a different audience. They each looked at the character of Jesus from different angles. Thus the number of four arises from the four different perspectives we have given about Christ’s life and ministry. Each author is presenting a different aspect of Jesus’ character. In Matthew Jesus is the king; in Mark; He is the servant; in Luke; He is the perfect man; in John, He is God. This is because each writer addressed a different type of audience. The Gospels are not intended to be a history or biography of the life of Christ in the modern sense of the term. Each author is selective in what he portrays. Jesus did many more things than the Gospels record as John testified. When the Gospels are compared with each other we get an overall portrait of Jesus. He was God from all eternity who came down to earth as the perfect man. He was the Messiah of Israel, the King of the Jews, the one who did the job that God sent Him to do. This is the testimony of the four Gospels.

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QUESTION 7 Were The Writers Of The Four Gospels Qualified To Write About Jesus? The four gospel writers also had excellent credentials to be in a position to know the facts about Jesus’ ministry and to record them correctly. M ATTHEW The writer of the first gospel originally bore the name Levi but was also named, or possibly renamed, Matthew (gift of God). We know that he was the son of Alphaeus After that he [Jesus] went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me” (Luke 5:27). His job was that of a tax collector. This position would have made him an ideal candidate for writing this gospel for the following reasons: 1.

A tax collector would be fluent in Greek.

2.

He would also be literate.

3.

He would be used to keeping records.

4. He most likely would be able to write in short-hand. Therefore he could have been a note-taker at Jesus teachings. 5. If Levi was a tribal name he would have known about scribal tradition and be familiar with temple practices. 6.

He would have been a well-educated scribe in the secular sense.

7. There is something else about the tax collector position that would make Matthew a particularly good candidate to be a writer of one of the accounts of the life of Jesus. Being a tax collector he would be familiar with all types of fraud and deceit. He would be more distrustful than most people. This would make him very cautious about trusting the word of someone. Therefore his eyewitness testimony to the words and deeds of Jesus carries considerable weight. He would have written only the things that he knew were true. M ARK Mark was also in a unique position to write about Jesus. His gospel contained the preaching of Simon Peter - one of the Jesus’ twelve disciples. Therefore we have Mark relating to us the things Simon Peter said about the life and ministry of Jesus. There is hardly any incident related in Mark’s gospel where Simon Peter was not present and the recording of minute detail shows that we have the testimony of an eyewitness.

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LUKE Luke, the writer of the third gospel, stated the purpose of his account in the preface. Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which are most surely believed among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed (Luke 1:1-4). This statement of Luke tells us, at least, the following. 1.

Luke may not have been an eyewitness to the events he recorded.

2.

But he, like those before him, made careful use of the eyewitness accounts.

3.

Luke had access to other narratives, possibly written documents like his own.

4.

Luke felt the need for a further account.

5.

His account is orderly.

6.

He had full knowledge of the events he recorded.

7.

His ultimate aim is truth.

John The author of the fourth gospel, John, was one of the twelve - an eyewitness to the events in the life of Christ. At the end of the Gospel of John we find these words. This is the disciple who bears witness of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his witness is true (John 21:24). As an eyewitness he would certainly be in a position to correctly state the facts about the life and ministry of Jesus. Summary The four gospels writers were each in a position to write a historically accurate account of the life of Christ. Each had excellent credentials to write about the life and ministry of Jesus. Matthew was a disciple of Jesus as was John – they were both eyewitnesses. Mark recorded the story of Simon Peter who himself was an eyewitness. Luke wrote his account after exhaustive historical investigation with the firsthand sources. Consequently we have four excellent, independent sources to the life and ministry of Jesus.

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QUESTION 8 Why Should We Trust The New Testament Account Of Jesus’ Life? The story of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament is miraculous. From His birth through His resurrection, Jesus is portrayed as someone who is from heaven. He is the eternal God who came down to earth and became a human being. The existence of Jesus Christ is beyond question. Granted that He did exist, could the New Testament story be only a legend? Is it possible that what we have in the New Testament is a fabrication or exaggeration of what occurred? 1.

They Were Eyewitnesses To The Events

There are several problems with the view that the New Testament is an exaggeration of the deeds of Jesus. First, is the testimony of the disciples of Jesus. They contended that Jesus did these miraculous deeds in their presence. The Apostle John wrote. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe (John 19:35). Simon Peter made it clear that the disciples knew the difference between myth and reality. For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty (2 Peter 1:16). It is the united testimony of the New Testament that Jesus performed miracles in front of multitudes of people. These same disciples are the ones who gave us the New Testament record. The Gospel writers, Matthew and John, were disciples of Jesus and eyewitnesses to the events. Mark and Luke recorded eyewitness testimonies. Thus, we have individuals who were with Jesus and witnessed these events firsthand. They are not passing down a story to us that they had been told. They were there! 2.

They Would Have Memorized His Teachings

In the world that Jesus lived people relied on their memory much more than we do today. The spoken word was extremely important. People were trained to listen carefully and memorize. Consequently we find the authors of the Four Gospels composing their works in a way that would be easy for memorization. For example, even a modern English version of the Sermon on the Mount, or the Lord’s Prayer, reveals an obvious pattern of rhythm and sentences that have a parallel structure. This would have made these teachings easy to memorize. 3.

There Were Specific Qualifications For An Apostle

Furthermore, memorization also seems to have played a part in selecting an apostle to replace Judas. After the death of Judas and Jesus ascension into heaven, a twelfth apostle had to be chosen. The criterion is listed in Acts 1:21-22.

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Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection (Acts 1:21,22). The candidate had to have been someone who was with Jesus from the beginning—he heard everything that Jesus taught. This would imply that this disciple had memorized Jesus’ words. 4.

They Give A Consistent Portrait Of Jesus

In addition, these same disciples are united in their portrait of Jesus. From the first statement until the last, everything that they record about Jesus testifies to His supernatural ability. They all agree that Jesus performed miracles in their presence. 5.

There Was No Objection From Unbelievers

Finally, if the New Testament account of Jesus were merely an invention or exaggeration, then why didn’t His enemies say so? Those who hated Christ would have denied His miracles if they could have. Yet they attempted to explain His miraculous character by attributing His works to the power of Satan. Rather than deny that Jesus was a miracle worker, His enemies tried to say His power was demonic. Summary To say the New Testament portrait of Jesus was an invention or exaggeration does not fit the facts. The testimony we have from the New Testament is from firsthand sources. The disciples recorded what they heard and saw. The New Testament testimony is consistent. Jesus is pictured as supernatural from the beginning of His life to the end. The enemies of Jesus also testified to His supernatural abilities. Instead of denying His miracles, they argued that Jesus’ power was not from God but from Satan. The Gospels can be trusted to give us an accurate account of Jesus life because people who actually saw what Jesus did and heard what He said composed them. They wrote what they heard and what they saw – they are not giving us second hand reports.

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QUESTION 9 Did Jesus Write Anything? The New Testament gives the account of the life of Jesus Christ written by His disciples. The question is often asked about Jesus is, “Why don’t we have anything in writing from Him?” Would He have been able to write? If so, then why didn’t He leave us with any written record? Jesus Could Read And Write The New Testament informs us that Jesus could both read and write. The Gospel of Luke tells us of an incident where Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and as was his custom, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:16-21). From this passage we can see that Jesus had the ability to read. He found the place in the scroll where He wanted to read and read the desired portion. Jesus Wrote Something On The Ground There is a passage in John’s Gospel that demonstrates Jesus had the ability to write. And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. “Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do you say?” And they were saying this, testing him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking him, he straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And when they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and he was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst (John 8:3-9). The fact that Jesus could write is taught in this passage. We should not assume that He just doodled on the ground. He wrote something that caused the religious leaders to leave the scene. Exactly what He wrote has been the subject of endless speculation. However, no one knows for certain what He wrote. Although the authenticity of this passage is in dispute, almost everyone agrees that it reflects an actual occurrence in the ministry of Jesus. Why Didn’t He Write Something For Us? If Jesus could read and write, then why didn’t He leave behind anything for humanity? The answer is we simply do not know why Jesus did not write any texts setting down His teachings, or give us any

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firsthand knowledge of His innermost thoughts. These questions, which have been a puzzle to people since the first century, have no real answer. DO WE HAVE A LETTER FROM J ESUS ? There is an ancient letter that purports to have been written from Jesus. It is known as, “The Letter to King Abgar.” Abgar was a real king who reigned from A.D. 9 to A.D. 46 in what is in modern- day Turkey. As the story goes, King Abgar wrote first to Jesus requesting a miracle. And when I heard all those things about you, I considered that you are either God himself who has come down from heaven to act like this, or that you are the Son of God doing such things. Therefore I am writing to you and ask you to visit me and cure my illness. Incidentally, I have heard that the Jews are grumbling about you and wish you harm. I have a city, rather small, but noble, and it is sufficient for us both. The Reply Of Jesus To King Abgar It is recorded that Jesus replied by means of a courier. He began the letter by a saying that is found in John’s gospel. Blessed are you, who has believed in me without having seen me. Jesus, according to His letter, declined Abgar’s invitation because He had not fulfilled His ministry. However, Jesus wrote that He would send one of His disciples after His ascension, “so that he may cure your illness and give life to you and to those who are with you.” There Was A Happy Ending The story had a happy ending according to the fourth century church Father Eusebius. He said that Jesus’ disciple Thaddeus went to Abgar and healed him. Eusebius did not doubt that Jesus could write. He also said that in the archives of Edessa he had actually seen the correspondence between the two. It did not seem to bother Him that this writing from Jesus did not find its way into the New Testament. This Letter Was Copied Many Times Between the third and eighth century this purported letter of Jesus was inscribed on stone, papyri, and broken pieces of pottery. The letter was also written on amulets. Obviously many people assumed that it was authentic. The Authenticity Of The Letter Is Disputed The letter was not accepted as authentic by all early church authorities. Jerome and Augustine, writing about seventy years after Eusebius, state that Jesus did not leave anything in writing. Though most scholars have reject the story as legendary an explanation has to be given why Eusebius would have argued for its authenticity. There is no apparent motive that he would have had for vouching for the story if he did believe it to be true. Some modern scholars are giving this story a second look. At best we can say that it is not impossible that Jesus could have written this letter.

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Summary Jesus had the ability to both read and write. These abilities were demonstrated in the New Testament. In a synagogue in Nazareth He opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and read from a chosen part. In the story of the woman taken in adultery we find Jesus writing something on the ground that caused the religious leaders to leave Him and the woman alone. As to whether He wrote anything, such as the Letter to King Abgar, is in much dispute. All that we can know for certain is that Jesus could have written letters or books if He so wished. Why He did not leave anything for us in writing, whether it be a systematic arrangement of His teachings or His inner thoughts, we simply do not know.

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QUESTION 10 What About Alleged Sayings Of Jesus That Are Not Found In The New Testament? (Agrapha) There are a number of alleged sayings of Jesus that exist that are not found in the New Testament. These are known as the “agrapha” (which means, “not written”). We can make the following observations about these sayings. 1.

Jesus Spoke Many Things That Are Not Recorded

The New Testament itself says that Jesus did many things that have not been recorded. John finished his gospel by saying. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25). 2.

The Writers Were Selective In What They Recorded

According to the New Testament the writers were selective about what they wrote concerning Jesus. Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe to that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30,31). This means that He said and did many more things than the New Testament records. The question is, “Are any of those sayings or deeds found in other early writings?” 3.

Many Alleged Sayings Of Jesus Do Exist

From sources outside of the New Testament there are a number of sayings that have claimed to come from Jesus. For example, the Gospel of Thomas contains 114 separate sayings that are introduced by the words, “Jesus said.” From other early sources we find the same claims of recording authentic sayings of Jesus. Elaborate theories about Jesus have been built upon some of these sayings that are not found in the New Testament. 4.

There Is No Consensus About Which Sayings Are Authentic

While there are a number of Bible scholars who contend that we possess a number of statements from Jesus that are not recorded in the New Testament, there is no consensus on this issue. Some of the statements that are attributed to Jesus may indeed have come from Him while others do not seem to reflect His character and teaching. 5.

We Cannot Say For Certain If Any Sayings Are Authentic

Consequently we cannot be certain that we have any authentic saying of Jesus in writings that are found outside of the New Testament. The best that can be done is to say that some of these sayings may have come from Jesus. We cannot go beyond that. The four gospel writers were eyewitnesses to the life of Christ or they recorded eyewitness testimony. The sources for these other sayings are unknown.

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Summary From the New Testament itself we know that Jesus said and did many things that are not recorded in the Scriptures. This has caused Bible students to examine certain documents that claim to have authentic words of Jesus. These sayings are known as the agrapha – unwritten sayings of Jesus. Many of these alleged sayings exist. The problem is that there is no consensus as to which sayings, if any, actually came from Jesus. Since we cannot say for certain it is unwise to build any theory about Jesus on these contested sayings.

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QUESTION 11 What Year Was Jesus Born? While we know Jesus actually existed, the exact year in which Jesus was born is a subject of dispute. There have been various theories as to the exact year of His birth. There are a number of important points that need to be made. 1.

The Time Before And After Christ

After the Roman Empire became Christianized, an attempt was made to date events before, and after, the birth of Christ. Our calendars today recognize the fact of Jesus coming. The letters B.C. stands for “before Christ. The letters A.D. is the Latin Anno Domini, which stands for “In the year of our Lord.” 2.

Herod Was Still Alive When Jesus Was Born

We know that Christ was born some time before the death of King Herod. It was Herod who sent the Magi to find the place where the Christ had been born (Matthew 2). Herod later sent the soldiers to slaughter the innocents of Bethlehem (Matthew 2). 3.

How Could Christ Have Been Born B.C.?

In modern times, the death of Herod has been commonly believed to have occurred in the year 4 B.C. Recently, however, there has been evidence brought forward to revise the date to 1 B.C. If this is the case, then Christ had to have been born sometime before 1 B.C. How can this be? How could Christ have been born before Himself? 4.

History’s Greatest Mathematical Error

The source of this problem goes back to a sixth century Roman monk/mathematician named Dionysius Exiguus (Dionysius the little). In attempting to calculate the year of the birth of Christ this monk made a simple error that had profound implications. Dionysius dated the birth of Christ as 753 years from the founding of Rome. The problem with this calculation is that Herod seems to have died only 751 years after Rome’s founding. Since Herod was still alive after Christ was born, we seem to have an error of at least two years. Though Dionysius gave the correct date for the founding of Rome, he was incorrect in his calculations for the birth of Christ. The chronology of Dionysius was incorporated into our calendars with the miscalculation about the birth of Christ undiscovered. 5.

The Same Error Is Found Today

To this day, our calendars reflect this error. Thus the birth of Christ probably occurred sometime in the years 3/2 B.C., a couple of years before Himself! Consequently if we are adding up the years from Christ’s birth, until the present year, we need to add about two or three years to our current calendar year to get the approximate date of when He was born. Thus the year 2000 would have actually been more like 2002 years from the birth of Christ. However, we are still uncertain as to the actual year that Herod died.

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Summary As to the exact year in which Jesus was born, we do not know. It was obviously before the death of King Herod, the most likely date of which is now assumed to be 1 B.C. Because of the error of Dionysius Exiguus, the sixth century monk/mathematician, our calendars are off at least two years. Thus to calculate the date when Christ was born from our present calendars, we should probably add at least two years to our current year to have the approximate year He was born. This error, we should stress, is not a mistake of the Bible. It is, rather, a miscalculation made in the sixth century A.D. in an attempt to date the birth of Christ. The Bible itself does not give the exact year for the birth of Christ.

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QUESTION 12 Was Jesus Born On December 25th? Not only is the exact year of Christ’s birth a matter of debate, the exact date of the birth of Jesus is also something that is debated. In the western world, December 25th is the date set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The early church in the West seems to have celebrated the birth of Christ on December 25th while the church in the East observed January 6th. However both of these practices did not begin until A.D. 300— much too late to be precise as to the exact date of Christ’s birth. While we cannot be certain of the exact date there are a number of things that we do know. 1.

The Birth Of Christ Was Substituted For A Pagan Festival

During that time the Romans celebrated the Saturnalia festival on December 25th. This marked the date of the winter solstice—the time when the sun would turn northward again. The feast was called Sol Invictus, the “Unconquerable Sun.” The Christians at that time wanted to replace the pagan festivals with Christian festivals. Since the phrase “Son of Righteousness” was a common designation for Jesus, it seemed natural to celebrate this date as the birth of the Son of Righteousness rather than celebrating the Unconquerable Sun in the sky. Therefore the selection of December 25th as the date of the birth of Christ was probably a matter of substitution of the Christian festival for a pagan festival. 2.

It Was Commonly Believed That Christ Was Born In Mid-Winter

The exact date of Jesus’ birth is not stated in the New Testament. It is most commonly believed that Jesus was born sometime during either the fall or winter with mid-winter being a popular view. Thus December 25th could have been the exact date when Jesus was born, but there is simply not enough evidence to be certain. In the ancient world there was no universal system of chronology so precision as to when Jesus was born seems to be impossible. OBJECTION: WHAT ABOUT THE FLOCKS OUTSIDE IN WINTER? One objection to the date of December 25th is that the shepherds are tending their flocks by night when the announcement comes of the birth of Christ. It is argued that it would be too cold for them to have their flocks outside in the winter. Therefore it must have been some other time of year. However, this oftenused argument does not hold much weight. There is evidence both ancient and modern that flocks stayed outside year round. 1.

There Is Ancient Evidence That Flocks Were Outside All Year Round

There is a passage in the Jewish Mishnah that stated that some sheep were kept outside of the fields of Bethlehem all year round. These sheep were to be used for sacrifice in the temple in Jerusalem. Therefore it is possible that the birth of Jesus could have come on any day of the year. 2.

There Is Modern Evidence Of Flocks Outside In Winter

Shepherds in the Bethlehem area, to this very day, keep their flocks out at night during all times of the year. Anyone visiting Bethlehem around Christmas time can still see the sheep outside with the shepherds.

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Conclusion: The Birth Of Christ Could Have Been In Winter It would, therefore, not be impossible for the birth of Jesus to have occurred during the winter season. Based upon the present evidence, a mid-January in 2 B.C. is a preferred date for the birth of Jesus. However this is by no means certain and is subject to change if more evidence is discovered. Summary As there is a question as to the exact year Jesus was born, the exact day of His birth is also uncertain. December 25th was chosen as the date in the West. It seems to have come from substituting the pagan Roman festival around the winter solstice with the celebration of the birth of Christ. While it is certainly possible that Jesus was born on that date, there is not enough evidence to be precise. We do know however, that He was born sometime in the past with mid-winter 3/2 B.C. being a possible date suggested by modern scholars.

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QUESTION 13 What Do We Know Of Jesus’ Earlier Years? The New Testament gives the account of the life of Jesus Christ. We are told of the events surrounding His birth and of His ministry to the world. But apart from one incident at age twelve, there is nothing told about His childhood or anything that happened to Him until about age thirty. Several observations can be made. 1.

There Was The Desire To Know More

While the church viewed the gospels as the authoritative source for the life and ministry of Jesus, others felt the need to fill in the blanks of the things the Gospels do not speak of. This includes the childhood of Jesus, His physical appearance, and other sayings not recorded in the New Testament. 2.

Fanciful Stories Arose About Jesus’ Early Years

Throughout history, fanciful accounts of Jesus’ youth have been written but all of these have proven unreliable. The only firsthand source we have about the life of Jesus is the New Testament and it remains silent about Jesus’ youth. Apocryphal sources attempt to fill in the gaps but they are not trustworthy. For example, in the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy there is the story that when Joseph and Mary were on their way to Egypt with the baby Jesus robbers met them. The robbers found nothing to steal from this couple that did not have any money. The robbers had compassion on the young couple with their child and gave them provisions and sent them on their way to Egypt. One of these helpful robbers appeared in the life of Christ many years later. He was the repentant robber on the cross next to Jesus! Though this charming story has no basis whatsoever in fact it illustrates the desire to fill in some of the missing elements in the story of Jesus. 3.

There Were No Miracles Before His Public Ministry Began

Jesus did not perform any miraculous deeds before He began His public ministry. The Gospel of John testifies that the miracle of turning the water into wine was Jesus first miracle. This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him (John 2:11). WHY THE SILENCE ABOUT J ESUS ’ EARLIER YEARS? This brings up the question of the silence of the Gospels on the early years of Jesus. Why the silence? Why doesn’t the Scripture give us more details on the childhood and youth of Jesus? Although the Bible does not give us any specific information on Jesus’ early years, we can surmise why it has remained virtually silent on the matter. 1.

The Gospels Emphasized His Public Ministry

The four Gospels basically record the life and ministry of Jesus to the world. They were not written as biographies but as documents meaning to convey God’s truth that Jesus was the Savior sent from heaven.

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Jesus Jesus Did Not Begin His Public Ministry Until The Age Of Thirty

The Gospels record that Jesus did not begin His public ministry until He was about thirty years of age. Whatever happened to Him before that time was spent in preparation for this public ministry He was about to undertake. Consequently, the events of those years are not revealed in Scripture. 3.

These Silent Years Were Not Unimportant

But let us not think that these years of silence were unimportant years. Without a doubt Jesus was doing whatever duty that was set before Him with the same dedication He would later have in His ministry. His faithfulness is acknowledged at His baptism when God the Father’s voice was heard. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17). There had been no miracles, no great teachings, nothing as yet on a grand scale. Yet we know that the Father was pleased with His Son. Whatever things Jesus did during those silent years He did them well, pleasing His heavenly Father. Though we may wish to know more, we can be satisfied with the knowledge that the youth of Jesus was spent faithful to His calling. Summary The Bible tells us very little about the life of Jesus before He began His public ministry. Apart from the narratives around His birth the only account we have of Him before entering the ministry was at age twelve in the temple. Apart from that the Scriptures are silent. Others have attempted to fill in the gaps but their attempts cannot be taken seriously. We know that He did not perform any miracles before turning the water into wine at Cana of Galilee. Although the years were silent as far as ministry was concerned they were still important years – they were preparing Him for the great things He was about to do.

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QUESTION 14 What Did Jesus Look Like? A question that is asked frequently concerns the physical appearance of Jesus. People wonder if Scripture gives any direct testimony as to what Jesus looked liked physically. The answer is no. There is nothing in the Bible that describes the physical characteristics of Jesus. There are, however, a few indirect references that give us some idea of what He looked like. 1.

His Appearance Was Not Outstanding

We can surmise from the Scripture that Jesus was not outstanding in His appearance. He was probably of average size for a man living in His day. We can deduce this from the record of His betrayal. Judas Iscariot made a pact to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. The chief priests and religious rulers wanted to be sure they had the right man. Judas said. Whomever I kiss, he is the one; seize him (Matthew 26:48). If Jesus had been above average in height or had some outstanding physical characteristic, then it is hard to imagine why Judas needed to point Him out. Jesus obviously did not stand out that strikingly in a group of eleven other men. 2.

He Was Mistaken For A Gardener

At His resurrection, Mary Magdalene first thought Jesus was the gardener. At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him” (John 20:14,15). Again, if He had some unmistakable physical characteristic, then it would be difficult to imagine Him being taken for a gardener. Even though Mary was not expecting a resurrected Christ, any outstanding physical characteristic would probably have been noticed. 3.

He Was Not Ugly Or Deformed

Some take the prophecy that Isaiah makes of the Messiah to indicate He was ugly or deformed. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him (Isaiah 53:2). But this prophecy more likely refers either to the battered condition of His body while on the cross, or that He was merely average in His looks. Moreover, it does not explain why Jesus had to be singled out of a crowd. If He were somehow deformed, there would have been no need for a sign from Judas. Also the Scripture tells us that little children came to Jesus of their own accord. Usually children are afraid of a physical deformity because of a natural fear of the unknown. This would further indicate that there was nothing unusual about Jesus’ appearance.

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In the Old Testament, the sacrificial lamb was to be without spot or blemish. This was a picture of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who was the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Although the perfection of Jesus was spiritual, that is, He was without sin, it might also have reference to His physical characteristics. But of this point we cannot be sure. ANCIENT TESTIMONY TO THE LIKENESS OF J ESUS We have some ancient testimony to the making of a likeness of Jesus. Was A Statue Of Jesus Made? There is the testimony of the early church father Eusebius that a statue of Jesus had been made by the woman whom Jesus healed from hemorrhaging. He said that he had seen this statue of Jesus in the city of Caesarea Philippi. The statue was ordered destroyed by order of the anti-Christian Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate. Was A Portrait Of Jesus Made? There is also ancient testimony that Luke, the author of the Third gospel, painted a portrait of Jesus. The early church father Eusebius mentions this fact. What About The Shroud Of Turin? We also have the mysterious Shroud of Turin, the purported burial cloth of Christ. If this is the actually burial cloth of Jesus, then we have an actual representation of what He looked like. However the Shroud has not been proven to be the actual burial cloth or Christ. SCRIPTURE EMPHASIZES THE CHARACTER NOT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE The fact that the New Testament gives us no description of Jesus illustrates a biblical truth. God is more interested in the behavior of a person than how they look. In the Old Testament, the Lord said the following to the prophet Samuel. Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) Summary Though Jesus was a human being we do not know what His physical appearance was like. There are no direct descriptions of Jesus in the Scripture. The Bible is more concerned about who He was as a Person than His outer appearance. However we can infer that He was not extraordinary in His looks. He had to be picked out of a crowd of ten other men when He was betrayed. Mary Magdalene mistook Him for the gardener. Anything we can deduce about Jesus’ physical appearance is only from inference. This indicates that the outward appearance was not that crucial. What was important was what was on the inside—in His heart.

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QUESTION 15 What Do We Know About Jesus’ Earthly Parents: Joseph And Mary? There are some facts that we know about Jesus’ earthly family. His parents were named Joseph and Mary. Scripture tells us some things about them. It includes the following facts. 1.

Joseph Was Not The Biological Father Of Jesus

Joseph was the husband of Mary but not the biological father of Jesus. The New Testament makes this quite clear. This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18). The Bible also says. But he [Joseph] had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus (Matthew 1:25). There are not many facts recorded about Joseph in the four gospels. He is mentioned only with respect to the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, flight to Egypt, and return to Galilee. We find Joseph obeyed the Lord without question during this time. 2.

Joseph Is Last Heard Of With The Episode In The Temple

The only other reference to him is the episode regarding Jesus teaching at the temple at age twelve. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father's house?” (Luke 2:47-50). It is interesting to note that Joseph is not mentioned by name in this account neither is there any record of him saying anything to Jesus. The account speaks of Jesus’ parents. Mary calls Joseph “Jesus’ father” however Jesus corrects her when He emphasizes who His real Father is. This is the last we hear of Joseph. 3.

Joseph Was Not Around For Jesus’ Public Ministry

Joseph is not mentioned as being around when Jesus began His public ministry. He is conspicuous by His absence. Almost everyone agrees that he had died before the time Jesus revealed Himself to the world. We know nothing of the circumstances surrounding his death. 4.

His Death May Have Been Indicated

There may be an indication in Scripture that Joseph would never live to see Jesus’ public ministry. When the elderly man Simeon spoke to Joseph and Mary about their newborn son we find the following said.

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Jesus The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:33-35).

He predicted that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul concerning Jesus but Simeon said nothing about Joseph. This may be an indication that Joseph would not be around to see Jesus rejected and crucified by the people whom He came to save. M ARY: THE M OTHER OF THE EARTHLY J ESUS Mary was the husband of Joseph and the biological mother of Jesus. We know the following things about her. 1.

The Angel Gabriel Told Her About Jesus’ Miraculous Conception

While a virgin, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced the coming birth of Jesus. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God. “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. “For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38). 2.

Mary Praised God For His Faithfulness: The Song Of Mary

There is the song of Mary recorded in Luke’s gospel (Luke 1:46-55) in which Mary praises God for His faithfulness. And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46,47). She correctly predicted that she would be called blessed from that time on. For he has had regard for the humble state of his bondslave; for behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed (Luke 1:48). 3.

Mary Was Present At Jesus’ First Miracle

At the site of Jesus’ first miracle, Mary is present.

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On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you (John 2:1-5). 4.

Mary Was With Jesus’ Brothers And Sisters On One Occasion

There is an account of Mary being with Jesus brothers and sisters. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3:21). It is possible that it was Jesus family, and not the crowd, that thought that Jesus was deluded. We find His family attempting to speak to Him. Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:31-34). 5.

Mary Was Present At The Crucifixion

She was present at Jesus’ crucifixion. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 20:25-27). John the Apostle then took Mary into his home. 6.

She Was In The Upper Room After Jesus’ Ascension

The last we hear of Mary is with Jesus’ disciples in the Upper Room They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers (Acts 1:14). Here she is called the mother of Jesus. After this there is no mention of Mary in the New Testament. We know nothing with respect to the circumstances of her death. 7.

Many Fanciful Stories About Mary Arose

After the New Testament era, many fanciful stories were written about Joseph and Mary. The only facts about their lives of which we can be certain are those that are recorded in the New Testament. Summary We know some details about Jesus’ family. His mothers’ name was Mary who was married to a man named Joseph. However, Joseph was not the actual father of Jesus but adopted Him upon His birth. Jesus

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was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Joseph was prominent only in the accounts surrounding Jesus’ birth, the family’s flight to Egypt, and their return. He is mentioned in the story of Jesus and the Temple. We know nothing of the circumstances of Josephs’ death. There may be a hint of his death before the public ministry of Jesus in the words of Simeon. He was not around when Jesus entered His public ministry while Mary is mentioned on certain occasions during Jesus’ ministry. Mary was a virgin when the angel announced to her that she would give birth to the Messiah. While she figures prominently into the birth narrative of Jesus there are only a few other occasions where she is mentioned. She is at the wedding of Cana of Galilee when Jesus turns the water into wine. Mary is also with Jesus’ brothers and sisters when they wish to speak with Him apart from the crowd. She was there at His crucifixion. Mary was taken into the home of the Apostle John after the death of Jesus. The last mention of her in the New Testament is before Pentecost where she is together with the other disciples.

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QUESTION 16 Did Jesus Have Brothers And Sisters? The birth of Jesus was the result of a supernatural union between God and Mary. She was a virgin at the time Jesus was conceived. There are some who maintain that Mary remained a virgin throughout her entire life. If this were the case, then Jesus would have been an only child. The Scriptures, however, indicate that Jesus did have brothers and sisters. The Testimony Of Matthew: Mary Did Not Remain A Virgin The first testimony that Mary did not remain a virgin can be found in the opening chapter of Matthew. When Joseph had discovered that Mary was going to have a child, he decided to secretly divorce her. He had not had sexual relations with her and knew the child was not his. But an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him that his wife’s pregnancy was through God, the Holy Spirit. Later we are told. And he did not know her until she gave birth to a Son; and he named him Jesus (Matthew 1:25). Matthew 1:25 strongly suggest that Joseph had normal sexual relations with Mary after the birth of Jesus. Thus this passage provides a strong argument against any idea of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Jesus Had Brothers And Sisters Furthermore, Scripture gives testimony to the fact that Joseph and Mary had other children who were brothers and sisters of Jesus. We are told that the brothers of Jesus went along with Him and His mother to Capernaum After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. (John 2:12). This occurred after they had attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee. We read in Matthew about the brothers of Jesus. While he [Jesus] was still talking to the multitudes, . . . one said to him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to you.’ But he answered and said to the one who told him, ‘Who is my mother and who are my brothers?’ And he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’ (Matthew 12:46-50). The People At Nazareth Acknowledge Jesus’ Family On another occasion we are told that the people in His hometown of Nazareth became indignant at His claims. Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?’ And they were offended at him (Mark 6:3).

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They knew His family well. The crowd mentions four brothers and at least two sisters. Therefore we learn that Jesus had sisters as well as brothers. Jesus’ Brothers Did Not Initially Believe In Him John tells us that during the ministry of Jesus His brothers did not believe in Him. Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him (John 7:35). His Brothers Believe In Him After His Resurrection This changed after His resurrection. We are told that Jesus appeared to His brother James. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7). We find His brothers waiting for the coming of the power of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers (Acts 1:14) James Becomes A Leader In The Church James became an active leader in the church. He was the leader of the church in Jerusalem presiding over the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). Paul mentioned James in one of his letters. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles - only James, the Lord’s brother (Galatians 1:18,19). He called James a pillar of the church and compared his authority to that of Peter and John. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews (Galatians 2:9). It is generally believed that the New Testament books James and Jude were written by two of Jesus’ brothers though neither of them calls themselves Jesus’ brother in their introduction. James wrote. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings (James 1:1). Jude called himself James’ brother Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: (Jude 1:1). They may have been thinking of Jesus’ statement that His mother and brother and sister are those who did the will of God – not those who are genetically related to Him (Matthew 12:50). Consequently the

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relationship these two had with Jesus, after His resurrection, was based upon their belief in Him – not their blood relationship. THERE ARE THREE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AS TO THE IDENTITY OF J ESUS ’ B ROTHERS AND SISTERS

Who were these brothers and sisters of Jesus? There are three possibilities. View 1. There were children born to Mary and Joseph after Jesus, hence His younger brothers and sisters (natural half-brothers and sisters). This is the natural way of understanding the totality of the New Testament evidence. We read the following about Jesus birth in Luke. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7) By calling Jesus Mary’s firstborn seems to demonstrate that she had other children after Him. While the word “firstborn” can mean preeminent, it can also mean the first in time – depending upon the context. This is consistent with all the other evidence that Mary and Joseph had children after Jesus. View 2. They were children of Joseph from a previous marriage (step-brothers and sisters). The reason some believe that they were not children of Joseph and Mary is due to the way they are designated in a couple of contexts. In Mark 6:3 Jesus is called the “Son of Mary” and is distinguished separately from the brothers who are named as well as the sisters. However, the fact that He is called Mary’s Son may be due to the fact that Joseph, the husband of Mary, was no longer alive. It certainly does not force us to assume that the other brothers and sisters were children of Joseph from a previous marriage. In the upper room were “Mary the mother of Jesus, and . . . his brothers” (Acts 1:14). Here they were called His brothers not her sons. Again this has led some to speculate that they were sons of Joseph from a previous marriage. However this designation could merely be a way of distinguishing them from Jesus’ other disciples. It does not necessarily mean they were not the children of Mary. Epiphanius – a fourth century defender of the perpetual virginity of Mary, held the view that these were Joseph’s children from a previous marriage. It was also the view held by the ancient scholar Jerome. Modern defenders of this view include the great scholar Joseph Barber Lightfoot. While this particular view is not likely, it is not impossible. View 3. They were cousins of Jesus not actual brothers and sisters. They were the sons of Cleopas who was supposedly a brother or brother-in-law of Joseph. Near Relations Are Called Brothers In The Old Testament The support for this argument is the Hebrew and Aramaic use of the term for “brother.” In the Old Testament we find brother used for near relations. So Abram said to Lot, "Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers (Genesis 13:8).

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Lot was actually Abraham’s nephew. Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot with his goods, and the women and the people (Genesis 14:16). While this view is theoretically possible there is nothing in Scripture to indicate Jesus’ brothers and sisters were actually His cousins. WHICH SOLUTION IS CORRECT? While all three solutions are theoretically possible the one that has the least amount of problems is the first option – Jesus had actual brothers and sisters that were the biological children of Mary and Joseph. Summary The Scripture says that Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters. Exactly how they are related to Him has been a matter of controversy. There have been three popular views. The natural sense in which to take the references is they were His actual younger brothers and sisters – children of Joseph and Mary. However, some people believe they were step-brothers and sisters of Jesus from a previous marriage of Joseph. A third vie w thinks they were cousins of Jesus. One cannot be absolutely certain as to which view is correct. What is certain, however, is that the Scripture does not rule out the possibility of Jesus having brothers and sisters born to Joseph and Mary.

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QUESTION 17 What Historical Facts Do We Know About The Life Of Jesus? There is a central core of truth upon which both believers and unbelievers agree concerning the life of Jesus Christ. From the New Testament we can deduce the following facts about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. 1.

Jesus Christ Existed

Today, no serious scholar doubts the existence of Jesus. The fact that Jesus lived is an established historical fact. Twenty-seven separate documents of the New Testament give firsthand testimony to His existence. Also a number of non-Christian writings mention Jesus. 2.

Jesus Christ Claimed To Be The Son of God

All evidence that we have about Jesus, from the New Testament as well as other sources, admits that Jesus claimed a special relationship between Himself and God, that of Sonship. 3.

He Predicted His Crucifixion And Resurrection

From the gospels we have the clear picture that Jesus predicted His death by crucifixion and resurrection. That these predictions were made is confirmed by the facts that the Jews asked the Romans to place a guard at the tomb. Why guard the tomb if there had not been some prediction of a resurrection? 4.

Jesus Christ Was Crucified And Buried In Jerusalem

The Gospels, as well as the Apostle Paul, unanimously testify that Jesus died by crucifixion in the city of Jerusalem and was then buried. There is no historical evidence to the contrary. 5.

There Was An Empty Tomb On Easter Sunday

Three days after His burial the tomb of Jesus was empty. If it had been occupied, the enemies of Christianity would have produced the body. The fact that unbelievers said that the disciples of Jesus had stolen His body testifies that the tomb was empty. 6.

The Disciples Believed Jesus Appeared To Them

The disciples of Jesus believed they had seen Him alive after His death on the cross. They believed He had risen from the dead. 7.

The Disciples’ Lives Were Transformed

These same disciples were eventually transformed from cowards to martyrs. Because of the influence of Jesus, men’s lives were radically altered.

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Jesus The Resurrection Was Their Message

The message of the disciples was that Jesus Christ had risen. The Book of Acts, as well as the writings of Paul and the other New Testament authors, has the resurrection of Christ as their central message. 9.

The Message Was Proclaimed In Jerusalem

Some fifty days after the death of Jesus Christ the message of His resurrection was heralded in Jerusalem—the very city where the events took place. His disciples fearlessly proclaimed that Jesus had risen. 10. The Church Grew Rapidly A group of believers banded together and became known as the church. The church grew rapidly, based on the belief that Jesus had risen from the dead. All of the above are solid historical facts that are agreed upon by both believers and nonbelievers alike. Summary There are a number of facts that we can conclude about the historicity of Jesus. First, He existed. No one doubts that Jesus was a historical character. Jesus also made some astonishing claims about Himself. All sources agree to this. We also know that Jesus predicted His crucifixion and resurrection. There would have been no reason to guard Jesus’ tomb unless He predicted He would come back from the dead. All sources agree that Jesus was crucified and buried in the city of Jerusalem. It is also an historical fact that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb on Easter Sunday. The disciples of Jesus believed they saw Jesus raised from the dead. Their message to the world is that “Jesus has risen from the dead!” The message was first proclaimed in Jerusalem, the place where the events took place. The New Testament church experienced rapid growth based upon the belief of the resurrection of Jesus. All of these are known historical facts for believer and unbeliever alike.

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Summary To The Existence Of Jesus (Topic 1) After investigating the question of the existence of Jesus and the reliability of the records about Him, we conclude the following: Question 1. Jesus Christ’s identity is of utmost importance. It is crucial that we consider Him and see if He is the one whom He made Himself out to be. If He is the eternal God who became human, then what we decide about Him will determine our eternal destiny. There is no issue more important. Question 2. A man named Jesus of Nazareth existed. Both friend and foe testify to that fact. There is no real doubt to the fact that He lived. The twenty-seven different New Testament documents unanimously testify to Jesus existence. Given the fact of the numerous historical reference points as well as specific details of Jesus’ ministry, the fact of His existence should not be an issue. . Question 3. The question of the existence of Jesus is not an issue. Twenty-seven separate documents written by people who had personal contact with Jesus testify to the fact that He did indeed exist. In addition, there is the testimony of Jesus’ enemies, the Jews and Romans. They did not endorse the ministry of Jesus and tried—without success—to stop Christianity from growing. In all these efforts, however, we never find them denying Jesus’ existence. They attempted to make Him out as a deceiver and blasphemer, and by doing so, admitted that He existed. From non-Christian sources we find that Christ’s public ministry began during the reign of Tiberius Caesar; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea at the time of Christ’s death; Jesus was put to death as a criminal; His death occurred in Judea; Jesus’ death stopped the “superstition” for a short time but it soon broke out again. All of these facts confirm what is written in the New Testament. Thus we can confidently say that the issue of Jesus’ existence is not an issue at all. Every source, friendly and unfriendly, testified that He existed. Question 4. We do not find Jesus Christ mentioned by contemporary historians. This is not surprising. The non-Christian evidence is what we would expect to find from the sources that we have. It is wrong to expect them to say more about Jesus. There are few sources that still exist from His time. Jesus would have not attracted that much attention living and ministering in far off Israel. In addition, they would not have known the impact that His life was going to make. We do have accurate testimony about the life and ministry of Jesus from firsthand sources. These are found in the New Testament. They are sufficient to give us a correct portrait of who Jesus is and what He accomplished during His time on the earth. Question 5. Four separate works known as gospels have recorded the life of Christ for us. The traditional authorship is credited to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There are three basic reasons why we believe these men wrote the four gospels. The early church was unanimous in their testimony as to the individual authorship of each gospel. Apart from John, the writers of the various gospels were obscure figures. Why attribute these sacred writings to them if they did not compose them? There was also a tag that was glued on the outside of the scroll that would identify the individual author of the gospel. This made certain the name of the author was retained. The evidence is clear and convincing. The traditional belief that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote the four gospels is the only view that fits the known facts.

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Question 6. The four gospels were written to cover four aspects of the life and ministry of Jesus. Each gospel writer wrote from a different perspective to a different audience. They each looked at the character of Jesus from different angles. Thus the number of four arises from the four different perspectives we have given about Christ’s life and ministry. Each author is presenting a different aspect of Jesus’ character. In Matthew Jesus is the king; in Mark; He is the servant; in Luke; He is the perfect man; in John, He is God. This is because each writer addressed a different type of audience. The Gospels are not intended to be a history or biography of the life of Christ in the modern sense of the term. Each author is selective in what he portrays. Jesus did many more things than the Gospels record as John testified. When the Gospels are compared with each other we get an overall portrait of Jesus. He was God from all eternity who came down to earth as the perfect man. He was the Messiah of Israel, the King of the Jews, the one who did the job that God sent Him to do. This is the testimony of the four Gospels. Question 7. The four gospels writers were each in a position to write a historically accurate account of the life of Christ. Each had excellent credentials to write about the life and ministry of Jesus. Matthew was a disciple of Jesus as was John – they were both eyewitnesses. Mark recorded the story of Simon Peter who himself was an eyewitness. Luke wrote his account after exhaustive historical investigation with the firsthand sources. Consequently we have four excellent, independent sources to the life and ministry of Jesus. Question 8. To say the New Testament portrait of Jesus was an invention or exaggeration does not fit the facts. The testimony we have from the New Testament is from firsthand sources. The disciples recorded what they heard and saw. The New Testament testimony is consistent. Jesus is pictured as supernatural from the beginning of His life to the end. The enemies of Jesus also testified to His supernatural abilities. Instead of denying His miracles, they argued that Jesus’ power was not from God but from Satan. The Gospels can be trusted to give us an accurate account of Jesus life because people who actually saw what Jesus did and heard what He said composed them. They wrote what they heard and what they saw – they are not giving us second hand reports. Question 9. Jesus had the ability to both read and write. These abilities were demonstrated in the New Testament. In a synagogue in Nazareth He opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and read from a chosen part. In the story of the woman taken in adultery we find Jesus writing something on the ground that caused the religious leaders to leave Him and the woman alone. As to whether He wrote anything, such as the Letter to King Abgar, is in much dispute. All that we can know for certain is that Jesus could have written letters or books if He so wished. Why He did not leave anything for us in writing, whether it be a systematic arrangement of His teachings or His inner thoughts, we simply do not know. Question 10. From the New Testament itself we know that Jesus said and did many things that are not recorded in the Scriptures. This has caused Bible students to examine certain documents that claim to have authentic words of Jesus. These sayings are known as the agrapha – unwritten sayings of Jesus. Many of these alleged sayings exist. The problem is that there is no consensus as to which sayings, if any, actually came from Jesus. Since we cannot say for certain it is unwise to build any theory about Jesus on these contested sayings.

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Question 11. As to the exact year in which Jesus was born, we do not know. It was obviously before the death of King Herod, the most likely date of which is now assumed to be 1 B.C. Because of the error of Dionysius Exiguus, the sixth century monk/mathematician, our calendars are off at least two years. Thus to calculate the date when Christ was born from our present calendars, we should probably add at least two years to our current year to have the approximate year He was born. This error, we should stress, is not a mistake of the Bible. It is, rather, a miscalculation made in the sixth century A.D. in an attempt to date the birth of Christ. The Bible itself does not give the exact year for the birth of Christ. Question 12. As there is a question as to the exact year Jesus was born, the exact day of His birth is also uncertain. December 25th was chosen as the date in the West. It seems to have come from substituting the pagan Roman festival around the winter solstice with the celebration of the birth of Christ. While it is certainly possible that Jesus was born on that date, there is not enough evidence to be precise. We do know however, that He was born sometime in the past with mid-winter 3/2 B.C. being a possible date suggested by modern scholars. Question 13. The Bible tells us very little about the life of Jesus before He began His public ministry. Apart from the narratives around His birth the only account we have of Him before entering the ministry was at age twelve in the temple. Apart from that the Scriptures are silent. Others have attempted to fill in the gaps but their attempts cannot be taken seriously. We know that He did not perform any miracles before turning the water into wine at Cana of Galilee. Although the years were silent as far as ministry was concerned they were still important years – they were preparing Him for the great things He was about to do. Question 14 Though Jesus was a human being we do not know what His physical appearance was like. There are no direct descriptions of Jesus in the Scripture. The Bible is more concerned about who He was as a Person than His outer appearance. However we can infer that He was not extraordinary in His looks. He had to be picked out of a crowd of ten other men when He was betrayed. Mary Magdalene mistook Him for the gardener. Anything we can deduce about Jesus’ physical appearance is only from inference. This indicates that the outward appearance was not that crucial. What was important was what was on the inside—in His heart. Question 15. We know some details about Jesus’ family. His mothers’ name was Mary who was married to a man named Joseph. However, Joseph was not the actual father of Jesus but adopted Him upon His birth. Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit. Joseph was prominent only in the accounts surrounding Jesus’ birth, the family’s flight to Egypt, and their return. He is mentioned in the story of Jesus and the Temple. We know nothing of the circumstances of Josephs’ death. There may be a hint of his death before the public ministry of Jesus in the words of Simeon. He was not around when Jesus entered His public ministry while Mary is mentioned on certain occasions during Jesus’ ministry. Mary was a virgin when the angel announced to her that she would give birth to the Messiah. While she figures prominently into the birth narrative of Jesus there are only a few other occasions where she is mentioned. She is at the wedding of Cana of Galilee when Jesus turns the water into wine. Mary is also with Jesus’ brothers and sisters when they wish to speak with Him apart from the crowd. She was there at His crucifixion. Mary was taken into the home of the Apostle John after the death of Jesus. The last mention of her in the New Testament is before Pentecost where she is together with the other disciples. Question 16. The Scripture says that Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters. Exactly how they are related to Him has been a matter of controversy. There have been three popular views.

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The natural sense in which to take the references is they were His actual younger brothers and sisters – children of Joseph and Mary. However, some people belie ve they were step-brothers and sisters of Jesus from a previous marriage of Joseph. A third view thinks they were cousins of Jesus. One cannot be absolutely certain as to which view is correct. What is certain, however, is that the Scripture does not rule out the possibility of Jesus having brothers and sisters born to Joseph and Mary. Question 17. There are a number of facts that we can conclude about the historicity of Jesus. First, He existed. No one doubts that Jesus was a historical character. Jesus also made some astonishing claims about Himself. All sources agree to this. We also know that Jesus predicted His crucifixion and resurrection. There would have been no reason to guard Jesus’ tomb unless He predicted He would come back from the dead. All sources agree that Jesus was crucified and buried in the city of Jerusalem. It is also an historical fact that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb on Easter Sunday. The disciples of Jesus believed they saw Jesus raised from the dead. Their message to the world is that “Jesus has risen from the dead!” The message was first proclaimed in Jerusalem, the place where the events took place. The New Testament church experienced rapid growth based upon the belief of the resurrection of Jesus. All of these are known historical facts for believer and unbeliever alike. We thus conclude that we have to go to the New Testament to get our information about Jesus and that the testimony recorded in the New Testament is accurate. Now that it has been determined that the New Testament contains a reliable, firsthand account of Jesus’ life and ministry, we move on to questions concerning the world in which Jesus came. We will consider such questions as: What was the world like in which Jesus came? What language or languages did the people of Jesus’ day speak? Who were Jesus’ opponents? Who was Pontius Pilate? What do we know about Jesus’ twelve disciples?

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Topic 2

THE WORLD INTO WHICH JESUS CAME The First Century A.D. World Introduction What was the world like into which Jesus came? What were the different political and religious divisions of the Holy Land? This section will examine the historic al background of the world that saw the coming of Christ as well as some of the important characters that were prominent in the four gospels.

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QUESTION 18 What Was The World Like In The First Century A.D.? There was a period of 400 years of silence between the completion of the Old Testament and the birth of Jesus Christ. It is important to understand what occurred during these years as background to the coming of Christ into the world. 1.

The Persian Period (430-334 B.C.)

This time was relatively uneventful in Israel’s history. However two important events did occur. The high priest began to exert political influence and the synagogue was used for Bible instruction and worship. 2.

The Greek Period (334-323 B.C.)

Alexander the Great and his Greek army conquered the Persians. Alexander and his followers were friendly to the Jews. He spread both Greek culture (Hellenism) and established Greek as the international language. 3.

The Ptolemaic Period (323-198 B.C.)

After the death of Alexander, one of his generals took Egypt and ruled from there. During this period the translation of the Old Testament from the Hebrew into Greek occurred. This translation is known as the Septuagint. The knowledge of the Old Testament then became accessible to the Greek-speaking people. 4.

The Seleucid Period (198-166 B.C.)

Syria eventually took over rule of the Holy Land. Antiochus IV, who gave himself the title Epiphanes “the coming one,” was the Nero of Jewish history. He slaughtered a pig on the altar in the temple and brought idols into the Holy of Holies. This led to: (1) the rise of Jewish resistance (2) the rise of the Hasideans and Hellenists. The Hasideans eventually became Pharisees, and the Hellenists became the Sadducees. 5.

The Maccabean Period (166-135 B.C.)

Judas Maccabeus led a revolt against Antiochus. He cleansed the temple and established the Jewish state. The Maccabees revived a weak and lifeless people and allowed religious and civil freedom. 6.

The Hasmonean Period (135-34 B.C)

The Hasmoneans were the descendants of the Maccabees. This was also a time of the expansion of the Jewish state. This is when the term Pharisee and Sadducee was first used and it was during this period a rift grew between the Pharisees and Sadducees. 7.

The Roman Period (34 B.C. To A.D. 70)

Judah was made a province of Syria. Antipater’s son, Herod the Great, was appointed ruler. He was not Jewish but Idumean. Herod was brilliant but cruel. Much building occurred during his long reign

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including the expansion of the Temple. Herod treated the Jews nicely giving them much civil and religious freedom. THE FIRST CENTURY WORLD The world was prepared for Christ. This exact time in which Jesus came into the world did not happen by chance. The Bible says that Jesus was born in the “fullness of time.” Paul wrote. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law (Galatians 4:4). We can make the following observations about the world in which Jesus came. 1.

There Was Political Unity

Rome was in power, and united in both the east and west. The Mediterranean Sea was known as the Roman sea. God used this political unity in the enrollment that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. 2.

The People Had A Universal Language

The culture that Alexander had spread—Hellenism—led to one universal language in the empire, Greek. Greek was spoken everywhere in the Roman Empire. Communication, therefore, was easy between one part of the empire and another part. 3.

World Trade Was A Reality

There was a signpost in the marketplace in each city that gave the distance to Rome. Great highways, easy travel, and easy shipping characterized this time. 4.

There Was World Peace

The Pax Romana (the peace of Rome) occurred in 29 B.C. The war temple was closed after 200 years of constant fighting. This paved the way for the spread of the gospel. 5.

Moral Degeneration Was Rampant

The moral climate was one of gluttony, infanticide, and gladiators. It was a time of decadence. However, great revivals occur in times of moral decay. 6.

There Was Religious Inadequacy Among The People

There was lots of religion but there was no reality. Greeks were lovers of wisdom. They worshipped gods with a vague hint as to a chief god. Summary The world in which Jesus came was well prepared for the Messiah. The world was at peace, the road system was remarkably efficient, there was one universal language, the morality had degenerated and the people had a deep spiritual need. The fullness of time had indeed come.

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QUESTION 19 What Were The Different Political Divisions Of The Holy Land When Jesus Came? The following is a simple breakdown of the different political divisions in the Holy Land at the time when Jesus came. 1.

Judea

This was the Greek and Roman designation for the land of Judah. After the Roman conquest in 63 B.C., the word was used in two senses: (1) denoting the entire Holy Land (2) the Holy Land minus Galilee and Samaria. Jerusalem is in Judea. This was the last part to fall into captivity and the first to be reclaimed by the people. The strict religious Jews lived there (the right wing). 2.

Samaria

This was the dwelling place of poor Jews, and Samaritans (half-Jew and half-Gentile). They adopted a mixed form of religion. There was a bitter rivalry between them and Jews from the time of Nehemiah. We read about this in the Gospel of John. The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans) (John 4:9). Though traveling Jews often bypassed Samaria, Jesus took the shorter route through Samaria to Galilee despite the mutual antagonism. Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee (Luke 17:11). 3.

Galilee

Jews and Gentiles lived there. The Jews were loyal to the nation but not as fanatical as Judeans. The Judeans considered Galileans as second class Jews. Most of Christ’s ministry was in Galilee. All of His disciples were Galileans (with the possible exception of Judas). 4.

Perea

This is a district beyond the Jordan (Transjordan). It is never mentioned by name in the New Testament (except in a variant reading of Luke 6:17). However the district is referred to several times (e.g. as the land beyond the Jordan). When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan (Matthew 19:1). At the time of Christ’s public ministry it was occupied by Jews and ruled by Herod Antipas. Geographically it was connected to both Galilee and Judea. Because it adjoined both these regions one could pass from Judea to Galilee and bypass the territory of the Samaritans.

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Decapolis

Decapolis was a league of ten cities founded by the Greeks. Its large territory was south of the Sea of Galilee and mainly to the east of Jordan. Inhabitants from Decapolis joined the great crowds that followed Jesus Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him (Matthew 4:25). The presence of the swine in this area suggests that the population was primarily Gentile. The cities were not on good speaking terms with the Jews. Summary There were five different political/geographical divisions in the Holy land when Jesus came. Judea was the Roman name for the entire land. The term Judea was also used for the entire land minus Samaria and Galilee. Galilee was to the north where Jews and Gentiles lived together. Samaria was where the Samaritans, half-Jews and half-Gentiles, lived. Perea was the area beyond the Jordan and was mostly inhabited by Jews. Mostly Gentiles inhabited Decapolis, which means ten cities.

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QUESTION 20 What Language Or Languages Did Jesus Speak? The language that the children of Israel spoke in the days of the Old Testament was Hebrew. However in 586 B.C. they went into the Babylonian captivity where Aramaic was main spoken language. Aramaic, a sister language to Hebrew, began to spoken by the Jews from the Babylonian captivity onward. When Jesus came into the world the Greek language was spoken in all parts of the Roman Empire. There were however, both local and regional dialects. It seems the Jewish people in Israel Jesus’ day continued to speak Aramaic. There are a number of observations that should be made. 1.

Greek Was The International Language

Greek became the international language through the conquests of Alexander the Great (330 B.C.). We know that Jesus was able to speak Greek because several of His conversations could have only taken place in the Greek language. This includes the account of His speaking to the woman with the demonpossessed child (Matthew 14) as well as His conversations with Pontius Pilate. 2.

Aramaic Was Also Spoken

Jesus also spoke Aramaic in His public ministry. We have several recorded sayings of Jesus in the Gospels that are transliterated from Aramaic to Greek. These include the words He uttered at the raising of Jairus’ daughter. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”) (Mark 5:41). Here Mark translates the Aramaic phrase for his readers. Other Aramaic words found in the New Testament are abba, and ephphatha. 3.

Hebrew May Have Been Spoken

There is the possibility that Jesus spoke in Hebrew at times. Some people argue that Hebrew was actually the main language that Jesus spoke but this is a minority view. 4.

Latin Was Not Spoken By The Masses

Although Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire it was not spoken by the masses. Only the aristocracy would converse in Latin. 5.

The Sign Over The Cross Was In Three Languages

The sign over the cross of Jesus illustrates the fact of the many languages spoken at that time. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek (John 19:19,20).

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Summary The world in which Jesus came had an international language, Greek. Jesus obviously spoke Greek. There are certain occasions that the New Testament records for us where Jesus would have had to have spoken Greek – to the Syro-Phoenecian woman as well as to Pontius Pilate. On other occasions He probably spoke Aramaic. It is possible that He spoke Hebrew on occasion.

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QUESTION 21 Who Were The Caesars Mentioned In The Four Gospels? In the gospels, the name “Caesar” figures into the life of Jesus. We find Caesar Augustus mentioned at the birth of Christ and Tiberius Caesar at the beginning of His public ministry. CAESAR AUGUSTUS One of the prominent figures in the New Testament was the first Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus. Augustus ruled from 27 B.C to A.D. 14. He was originally named was Caius Octavius Caepias. He was the grandnephew of Julius Caesar. Caesar was murdered in 44 B.C. and Augustus eventually succeeded him without a rival. He refused to be called rex or dictator. However in 27 B.C the Roman Senate called Augustus. This name gave the implication that he was to be venerated above all mortals. 1.

He Gave A Command To Enroll Everyone

Augustus was ruling Rome when Jesus was born. He is the one who decreed that the entire world should be enrolled for the purpose of taxation. We read in Luke. Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth (Luke 2:1). 2.

Caesar Unknowingly Fulfilled Bible Prophecy

When Augustus made the decree that everyone in the empire should be enrolled in a census he had no idea that this act would fulfill Bible prophecy. The decision he made, some fifteen hundred miles from the Holy land, started a chain of events that led to the birth of the Messiah in the predicted city of Bethlehem. The Bible says Joseph and Mary went from Galilee to Bethlehem to register in the census. The eightymile journey would have taken them four or five days. We read in Luke. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth (Luke 2:3-6). There would have been no reason for them to leave their hometown of Nazareth to have their child except for this decree. Joseph was a descendant of King David. Consequently they had to travel to the city of David – Bethlehem to register. This explains why God chose a girl who lived in Nazareth to be the mother of the Messiah rather than one in Bethlehem. In going to Bethlehem the prophecy regarding the city of the Messiah’s birth was fulfilled. The prophet Micah wrote. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Micah 5:2).

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The irony is that Caesar Augustus, for whom Deity was claimed, unwittingly fulfilled the prediction of Scripture of the birthplace of the true God who became a human being. 3.

This Is An Accurate Account

It had been charged by critics of the Bible that Rome never ordered its citizens to return to their ancestral homelands to enroll. However the discovery in Egypt of a Roman census edict from A.D. 104 proved that those who lived elsewhere had to return to their original homes to register. Consequently there is no reason to doubt the historical accuracy of the account. TIBERIUS CAESAR The other Caesar mentioned in the New Testament was Tiberius. There is one specific references to him as well as a number of references to Caesar in general. 1.

He Is Mentioned At The Beginning Of John’s Ministry

We find him mentioned at the beginning of the ministry of John the Baptist. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness (Luke 3:1,2). The only importance Caesar had, as far as God was concerned, was to mark the time in history when the word of the Lord came to John the Baptist. This is the only mention of Tiberius by name in the four gospels. He is referred to as Caesar on two other occasions without being named – the poll tax question and at Jesus’ trial. 2.

The Poll Tax Question Was Put To Jesus

There was the question of the poll-tax. Should the people pay it or not? Jesus answered. Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have? They said, “Caesar’s.” And he said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God’s” (Luke 20:24,25). 3.

There Were False Charges That Jesus Plotted Against Caesar

There was also the charge that Jesus was plotting to overthrow Caesar. Then the whole body of them got up and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a King” (Luke 23:1,2). 4.

Jesus Was Charged With Opposing Caesar

The accusation was that Jesus was opposing Caesar.

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Jesus From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar” (John 19:12).

Summary Only two Caesars are mentioned by name in the gospels – Augustus and Tiberius. Caesar Augustus, the first Roman Emperor made the decree that a census should be taken of everyone in the Roman Empire. This caused Joseph and Mary to leave their home in Nazareth and go to Bethlehem. Their Son Jesus was born in Bethlehem – fulfilling the prediction of Micah the prophet with respect to the birthplace of the Messiah. Tiberius Caesar is only mentioned to mark the time in history when the Word of God came to John the Baptist. He is mentioned on two other occasions by his title “Caesar” but without his name.

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QUESTION 22 Who Was Pontius Pilate? Pontius Pilate was the prefect of Judea from A.D. 26 to A.D. 36. Although Pilate’s residence was in Caesarea he was in Jerusalem for the time of the Passover. It was at that time that Jesus was brought before him. From the gospels we learn the following things about Pilate. 1.

Jesus Made No Defense Before Pilate

Pilate marveled that Jesus did not attempt to defend Himself. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge - to the great amazement of the governor (Matthew 27:13,14). 2.

Pilate Admitted Jesus Was Innocent

Pilate told the crowd that Jesus was innocent. “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him” (John 18:37-39). 3.

Pilate Tried To Release Jesus

Pilate attempted to release Jesus. From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar” (John 19:12). Yet the crowd was loudly calling for His death. They falsely claimed that Jesus was opposing Caesar. 4.

Pilate Denied Responsibility In Jesus’ Death

Pilate tried to put the responsibility of Jesus’ death on others. When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” (Matthew 27:19). He believed this would absolve him of any role in the matter. 5.

Pilate Handed Him Over For Death

Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified (Mark 15:15).

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Jesus Pilate Could Not Deny His Responsibility

Although Pilate wanted to absolve himself of responsibility for the death of Jesus, the Apostle Paul later emphasized that Jesus was tried before Pilate. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession (1 Timothy 6:13). Pilate could not deny responsibility. 7.

The Testimony Of The Christian Creeds

Pilate’s role in the death of Jesus has never been forgotten. Whenever the Apostles’ Creed is recited the words, “crucified under Pontius Pilate” remind the world of his responsibility. Pilate can never escape his role in Jesus’ death. 8.

New Evidence Found Concerning Pilate

During the summer of 1961 Italian archaeologists excavated an ancient theater in Caesarea in Israel. They discovered a two-by-three-foot inscribed stone. The inscription read: Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea, has presented the Tiberieum to the Caesareans. This was the first archaeological evidence of the existence of Pontius Pilate. Summary Pontius Pilate, the prefect of Judea from A.D. 26 to 36, sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion. Although he wished to set Jesus free he gave in to the large crowd who wanted Jesus dead. Pilate tried to absolve himself of any blame in the matter yet the New Testament, as well as the creeds of the church, all recognized that Jesus Christ was crucified by a decree of Pontius Pilate. The New Testament says nothing about Pilate after Jesus’ death. In 1961 an inscription was found in Israel in the city of Caesarea that had Pilate’s name on it. This was the first archaeological evidence that Pilate existed.

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QUESTION 23 Who Were The Herods? There are three members of the family of Herod that figure prominently in the life of Christ – Herod the Great, Herod Archelaus, and Herod Antipas. HEROD THE GREAT Herod the Great (73 B.C. to 4 B.C.) was not a Jew— his father an Idumean and his mother Arabian. The Roman senate had made him king of Judea in 40 B.C. Although Herod was a great builder (including the enlargement of the temple) and had been occasionally generous to the Jewish people, he eventually lost favor with them. His mixed lineage with his Edomite blood would have made him unacceptable to the people. The Old Testament said of Edom. Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.” But this is what the LORD Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the wicked land, a people always under the wrath of the LORD” (Malachi 1:4). The Visit Of Magi To Jerusalem Encounters Herod It was during the reign of Herod that the Magi visited Jerusalem. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him (Matthew 2:3). He Ordered The Slaughter Of The Innocents Herod ordered the slaughter of the innocents at Bethlehem. When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi (Matthew 2:16). Herod became increasing cruel toward the end of his reign. Thinking that his own family was about to overthrow him he murdered one of his wives (Mariamne), her mother, two of her sons, and his own eldest son. This led the Roman Emperor Augustus to comment that it would be safer to be Herod’s pig (hus in Greek) than his son (huios in Greek). HEROD ARCHELAUS When Herod the Great died Archelaus, his eldest son, was placed over Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. He did not rule over the Galilee. Matthew writes. But when he [Joseph] heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee (Matthew 2:22). The fear of Archelaus was justified. Caesar Augustus withheld the confirmation of his kingship until Archelaus proved himself. The confirmation never occurred because Archelaus began his reign by

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slaughtering 3,000 prominent citizens. The Emperor removed him two years later. The Emperor then took away of the rule of Judea from the Herod family. HEROD ANTIPAS Though another son of Herod ruled over the Galilee (Herod Antipas) he was a more tolerant ruler. Galilee became known in his day as a place for revolutionary sentiments. This is something his father never would have tolerated. Herod Antipas ruled Galilee when Jesus began His public ministry. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar - when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene (Luke 3:1). He is called a tetrarch - the ruler over a fourth part. He ruled over Galilee and Perea. 1.

Herod Killed John The Baptist

Herod had John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, put to death. So he [Herod] immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison (Mark 6:27). 2.

Herod Thought Jesus Was John Risen From The Dead

The superstitious Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him” (Matthew 14:1,2). 3.

Herod Wanted To Kill Jesus

Herod wanted to kill Jesus like he did John the Baptist. At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal’” (Luke 13:31,32). Jesus called Herod, “that fox.” 4.

Jesus Was Brought Before Herod To Be Tried

One of the trials of Jesus was before Herod. Luke write. On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there,

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vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends - before this they had been enemies (Luke 23:6-12). Herod was disappointed that Jesus did not perform any miracle or answer any of his questions. Summary Three members of Herod’s family figure prominently in the life of Jesus. Herod the Great was the king when Jesus was born. When he died Herod Archelaus ruled in his place. Herod Antipas ruled Galilee during the time of Jesus’ public ministry. He was the one who had John the Baptist executed. Herod thought that Jesus was actually John raised from the dead. Herod wanted to kill Jesus as he had done John the Baptist. Herod saw Jesus during His trial but was disappointed that Jesus performed no miracle in his presence.

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QUESTION 24 What Was The Sanhedrin? The word “Sanhedrin” is a combination of two Greek words meaning, “seated together.” They were a ruling body of seventy-one members with the High Priest as the chief officer. Were They Patterned After Moses? The number was probably patterned after the seventy elders of Israel that the Lord established under Moses. The Lord therefore said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you” (Numbers 11:16). The Council Of The Elders They are called the “council of the elders” in the gospels. At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them (Luke 26:66). They Were Under Roman Authority Since Israel was subject to the Romans in Jesus’ day the Sanhedrin ruled under the Romans in civil and religious matters. They were not allowed to put anyone to death. Therefore they sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate to have Him put to death. Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put him to death; and they bound him, and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor (Matthew 27:1,2). They Had No Right To Execute Jesus They acknowledged to Pilate that they had no right to execute. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled (John 18:29-32). The Sanhedrin Was Abolished After Jerusalem Was Destroyed The Sanhedrin was abolished after the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in A.D. 70. The control over the city of Jerusalem was no longer theirs.

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Summary The Sanhedrin was a Jewish council of seventy-one members. They were patterned after the seventy elders that God established through Moses. In the gospels they are called, “the council of the elders.” In Judea, they were under Roman authority and could not carry out capital punishment. This is why we find them sending Jesus to Pilate after they had condemned Him to death. They acknowledged to Pilate that they did not have the authority to execute anyone. When Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 the Sanhedrin ceased to exist.

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QUESTION 25 Who Were The High Priest’s Annas And Caiaphas? Two High Priests are mentioned during Jesus public ministry – Annas and Caiaphas. The high priest was taken from the Sadducees They figure prominently into the events of His death. ANNAS Annas had been high priest from A.D. 6 to 15. The Romans had removed him from office yet he still wielded considerable power behind the scenes. Five of his sons succeeded him as high priest. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas - the high priest who was in office at the time of Jesus ministry. In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness (Luke 3:2). Annas is still called “high priest” even though he was not serving in that capacity at the time. Jesus Was Brought To Annas First His power was obvious. When Jesus was arrested He was brought to Annas first rather than Caiaphas. And led him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people (John 18:13,14). The examination before Annas was unproductive. The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching. Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said. When he had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike me?” (John 18:19-23). Annas then sent Jesus away to Caiaphas the current high priest. So Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest (John 18:24). Caiaphas then conducted the next phase of Jesus’ trial. CAIAPHAS Caiaphas was the ruling High Priest at the time of Jesus ministry (A.D. 18-36). He was the son-in-law of Annas.

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Caiaphas Predicted Jesus’ Death Caiaphas predicted the necessity of the death of Jesus. But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill him (John 11:49-53). He is the one who plotted to kill Jesus. Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people” (Matthew 26:3,4). Caiaphas Charged Jesus With Blasphemy Caiaphas is the one whom charged Jesus with blasphemy. At Jesus’ trial the following exchange took place. But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” (Matthew 26:63-66). Caiaphas Sent Jesus To Pilate Caiaphas sent Jesus to Pilate to have the death sentence carried out. Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” “But we have no right to execute anyone,” the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled (John 18:28-32). The Chief Priests Complained About The Title Not content with merely having Jesus put to death the religious leaders watched the crucifixion. They complained to Pilate about the title he placed above the cross. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews;’ but that he said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’ Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written” (John 19:21).

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They Persecuted Jesus’ Followers After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, we find Annas and Caiaphas interrogating Peter and John about a miracle they performed. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:6,7). The Bones Of Caiaphas Have Been Found There was an exciting archaeological discovery in November 1990. Workers constructing a water park south of the Old City of Jerusalem accidentally uncovered a burial cave. In the cave were a dozen limestone chests that contained bones. These types of chests, known as ossuaries, were primarily used in the first century A.D. One of the chests had the word “Joseph, son of Caiaphas” carved on it. The bones were that of a man that had died at approximately the age of sixty. Because of the lavish decoration on the burial chest there is a high probability that these were the bones of Caiaphas the high priest – the one who charged Jesus with blasphemy. This would be the first physical remains ever discovered of a person mentioned in the Bible. Summary Annas and Caiaphas are the two High Priests mentioned during Jesus’ ministry. Caiaphas was high priest during the ministry of Jesus. He was son-in-law to Annas who had previously been the High Priest. Caiaphas prophesied that it was necessary for Jesus to die for the nation. When Jesus was arrested He was led to Annas first, then Caiaphas. Caiaphas charged Jesus with blasphemy and sent Him away to Pilate. After Jesus’ death and resurrection Caiaphas persecuted Jesus’ disciples. It seems the bones of Caiaphas have been found in Jerusalem in November of 1990. If true, this would be the first physical remains ever discovered of a person who is mentioned in Scripture.

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QUESTION 26 Who Were The Scribes? (The Teachers Of The Law) The Greek word grammateus translated “scribe” means “writer.” The scribes were the teacher of the Law - the ones who drew up legal documents. They also copied the Old Testament Scripture. They also devoted themselves to the study of the law, and the determination of its applications on daily life. They also studied the Scripture with respect to doctrinal and historical matters. Noted scribes had their own disciples. Many of the scribes were members of the Jewish council. From the New Testament we learn the following about the Scribes and their interaction with Jesus. 1.

Some Of Them Believed In Jesus

Some of the teachers of the law, or scribes, responded favorably toward Jesus. Mark records this exchange. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:28-32). On another occasion a scribe came to Jesus and offered to follow Him as a disciple. Then a scribe came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go” (Matthew 8:19). 2.

Most Of Them Opposed Jesus

While there were some who believed in Jesus most were opposed to Him. The Scribes were in a large part responsible for Jesus’ death. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law [scribes], and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life (Matthew 16:21). 3.

They Were Strongly Denounced By Jesus

The scribes, along with the Pharisees were strongly denounced by Jesus. He said. The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them (Matthew 23:2,3).

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Jesus They Continued The Persecution Of Jesus’ Disciples

They were also associated with the persecutions of Peter and John. On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent (Acts 4:5). 5.

They Were Involved In The Martyrdom Of Stephen

The scribes were involved in the martyrdom of Stephen. And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council (Acts 6:12). Summary The scribes were scholars of the Old Testament Law. They figured prominently in the ministry of Jesus. While there was a few of them who believed in Jesus for the most part they persecuted Him. We also find that they were responsible for bringing Him to trial. Their persecution of Christians continued after the ascension of Jesus. We find the scribes persecuting Peter and John as well as being directly involved in the death of Stephen.

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QUESTION 27 Who Were The Pharisees? The word Pharisee is derived from an Aramaic word meaning, “separated.” From the New Testament we learn the following about them. 1.

They Believed In A Future Life

They were a group that held to the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the dead, and punishment in future life. They believed that punishment was based upon how one behaved in this life. The souls of the wicked would be in prison forever under the earth. Those who were righteous would live again. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all (Acts 23:8). 2.

They Added Tradition To Scripture

In Jesus’ day the Pharisees practiced righteousness externally – they were more concerned with the outward appearance than the inward feeling. For example, the Pharisees added an enormous amount of traditional material that was passed down from one generation to the next. They considered this tradition as authoritative as Scripture. They asked Jesus. “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And he answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? . . . And by this you invalidated the Word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matthew 15:2,3,6). They were the worst persecutors of Jesus and the objects of His strongest criticism. 3.

They Appeared At John’s Baptism

Earlier, we find them at the baptism of John where they were met with stern words from John. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” (Matthew 3:7). 4.

The Pharisees Accused Jesus Of Demonic Practice

When they saw the miracle s of Jesus they could not deny them. Instead of attributing these miracles to God the Pharisees accused Jesus of demonic practices. But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons” (Matthew 9:34). 5.

The Pharisees Intimidated People Who Believed In Jesus

The New Testament says that the Pharisees intimated leaders who believed in Jesus. John wrote. Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue (John 12:42).

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Jesus The Pharisees Plotted Jesus’ Death

The Pharisees plotted the death of Jesus over His breaking of the Sabbath. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus (Matthew 12:14). We also read. Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap him in what he said (Matthew 22:15). 7.

Jesus Condemned The Pharisees In The Strongest Of Terms

Jesus’ strongest words of condemnation were aimed at the Pharisees. He said. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to (Matthew 23:13). Their example clearly demonstrated what happens when people are only outwardly righteous. 8.

They Persecuted Jesus’ Followers After His Death

They continued the persecution of Jesus’ followers. Jesus’ disciples continued to preach the message of Jesus against the direct order of the Sanhedrin (which included the Pharisees). The Sanhedrin wanted Peter and John put to death. When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death (Acts 5:33). Summary The Pharisees were the religious conservatives. They believed in an afterlife and a final judgment. They were at odds with the Sadducees and the Herodians. However they all joined together against their common enemy – Jesus. The Pharisees were Jesus’ chief persecutors. They rejected His claims to be the Messiah and were the ones who plotted to have Him killed. Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus were afraid to come forward because of the intimidation of the Pharisees. Jesus’ strongest words of condemnation were aimed at these hypocrites. The Pharisees continued to persecute Jesus’ disciples after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.

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QUESTION 28 Who Were The Sadducees? The Sadducees were a Jewish political party. They were members of the priesthood and made up part of the Jewish council- the Sanhedrin. The high priest was taken from the Sadducees. Although they were few in number, they were educated and usually wealthy. We read a description of them in the Book of Acts. The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all (Acts 23:8). 1.

They Were Opposed To The Pharisees

The Sadducees were opposed to the Pharisees. The Apostle Paul used their theological differences to cause a division between them. Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided (Acts 23:6,7). 2.

They Came To Trap Jesus

The Sadducees sent some of their people to question Jesus about the resurrection. That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question (Matthew 22:23). 3.

They Were Ignorant Of Two Basic Truths

In reply, Jesus said the Sadducees were ignorant of two things. Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). These people did not know the Scriptures; neither did they know the power of God. 4.

They Joined With The Pharisees Against Jesus

Although they were usually opposed to the Pharisees we find them uniting together in their mutual hatred of Jesus. The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven (Matthew 16:1). 5.

They Continued The Persecution Of Jesus’ Followers

The Sadducees, like the Pharisees, continued with the persecution of Jesus’ disciples.

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They Disappeared After A.D. 70

With the destruction of Jerusalem the Sadducees disappeared from history. We hear no more from them after this time. Summary The Sadducees were the wealthy landowners. They were a Jewish party who were opposed to the Pharisees but joined them in their persecution of Jesus. When they questioned Jesus about the resurrection of the dead Jesus told them they were ignorant of the Scriptures and the power of God. They continued to persecute Jesus’ followers after His death and resurrection. The Sadducees ceased to exist after A.D. 70.

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QUESTION 29 Who Were The Herodians? The Herodians derived their name as followers of King Herod. They were a political party that wanted to restore a Herod to the throne in Judea as well as other areas ruled by Herod the Great. They were political foes of the Pharisees who wished to restore the kingdom with a relative of King David. They Are Mentioned With The Pharisees We only find them being mentioned three times in the gospels and always in conjunction with the Pharisees. Although politically opposed to the Pharisees they participated with them in the persecution of Jesus. After Jesus broke their interpretation of the Sabbath, they plotted to kill Him. The Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus (Mark 3:6). They also attempted to catch Jesus in saying something that could be used to arrest Him. They [the Pharisees] sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians (Matthew 22:16). Jesus Warned Of The Leaven, Or Yeast, Of Herod Jesus spoke of the leaven of Herod. And he was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15). This may refer to Herod Antipas or the Herodians. Summary The Herodians were a political party who wanted to restore a Herod to the throne in Judea. They were opposed to the Pharisees who wanted a descendant of David on the throne. They joined with the Pharisees in attempting to silence Jesus.

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QUESTION 30 Who Were The Samaritans? During the ministry of Jesus there was contact with a group of people known as the Samaritans. The Samaritans were half-Jew, half-Jew. The race came about after the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C. Certain people from the nation of Israel stayed behind. These people intermarried with the Assyrians producing the Samaritans. 1.

They Had No Dealings With The Jews

We are told that the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. In a conversation that Jesus had with a Samaritan woman we are told that she said the following. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans) (John 4:9). 2.

They Had Their Own Temple And Religious System

The Samaritans had their own temple, their own copy of the Torah - the first five books of the Old Testament - and their own religious system. There was an issue among the Jews and Samaritans as to where was the proper place of worship. The following exchange took place between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem:” Jesus said, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks (John 4:19-23). 3.

They Rejected Jesus When He Passed Through Their Region

When Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world He passed through Samaria. The Samaritans did not receive Him because He was on His way to Jerusalem. As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-53). Summary The Samaritans were a group of people who lived in Samaria – an area north of Jerusalem. They were half-Jews and half-Gentiles. When Assyria captured the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C. some were taken in captivity while others left behind. The ones left behind intermarried with the Assyrians. Thus these people were neither fully Hebrews nor fully Gentiles. The Samaritans had their own unique copy of the first five books of Scripture as well as their own unique system of worship. At the time of Jesus the Jews and the Samaritans did not deal with one another. Jesus, however, ministered to the people of Samaria preaching the good news to them.

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QUESTION 31 Who Were The Essenes? During the time of Christ there was a shadowy group of people who lived alongside the Dead Sea known as the Essenes. We know about their existence from the Jewish writers Josephus and Philo of Alexandria. They Left The Dead Sea Scrolls When the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 there were also many documents that were found in caves not far from the Dead Sea. Discovery was also made of buildings next to the Dead Sea. It has been argued that the buildings were where the Essenes lived and the scrolls found in the caves, the Dead Sea Scrolls, were placed there by the Essenes. We can make the following observations about the Essenes and the New Testament. 1.

They Are Not Directly Mentioned In The New Testament

The New Testament does not mention them directly but there are a couple of passages that may refer to them. This includes the man carrying the jug that the disciples were to find, and the priests who became believes as recorded in the Book of Acts. 2.

The Man Carrying The Jug May Have Been An Essene

There is some evidence that the Jesus had contact with the Essenes. In His last visit to Jerusalem, Jesus told His disciples to find a man carrying a jug. He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘the teacher asks: where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there” (Luke 22:10-12). In Jesus’ day, only women carried water. Even if male slaves carried water they did not use pots or jugs like the women did. Instead they would carry the water in skins. The man Jesus told His disciples to follow is not identified as a slave. These facts, it is argued, points to a community of people that did not have women or slaves. We know that a group of celibate Essenes lived in Jerusalem during the time of Christ. Consequently some argue that the man carrying the jug was an Essene. 3.

The Priests Who Became Believers May Have Been Essenes

There is a reference in the Book of Acts that may refer to the Essenes. The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). Some have identified these priests with the Essenes. There were very few priests among the Pharisees and the Sadducees rejected Jesus. The only other priestly community that resided in Jerusalem was the Essenes.

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Summary The Essenes were a group that we know little about. The first-century Jewish writers Josephus and Philo mention them. They lived somewhere alongside the Dead Sea. The New Testament does not have anything to say about them directly but there may be a couple of passages that allude to them. This would include the man carrying the jug that Jesus told His disciples to follow in preparation for the Passover. It seems that he was a member of a community that did not include slaves or women. There is also a reference in the Book of Acts to a number of priests that believed. Some have interpreted this to refer to the Essenes.

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QUESTION 32 Who Was John The Baptist? John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. The New Testament gives the following details about his life and ministry. 1.

He Had A Miraculous Conception

John the Baptist was conceived in a miraculous way. His parents, Zechariah and Elisabeth, were beyond the childbearing years when John was conceived. His conception was miraculous as Luke records. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous - to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:11-17). 2.

He Lived In The Desert Until The Time Of His Public Ministry

John lived in the desert - away from Jerusalem. There he waited until it was his time to tell the nation about the coming Messiah. Luke writes. And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel (Luke 1:80). 3.

John Was The Forerunner Of Jesus

When the proper time had come, John came before Jesus making the way for the King. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He baptized the people in anticipation of the coming Messiah. Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1,2). He admitted that he was not the Messiah. Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’” (John 1:19-23). 4.

John Was Imprisoned By Herod

John was publicly saying that Herod Antipas should not have taken his brothers wife. This caused John’s imprisonment.

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John Questioned Jesus About His Role As Messiah

While in prison, John sent messenger to question Jesus about His Messiahship. Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the expected one, or shall we look for someone else?” (Matthew 11:2,3). Jesus made it clear to John that He was the promised Messiah. Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Matthew 11:46). 6.

John Was Executed By Herod

John was then executed after Herod made a careless promise at his birthday party. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison (Mark 6:27). 7.

According To Jesus There Was No One Greater Than John

Jesus said that no one born was greater than John. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! (Matthew 11:10,11). Summary John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. He was conceived in a miraculous way. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth were beyond the childbearing years when he was conceived. John preached a baptism of repentance looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. He told the religious leaders that he was not the Messiah but one who had come to proclaim the Messiah’s coming. Herod imprisoned John for speaking out against the king’s unlawful marriage. While in prison he sent two of his disciples to question Jesus if He were the Messiah. Jesus assured John that He was the promised Messiah. Herod executed John while in prison. Jesus testified that no one born of woman was greater than John.

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QUESTION 33 What Do We Know About The Twelve Disciples? The Bible says that Jesus personally handpicked twelve men to be His inner core of disciples. They are as follows. SIMON PETER Simon is a Greek name, but in the New Testament, it is probably a contraction of Simeon. Interestingly, the reference of Peter being first among the apostles is not found in Mark. Since Mark wrote his gospel from Peter’s perspective it is understandable why this reference would be omitted. Peter is first in every list of the apostles (first among equals) and plays a prominent role in the gospels. His father’s name was Jonah or John. He was a native of Bethsaida a town on the Sea of Galilee. Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida (John 1:44). Jesus condemned Bethsaida for their unbelief in Him. Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes (Matthew 11:21) He Was A Fisherman He and his brother Andrew were fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. They were disciples of John the Baptist before coming to know Jesus. The next day John was there again with two of his disciples . . . Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus (John 1:35,40). Jesus gave to Simon when he first approached Him the surname Cephas which in Aramaic signified a rock or a stone. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter) (John 1:42). This was translated into Greek as Petros, which means the same thing. The Latin form is Petrus, and in English it is Peter. The Aramaic form of his name, Cephas, is always used by Paul and nowhere else in the New Testament except John 1:42. Peter is the first one who confessed Jesus as the Christ. “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” (Matthew 16:15,16). Peter wrote two New Testament books (First and Second Peter) as well as being the source for the Gospel of Mark.

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ANDREW He was introduced to us in chapter four and is not referred to again in this gospel. His name is Greek meaning “manly.” The facts concerning his parentage, residence, occupation and early discipleship are mentioned in connection with Peter. His life, however, has a great lesson for believers. He was the one who brought to Jesus his own brother Simon. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus (John 1:40-42). Thus the usefulness of Simon Peter is, in one sense, due to the brother who told him of Jesus. J ACOB (JAMES ) THE SON OF ZEBEDEE James (Jacob) was the brother of John. He was probably the elder since he is usually mentioned first. John is sometimes placed first (Luke 9:28; Acts 12:2) probably because he was more prominent. Jacob (James) was the first martyr among the apostles And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword (Acts 12:2). James is originally the same name as Jacob being written in Greek Iacobos, and transliterated into Latin, as Iacobos. In the 1611 King James Version of the Bible that was published in England an extraordinary thing occurred with respect to the New Testament. Whenever the name ‘Jacob’ occurred it was replaced by the King’s name, ‘James.’ James is not a Jewish name, it appears nowhere in the Old Testament and there is no mention in the New Testament of the common Jewish name Jacob (other than quotations from the Old Testament). Therefore, we have an example here of the translators making alterations to suit their own purposes. J OHN THE SON OF ZEBEDEE John, the son of Zebedee, was the author of the fourth gospel. This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true (John 21:24). James and John, with Peter make up a kind of inner circle of the disciples. They both appear together with Peter in the transfiguration. After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves (Matthew 17:1). James and John also appear in connection with their mother’s special request. John wrote five books that make up the New Testament – the gospel of John, 1,2,3 John, and Revelation.

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PHILIP This name Philip in Greek means “lover of horses.” He must be distinguished from Philip the evangelist, of whom, we read about in the Book of Acts. Philip immediately answered Jesus’ call. The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me” (John 1;43) When Jesus fed the five thousand He asked Philip what He should do. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do (John 6:5,6). NATHANIEL Nathaniel is probably the same person mentioned in Matthew as Bartholomew. Bartholomew is not a name. He is actually Bar Talmai (the son of Talmai). The only account we have of Nathaniel is found in John’s gospel. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. “Come and see," said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (John 1:45-51). Thomas The famous “doubter.” The name Thomas means “twin” as does the Greek Didymus Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with him” (John 11:16). Thomas is famous for doubting the disciple’s testimony of seeing the risen Christ. Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it” (John 20:24,25). M ATTHEW Matthew was author of the first gospel. He is known as the tax collector. Jesus called him and he immediately followed. We read about his conversion in the gospel that he wrote. As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him (Matthew 9:9).

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J AMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS The “son of Alphaeus” distinguishes him from the other James, the brother of John. He may have been the brother of Matthew who was also a son of Alphaeus. THADDAEUS Thaddaeus is only mentioned in Matthew’s gospel. He is probably to be equated with Judas the son of James in Luke and Acts. The name Judas may have been superseded by a new one, Thaddaeus, in order for there to be one Judas among the twelve. It is also possible that after the betrayal of Judas Iscariot that he did not want the stigma that would be attached with the name Judas. SIMON THE CANANEAN This word is not derived from Canaan nor Cana but from the Aramaic word qanan meaning “zealot” or “enthusiast” The name is thus equivalent to the label “zealot” given to Simon in the lists of Luke and Acts and may refer to his intense nationalism and hatred of Rome. J UDAS ISCARIOT Judas is mentioned more often than any of the other disciples except for Peter. The name “Iscariot” is the Greek equivalent of the transliterated Iscarioth (man from Kerioth). Kerioth is located in southern Judea, twelve miles south of Hebron. Judas would betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Judas hanged himself in remorse. So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). They Were A Diverse Group Notice the diverse character of the twelve. They include: fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot, and a traitor. The twelve represent the core of the new movement that will reveal the new activity of God. They were not taken from the elite of society neither from the lowest levels. There were two sets of brothers, Peter and Andrew and James and John. There was possibly a third set with Matthew and James the son of Alphaeus. Summary While here on earth Jesus chose twelve disciples to be His intimate pupils. However not all of them were prominent. We know almost nothing about Simon the Cananean, Thaddaeus, Nathaniel and James the son of Alphaeus. The New Testament gives us more information about the others. Peter is the one most prominently mentioned with the traitor Judas second. We do know that they were a diverse group of individuals coming from different walks of life.

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QUESTION 34 What Was Golgotha? (Mount Calvary) One of the most important places with respect to the ministry of Jesus was Golgotha. Golgotha is an Aramaic word meaning, “the place of the skull.” All four gospels testify that it was the place of Jesus’ crucifixion. We read in Mark. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull (Matthew 27:33). Mark says. Then they brought him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull (Mark 15:22). Luke records. When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left (Luke 23:33). John wrote. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha) (John 19:17). Calvary Is Latin For Skull The Latin word for skull is Calvaria. This is where the term “Mount Calvary” was derived. When the New Testament was translated into Latin the word Calvaria was used for Golgotha. The King James translators used the familiar word “Calvary” in their translation. THE NAME SKULL HILL HAS AN UNKNOWN ORIGIN The exact reason why it is called “skull hill” is unknown. A number of possible explanations have been put forward. They include the following. 1.

It Was The Place Of Execution

It has been suggested that this was the place of public execution and skulls were left lying around after people had been executed. This does not seem very likely because the Jewish practice of the burial of their dead. 2.

The Hill Was Shaped Like A Skull

It has been argued that the name “skull hill” was derived from the shape of the hill – it looked like a human skull. The fact that executions took place on this hill was merely coincidental. THE EXACT SITE IS UNKNOWN The exact site of Christ’s crucifixion is a matter of debate. The two most prominent candidates are the church of the Holy Sepulcher and Gordon’s Calvary. Gordon’s Calvary is on a hill that looks like a skull yet no one can be certain as to the exact location of Jesus’ death.

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Jesus The Site Was Outside Of The City

We do know that Jesus was taken outside the city of Jerusalem to be executed. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood (Hebrews 13:12). 2.

The Site Was Near A Road

The site of the crucifixion was also near a public road. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads (Matthew 27:39). 3.

The Site Was Near The City

We also know that the site was near the city. John wrote. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek (John 19:20). Summary According to all four gospels Jesus was crucified at a place called Golgotha – an Aramaic word for skull. The Latin term is Calvaria where the name Calvary comes from. The reason why it was called “skull hill” is unknown. Possibly it was so named because it was the site of executions. It is also possible that the hill was shaped like a human skull. The exact location is unknown. We do know that Jesus was crucified outside of the city walls on a public road. The site was near the city.

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Summary To The World Into Which Jesus Came (Topic 2) From a brief look about the world in which Jesus came, we can make the following observations. Question 18. The world in which Jesus came was well prepared for the Messiah. The world was at peace, the road system was remarkably efficient, there was one universal language, the morality had degenerated and the people had a deep spiritual need. The fullness of time had indeed come. Question 19. There were five different political/geographical divisions in the Holy land when Jesus came. Judea was the Roman name for the entire land. Judea was also used for the entire land minus Samaria and Galilee. Galilee was to the north where Jews and Gentiles lived together. Samaria was where the Samaritans, half-Jews and half-Gentiles, lived. Perea was the area beyond the Jordan and mostly inhabited by Jews. Mostly Gentiles inhabited Decapolis, which means ten cities. Question 20. The world in which Jesus came had an international language, Greek. Jesus obviously spoke Greek. There are certain occasions that the New Testament records for us where Jesus would have had to have spoken Greek – to the Syro-Phoenecian woman as well as to Pontius Pilate. On other occasions He probably spoke Aramaic. It is possible that He spoke Hebrew on occasion. We know that He could read Hebrew. Question 21. Only two Caesars are mentioned by name in the gospels – Augustus and Tiberius. Caesar Augustus, the first Roman Emperor made the decree that a census should be taken of everyone in the empire. This caused Joseph and Mary to leave their home in Nazareth and go to Bethlehem. Their Son Jesus was born in Bethlehem – fulfilling the prediction of Micah the prophet with respect to the birthplace of the Messiah. Tiberius Caesar is only mentioned to mark the time in history when the word of God came to John the Baptist. He is mentioned on two other occasions by his title “Caesar” but without his name. Question 22. Pontius Pilate, the prefect of Judea from A.D. 26 to 36, sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion. Although he wished to set Jesus free he gave in to the large crowd who wanted Jesus dead. Pilate tried to absolve himself of any blame in the matter yet the New Testament, as well as the creeds of the church all recognized that Jesus Christ was crucified by a decree of Pontius Pilate. The New Testament says nothing about Pilate after Jesus’ death. In 1961 an inscription was found in Israel in the city of Caesarea that had Pilate’s name on it. This was the first archaeological evidence that Pilate existed. Question 23. Three members of Herod’s family figure prominently in the life of Jesus. Herod the Great was the king when Jesus was born. When he died Herod Archelaus ruled in his place. Herod Antipas ruled Galilee during the time of Jesus’ public ministry. He was the one who had John the Baptist executed. Herod thought that Jesus was actually John raised from the dead. Herod wanted to kill Jesus as he had done John the Baptist. Herod saw Jesus during His trial but was disappointed that Jesus performed no miracle in His presence. Question 24. The Sanhedrin was a Jewish council of seventy-one members. They were patterned after the seventy elders that God established through Moses. In the gospels they are called, “the council of the elders.” In Judea, they were under Roman authority and could not carry out capital punishment. This is why we find them sending Jesus to Pilate after they had condemned Him to death. They acknowledged to Pilate that they did not have the authority to execute anyone. When Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 the Sanhedrin ceased to exist.

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Question 25. Annas and Caiaphas are the two High Priests mentioned during Jesus’ ministry. Caiaphas was high priest during the ministry of Jesus. He was son-in-law to Annas who had previously been the High Priest. Caiaphas prophesied that it was necessary for Jesus to die for the nation. When Jesus was arrested He was led to Annas first, then Caiaphas. Caiaphas charged Jesus with blasphemy and sent Him away to Pilate. After Jesus’ death and resurrection Caiaphas persecuted Jesus’ disciples. It seems the bones of Caiaphas have been found in Jerusalem in November of 1990. If true, this would be the first physical remains ever discovered of a person who is mentioned in Scripture. Question 26. The scribes were scholars of the Old Testament Law. They figured prominently in the ministry of Jesus. While there was a few of them who believed in Jesus for the most part they persecuted Him. We also find that they were responsible for bringing Him to trial. Their persecution of Christians continued after the ascension of Jesus. We find the scribes persecuting Peter and John as well as being directly involved in the death of Stephen. Question 27. The Pharisees were the religious conservatives. They believed in an afterlife and a final judgment. They were at odds with the Sadducees and the Herodians. However they all joined together against their common enemy – Jesus. The Pharisees were Jesus’ chief persecutors. They rejected His claims to be the Messiah and were the ones who plotted to have Him killed. Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus were afraid to come forward because of the intimidation of the Pharisees. Jesus’ strongest words of condemnation were aimed at these hypocrites. The Pharisees continued to persecute Jesus’ disciples after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. Question 28. The Sadducees were the wealthy landowners. They were a Jewish party who were opposed to the Pharisees but joined them in their persecution of Jesus. When they questioned Jesus about the resurrection of the dead Jesus told them they were ignorant of the Scriptures and the power of God. They continued to persecute Jesus’ followers after His death and resurrection. The Sadducees ceased to exist after A.D. 70. Question 29. The Herodians were a political party who wanted to restore a Herod to the throne in Judea. They were opposed to the Pharisees who wanted a descendant of David on the throne. They joined with the Pharisees in attempting to silence Jesus. Question 30. The Samaritans were a group of people who lived in Samaria – an area north of Jerusalem. They were half-Jews and half-Gentiles. When Assyria captured the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 B.C. some were taken in captivity while others left behind. The ones left behind intermarried with the Assyrians. Thus these people were neither fully Hebrews nor fully Gentiles. The Samaritans had their own unique copy of the first five books of Scripture as well as their own unique system of worship. At the time of Jesus the Jews and the Samaritans did not deal with one another. Jesus, however, ministered to the people of Samaria preaching the good news to them. Question 31. The Essenes were a group that we know little about. The first-century Jewish writers Josephus and Philo mention them. They lived somewhere alongside the Dead Sea. The New Testament does not have anything to say about them directly but there may be a couple of passages that allude to them. This would include the man carrying the jug that Jesus told his disciples to follow in preparation for the Passover. It seems that he was a member of a community that did not include slaves or women. There is also a reference in the Book of Acts to a number of priests that believed. Some have interpreted this to refer to the Essenes..

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Question 32. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. He was conceived in a miraculous way. His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth were beyond the childbearing years when he was conceived. John preached a baptism of repentance looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. He told the religious leaders that he was not the Messiah but one who had come to proclaim the Messiah’s coming. Herod imprisoned John for speaking out against the king’s unlawful marriage. While in prison he sent two of his disciples to question Jesus if He were the Messiah. Jesus assured John that He was the promised Messiah. Herod executed John while in prison. Jesus testified that no one born of woman was greater than John. Question 33. While here on earth Jesus chose twelve disciples to be His intimate pupils. However not all of them were prominent. We know almost nothing about Simon the Cananean, Thaddaeus, Nathaniel and James the son of Alphaeus. The New Testament gives us more information about the others. Peter is the one most prominently mentioned with the traitor Judas second. We do know that they were a diverse group of individuals coming from different walks of life. Question 34. According to all four gospels Jesus was crucified at a place called Golgotha – an Aramaic word for skull. The Latin term is Calvaria where the name Calvary comes from. The reason why it was called “skull hill” is unknown. Possibly it was so named because it was the site of executions. It is also possible that the hill was shaped like a human skull. The exact location is unknown. We do know that Jesus was crucified outside of the city walls on a public road. The site was near the city. With an understanding of the world in which Jesus came, we will now consider His identity. We will consider such important questions as: Who is Jesus? Was He a human? Was He God? Could Jesus have lied about whom He was? Who did Jesus consider Himself to be?

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Topic 3

THE IDENTITY OF JESUS Who Is Jesus Christ? What is truth? (Pontius Pilate) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

Introduction In this section we will examine the identity of Jesus Christ. As the most important figure in history, it is crucial that we have a correct understanding of His identity. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is God the Son – Second Person of the Trinity. He has eternally existed with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. He came to earth two thousand years ago as the God-man. Although Jesus was only one Person He had two natures – one human and one divine. He was fully man and fully God. On earth He lived a perfect, sinless life. Therefore He was qualified to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. Consequently it is absolutely crucial that we have a thorough understanding of the identity of Jesus.

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QUESTION 35 Is Jesus Christ A Name Or A Title? There has been much confusion as to the name Jesus Christ. Is it a name? A title? The simple answer is that Jesus was His name while Christ was His title. We can make the following observations. 1.

The Name Jesus Was Common In The First Century

Jesus was a common name in the first century for a Jewish male. It was the common Greek version of the Hebrew names Joshua, Jehoshua, and Jeshua. It means “The Lord (Yahweh) saves” or “The Lord “Yahweh) is my help. This name stresses His humanity — Jesus the carpenter from Nazareth. He was named before He was born by the angel who was sent to Joseph. She will bear a son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). During His earthly life and ministry, this was the name by which the Savior was known. It is found about six hundred times in the Gospels. Outside of the gospels the name Jesus is rarely used. We only find it often in the Book of Hebrews. 2.

Christ Is A Title

The word “Christ” is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word for “Messiah” or “anointed one.” Christ was the title given to Jesus. Therefore He was Jesus the Christ—Jesus the Messiah. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ) (John 1:41). 3.

Eventually Christ Became Part Of His Name

The Greek word “Christ,” (christos) was originally an adjective that meant, “anointed.” During the Old Testament period it developed into a term meaning, “the anointed one.” Between the Old and New Testament christos further developed into a technical term for the promised Deliverer that the Lord would one day send to His people. The four gospels apply the term christos in this sense. The long-awaited Deliverer is the “anointed one,” or “the Christ” (the Messiah). Later we find that Christ became part of Jesus’ name. Today He is mostly commonly known as Jesus Christ. 4.

He Is Now The Lord Jesus Christ

There is also the title “Lord Jesus Christ.” When the word “Lord” is added to Jesus Christ it means, “Yahweh (Jehovah) Jesus the Messiah.” If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God (Acts 11:17). It is speaking of His Deity as God, as well as His human name and His title. This title is not found in the gospels.

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Summary Jesus Christ is both a name and a title. Jesus was a common first century name meaning, “the Lord saves.” Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word for “Messiah.” Jesus is the Messiah – the anointed one. The title Christ eventually became part of His name. When the title Lord is added to Jesus Christ it refers to His Deity as well as His name and title.

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QUESTION 36 Is Jesus Christ The Main Subject Of The Entire Bible? Yes, from the testimony Jesus Himself the entire Scripture is about Him. He said. You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of me . . . For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me (John 5:39,46). Old Testament - The Preparation For The Christ The Old Testament was preparing the way for the Messiah. Isaiah wrote. A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). The entire Old Testament was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. Everything was pointing toward Him. The Gospels - The Manifestation Of The Christ The Gospels record the manifestation of the long-awaited Messiah. We read in John. The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus, the Messiah, arrived as predicted. Acts - The Proclamation Of The Message Of The Christ After the death and resurrection of Jesus, His message was to go out to the entire world. The Book of Acts records the proclamation of the message of Christ. The key verse of the Book of Acts records the following words of Jesus. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth (Acts 1:8). New Testament Letters - The Explanation Of The Two Comings Of Christ The two comings of Christ are explained in the New Testament letters. To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Christ’s first coming was a “mystery” or “sacred secret” that was not explained to the Old Testament reader. The New Testament letters provide us with the explanation.

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Revelation - The Consummation Of All Things In Christ Finally, all things will be consummated at the Second Coming of Christ. We read in Revelation. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so. Amen (Revelation 1:7). Summary The Old Testament records the preparation for the Christ. The Gospels record the manifestation of the Christ. The Book of Acts gives us the proclamation of the message of the Christ. The New Testament letters provide the explanation of the two comings of Christ. The Book of Revelation documents the consummation of all things in Christ. Therefore the entire Bible is truly about Him.

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QUESTION 37 According To The New Testament, Who Is Jesus? Whenever we read any book our goal should be to discover the intention or purpose of the author. As far as the New Testament is concerned, the main character is Jesus Christ and the New Testament was written to create belief in Him. This is the claim it makes for itself. John wrote. Many other signs Jesus performed in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you might have life in his name (John 20:30,31). These verses are highly instructive. John’s purpose in writing was to create in his readers, belief in Jesus. He tells us that he was selective in the signs that he recorded about the life and ministry of Jesus, but that the signs that were given were meant to cause the reader to believe. This is his stated purpose. The remainder of the New Testament echoes that same purpose. THE CLAIM OF THE FOUR GOSPELS : THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO REACH THE ONE GOD

When Jesus came to earth, He made a variety of claims about Himself. One thing that Jesus claimed was that He Himself was the only possible way that a person could have a relationship with God. There are many who do not like this assertion because it seems so narrow-minded. Others try to deny that Jesus said or meant this. But the record is clear, and whether a person likes it or not, Jesus made the colossal claim that nobody could know the living God except by means of Him. Jesus told the people of His day: For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins (John 8:24). To His disciples in the upper room He said. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God trust also in me (John 14:1). Jesus also said. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). At another time He said. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live (John 5:24,25). Elsewhere Jesus declared. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him (John 3:36).

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THE CLAIMS OF THE B OOK OF ACTS The Book of Acts also makes the claim that Jesus is the only way to reach God. The Apostle Peter said. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among humanity, by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Note well his claim. There is no salvation outside of the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the only way by which a person can be saved. THE CLAIMS OF PAUL The Apostle Paul echoes this thought. He also stated that Jesus was the only way to get to God. For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the humanity Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). Paul also wrote. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Later in Romans he wrote. That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (Romans 10:9,10). According to Scripture there is one God, and one go-between, Jesus Christ. There is no other way! THE TESTIMONY OF THE B OOK OF HEBREWS The writer to the Hebrews said. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (Hebrews 7:25). These Claims Were Not Invented By The Church The idea that Jesus is the only way to get to God was not invented by the church but was central to His message. Therefore, according to the New Testament, there is no other way to reach God except through Jesus. Whether a person believes it or not, the record is clear - Jesus Himself believed and taught that only through Him could a person have their sins forgiven and come to know the living God. THERE ARE TWO B ASIC QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO B E ANSWERED There are two basic questions that need to be answered about the person of Jesus Christ. The first question Jesus Himself asked His disciples. “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

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Question one: Who do you think that Jesus is? Pontius Pilate asked the second question. What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ? (Matthew 27:22). Question two: What will you do with Jesus? According to Scripture the eternal destiny of each individual depends upon how they answer these questions. Summary The stated purpose of the New Testament is to create belief in the reader that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Those who believe this message have life through His name. The specific claim of the New Testament is there is only God and only one way to get to the one God - through Jesus Christ. All others are pretenders. There is no salvation outside of the Person of Jesus Christ. This is their claim, not something the church later invented. Two basic questions about Jesus need to be answered by each individual. The first is, “Who do you think that He is?” The second question is, “What will you do with Him?” How we answer these two questions determines how Jesus will judge us.

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QUESTION 38 Was Jesus A Human Being? Throughout the centuries there have been those who questioned the humanity of Jesus. Some have contended that He was not fully human but only “appeared” to be. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus was fully human. This is seen in the following ways. Jesus had a human birth, Jesus had a human ancestry, Jesus developed like a normal human being, as the promised Messiah Jesus had to be human, Jesus had the essential elements of a human being – body and spirit, Jesus was given human titles, Jesus was called a man, and finally He showed all the traits of being human. J ESUS HAD A NATURAL HUMAN B IRTH AND CHILDHOOD The circumstances around the birth and childhood of Jesus show that He was fully human. 1.

Jesus Was Given A Human Name Before His Birth

Before Jesus was born the angel told Joseph that Mary was going to have a child and that Joseph was to name him Jesus. And she will bring forth a son, and you shall name him JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Matthew 1:21-23). Consequently He was given a human name before birth. 2.

Jesus Had A Normal Human Birth

Although Jesus was supernaturally conceived, the biblical account of His birth demonstrates that He was a fully human child with a normal human birth. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger (Luke 2:7). His birth was a natural human birth like any other child. 3.

Jesus Was A Human Child

When the shepherds saw the newborn babe, they quickly spread the news to others. Now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning the child (Luke 2:17). When He was eight days old, Jesus was circumcised and brought to the temple for dedication. And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Now when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Luke 2:21,22).

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In this description of His birth, there is no hint that He was anything other than human. Mary conceived a child; the shepherds spread the word about a child that was born. In the temple He was dedicated in the same manner as any other male child. Although His conception was supernatural, His birth was that of a normal, fully human child. The Apostle Paul wrote: But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law (Galatians 4:4). J ESUS HAD A HUMAN ANCESTRY The genealogy of Jesus Christ links Him to humanity. In Luke’s Gospel His family line is traced all the way back to Adam. The son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God (Luke 3:38). His family line consists of human beings. They are actual historical characters – many of whom the Bible speaks about. Therefore everything that Scripture has to say about His birth indicates that Jesus was a genuine human child. The remainder of Jesus’ life testifies to the fact of His humanity. HE DEVELOPED LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN B EING The Scripture states that the child Jesus grew in both size and wisdom. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and humanity (Luke 2:52). Growing in size and intellectual ability is a human trait. Therefore, this summary statement of His early years testifies to His humanity. After the boy grew to be a man, there is further testimony to His humanity. Jesus Was Part Of A Family The New Testament says that Jesus had a family. His mother was named Mary and He had four brothers and at least two sisters. In Matthew we read about those in Nazareth testifying to His family. Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? (Matthew 13:55). AS THE M ESSIAH HE WOULD B E HUMAN The promised Messiah of the Old Testament was to be a human being. 1.

He Was A Physical Descendant Of David

Jesus was the promised Messiah. The Messiah was to be a physical descendant of King David – a human being. God promised David. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12).

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Paul wrote. Concerning his Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh (Romans 1:3). 2.

The Messiah Was To Be The Seed Of The Woman

He was the predicted “seed of the woman.” This indicates true humanity. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel” (Genesis 3:15). 3.

The Messiah Is A Prophet Like Moses

The Messiah was to be a prophet like Moses – a human being. The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him (Deuteronomy 18:15). Moses said the Messiah would be like him in the sense that He would be from Israel. The Scriptures are clear that the Messiah was to be a human being. 4.

He Was From The Nation Israel

Jesus was recognized as being from the nation Israel. Paul wrote. Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever (Romans 9:4,5). We read in John’s gospel. The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans (John 4:9). Later we read in John. Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” (John 8:57). Jesus looked like a grown man who had not yet reached the age of fifty. This is another indication of His humanity. J ESUS HAD THE ESSENTIALS ELEMENTS OF A HUMAN B EING – A B ODY AND A SPIRIT The Bible says that Jesus possessed the essential elements of human nature – a human body and human spirit. It is obvious that He had a body in that He could touch people. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy (Matthew 8:3).

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His body could bleed. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water (John 19:34). Christ also had a spirit. Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things” (Mark 2:8). J ESUS WAS GIVEN HUMAN TITLES Human titles were ascribed to Jesus. They include the following. 1.

He Was The Son Of Man

Jesus favorite way of describing Himself was with the title, “Son of Man.” For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). This title emphasized His humanity. Jesus spoke as a man teaching in human terms with human illustrations. 2.

Jesus Was The Last Adam

Jesus was called the last Adam. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a lifegiving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:45-47). Adam was the first human – he was created perfect. Jesus was the last human who was perfect. 3.

Jesus Is The Mediator Between God And Humanity

Jesus was called a mediator between God and humanity. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human (1 Timothy 2:5). To be a mediator Christ had to be a human. HE WAS CALLED A M AN Jesus was called a man by Himself and others. 1.

Jesus Called Himself A Man

Jesus expressly called Himself a man.

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Jesus But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did (John 8:40).

Jesus never gave the impression that He was non-human in any way. The New Testament writers recognized the humanity of Jesus. Peter, Paul, and John all emphasized the humanity of Jesus in their writings. 2.

Peter

On the day of Pentecost Peter said. Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know (Acts 2:22). 3.

Paul

The Apostle Paul wrote about Jesus’ humanity. Regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David (Romans 1:3). Paul also wrote to the Romans. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3). He wrote to Timothy. By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: he who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16). 4.

John

John said that it was the false prophets that denied that Jesus came in the flesh – that He was a human being. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world (1 John 4:1-3). John wrote. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist (2 John 7).

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He Was An Uncommon Man

Those who came into contact with Jesus realized that He was an uncommon man; nevertheless He was a real man. When the religious leaders sent their officers to apprehend Jesus they came back empty handed and said. No one ever spoke the way this man does (John 7:46). His disciples recognized His uniqueness. When Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee they said. They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him” (Mark 4:41). J ESUS SHOWED ALL THE TRAITS OF A HUMAN B EING Jesus demonstrated that He had all the traits of a human. 1

Jesus Was Tempted

Jesus was tempted by the Devil. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1). Only human beings can be tempted. 2.

He Experienced Hunger

After His baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness. And when he fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward he was hungry (Matthew 4:2). Here Jesus exhibits the human trait of hunger. Like other human beings, a long period without food made Him hungry. 3.

Jesus Experienced Thirst

Jesus also experienced thirst while suffering on the cross. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty” (John 19:28). 4.

Jesus Ate And Drank With Others

Jesus ate and drank with others; mingling among humanity as a fellow human. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions (Matthew 11:19). 5.

Jesus Became Tired

Early in His ministry, the Bible speaks of Jesus being tired from a long trip.

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Jesus Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied from his journey, sat thus by the well (John 4:6).

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Jesus Had To Sleep

We are also told that He needed sleep. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves. But he was asleep (Matthew 8:24). He had no special ability to stay awake all the time. 7.

Jesus Asked Questions

Another indication of the humanity of Jesus is that He asked questions. Sometimes Jesus asked questions that were rhetorical—not expecting an answer. Others were intended to make His followers think. So he said to them, “How is it you do not understand?” (Mark 9:21). There were some questions that were asked with a genuine desire to gather information. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see’ (John 11:34). 8.

Jesus Showed Human Emotions

Jesus also expressed human emotions such as tears, love, compassion, disappointment, and anger. At the tomb of His dead friend Lazarus, Scripture records, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). He had human feelings that allowed Him to cry at a tragic situation. He also cried over the city of Jerusalem. As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it (Luke 19:41). Like other humans, Jesus could give and receive love. Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Mark 10:21). Jesus could feel compassion for others. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). Jesus could experience disappointment. On the next day, when they had left Bethany, he became hungry. Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if perhaps he would find anything on it; and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs (Mark 11:12,13). Jesus was angry for the way the religious rulers were corrupting the temple practices.

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So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!” (John 2:15,16). He was upset at the prospect of having the penalty for the sins of the world placed upon Him. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour’ (John 12:27). Jesus was troubled by the betrayal of Judas Iscariot. After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me” (John 13:21). 9.

Jesus, Like Other Humans, Prayed

Only humans can pray to God. Jesus prayed often. During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission (Hebrews 5:7). 10. Jesus Suffered Pain Jesus suffered pain like other humans. And being in agony he was praying very fervently; and his sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground (Luke 22:44). The Romans flogged Him. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged (John 19:1). 11. Jesus Experienced Death Like other humans He died. But when they came to Jesus and saw he was already dead, they did not break his legs (John 19:33). If Jesus were not a real human being, then His death on Calvary’s cross was merely an illusion. THE UNITED TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE – J ESUS WAS HUMAN Thus the Scriptures are united in their testimony to the genuine humanity of Jesus. There is never any indication given that He was somehow non-human. He experienced growth, hunger, tiredness, sadness and death just as other human beings experience. He was not given any special immunity from these experiences. This is important for us to realize. He was born, He lived, and He die d, experiencing the same things we do. Therefore, He is able to identify with our feelings when we pray to the Father through Him. The writer to Hebrews said.

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Jesus For in that he himself has suffered, being tempted, he is able to aid those who are tempted (Hebrews 2:18).

There was no special treatment given Jesus while here on earth. He felt the same things as every other human being feel. The fact that Jesus’ humanity was real is made clear by the entire testimony of Scripture. The reality of the humanity of Jesus Christ is at the center of any true conception of who He is. Summary When we explore the subject of the humanity of Jesus the Scripture is clear, Jesus was indeed human. He had all the traits that make up a human being except that He was without sin. He was born into the world through a human birth. He was circumcised like other male Jewish children. His genealogy consists entirely of human beings. In addition, the Old Testament predicted the Messiah would be human – like Moses. He would be a physical descendant of King David. He had a family with four brothers and at least two sisters. Jesus was a human child who grew to be a man. He possessed the essential elements of humanity – a body and a spirit. As a man He was hungry, tired, and needed sleep. Jesus Himself, as well as others, admitted that He was human. Jesus showed human emotions such as love, tears, hate, disappointment and compassion. Only humans can pray to God and we find Jesus praying to God. Finally we find that Jesus experienced pain and death. Therefore it is the united testimony of the New Testament that Jesus Christ was fully human.

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QUESTION 39 Does The New Testament Give Direct Evidence That Jesus Is God? The Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus Christ was true humanity. In modern times, however, there remains the question concerning His Deity. Was He more than just a man? Jesus Was Fully Human And Fully God The Scriptures testify that Jesus was fully human and fully God in human flesh. This can be observed from Jesus’ own testimony, and the testimony of others. We find this to be true in both direct and indirect statements about Him. There are a number of direct statements in the New Testament concerning the Deity of Christ. They include the following. 1.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE FOUR GOSPELS

The gospels make the following statement about Jesus. Jesus Was In The Beginning With God Jesus has always existed. John wrote. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). This statement is clear. Jesus Christ was in the beginning with God because He was God. The imperfect tense of the verb stresses the fact that Jesus continually existed. In the past, John gives a unique title to Him. As far back as one goes in time Jesus Christ is already there. He Is God The One And Only No one has ever seen God, but God the one and only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known (John 1:18). Here Jesus is called God the one and only. Jesus Is Equal With God Jesus claimed equality with God. For 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 (John 5:18). The Jews wanted to kill Jesus because they understood He was claiming equality with God. Jesus Existed Before Abraham Although Jesus was born as a babe in Bethlehem He claimed to have existed two thousand years earlier.

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Jesus “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58).

While angels existed before Abraham Jesus never claimed to be a mere angel. Thomas’ Confession Of Jesus Jesus made Himself equal with God. Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Thomas confessed to Jesus’ Deity. Jesus did not rebuke Him for this. To the contrary He said. Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:29). 2.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE B OOK OF ACTS

In the Book of Acts, written by Luke, we have a direct statement about Christ’s Deity. The Blood Of God He wrote of the blood of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood (Acts 20:28). It was the blood of Jesus Christ that paid the penalty for sin. Yet here it says that the church was bought with the blood of God. Consequently it is saying that Jesus Christ is God. 3.

THE WRITINGS OF PAUL

The apostle Paul made a number of statements about Jesus Deity. Jesus Is God Over All Paul said that Jesus was God over all. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen (Romans 9:5). Jesus Is Yahweh (Lord) He wrote to the Romans that Jesus is Lord. That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved (Romans 10:9,10). To be saved, a person needs to confess Jesus as the Lord – that is Yahweh or Jehovah, the divine name for God.

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Jesus Has The Same Nature As God Jesus Christ has the same nature as the one, true God. Paul wrote. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (Philippians 2:5,6). He Is The Visible Image Of The Invisible God Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is pre-eminent over all creation. In addition, He existed before all things. This stresses His eternal existence. Paul wrote. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17). Jesus Has All The Fullness Of Deity All the fullness of Deity is in Jesus. Paul emphasized. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Jesus Is The Great God And Savior Jesus is the great God and Savior. Paul wrote. While we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). Jesus Christ is the great God and Savior. The verse is not speaking of the appearing of two distinct persons the great God and the Savior rather it speaks of the appearing of one Person – Jesus, the great God and Savior. It Is Beyond All Doubt In Original Greek This is clear beyond any doubt in the original Greek. There is a rule in Greek grammar known as the Granville-Sharp rule. It can be simply stated as follows: when two nouns in the singular are joined by the word “and” (kai in Greek) and the first noun has the artic le in front of it, and the second does not, both nouns refer to the same thing. In Titus 2:13 we have this type of construction. The first noun “God” has the article in front of it. The second noun “Savior” does not. They are joined together by the word “and.” Therefore the great God and Savior are the same person – Jesus Christ. There is no getting around this grammatical rule. Please note that this is a simplified explanation of the rule. 4.

THE TESTIMONY OF THE B OOK OF HEBREWS

The writer to the Hebrews accepted the Deity of Christ. Jesus Is Addressed As God The Son is directly called God. The Father says that His throne will last forever and ever.

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Jesus But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8).

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PETER

Peter, one of Jesus own disciples, confessed to His Deity. Jesus Is Both God And Savior Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours (2 Peter 1:1). Jesus is both God and Savior. This Greek construction is another example of the Granville -Sharp rule. God and Savior speak of the same Person – Jesus. 6.

J OHN

From the First letter of John we have another statement about the Deity of Christ. Jesus Is The One True God John wrote. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true — even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20). According to John, Jesus is the one true God. Summary As we survey the New Testament we find direct statements about the Deity of Christ from five different New Testament writers. John, Luke, Paul, the writer to the Hebrews, and Peter. They all testified directly that Jesus Christ was more than a mere human being – He is God almighty. Jesus is acknowledged as being God in the beginning, He is called the one and only God. Jesus also claimed equality with God. Thomas worshipped Him as God. While the Bible says that Jesus’ blood paid the penalty for sin it also says that the blood of God bought the church. Paul said that all of the fulness of God resided in Jesus. Both Peter and Paul say that Jesus is the great God and Savior. John says that He is the one, true God. Jesus is directly addressed as God in the Book of Hebrews. It is clear that the writers of the New Testament believed that Jesus is God Himself.

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QUESTION 40 Does The Bible Indirectly Teach That Jesus Is God? Not only does the New Testament give direct evidence that Jesus is God, it also provides indirect evidence. There are many indirect references that could be cited. Some of these include the following. J ESUS POSSESSES THE ATTRIBUTES OF DEITY According to Scripture, Jesus possessed certain attributes that belong to God alone. 1.

Jesus Is All-Knowing

Jesus is said to have been all-knowing. He knew the thoughts of people. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand (Luke 6:8). Jesus was able to tell the Samaritan woman her past history without having previously met her. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true (John 4:18). She later testified. Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ? (John 4:29). The disciples of Jesus recognized this fact. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God (John 16:30). We also read in John. He [Jesus] said to him [Peter] the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep” (John 21:17). In Acts we read. And they prayed, and said, “You, Lord, who knows the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen” (Acts 1:24). He demonstrated knowledge about things that only someone all knowing could know such as the future. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life (Matthew 16:21).

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Jesus Jesus Is Everywhere Present

Jesus said that He is present with believers everywhere. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:20). At the end of Matthew’s Gospel it says. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Paul wrote. Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:23). He also wrote to the Ephesians. He who descended is himself also he who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things (Ephesians 4:10). Paul wrote to the Colossians. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all (Colossians 3:11). 3.

Jesus’ Nature Is Unchangeable

The character of Jesus does not change. The writer to the Hebrews said. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). 4.

Jesus Has Life In Himself

Jesus had life in Himself. John wrote. In him was life, and that life was the light of men (John 1:4). Later in John we read. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). All other creation, humans, animals, and plants, are alive because someone or something else has given it to them. Jesus has life in Himself – it is not derived from any other source. The fact that Jesus is all knowing, everywhere present, unchangeable, has life in Himself demonstrates that He is God. Being unchangeable is an attribute of Deity. 5.

Jesus Is All-Powerful

Jesus is also said to be all-powerful, or omnipotent.

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Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). J ESUS HAS EXISTED FOR ALL ETERNITY The Scripture teaches the eternality of Jesus. 1.

The Testimony Of John

John wrote that Jesus existed prior to the creation of the universe. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1). Jesus Himself prayed. And now, glorify me together with yourself, Father, with the glory which I had with you before the world was (John 17:5). Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory. These things Isaiah said, because he saw his glory, and he spoke of him (John 12:41). The reference to Isaiah seeing the glory of Jesus is found in Isaiah 6:1-3. In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of his robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:1-3). The fact that Jesus has existed for all eternity is known as the doctrine of eternality. It is sometimes equated with the doctrine of pre-existence. However, the pre-existence of Christ merely means that He existed before He was born. It does not necessarily mean that He existed eternally but it could mean that. 2.

The Testimony Of John The Baptist

Although John the Baptist was born before Jesus John testified that Jesus existed before him. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me’” (John 1:15). John the Baptist also said. This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me’ (John 1:30). While strictly speaking this does not mean that Christ was eternal, it is consistent with the idea of His eternal existence.

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Jesus The Testimony Of The Writer To The Hebrews

The writer to the Hebrews said. In these last days has spoken to us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world (Hebrews 1:2). J ESUS IS A M EMBER OF THE TRINITY Jesus Christ is the Second Person of the Trinity. What is true about God is true about each Person in the Trinity. The Bible says that God has existed for all eternity. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God (Psalm 90:2). Since eternal existence is an attribute of God alone, it logically follows that Jesus is God. Jesus, therefore, being God has existed for all eternity - there was no point when He came into existence. Since He had no beginning He will have no end. He is not limited by time in any sense. J ESUS IS EQUAL TO GOD IN HIS NAMES Jesus is also spoken of as an equal with God. They both possess the same names. 1.

Jesus Is The “I Am”

The God of the Bible told Moses that He was the, “I am.” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus applied this same title to Himself. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:56-58). The fact that the people understood His claim can be seen in their reaction. 2.

Jesus Is Lord

The God of the Bible is called the LORD in the Old Testament. God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty” (Exodus 6:2,3). Jesus is also addressed as LORD. Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both LORD and Christ (Acts 2:36). Paul wrote.

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Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is LORD,” except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). 3.

Jesus Is The Lord Of Lords

The God of the Old Testament is called LORD OF LORDS. For the LORD your God is God of gods and LORD OF LORDS, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes (Deuteronomy 10:17). Jesus is the LORD OF LORDS. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is LORD OF LORDS and King of kings - and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers (Revelation 17:14). 4.

Jesus Is The Shepherd

The Lord is the shepherd of His people. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want (Psalm 23:1). Jesus is the good shepherd. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep (John 10:14,15). 5.

Jesus Is The Alpha And Omega

God alone is the Alpha and Omega. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8). Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. Jesus said. Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End Revelation 22:12,13). Therefore, we see that a number of names that belong to God alone, also belong to Jesus. J ESUS IS IMMANUEL: GOD WITH US Jesus was to be called “Immanuel – God with us.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22,23).

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The fact that Jesus is called, “God with us,” is another indication of His Deity. J ESUS HAS A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER Jesus has a unique relationship with God the Father. He called God “My Father.” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me” (John 8:49). He never equated His relationship with the Father with the relationship that His disciples had. He never referred to the Father as “Our Father” when referring to His relationship with God. It was always “Your Father” and “My Father.” At His resurrection He said to Mary Magdalene. Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17). He said to the religious rulers. The Father and I are one (John 10:30). The religious leaders wanted to kill Him for making this statement because they knew He was claiming some type of equality with God. When they brought Him before Pontius Pilate they made clear their reason for wanting Jesus dead. The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God” (John 19:7). J ESUS IS PUT ON AN EQUAL LEVEL WITH GOD On a number of occasions Jesus is associated with God in an equal manner. For example, the baptismal formula put Jesus on an equal level with God the Father. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). This is also true of the apostolic benediction. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14). J ESUS HAS A HEAVENLY ORIGIN Scripture says that the origin of Jesus was not from earth but rather from heaven. The writer to the Hebrews compared the Old Testament character Melchizedek with Jesus. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually (Hebrews 7:3). The Bible says that Christ came from heaven. John the Baptist said of Jesus.

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He who comes from above is above all he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all (John 3:31). Jesus Himself said. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (John 6:38). J ESUS ALLOWED HIMSELF TO B E WORSHIPPED The God who reveals Himself in the Bible has made it clear that He is the only One deserving worship. In the Ten Commandments He said. You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). When Satan wanted Jesus to worship him, Jesus refused by saying. Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve’ (Matthew 4:10). 1.

Jesus Was Worshipped By The People

Jesus testified that worship is something that is reserved for God alone. Yet, Jesus allowed Himself to be worshiped. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!’ And they came and held him by the feet and worshiped him (Matthew 28:9). On another occasion, Scripture records someone saying to Jesus: ‘Lord, I believe!’ And he worshiped him (John 9:38). Jesus allowed Himself to be worshipped on this occasion. If only God is to be worshiped, as the Bible testifies, and Jesus allowed Himself to be worshiped, then the natural conclusion is that Jesus believed Himself to be God. On another occasion He said. That all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him (John 5:23). Jesus said people were to honor Him “just as” they honor God the Father. If Jesus were not God then for people to honor Him as they honored God would be blasphemous. 2.

The Angels Were Commanded To Worship Jesus

The first chapter of Hebrews tells us that God commanded the angels to worship Jesus. For to which of the angels did he ever say, “You are my son, today I have begotten you?” And again, “I will be a Father to him and he shall be a son to me?” And when he again brings the first-born into the world, he says, “And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:5,6).

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Jesus All Creation Is To Worship Jesus

We are told that all creation will worship Jesus. Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped (Revelation 5:13,14). J ESUS WAS ADDRESSED IN PRAYER Jesus was also addressed in prayer. The Apostles asked Jesus who should replace Jesus. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs” (Acts 1:24). Stephen, the first recorded martyr of the church, prayed to Jesus as he was being killed. And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:59,60). J ESUS FORGAVE SINS Another indirect testimony to Jesus being God is His forgiving sins. In the presence of the religious leaders, Jesus told a sinful woman. Your sins are forgiven (Luke 7:48). On another occasion he said to a paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” (Mark 2:5). The religious rulers on both occasions were indignant. They demanded an explanation asking the question, “Why does this man speak blasphemies like this?” (Mark 2:7). No doubt the rulers were remembering when God said. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake (Isaiah 43:25). If only God has the ability to forgive sins, and Jesus claimed the ability to forgive sins, then Jesus is claiming to be God. Humans may temporarily forgive sins committed against other humans, but only God can eternally forgive sins. By claiming to forgive sins Jesus demonstrated His Deity. J ESUS WILL J UDGE THE WORLD Judgment of the world is something that only God can do. The Bible says. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. For he is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples with his truth (Psalm 96:12,13). Jesus claimed that He would judge the world.

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For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the son (John 5:22). The Apostle Paul said. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all humanity by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:31). The Bible says that only God has the right to judge the world but it also says that Jesus claimed that He would be that judge. This is more indirect evidence that Jesus is God. J ESUS IS THE CREATOR Among the many deeds attributed to Jesus is the creation of the universe. The Scripture expressly states that Jesus was involved as Creator. The Gospel of John, in speaking of Jesus, said. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made (John 1:3). Here we have the statement that Jesus created everything. Not one thing has been created apart from Him. The Apostle Paul also testified to Jesus being the Creator. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him (Colossians 1:16). This statement makes it abundantly clear that Jesus created all things in the universe. Jesus Was Not Recognized By The People Though Jesus was the Creator of all things, this world did not recognize Him as such. One of the saddest verses in the Bible testifies to that fact. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world did not know him (John 1:10). Jesus created the world but when He visited His creation the people did not receive Him for who He truly was. J ESUS SUSTAINS ALL THINGS Not only did Jesus create everything in the beginning, He also sustains His creation. The Apostle Paul, after testifying to the creative work of Jesus, wrote. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). The writer to the Hebrews noted. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus is the one who holds the universe together—the Person who keeps it running in an orderly fashion.

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Jesus Upholds Everything By His Spoken Word The Book of Hebrews takes this a step further. It teaches that Christ is “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). The idea is that Jesus is keeping all things together by His spoken word. Thus, it is the spoken word of Jesus that now upholds the universe. J ESUS IS THE RULER OVER ALL THINGS The Apostle Paul testified that Christ is the ruler over all things. And you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. (Colossians 2:10). Jesus rules the universe, and all that is in it. He is the One who created the universe. J ESUS WILL RAISE THE DEAD Scripture teaches that Jesus will raise the dead and transform the bodies of believers. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his [Jesus’] voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned (John 5:28,29). Paul wrote. Who, by the power that enables him [Jesus] to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21). Paul wrote to Timothy. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge (2 Timothy 4:1). Since only God has the power to raise the dead, this is another indication that Jesus is God. J ESUS GIVES SPIRITUAL LIFE TO B ELIEVERS Jesus has the authority to grant spiritual life to whomever He pleases. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it (John 5:21). J ESUS WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO B ELIEVERS Jesus said that He will give eternal life to those who believe in Him. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand (John 10:28). Jesus prayed to God the Father.

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For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him (John 17:2). J ESUS WILL B RING ABOUT THE RENEWAL OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH Scripture says that Jesus, the Creator, will renew the heavens and earth. He also says, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end” (Hebrews 1:10-12). Jesus said. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28). EVERYONE WILL CONFESS THAT J ESUS IS LORD The Scripture says that everything in heaven, earth, and under the earth will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-12). The fact that everything in the universe will confess Jesus is Lord (Yahweh, or Jehovah) proves that He indeed is almighty God. J ESUS HAS EQUAL GLORY WITH GOD THE FATHER Jesus claimed equal glory with God the Father. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began (John 17:5). Only God could claim that. He shares His glory with no one. We read in Isaiah. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another (Isaiah 48:11). HE HAS THE SAME NATURE AS GOD Scripture says that Jesus has the same nature as God. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing (Philippians 2:6). The writer to the Hebrews said.

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Jesus The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word (Hebrews 1:3).

. The Claims Are Not Enough If God did reveal Himself to humanity, then we would expect Him to identify Himself as God. However we would expect more than mere claims. They would have to be backed up with a demonstration of His power and knowledge. Jesus realized that claiming to be God does not, by itself, make the claims true. He said. If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true (John 5:31). This is why Jesus did more than make claims about Himself. He backed it up with His works. He said. But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent (John 5:3638). He backed up His claims with convincing evidence. These evidences include miracles, fulfilled prophecy, and His resurrection from the dead. Summary From the description of Jesus as recorded in Scripture, we find that He is the eternal God. We have the following indirect evidences that Jesus is called God. Jesus possesses attributes of Deity. Jesus has existed from all eternity. Jesus is a member of the Trinity. Jesus is equal to God in certain names. Jesus had a unique relationship with God the Father. Jesus is Immanuel – God with us. Jesus is put on an equal level with God. Jesus had a heavenly origin. He also allowed Himself to be worshiped. Jesus was addressed in prayer. Jesus and the One who would forgive sins. Jesus claimed to be the judge of the world. The Bible also says that He is the Creator of the universe. He sustains the universe by His spoken word. Jesus also presently rules the universe. Jesus will raise the dead. Jesus gives spiritual life to believers. Jesus will give eternal life to believers. Jesus will bring about the renewal of the heavens and the earth. Everyone will confess Jesus as Lord. Jesus has equal glory with God the Father. Jesus is the same essence as God. According to Scripture, what is true about God is true about Jesus. Jesus performs work that only God can perform. These abilities cannot be delegated because they are characteristics of God alone. We conclude that the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is God – the Second Person of the Trinity.

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QUESTION 41 Why Was Jesus Called Immanuel? (God With Us) In Matthew’s gospel Jesus is called Immanuel. Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). This is not a personal name. In Isaiah 7:14 it is seen as fulfilled, not in the naming of Jesus, but in the whole account of His origin and naming. It is not that Jesus ever bore the name Immanuel but that it indicates His role, bringing God’s presence to humanity. Matthew now explains to his readers what this phrase means. It is actually a transliteration of the Hebrew into Greek—making a new Greek word from the sound of the Hebrew phrase “God is with us.” God Is With Us Because Of Jesus This is a statement, not a prayer. The meaning is explained to Matthew’s readers. Matthew’s use of this term may be understood in one of two ways. 1.

The phrase “God is with us” describes the nature of Jesus. He is God who has become a human.

2. Matthew wanted to show that the virgin conception was not something new, but that it had been predicted by the prophet Isaiah. God is now with the people to save them as the prophets have predicted. Therefore “God is with us” would not so much describe the exact nature of Jesus, but rather that God has been gracious to His people by sending His Messiah. Summary When the conception of Jesus was announced to Joseph the angel told him that a Son would be born who would be called Immanuel – God with us. The phrase may be emphasizing the truth of the gospel that God became a human being in Jesus Christ. It is also possible that Matthew is emphasizing that God was faithful to His promises in sending the Messiah to His people the Jews.

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QUESTION 42 What Does Jesus’ Preexistence Mean? The doctrine of Jesus’ preexistence means that He existed before He came to earth as a human being. There are a number of passages that make this clear. 1.

Jesus Existed Before Abraham

Jesus said that he existed before Abraham. Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). 2.

God Became A Human In Jesus

This key New Testament verse says God became a human being in Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). Not only did Jesus exist before Abraham, He has existed eternally. 3.

Jesus Is Preeminent Over All Creation

Paul also said that Jesus was preeminent over all creation. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). 4.

Jesus Had Past Glory

While here on earth, Jesus Himself spoke about his past glory. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began (John 17:5). Jesus also said. Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which you have given me; for you loved me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24). We do not exactly know what this glory consisted of. 5.

Jesus Took The Form Of A Servant

Paul wrote about the coming of Jesus to the earth as taking the form of a servant.

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Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:6,7). Therefore, the one who existed as God for all eternity came to this earth and took the form of a servant. Summary One of the key doctrines of the New Testament is the “preexistence of Jesus Christ.” The existence of Jesus Christ did not begin when He was born as a babe in Bethlehem. Jesus’ preexistence means that He existed before He came to earth. He told the religious rulers of His day that He existed before Abraham – a man who lived two thousand years earlier. The Bible speaks of Jesus not only existed before Abraham, He has existed for all eternity. He is the eternal God who became a human being. His position was of one who was preeminent over all creation. Scripture also speaks of His previous glory. He laid aside that glory when He came to earth as a human and took the role of a servant.

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QUESTION 43 What Did Jesus Do Before He Came To Earth? The Bible teaches that Jesus existed before He came to earth as a human. Scripture also tells us some of the things that He did before He became human. 1.

He Was The Creator

Jesus was the Creator of the universe. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made (John 1:3). Paul wrote. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him (Colossians 1:16). 2.

Jesus Preserved The Universe After He Created It

Jesus not only created the universe and framed the various ages, He also preserved His creation. Paul wrote. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). The writer to the Hebrews said. The son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus work of preservation continues until today. Summary Jesus has been God from all eternity. He was not inactive before He came to earth. The Bible says that Jesus was the Creator of the universe, and also preserved His creation. Consequently we find Him active before He came to earth as a human being. He continues to preserve the universe to this day.

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QUESTION 44 What Prophetic Pictures Are Given Of Christ Before He Became A Human Being? There are three special pictures that the Old Testament gives of Christ. They are the slain lamb, the obedient servant, and the beloved Son. 1.

THE SLAIN LAMB

The Passover lamb was a prophetic picture of Jesus. When the children of Israel were about to leave Egypt the Lord commanded them concerning the Passover lamb. He told them that a lamb was to be slain and its blood was to put over the frames of the doors. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs (Exodus 12:7). The houses of those who did this would not be judged. The Lord said. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt (Exodus 12:13). The blood of the lamb kept the people from being judged. This pictured the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ – the Lamb of God. Jesus Was The Lamb Of God John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). He Was The Lamb Slain Before The World Was Created Scripture says that Jesus was the lamb slain before the creation of the world. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Therefore we find that His death was planned before the world was created, pictured in the Old Testament by means of the slain lamb, and accomplished on Calvary’s cross. 2.

THE OBEDIENT SERVANT

The Old Testament also portrayed Jesus as the obedient servant. In Isaiah we read about the servant of the Lord. See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted (Isaiah 52:12) The psalmist wrote about the servant wanting to do the will of God.

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Jesus Sacrifice and meal offering you have not desired; my ears you have opened; burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will, O my God; your Law is within my heart (Psalm 40:6-8).

A Picture Of The Obedient Servant A wonderful picture of Jesus as the obedient servant is found in the example of a Hebrew slave. If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. But if the slave pla inly says, ‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’ then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently (Exodus 21:2-6). In this example, the slave was unwilling to claim his rightful freedom. Because of his love for his master and their family he voluntarily submitted to them forever. Jesus Was The Servant Of The Lord The New Testament says that Jesus was the chosen servant. Matthew wrote. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations” (Matthew 11:17,18). The idea that Jesus was the servant of the Lord is found throughout the gospels. In fact, the key to Jesus’ coming to the earth is found in His coming to serve. Matthew wrote. Just as 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). His ministry was to serve; not to be served. 3.

THE B ELOVED SON

Jesus was also prophetically pictured as the beloved Son. We read in Psalms. I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: he said to me, “You are my son today I have become your Father” (Psalm 2:7). The Psalmist wrote. He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure (Psalm 89:26-29).

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Jesus Is The Beloved Son Jesus was called the beloved Son at his baptism and transfiguration. At His baptism the Father acknowledged Jesus. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). We find the same thing occurring at His transfiguration. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5). Summary The Old Testament gives a number of prophetic pictures of the coming Messiah. These pictures illustrate both the character and ministry of Jesus. Three of the most outstanding ones are the slain lamb, the obedient servant, and the beloved Son. Jesus is spoken of as the lamb that was slain before the world was created. The Old Testament pictured His death in the Passover celebration. His death on the cross at Calvary fulfilled the Old Testament picture. In the Old Testament there is an emphasis on the “servant of the Lord.” Because of his love for his master, he willingly and faithfully serves his master. Matthew tells us that these prophetic pictures were fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus. He came to serve others, not to be served. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice in giving His life for the sins of others. Jesus is also the beloved Son that is pictured in the Old Testament. At His baptism and His transfiguration, God the Father acknowledged Him as this Son whom He loved. As the beloved Son Jesus is preeminent over all things.

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QUESTION 45 Does The Fact That Jesus Received Worship Prove That He Is God? In a number of instances in the gospels we find people worshipping Jesus. A blind man that Jesus healed said. Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped him (John 9:38). It Does Not Necessarily Imply Deity Do these accounts of Jesus receiving worship prove that He is Deity? Not necessarily. The Greek word that is translated, “worship” can have the idea of respect – not necessarily the worship of Deity. 1.

The Incident With The Leper: It Was More Likely Respect Than Worship

The Bible says that a leper approached Jesus and asked for healing. When he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And behold, a leper came and bowed the knee worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:1,2). In this context the leper bowed before Jesus. The word Greek translated, “bow the knee” is translated “worship” in other contexts. Some Bible translations render the word, “worship,” here in Matthew. It is doubtful, however, that the leper was worshipping Jesus in the same way that he worshipped God. In this context he seems to be coming to Jesus more out of respect than of adoration. 2.

Jesus Did Receive The Worship Of The Crowd

In the certain contexts, the worship of Jesus does show that He is God. When Jesus came into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the crowds worshipped Him. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “Have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’” (Matthew 21:15, 16). The quotation was from Psalm 8:2. This part of the psalm is addressed to the Lord Himself. It describes the worship that He alone deserves. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth, who have set your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have ordained strength, because of your enemies, that you may silence the enemy and the avenger (Psalm 8:2). By applying this to Jesus, it indicates that He is worthy of worship – He is the Lord. 3.

The Angels Were Commanded To Worship Jesus

The angels are commanded to worship Jesus.

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And when he again brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “And let all the angels of God worship him” (Hebrews 1:6). 4.

He Is The Lord Of Glory

Paul ascribes glory to Jesus. This would refer to the Shekinah, or heavenly, glory that belongs to God alone. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever (2 Timothy 4:18). 5.

All Will Worship Jesus Someday

The apostle Paul says that someday everyone will worship Jesus. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth (Philippians 2:10). Summary As God the Son, Jesus rightfully received worship during His time here on the earth. However we must be careful about concluding that all of the instances when people bowed down to Him prove they acknowledged Him as God. In many cases, it is clear that He is worshipped as the one, true God. Yet the word translated, “worship” can also be a term of respect. In some contexts we should understand the people giving Jesus great respect rather than worship as God. Each instance of the use of the word toward Jesus needs to be decided on the context. Jesus is the Lord of glory whom everyone, believer and unbeliever alike, will one day acknowledge.

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QUESTION 46 What Are Some Common Objections To Jesus’ Deity? There are a number of common objections to the idea that Jesus of Nazareth was actually God Almighty who became a human being. These are as follows. 1.

Jesus Is The Only Begotten Son

A number of times Jesus is called the only begotten Son. This is understood to mean that He had a beginning. We use the term begotten to refer to the role of a father in the bringing forth of a child. If the Bible uses the term the same way then Jesus must have had a beginning. If He had a beginning then He could not be God. 2.

Jesus Statement, “My Father Is Greater Than I”

The statement of Jesus that, “My Father is greater than I” has led some to conclude that Jesus was inferior to God the Father. If He is lesser than the Father then it is reasoned that He cannot be God. 3.

Jesus Is Called The Firstborn Of All Creation

In the Book of Colossians Jesus is called the firstborn of all creation. This has been understood to mean that Jesus was a created being and not the Creator. He was the first thing that God created. 4.

Jesus Is Called The Beginning Of God’s Creation

In the Book of Revelation Jesus is called the beginning of God’s creation. This is understood to mean that He was God’s first created being. This would mean that He is not the Creator Himself. These different statements found in Scripture are said to portray Jesus as a created being who is not the eternal God. These Statements Do Not Deny Christ’s Deity These statements do not say that Jesus is something less than God. Once they are understood in their proper context it will be seen they are consistent with the entirety of biblical teaching concerning the character of Christ. Summary There are a number of objections that people make to the deity of Christ. Jesus is called the only begotten Son – this implies a beginning for Him. He Himself said that His Father was greater than Him. Also Jesus is called the firstborn of all creation. In Revelation, He is called the beginning of God’s creation. It is argued that all of these statements make Jesus something less than God. However when properly understood we will find that none of these statements deny the Deity of Christ.

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QUESTION 47 Why Did Jesus Say My Father Is Greater Than I? (John 14:28) Jesus made the following statement. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I (John 14:28). This statement has been thought to mean that Jesus is something less than God the Father. However this is not what Jesus said. He was not comparing His nature with that of God the Father. Rather He was comparing their relative positions. This can be seen in a number of ways. Jesus Was Lesser In Position When He Came To Earth When Jesus came to earth He came in the form of a servant. This is also known as His humiliation. The Apostle Paul wrote. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8). While He was Almighty God, He willingly took upon the form of a servant. His nature, as God, did not change. Lesser In Position Does Not Mean Lesser In Character While Jesus took a position that was lesser than that of God the Father, this does not mean that He was lesser in character. We can find an analogy of this in Scripture with the relationship between men and women. We read the following in First Corinthians. Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God (1 Corinthians 11:3) The fact that the man is the head of the woman does not imply superiority – it is speaking of their respective roles not their character. Elsewhere Scripture makes it clear there is no difference in character between men and women. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28) In the same manner, Jesus was in a subordinate position to God the Father while here on earth but was not inferior in character. Jesus Has Now Been Exalted Jesus has now been exalted to His rightful position. Continuing his thought in Philippians, Paul wrote.

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Therefore Jesus’ statement in John has nothing to do with His nature compared with God the Father. Summary The fact that Jesus said, “My Father is greater than I” has led some to conclude that He was lesser in nature than God the Father. However this statement refers to Jesus’ state of humiliation that He took when He became a human being. It does not to have reference to His basic nature. An analogy is found with the role of men and women. While the Bible stresses that men and women are equal in nature they have different roles to perform. Women are to be subordinate to men in many instances. This does not imply inferiority. In the same way, while Jesus was here upon the earth, He was submissive to God the Father in all things. However He was still equal in nature. He has now been exalted to His former glory as God the Son. Consequently there is nothing in His statement that suggests that He is lesser in character than God the Father.

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QUESTION 48 In What Sense Is Jesus The Firstborn Of All Creation? In the first chapter of Colossians Paul makes the following statement about Jesus. And he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15). It has been alleged that firstborn means that Jesus was the first creation of God. The term “firstborn” is never applied to God the Father or to the Holy Spirit. Does this mean that Jesus Christ was a created being? The Word Can Mean A Number Of Different Things The Greek word prototokos, which is translated as “firstborn,” can refer to different things. It could refer either to something or someone that is first in order of time, such as a firstborn child, or it could refer to someone who is preeminent in rank. Or it could refer to someone who was both firstborn and preeminent in rank. It all depends upon the context. David, The Youngest Son, Was Called The Firstborn The psalmist gives a description of David as being the firstborn. The Lord said of him. I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth (Psalm 89:27). In this example the term firstborn obviously speaks of preeminence in rank. David was preeminent among the kings of Israel. However he was not the oldest son, nor was he the firstborn in his family. David was in fact the youngest son. Neither was he the first king in the history of Israel. Saul was king before him. Therefore in this context, the idea of firstborn among the kings has the idea of preeminence and does not have the idea of time. It Has The Idea Of Preeminence In The Book Of Colossians In the passage in Colossians the idea of Jesus as firstborn means that He is preeminent over creation not that He is a created being. This can be seen from the verses that follow. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16,17). Jesus is clearly called the Creator of all things. Consequently He could not have been the first thing created. Jesus Has Preeminence Over The Dead Jesus is also called the firstborn from the dead. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5).

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Jesus was the first person in time to come back from the dead never to die again. In addition, He is preeminent over the dead and death itself. Jesus said that He has the keys, or the authority, to death and Hades. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Revelation 1:18). Therefore we again find the word firstborn used in the sense of Jesus’ preeminence. Jesus Is Heir To All Things In Creation There is another aspect to the term firstborn that can be applied to Christ – He is the heir of all things. In human terms, the firstborn was the heir to all that the Father owned. When the Father died the heir received the entire inheritance. Of course, God the Father will never die. However, Jesus, as the heir, has the right to all things that belong to the Father. Paul wrote to the Romans emphasizing that believers are co-heirs with Jesus in our inheritance. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Roman 8:16,17). Therefore as the heir all things are rightly His. Jesus Is The Firstborn Over All Creation There is one final thing. Colossians 1:15 could be better translated in the following manner. And he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). This translation emphasizes that Jesus is preeminent “over” His creation. This is to be preferred to the translation of “the firstborn of all creation” which gives the impression that Jesus is a created being. Summary Jesus is called the firstborn of all creation. This does not mean that He is a created being. The idea is that Jesus has preeminence over all creation. The word translated, “firstborn” can refer to preeminence in rank or preeminence in time. The context will determine. In the Psalms David is called the “firstborn” among the kings even though he was the youngest son of his father. Neither was he the first king of Israel. In this context, firstborn can only refer to rank. The word firstborn can also have the idea of “heir.” Jesus is the rightful heir of creation - all things belong to Him. This also has to do with His position or rank, not any idea of the time of His creation. Jesus is called the firstborn in the sense that He is “over” all of creation. This is made clear by the following verses in which it says that He is the Creator. Therefore a better translation would be that Jesus is the firstborn, “over all of creation.” Consequently there is no idea here of Jesus Christ being someone who was created by God the Father. On the contrary, Jesus was the Creator of all things.

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QUESTION 49 In What Sense Is Jesus The Beginning Of God’s Creation? In the Book of Revelation Jesus is called the beginning of the creation of God. To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, says this (Revelation 3:14). This verse has been used to say that Jesus was a created being. If He was the beginning of God’s creation than He Himself must have had a beginning. Therefore He could not be God. Was Jesus First In A Series Of Created Things? John also uses this same Greek word arche elsewhere in the sense of the first thing in a series. This, the first [arche] of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him (John 2:11). This, it is argued, is another indication that we are talking about Jesus being created in time. He was the first in a series of things that God created. The Same Term Is Used Of God This argument does not work. The same word, arche, is used two other times in the Book of Revelation. In each case it is used of God. He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning [arche] and the End. To the one who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6). Later in Revelation we read the Lord saying. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning [arche] and the End (Revelation 22:13). Obviously God is not the first in a series of created things. Consequently this word does not always have the meaning of the first in a series. Actually, John 2:11 is the only place in the writings of John where arche has this meaning. In other places it has a different meaning. For example, we read. Yet there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus had known from the beginning [arche] which of them did not believe and who would betray him (John 6:64) Here the word has the idea of the beginning of His ministry – not the beginning of a series of things. “Tell us who you are,” they demanded. Jesus replied, “I am the one I have claimed to be from the beginning” [arche] (John 8:25). The reference to the beginning is a beginning point in time – it is not referring to any type of a beginning of a series of things.

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Therefore, with the way in which John uses the Greek word arche, it does not have the usual meaning of first in a series. Therefore Revelation 3:14 should have some other meaning. WHAT DOES IT M EAN? If arche does not mean that Jesus was the first in a series of God’s creation, then what does it mean? There are two possible meanings. He is either the “ruler” of all creation or the “origin” of all creation. Option 1:

Jesus Is The Ruler Over Creation

The word arche in Revelation 3:14 could have the idea of “ruler” or one who is “preeminent over” creation. We find the word elsewhere used of persons who were rulers. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor heavenly rulers neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (Romans 8:38) This is the plural form of arche. Option 2:

Jesus Is The Origin Of God’s Creation

The word translated “beginning” can also have the meaning of “origin.” This idea is that the creation of all things originated with Jesus. He is the source,, the first cause of creation, – not the first created being. While there is no certain use of arche in this sense in the New Testament, it does fit the context in Revelation 3. Summary Jesus is called the beginning of God’s creation. Some have argued that this means that Jesus was Himself created. However this does not fit the meaning of the word or the rest of the teaching of Scripture. Jesus is the Creator – not one who was created. The word could mean that Jesus was the “ruler” over creation or that He is the one who is the “origin” or “source” of creation. Either of these fits the context in Revelation 3.

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QUESTION 50 Why Was Jesus Called The Only Begotten Son? In a number of places in Scripture Jesus is called the only begotten Son. John wrote. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). It has been argued that the idea behind begotten is “born” or “generated.” Jesus became God’s Son at a point in time. The question is, “What point in time did Jesus become the only begotten Son?” Some believe this means Jesus was created. Since we use the term begotten to refer to the man’s role in conception, it is argued that Jesus must have been somehow conceived or begotten by the Father. However this is not what the Scripture says. There are a number of ways in which this is understood. Option 1

Jesus Was Begotten In Eternity

Some argue that Jesus was begotten in eternity, not time. At some point in eternity past Jesus became God’s Son. While He is the eternal God He was not the eternal Son of God. He only became the Son some time before He came to earth. Option 2

He Became The Son Of God While Here On Earth

Others argue that Jesus became the Son of God sometime during His time on the earth. Either at His birth, baptism, or resurrection, He became the Son. Option 3

Begotten Means Unique

There is also the position that the Greek term monogenese means “unique.” The idea behind the word has nothing to do with time – it has to do with His unique character. Consequently it has nothing to do with the time when Jesus became the Son. It is stressing the fact of His unique character. Whichever of these three views is correct it is certain that Jesus was not a created being but rather has been God for all eternity. Summary Jesus is called the only begotten Son. There has been much discussion as to what is meant by the term “only begotten.” Some feel it means that Jesus’ existence began at some point in time. However the Bible clearly says this is not the case. Jesus has always been the eternal God. The question is, “Has He always been the eternal Son of God?” Some believe that Jesus was begotten in eternity past as God’s Son. Others think it means that Jesus became God’s Son sometime during His time here upon the earth. It has also been argued that the word translated, “only begotten” actually means unique – what is stressed is that Jesus is God’ unique Son. Whichever answer is correct, it is clear that Jesus has existed for al eternity.

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QUESTION 51 Why Was Jesus Called The Word Of God? (Logos) One of the titles of Jesus was the Word of God. In John’s gospel we read. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God (John 1:1). John also wrote. The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). In the Book of Revelation it says. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13). THIS TERM IS NOT DEFINED Although there is no explanation given in Scripture as to why Jesus is called the Word of God there have been several suggested reasons. 1.

It May Refer To Wisdom Personified

It has been argued that Jesus is the personification of wisdom as is described in Proverbs 5-8. This section begins by saying. My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight (Proverbs 5:1). 2.

The Word Is God’s Communication To Humanity

It is possible that the term “word” is used the same manner as does the Old Testament – the communication of God to humanity. This is exactly what Jesus did – He revealed to the world the Word of God. Jesus was the personification of the written and spoken Word. In the Old Testament God revealed His word through the prophets while in the New Testament the Word of God was revealed in a Person – God the Son. Summary Jesus is called, “the Word of God.” Although Scripture does not define what is meant by that term it could refer to the fact that He is the personification of wisdom. Wisdom is spoken of as something personal in the Book of Proverbs. It may also refer to the fact that Jesus is God’s communication to humanity. The testimony that God revealed through the prophets during the Old Testament period was now made human with the coming of Christ. Hence the Word became flesh.

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QUESTION 52 Why Was Jesus Called The Son Of God? In the New Testament Jesus of Nazareth is referred to as “the Son of God.” Jesus was recognized as the Son of God in a number of ways. They include the following. 1.

God The Father Recognized Jesus As His Son

God the Father recognized Jesus as the Son. He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you” (Acts 13:33). The writer to the Hebrews said. For to which of the angels did he ever say, “You are my son, today I have begotten you?” And again, “I will be a Father to him and he shall be a Son to me?” (Hebrews 1:5). At Jesus’ transfiguration the Father acknowledged the Son. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to him! (Matthew 17:5). 2.

The Testimony Of The Angel Gabriel

When announcing the upcoming birth of Jesus to Mary, the angel Gabriel said He would be God’s Son. The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). 3.

The Confession Of Peter Recognized Jesus

Simon Peter testified that Jesus was the “Son of the living God.” “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” (Matthew 16:17). 4.

The Acknowledgment Of The Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God. Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh (Romans 1:1-3). 5.

The Demons Recognize Jesus

The demons also recognized Jesus as the Son of God.

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The Statements Of Jesus As To His Identity As God’s Son

Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of God. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live (John 5:25). John also records. But when Jesus heard this, he said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it”(John 11:4). Later Jesus said. Do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’ (John 10:36). 7.

Jesus Acknowledged His Identity Under Oath

At His trial, while under oath, Jesus admitted to being the Son of God. And the high priest answered and said to him, ‘I adjure you by the living God that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said’ (Matthew 26:63,64). The charge that was brought to Pontius Pilate is that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God” (John 19:7). The religious leaders understood that Jesus was claiming equality with God. 8.

John Said Jesus Is The Son Of God The Father

Jesus is the Son of God the Father. Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love (2 John 3). Therefore, it is the united testimony of the New Testament that Jesus is the Son of God. HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE CALLED “SON OF GOD” Although Jesus is called the “Son of God” we also find this term applied to humans and angels. The term “son of God” is applied to the first man Adam, angels, Israel, those who make peace, and Christians. 1.

Adam Was A Son Of God

Adam, the first man, was called the son of God.

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The son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God (Luke 3:38). 2.

Israel Was God’s Son

The Old Testament says that the nation Israel is God’s son. When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son (Hosea 11:1). 3.

Angels Are The Sons Of God

Angels are called “sons of God.” Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord (Job 2:1). 4.

Those Who Make Peace Are God’s Sons

Those who make peace are called the “sons of God.” Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). 5.

Christians Are Called God’s Sons

The designation “sons of God” is also used for Christians. For they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection (Luke 20:36). IN WHAT SENSE IS JESUS THE SON OF GOD? If human beings and angels can be called, “sons of God,” then, in what sense, if any, is Jesus different? The answer is that Jesus was the unique “Son of God” in that He possesses the same nature as God. Adam was the “son of God” in the sense that He was created directly by God – He did not have a human father or mother. Angels are the “sons of God” in the sense that they were created by God. Israel was symbolically called God’s son as were the peacemakers. Believers are “sons of God” or “children of God” by faith in Christ. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). 1.

Jesus Has Been God’s Son For All Eternity

Jesus, however, has been God the Son for all eternity. The Bible says. No one has ever seen God, but God the one and only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known (John 1:18). Jesus called Himself the Son of God in a unique sense. A man can only be the son of his Father. Jesus was the “Son of the Highest,” and the “Son of God.”

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The Father sent His Son into the world. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). If the Father of Jesus was God and God alone, then Jesus has the same nature as God. 2.

Jesus Is Not The Not Literal Offspring Of God

The title “Son of God” does not indicate Jesus was the literal offspring of His Father. On the contrary, the Bible speaks of Jesus as having existed as God from all eternity. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God (John 1:1). He did not have a beginning as you or I have had. Therefore He is not a “son” in the sense of a literal offspring. He existed before He was born as a babe in Bethlehem. 3.

The Word Son Can Mean “Possessing The Nature Of”

The Bible often uses the word “son” to mean, “possessing the nature of,” or, “on the order of.” For example we read. And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:1,2). The “sons of disobedience” are those who by nature are disobedient not a literal offspring of disobedience. In the Old Testament we read of the “sons of the prophets.” By the word of the LORD one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but the man refused (1 Kings 20:35). These were not the literal offspring of the prophets but rather those who of the same order as the prophets. In addition, the sons of the prophets were not inferior to the prophets but were rather equal to them. 4.

Jesus Has The Same Nature As God

In the same way Jesus possesses the same nature of God. The Bible says. For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). John wrote.

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And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20). Therefore He is the Son in the sense that He possesses the same nature as God or is of the same order as God. Summary God the Father, the angel Gabriel, His own disciples, the Apostle Paul, and even the demons acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. Although Adam, angels, Israel, peacemakers, and Christians are all called “sons of God” the Scripture designates Jesus as the unique Son of God. He possesses the same nature as the Father – God. However He is not a literal offspring for He has existed for all eternity. The Bible often uses the word “son” in the sense of “possessing the nature of.” Jesus is the “Son” of God in this sensepossessing the nature of God. The title “Son” does not, in any way, suggest the Son is inferior to the Father.

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QUESTION 53 Was Jesus Always The Son Of God? (The Eternal Generation Of The Son) There is a question as to whether Jesus was always the eternal Son of God or that He became the Son of God only when He came to earth. This is technically called the “eternal generation of the Son.” Two issues are involved. 1.

The relationship between the nature of the Father and the Son.

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The relationship between the ways they carry out their respective roles as members of the Trinity.

The Father Handed Over All Things To Jesus God the Father had all things handed over to Jesus. Jesus said. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him (Matthew 11:27). Does this imply that Jesus had always been in a subordinate role to the Father as God the Son? Or does it mean that at a certain time Jesus willingly became subordinate to God the Father? DID J ESUS B ECOME THE SON? Some Bible teacher’s believe that Jesus became the Son of God at a certain time in history. There is an Old Testament passage that seems to teach that Jesus became the Son at some point in time. I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son today I have become your Father” (Psalm 2:7). There are five particular times that are suggested: His coming into the world; His baptism; His resurrection; His ascension, or before He came to earth. Option 1

Did He Become The Son At His Birth?

It is argued that Jesus became the Son of God when He became a human being. At the announcement of His birth the angel said to Mary. The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35) Option 2

Did Jesus Become The Son At His Baptism?

Another view has Jesus becoming God’ Son at His baptism. When He was baptized God the Father announced.

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And behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Option 3

Was It At His Resurrection That Jesus Became The Son?

It is also held that Jesus became the Son of God at His resurrection. Who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:4). Option 4

Did Jesus Become The Son At His Ascension?

A fourth view has Jesus becoming the Son of God at His ascension. When he had made purification of sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they (Hebrews 1:3,4). Option 5

Did Jesus Become The Son Before He Came To Earth

A fifth view has Jesus as the Son of God before He came to earth – at some point in time He became the Son. While He was always the eternal God He became “the Son” sometime before His appearance on the earth. Option 6

Jesus Has Been The Eternal Son Of God

The best evidence from Scripture seems to be that Jesus has always been the Son of God. Since God is also an unchanging God, He has always existed as a Trinity as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Consequently Jesus has always been the Second Person of the Trinity – God the Son. Therefore He has always been in a subordinate role to the Father. However, this subordinate role says nothing about His character for He is equal to the Father in substance. For example, God the Father spoke, the words that brought the universe into existence while God the Son was the agent who brought them to pass. The Bible says of Jesus. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being (John 1:3). This Is Not The Same As Subordinationism Saying that the Son was eternally subordinate to the Father is not the same as the heresy known as Subordinationism. This false doctrine says the Son was an inferior being to the Father. Though He was the eternal uncreated Son He was still not equal to the Father in His being or attributes. The early church father Origen held to a form of Subordinationism. When the doctrine of the Trinity was clearly formulated at the council of Nicea, this heresy along with others was rejected. Therefore the Son was equal in being but subordinate in His role. We know that when He returns He will give all things back to the Father and submit Himself to the Father. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).

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Summary There has been a debate in the church as to whether Jesus was the eternal Son of God or that He became the Son of God when He came to the earth. The issue is not His nature - Jesus always has been the eternal God. The question is when did He assume a submissive role with God the Father. Those who advocate Jesus became the Son of God do not all agree as exactly when this happened. Arguments have been made for His birth, baptism, resurrection and ascension. Some argue that it was sometime before He came to earth. The Scriptures, however, seem to teach that Jesus has always been in a subordinate role to God the Father while still being equal in character. While Jesus character is equal to God the Father His role is one of subordination.

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QUESTION 54 In What Sense Was Jesus Christ God And Man Simultaneously? (The Hypostatic Union) The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was the eternal God who became a human being – He did not possess a human nature until His birth in Bethlehem. This doctrine that Jesus Christ was both God and man simultaneously is known as the “hypostatic union.” “Hypostatic” is derived from two Greek words, huper which means, “under” and histayme which means, “to stand.” The Hypostatic Union Defined The hypostatic union can be defined as God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, came to earth and took human nature upon Himself. Thus Jesus was fully God and fully human. He will remain this way forever. Consequently when Jesus came to earth He took upon Himself an additional nature – one that is human. The result was that Jesus was God and humanity simultaneously – the God man. Jesus Was The God-Man (Theanthropic Man) A phrase that is often used to describe Jesus is a theanthropic man. Theanthropic comes from two Greek words, theos, which means God and anthropos which means “man” or “human being.” This Is A Difficult Doctrine The hypostatic union is a difficult doctrine to comprehend. There are many questions that arise concerning Jesus’ divine and human nature. How are we to understand His two natures in the one body? Did each of them work separately? Were they independent of one another? 1.

God Became Human In Jesus Christ

The Bible says that Jesus came in human flesh. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God (1 John 4:2). John wrote. The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). These passages tell us that Jesus came in human nature - human nature became an element in His one personality. 2.

The Unity Of Jesus’ Two Natures

The attributes of Christ, as well as His titles, are ascribed to the one Person. This can only be understood if His nature is understood as one single Person who united with both the human and the divine nature. Both natures are highlighted in the New Testament. Paul wrote.

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Jesus Regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David (Romans 1:3).

Peter spoke of His body that died. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18). The writer to the Hebrews stated. But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:2,3). 3.

Jesus Is One Person With Two Natures

Jesus had no human personality before He was born in Bethlehem. Once He became a human being, His human nature was never separate from the divine nature. Jesus was one person with two natures. He did not cease being God when He became a human, neither was He any less human because He was God. In one body He was God and humanity united. Jesus was the God-man. Thus He remained God when He became a human. 4.

The Two Natures Are Complete

The union of the two natures was complete. Jesus did not act as God on some occasions and then as a human at other times. Therefore we cannot divide events in His life into the category of human or divine. He lived and suffered as a human being, yet all the while He was God. It is not correct to say that He performed miracles as God but died on the cross as a human. Jesus was both divine and human at all times. He is a single, undivided personality. The two natures are inseparably united. Thus He is not merely God and man but rather the God-man. 5.

Jesus Was A Singular Person

Jesus spoke of Himself as a single Person. There is no conversation back and forth between the human and divine nature as we find the members of the Trinity addressing each other. For example, in His prayer to the Father, Jesus said. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me (John 17:23). Jesus never spoke of Himself in the plural – us. The only possible exception to this is found in John’s gospel. I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony (John 3:11). However this is not necessarily Jesus speaking. It could be John’s commentary. If it was Jesus speaking He was probably referring to John the Baptist. The prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah would be both human and divine.

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For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on his shoulders; and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). 6.

The Two Natures Are Necessary To Save Humanity

The two natures of Christ are necessary for the salvation of the human race. As a human being, Jesus could represent humanity and die as a human being. As Deity, His death would have infinite value. Peter wrote. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers (1 Peter 1:18). 7.

The Two Natures Are Necessary For Jesus To Be A High Priest

The union of the two natures in one Person is essential for Jesus to be the Mediator between God and humanity. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). His dual nature allows him to be involved with both God and humanity. Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, he is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted (Hebrews 2:17,18). The writer to the Hebrews also said. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15,16). Summary The biblical account of Jesus’ life demonstrates that Jesus Christ was God and man simultaneously. This is known as the “hypostatic union.” Though He possessed two natures, they were unified in one body. Christ had only one personality, one thought pattern. He lived His life as both God and man. It is not possible to divide His actions into categories of human or divine. He remains the God-man and forever will be. He suffered this humility because of His great love for us. For all eternity we will be reminded of that as we see Him in that body that was sacrificed on our behalf.

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QUESTION 55 What Are Some Common Misconceptions About The Two Natures Of Christ? There are a number of misconceptions about Christ’s dual nature, or the hypostatic union, that need to be addressed. They are as follows. 1.

God Did Not Turn Into A Human Being

The Bible does not teach that God turned into a human. Jesus remained God during His entire time on the earth as well as today. Actually it would be impossible for God to cease being God. God, by definition, is eternal. He had no beginning and will have no end. It is impossible for Him to cease to exist. 2.

Jesus Is Not Merely A Man Of God

The hypostatic union does not mean that Jesus was merely a man of God. While He was a man of God in the ultimate sense of the term, He was much more than that. He was the God-Man - God in human flesh. 3.

God Did Not Live In A Body

The hypostatic union does not mean that Jesus simply lived in a human body. He was thoroughly human with all the limitations of a human body. Jesus had a human nature as well as a divine nature. 4.

They Hypostatic Union Is Not The Same As The Virgin Birth

Often the hypostatic union is confused with the virgin birth. The virgin birth speaks of the manner in which Jesus came into the world. The hypostatic union refers to the fact that Christ was fully God and fully human. It is a result of the virgin birth but not the same thing as the virgin birth. 5.

It Is Not The Same As The Incarnation

The hypostatic union is not the same as the incarnation. The incarnation refers to the entire story of God the Son become a human being. The hypostatic union is merely one part of the story of Jesus becoming human. 6.

It Was Not A Theophany

The hypostatic union is not a theophany. A theophany is the appearance of God in a human body. There were a number of occasions of this occurring that the Old Testament records. What the hypostatic union and theophanies have in common is the idea that God took on a human body. However, the hypostatic union occurred only once whereas there have been several theophanies recorded in Scripture. In addition, the theophanies were temporary appearances of God in a body. Each one lasted for only a short period of time. When Jesus came to earth in a human body that lasted approximately thirty years. His resurrected body is permanent. The union of the two natures in Jesus Christ is permanent.

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Summary There are a number of misconceptions about the hypostatic union that need to be addressed. The union of the two natures of Christ does not mean that God turned into a human being. Neither does it mean that Jesus was merely a man of God. The idea of the union of Christ’s two natures does not mean that God merely took on a human body. Neither was it the same as the incarnation – this refers to the entire story of God becoming human. Finally, the hypostatic union is not the same as a theophany – a temporary appearance of God in a body.

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QUESTION 56 How Could Christ Be God And Human At The Same Time? (The Communion Of Attributes) The attributes of both two natures of Jesus Christ were expressed in the one Person. There was no mixing of the natures or any division of His Person. He was one united Person with both human and divine attributes. This is known as the “communion of attributes.” The fact that Christ had attributes of both of God and humanity is clearly taught in Scripture. 1.

Jesus Worshipped God, Yet He Received Worship As God

Jesus is worshipped as God. Thomas answered and said to him [Jesus], “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). In his high priestly prayer Jesus worshipped the Father. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do (John 17:4). 2.

Jesus Is Called God, Yet He Was Human

Jesus is God the Son. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God (John 1:1). Though Jesus was called God, He was also called a human. The centurion at Jesus’ crucifixion testified to His humanity. When the centurion, who was standing right in front of him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). 3.

He Is The Son Of God And The Son Of Man

He was called the Son of God. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:1). Jesus called Himself the Son of Man. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). 4.

Jesus The Fullness Of Deity, But He Had A Body Of Flesh And Bones

The fullness of deity dwelt in Him. For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). Jesus had a body of flesh and bones. Jesus said on the day of His resurrection.

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See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have (Luke 24:39). 5.

Jesus Existed Before Abraham, Yet Was Born During The Reign Of Augustus Caesar

Jesus was said to have existed before Abraham. Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). Yet He was born in the reign of Caesar Augustus. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:6,7). 6.

Jesus Knew All Things, Yet Grew In Wisdom

Jesus knew all things. The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). In Luke, we read that Jesus grew in wisdom. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and humanity (Luke 2:52). 7.

Jesus Was Without Sin, Yet He Was Tempted

Jesus was without sin. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Mathew wrote about Jesus’ temptation. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil (Matthew. 4:1). 8.

Jesus Received Prayer, Yet He Prayed To The Father

Jesus was prayed to. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). Jesus prayed to His Father. After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed (John 17:1). 9.

Jesus Gives Eternal Life, Yet He Experienced Death

He is the one who gives eternal life.

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Jesus I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand (John 10:28).

Jesus died. And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:50). THREE IMPORTANT TRUTHS TO B E RECOGNIZED Three important facts should be emphasized about the two natures of Christ. They include the following. First, Jesus Christ had two distinct natures. He was fully God and fully human. Second, there was no intermingling between the two natures. Finally, while Christ had two natures He was only one Person. He was not a dual personality. Neither did He do some things as God and other things as a human. He did not have a divine-human or a humandivine nature. Summary The Bible teaches Jesus Christ, in one body, was both God and human. This is known as the communion of attributes. This truth is taught a number of ways in Scripture. We find that Jesus worshiped the Father and that people worshipped Jesus. The Bible says that Jesus was called God as well as a human being. Scripture says that Jesus was the Son of God (divine) as well as the Son of Man (human). Jesus was the fulness of Deity yet He had a body of flesh and bones. Although Jesus existed before Abraham He was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus. Jesus knew all things yet He grew in wisdom. Jesus was without sin yet He was tempted to sin. People prayed to Jesus, Jesus prayed to the Father. Finally, Jesus, the one who gives eternal life, also experienced death.

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QUESTION 57 What Are Some Of The Problems Connected With Jesus’ Human And Divine Nature? There are a number of issues that arise about Jesus human and divine nature. This is also known as the problem of the condescension of Christ. When Jesus, as God, became a human being, it was an act of condescension. God condescended to become a human being. The truth of Christ’s condescension raises a number of questions and problems. Jesus’ Is A Unique Situation The fact that Jesus had both a perfect human nature as well as a divine nature is something that is unique. Therefore we have nothing to compare it to. There Is A Mystery Of God Becoming A Human Paul spoke of the mystery of God becoming a human being And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: he who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, beheld by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16). Paul wrote. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ (Colossians 2:2). The hypostatic union is ultimately a mystery. We cannot understand it any more than we can understand the doctrine of the Trinity. While it is a mystery it is not irrational. We believe in the hypostatic union is a reality because it is taught in Scripture by a God who is unable to deceive. Are The Attributes Able To Be Transferred? There has been a question as to whether the attributes may be transferred from the divine to the human. The followers of John Calvin, known as Calvinists, held that there was no possibility of the attributes transferring from one nature to the other. Lutherans, on the other hand, teach that Christ’s body is everywhere present at all times. They believe the attribute of being omnipresent, or everywhere present, was transferred from Jesus’ Deity to His humanity. Summary There are a number of problems connected with Jesus’ dual nature. The Bible calls it a mystery. One of them concerns the way the attributes are transferred. There is a difference of opinion as to whether the human nature of Christ is omnipresent. The Bible gives no clear answer to this, as well as a number of other questions regarding His nature.

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QUESTION 58 In What Sense Did Jesus Empty Himself? (Kenosis, Condescension Of Christ) In the second chapter of the letter to the Philippians the Apostle Paul made the following statement about Christ. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8). The passage speaks of Christ “emptying Himself.” The Greek word for this is kenosis. The question is what did Jesus empty Himself of when He came to earth? THERE ARE M ISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT J ESUS EMPTYING HIMSELF

There are a number of common misconceptions about what Christ emptied Himself of when He became a human being. They include the following. M ISCONCEPTION 1:

J ESUS SET ASIDE HIS DEITY

This view holds that Jesus ceased to be God when He came to earth. He gave up His essential attributes of Deity when He became a human. In other words, Jesus was a mere human when He was on the earth and nothing more. Response Jesus was always conscious of the fact that He was God. Those who say that Jesus ceased being God when He came to earth attempt to make Him into a fallible human being with limitations just like the rest of us. His knowledge of divine mysteries would have been no better than any other human of His day. If this were the case, then His testimony would carry no real weight. He would not have been competent to speak about any issue with absolute authority. The Bible does not say that God changed into a human being but rather than God became a human being without ceasing to be God. The Bible says that Jesus does not change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). M ISCONCEPTION 2:

J ESUS SET ASIDE SOME OF HIS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES

This view contends that Christ set aside certain of His divine attributes (such as being all-knowing, allpowerful and everywhere present) when He came to earth. At the same time He kept other of His attributes such as holiness, love, and truth.

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Response Jesus Christ is the eternal God. He enjoys all the rights and privileges of that position. If Jesus was God, as the Scripture teaches, it is hard to imagine that He could somehow rid Himself of these qualities and still be God. The emptying could not have been with regard to His attributes as God, because, by definition, God cannot cease being God. Jesus is God by nature, but became submissive in His office. M ISCONCEPTION 3:

J ESUS DID NOT KNOW THAT HE WAS GOD

There are some who believe that Jesus did not give up any of His divine attributes while here on earth but rather gave up His divine self-consciousness – He did not know He was God. All the attributes of Deity remained with Him, but He simply was not aware of them. Response Scripture says that Jesus was completely aware of who He was and what He could do. When arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus stated that He could summon legions of angels and stop those taking Him. M ISCONCEPTION 4:

J ESUS ACTED AS THOUGH HE DID NOT POSSESS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES

This position holds that Jesus still retained all of His divine attributes when He was here on earth but that He acted as though He did not possess them. While He was still all-knowing, all-powerful, and holy, His behavior did not reflect that He still possessed them. Response This would mean that Jesus was deceiving the people. This is inconsistent with the pure, holy character of God. It is not possible that God can deceive people about anything. M ISCONCEPTION 5:

J ESUS SET ASIDE THE USE OF HIS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES

This position holds that Jesus gave up the use, not the possession of His divine attributes. While He was fully God during His time here upon the earth He did not use any of these divine attributes. Response The New Testament teaches that Jesus did exercise the use of His divine attributes while He was here upon the earth. He was able to predict the future accurately – only God can do this. J ESUS EMPTIED HIMSELF IN THREE WAYS Jesus emptied Himself in at least three different ways. First, He voluntarily accepted the limitations of being a human being. Second, He glory was hidden from the people. Third, He gave up the independent use of His relative attributes (all-knowing, all-powerful, everywhere present, etc.). He Experienced The Limitations Of A Human Being Jesus was the eternal God who became human. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God (John 1:1).

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John wrote. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Jesus was still God while He was here upon the earth. However He took upon Himself an additional nature – that of a human. Jesus had a body like other men except it was without sin. He did not set aside any of the attributes that were rightly His. However He voluntarily limited Himself to being a human being. With genuine humanity came certain restrictions. He could only be at one place at a time. He needed to eat, rest, and sleep. He could feel pain, bleed, and die. Before He became a man He had no such restrictions. Jesus Willingly Humbled Himself The self-humbling of Christ was not against His will. He willingly took on the limitations of humanity. He never used any of His divine attributes to relieve Himself of the limitations of being a human being. Jesus’ Glory Was Veiled The glory of Jesus was hidden from humanity during His time on the earth – although it was revealed at certain times. The glory of God was such that no human could look at it and live. This glory that belong to Jesus was veiled. At the end of His life He prayed to His Father to restore His former glory. I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me together with yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was (John 17:4,5). After His Ascension His glory was no longer veiled. We read in the Book of Revelation. When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. And he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last (Revelation 1:17). Jesus had to veil His glory in order to accomplish His mission on the earth. Jesus Did Not Independently Use His Relative Attributes Jesus chose not to independently exercise of His relative attributes. This includes His ability to be allknowing and all-powerful. His moral attributes, such as love, holiness, and truth were not set aside in any sense. He did not give His perfect morality but He did give up any independent use of His mighty power. The key word in this understanding is “independent.” On many occasions we find Christ exercising His attributes of omniscience and omnipotence. Jesus Lived The Life Of A Servant Jesus chose rather to live the life as a servant who put His trust in His heavenly Father. The following statements from Jesus illustrate this truth. Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, unless it is something he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).

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Jesus said. I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me (John 5:30). Jesus also said. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (John 6:38). Jesus chose to submit to the will of God the Father in every word and in every deed. Therefore, any independent desire on Jesus’ part to act apart from God the Father was emptied, or laid aside, while here upon the earth. Jesus Did Not Know Certain Things The Bible does teach that there were certain things that Jesus did not know. For example, Jesus did not know the time of His Second Coming. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone (Mark 13:32,32). Jesus did not know who from the crowd touched His clothes. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it (Mark 5:30,32). When He was here upon the earth Jesus was all knowing, or omniscient, yet He did not know the time of His Second Coming. Although He was all-powerful, or omnipotent, He prayed to God to raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus, as God, was everywhere present, or omnipresent, but He could only be at one place at a time. These attributes were always with Him – He simply chose not to use them apart from the will of the Father. Jesus Was Continuously Self-limited The self-limitation of Jesus was something that He continually practiced. He had to consciously and continuously rely on the Father instead of His own divine attributes. Jesus Himself said. So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:41,42). He Was Always Guided By The Holy Spirit As a human being, Jesus chose to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Scripture speaks of Jesus being filled with the Spirit after His baptism. And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness (Luke 4:1).

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Consequently Jesus performed His miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. He said. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:28). He placed His faith in the Father. He was able to live a sinless life by trusting the Father at all times. Consequently believers are told to “walk as He walked.” The one who says he abides in him ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked (1 John 2:6) This could only be possible if Jesus walked in faith as a human being. Jesus Is Able To Understand Our Needs Jesus willingly limited Himself while here upon the earth. Consequently He understands what happens to humans. The writer to the Hebrews acknowledged. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Because He has experienced the same problems as humankind He can comfort us. The Bible says that God is the God of all comfort. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). Finally we come to the reason why Jesus imposed these self-limitations upon His Person. He did it because of the love of God. Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends (John 5:13). It was the love of God that caused Jesus to voluntarily humble Himself and lay aside some of the rights that He had as God. Summary When Jesus came to earth He laid aside or emptied Himself of something. There are many misconceptions at to what He set aside. It was not His Deity. Jesus could not empty Himself of His Deity – He could not stop being God. He was always God the Son. He could not exchange His Deity for His humanity. Neither did He set aside only some of His divine attributes and keep others. In addition, Jesus always knew He was God and possessed these divine attributes – He was not ignorant of who He was or what He could do. Moreover Jesus allowed the people to know that He had such powers. Neither did Jesus set aside the use of His relative attributes such as being all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present. Those powers were always present with Him. When Jesus became a human being He divested Himself of certain rights as God the Son. This can be seen in three ways. First He restricted Himself to a human body with all its limitations. He gave up His position when He became a human being. Second He veiled or hid His glory from the people. Finally, He exercised His relative attributes only by the will of God the Father – never on His own initiative.

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QUESTION 59 Did Christ Have One Will Or Two? (Monothelitism) Since Jesus Christ was both divine and human the question has arisen as to His will. Did He have only one will while here upon the earth or did He have two? Did Jesus Have Only One Will - Monothelitism The doctrine of Jesus only having one will is known as Monothelitism. The idea was condemned as a heresy at a church council. The Bible Does Not Say How Many Wills Jesus Had There is no specific passage in which this issue is addressed. Jesus speaks of His will which is distinct from the will of God the Father. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me (John 6:38). However, He does not specify whether it is one or two. It Depends Upon The Definition The answer seems to depend upon how one defines “will.” If will means, “behavior complex” then Christ had two wills: one human and one divine. Yet the two were always in agreement. There was never any conflict between the human nature of Christ and the divine nature. While Jesus made only one decision it seems that both wills were involved. Summary Christ came to do the will of God the Father although He testified that He did have His own unique will. Whether it consisted of one will or two wills the Bible does not specifically say. There are arguments that can be given to support both sides. It seems that the Bible does not give enough information on the subject to make a firm conclusion.

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QUESTION 60 Why Did Jesus Call Himself The Son Of Man? Jesus’ favorite designation, in referring to Himself, was the “Son of Man.” The Gospels record some seventy-eight times that Jesus used this title for Himself. For example, when He asked His disciples the question about His identity, He said, Who do people say that I, the Son of Man, am? (Matthew 16:13). Though the Bible does not define its exact meaning, the title “Son of Man” probably refers to the fact that Jesus was perfect humanity. He, as God, came down and lived among us as the perfect human being. By doing this, He fulfilled the Law of Moses and did what no other human being was able to do. By using this title, He is identifying with the people He had come to save. 1.

It Is Connected With His Earthly Life

The title is connected with the earthly life of Jesus. We read in Matthew. But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins - he said to the paralytic (Mark 2:10). Jesus said So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). Jesus also said. And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20) Jesus gave the reason for His coming to earth. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). 2.

It Is Connected With His Sufferings

“Son of Man” is also connected with the sufferings of Jesus on behalf of humanity. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31). 3.

This Speaks Of His Exaltation And Rule

The title “Son of Man” also has to do with his exaltation and rule over humanity. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory (Matthew 25:31).

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Jesus said. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born (Matthew 26:24). 4.

It Is A Messianic Designation

The title “Son of Man” was a designation for the Messiah. The Book of Daniel predicted that the Son of Man would inherit God’s everlasting kingdom. And behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. Then to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13,14). 5.

Jesus Employed The Designation At His Trial

When Jesus was on trial and was asked if He were the Messiah, He referred to this prediction. It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power, and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64). This statement infuriated the religious rulers. They accused Him of blasphemy for claiming equal authority with God. It was clear to them that Jesus referred to Daniel’s prophecy and hence was claiming to be the Messiah. The Title Emphasizes That He Was Human It seems by using the title “Son of Man” Jesus wanted to convey the truth that He was entirely human. Although He is God Almighty He became a human being and lived among us for a short time. This is the mystery of the incarnation. Summary The Son of Man is a title that was used exclusively by Jesus – His disciples never addressed Him as such. Jesus used it to emphasize His humanity. The title goes back to the Book of Daniel where the Son of Man would inherit the everlasting kingdom of God. It is a designation of the Messiah. At His trial Jesus acknowledged that He indeed was the Son of Man – the one who would bring in God’s everlasting kingdom. When the religious leaders heard this, they accused Him of blasphemy – making Himself equal with God. The purpose of the title seems to be Jesus’ own emphasis on His humanity.

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QUESTION 61 Did Jesus Ever Sin? When we talk about sin we are referring to breaking the law of God. If Jesus had broken the law in any respect then He would be a sinner. The Bible, however, says that Jesus never once sinned. This is verified by the testimony of the angel Gabriel, the demons, unbelievers, believers, Jesus Himself, and God the Father. THE TESTIMONY OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL The angel Gabriel testified to Jesus sinless when He announced the coming birth of Jesus to Mary. 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 holy the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). This description was never given of any other child that has ever been born. THE DEMONS GAVE TESTIMONY OF J ESUS ’ IDENTITY The demons also testify to the character of Jesus – He was the Holy One of God. What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God! (Mark 1:24). They never said this of any human being no matter how righteous they acted. EVEN UNBELIEVERS ACKNOWLEDGED J ESUS ’ IDENTITY There were a number of unbelievers who gave testimony to Jesus’ sinlessness. They include: the false witnesses at His trial, Pontius Pilate, his wife, Herod Antipas, the man who died next to Jesus, the centurion who presided over Jesus’ death, and Judas Iscariot. 1.

There Were False Witnesses At His Trial

At Jesus’ trial those intimately involved in the proceedings admitted they could find no fault in Him. Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none (Matthew 26:59,60). 2.

Pontius Pilate Declared Jesus Innocent

Pontius Pilate declared the innocence of Jesus. “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him” (John 18:38). Pilate again told the crowd Jesus was innocent.

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Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him” (John 19:4). 3.

The Wife Of Pilate Adds Her Testimony

Pilate’s wife testified that Jesus was a righteous man. While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him” (Matthew 27:19). 4.

Herod Antipas Did Not Believe Jesus Should Die

Herod Antipas did not think Jesus was worthy of death. Pilate said to the religious rulers. You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death (Luke 23:14,15). 5.

The Robber Next To Jesus On The Cross Saw His Innocence

Jesus died between two robbers. One of them recognized Jesus’ innocence. He said to the other dying robber. We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong (Luke 23:41). 6.

The Centurion Who Watched Jesus Die Realized He Was Innocent

The centurion who presided over Jesus’ crucifixion recognized Jesus as someone special. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47). 7.

The Betrayer Judas Realized Jesus’ Innocence

The betrayer Judas realized that he had betrayed someone who was innocent. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). 8.

The Enemies Of Jesus Could Not Trap Him In Sin

The enemies of Jesus attempted to trap Him by using something He said. Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap him in what he said (Matthew 22:15). Yet they were unable to catch Him committing any sin.

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THE TESTIMONY OF B ELIEVERS ABOUT J ESUS ’ SINLESSNESS The Scripture records the attitude those who believed in Jesus. They make it clear He was sinless. 1.

Peter

Peter wrote. Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22). 2.

John

The Apostle John testified that Jesus was without sin. And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin (1 John 3:5). 3.

Paul

The Apostle Paul reported. For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). 4.

The Testimony Of The Early Church

When the early church gathered to pray they recognized the holiness of Jesus. For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel . . . while you extend your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of your holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:27,30). 5.

The Writer To Hebrews

The writer to the Hebrews testified. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus’ Disciples Were Constantly With Him The testimony of is especially significant because it was given by some of the very same people who were constantly with Jesus. They saw Him when He was tired, they saw Him when He was hungry, they saw Him when the multitudes pressed around Him. Yet they testified that in all this they never once had seen Him sin. Their testimony, that He was without sin, carries considerable weight because they honestly reported their own faults and shortcomings.

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J ESUS ’ OWN TESTIMONY ABOUT HIS SINLESSNESS As we examine the account of the life of Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament, we observe that He believed Himself to be without sin. When He came to be baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus was momentarily stopped because John realized it was unnecessary. But John tried to prevent him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” (Matthew 3:14). John’s baptism was for the confession of sin, and he realized that this one had no sin. But Jesus insisted upon being baptized. Jesus said. ‘Permit it to be now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed him (Matthew 3:15). Jesus submitted to the baptism but did not confess sin. 1.

Jesus Did Not Give In To Temptation

Immediately after His baptism Satan tempted him. Yet Jesus refused to give in to the temptation and told the Devil. Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve’ (Matthew 4:10). In the great spiritual battle with the devil, Jesus did not succumb to sin. We discover the following things about Jesus’ testimony to His lack of sin. 2.

He Challenged People To Find Sin In Him

Throughout His ministry Jesus challenged those with Him to find sin in His life. Which of you convicts me of sin? (John 8:46). The response from those surrounding Him was silence. They had never seen Him sin, for He had not sinned. Jesus claimed absolute sinlessness. Jesus was never conscious of any personal sin. 3.

Jesus Offered No Sacrifice For Sin

Although Jesus perfectly kept the Mosaic Law, we never find Him offering a sacrifice for sin. He daily taught in the temple yet never offered a sacrifice while He was there. The writer to the Hebrews said. For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this he did once for all when he offered up himself (Hebrews 7:26,27). This is another indication that He had no sin.

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Jesus Jesus Did Not Need The New Birth

Jesus told the religious leader than everyone needed to be “born again” or “born from above.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above” (John 3:3). However He never indicated that He needed the new birth. 5.

Jesus Prayed On Behalf Of Others

Jesus prayed for others. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:31,32). But we never find Him asking others to pray for Him. 6.

Jesus Offered No Prayer For Forgiveness

We never find Him praying for forgiveness. Although a number of His prayers are recorded we never find Him even hinting that He had committed sin. At the end of His life, while proceeding to the Garden of Gethsemane to be betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father and said the following. I have glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do (John 17:4). Knowing of His impending death, His prayer was not one of confession, but rather one of victory. He had finished the mission given to Him by the Father and had finished it without committing a sin. On the cross He asked His Father to forgive those who crucified Him Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). However He never asked forgiveness for Himself. 7.

Jesus Said God Was His Father, Not His Savior

Jesus called God His Father but He never referred to Him as His Savior – for He needed no Savior. He claimed to do only those things that pleased the Father. And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him (John 8:29). He also said He kept His Father’s commandments. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love; just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love (John 15:10).

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THE TESTIMONY OF GOD THE FATHER CONCERNING J ESUS ’ SINLESSNESS By far the most significant testimony that Jesus was sinless came from God the Father. He testified to the sinlessness of Jesus. At Jesus’ baptism the Father voiced His pleasure of the Son. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon him, and a voice from heaven which said, ‘You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased’ (Luke 3:22). The Father’s Testimony At Jesus’ Transfiguration Later in His ministry, at the Transfiguration, the Father again voiced audibly that the Son had pleased Him. While he was still speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him!’ (Matthew 17:5). On another occasion, before the multitude, the Father testified to the ministry of the Son before the crowd. ‘Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again’ (John 12:28). The Father Accepted Jesus’ Sacrifice The final act that demonstrated the testimony of God the Father to the sinlessness of Jesus was the acceptance of His sacrifice on the cross. The fact that He received Jesus into heaven showed that His mission was accomplished as the perfect, sinless sacrifice. Jesus’ last words were as follows. Father, into your hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46). If Jesus had sinned in any manner, then He would not have been able to appear in the presence of His Father. The Father’s unqualified acceptance of Jesus was the final testimony to His sinlessness. THE TESTIMONY OF THE LAW (HE WAS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE) The Old Testament sacrifices gave a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. The Scripture was very specific about the requirement for the sacrifice. The Animal Sacrifices Had To Be Without Blemish The animal that was to be offered was to be without any blemish to be accepted. When anyone brings from the herd or flock a peace offering to the LORD to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable (Leviticus 22:21). Moses also wrote.

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Jesus This is a requirement of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke (Numbers 19:2).

We also read in the Book of Numbers. This is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the LORD: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day . . . On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect . . . On the first of every month, present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect (Numbers 28:3,9,11). Jesus Was Without Blemish The New Testament reported that Jesus was without blemish. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:13,14). Peter wrote. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:18,19). Therefore, to be the perfect sacrifice, Jesus had to be without sin. There could be no blemish of any kind on His character. Summary Jesus never sinned. Jesus never asked for forgiveness, offered any sacrifice, or confessed to any sin. Jesus Christ was without sin. This is the testimony of the angel Gabriel to Mary as well as the demons. Unbelievers such as those at Jesus’ trial, Herod, Pontius Pilate, Pilate’s wife, the robber that died next to Jesus, and the centurion at Jesus’ crucifixion all testified to His innocence. Believers such as Peter, John, Paul, the early church, and the writer to the Hebrews acknowledged the sinlessness of Jesus. Jesus Himself made it clear that He was without sin. Finally God the Father accepted Jesus as the sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world.

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QUESTION 62 Could Jesus Have Sinned? (Peccability) There is an age-old question with respect to the sinfulness of Jesus. Was He able to sin? The view that Christ could have sinned is called, “peccability” (from the Latin term meaning sin). This position states that Christ’s human nature was susceptible to sin. There are three ways in which this view is expressed. VIEW 1.

CHRIST HAD A SINFUL NATURE AND DID SIN

Liberal Christians, as well as unbelievers, believe that Jesus Christ possessed a nature that could sin and did sin. They do not seem Him as different from any other human being in that respect. Response The Scripture is very clear that Jesus did not sin. If a person takes the New Testament seriously they cannot hold the position of Christ’s sinfulness. VIEW 2.

CHRIST HAD A SINFUL NATURE B UT DID NOT SIN

There are those who held that Christ had a sinful nature but He overcame it by the power of the Holy Spirit. This false doctrine is based on a misunderstanding of Romans 8:3 which reads: For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful humanity to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man. The idea that Christ came in the likeness of sinful humanity caused some to believe that He Himself had a sin nature. Objections To This Theory However this has a mistaken idea of human nature. Human nature does not have to be sinful. When God created Adam He created him with a human nature that was sinless. Likewise Jesus human nature was without sin. Jesus was called the last Adam. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam, a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). He was the last human to have a sinless nature. VIEW 3.

HE DID NOT HAVE A SINFUL NATURE, COULD HAVE SINNED, B UT DID NOT

It is also widely believed that Christ could have sinned but did not. Though He was fully God, the fact that He was also human meant that He potentially could have sinned. Since the Bible says that Christ was tempted it proves that He could have sinned. Jesus Christ, as this theory goes, could not have been a sympathetic High Priest to us when we are tempted unless He himself could have sinned.

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Objections To This Theory The objection, to this perspective, is that the Bible teaches that Christ, as God, could not even potentially sin. His human nature was always in submission to his divine nature. Therefore the possibility of sin must be ruled out. Summary The idea of Christ’s peccability means that He was able to sin when He was here upon the earth. Three different views are expressed from this position. One theory holds that Christ could have sinned and did sin. This, however, has no basis whatsoever in the New Testament. Another theory is that Christ had a sinful nature but overcame it by the power of the Holy Spirit. However having a human nature does not mean that Christ had a sinful nature. The main theory of Christ’s peccability is that He was fully human without a sinful nature yet it was possible for Him to sin. Although it is admitted that He did not sin the possibility was still there.

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QUESTION 63 Was It Impossible For Jesus To Sin? (Impeccability) While all Christians agree that Jesus did not sin, there is the view that He was incapable of sinning while here upon the earth. This is known, as His “impeccability.” The word comes from the Latin and means, “no sin.” THE CASE FOR IMPECCABILITY Those who argue that Christ could not sin do so for the following reasons. 1.

The Dual Nature Of Jesus – God Cannot Be Tempted To Sin

While Jesus had a human nature, He also had a divine nature. Since He was the eternal God who became human it was impossible for the divine nature to sin. The human nature could not act apart from the divine nature. Therefore He could not sin. James wrote. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God;” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:13,14). Since God cannot be tempted to sin, Jesus could not sin. 2.

Christ Has An Unchanging Nature

The Bible says that Christ is unchangeable. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Since Jesus Christ is God, and God cannot sin in any way, then Jesus could not have sinned in any way. The nature of God does not change. If Jesus could have sinned while on the earth, then it would be possible for Him to sin in heaven. 3.

Christ Is All-Powerful (Omnipotent)

One of the attributes of God is that he is all-powerful or omnipotent. Jesus did not give up this attribute when He became human. Jesus said about His authority. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Because He is all-powerful He has no weakness. This would include a weakness to sin. 4.

Jesus Is All-Knowing

In addition, Jesus is all knowing. And needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone (John 2:25).

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Since Jesus is all knowing, He could not have been deceived into committing a sin. This includes hypothetical situations for Jesus knew all things that have happened and could possibly happen. For example, He knew what would have happened to certain cities in the past, such as Tyre and Sidon, had they repented. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes (Matthew 11:21). 5.

The Nature Of The Temptations

Another point is the nature of the temptations. The nature of Christ’s temptation came from without, not from within. For sin to occur there must be an inward response to the outward temptation. Since Jesus did not possess a sin nature, there was no possibility of Him to respond to the temptation. 6.

The Purpose Of The Temptations

Finally there is the purpose of the temptations of Christ. The reason He was tempted was not to see whether or not He could sin, the purpose was to show that He could not sin. It was to demonstrate that He could not succumb in any way to the temptations that were put in His path. WERE THEY GENUINE TEMPTATIONS? If Jesus could not have sinned, then were the temptations genuine? Why test someone who could not fail? The following are some of the common objections against this position. 1.

If it was not possible for Christ to sin, then He must not have had the power of choice.

2. If Christ could not sin, then why was He tempted? Wouldn’t the temptation be a farce? In what sense can a sinless being be tempted? 3. If Christ could not sin, then how could He identify with humanity. How could He sympathize with our temptations? The answer to this lies in the nature of the temptations of Jesus. There Were Three Unique Temptations In Scripture There were only three individuals in Scripture who experienced unique temptations—Adam, Eve, and Jesus. Adam and Eve, unfortunately, gave in to the temptation and brought sin into the world. Jesus, on the other hand, resisted the temptation. They are the only three people who came into this world without a sin nature. These Tests Were Unique To Jesus Yet Jesus was unique from Adam and Eve. He was no ordinary man. No ordinary human being would ever be tempted in the ways He which Jesus was tempted. None of us could be tempted to turn stones into bread, or prove that we are the Messiah by jumping from a high place. Neither would any human being be offered all the kingdoms of the world if they simply bowed down to Satan. These particular tests were designed for Jesus only.

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They Covered Areas Common To All Humans Although the specific tests in which Jesus was subjected were unique to Him they do represent temptations that are common to humankind. The Apostle John said that sin could be placed in the following categories For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world (1 John 2:16). The temptations that Jesus experienced fall into these categories. Was Jesus Tested In All Things? The writer to the Hebrews says that Jesus was tested in all things. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). This means that Jesus experienced tests that are representative of every category of tests that human’s experience not that He experienced each individual temptation. Summary Those who believe that Jesus could not have sinned do so based upon His nature as God. Since God cannot be tempted to sin, and Jesus was God, then Jesus could not have sinned. This is known as the impeccability of Christ. Arguments for this perspective include the dual nature of Jesus, the fact of His changing nature, His omnipotence (all-powerful), His omniscience (all-knowing) and the nature and purpose of the temptations. It must also be appreciated that the temptations were unique to Him – only Jesus could be tempted to do certain things. It is also suggested that His temptations were representative of the various things that all humans face.

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QUESTION 64 What Common Ground Do Believers Have With Respect To Christ’s Ability To Sin? There is some common ground on which believers can agree with respect to the question of Jesus ability or non-ability to sin. 1.

The Bible Is Silent On The Matter

The issue of Christ’s ability or inability to sin is not something about which the Bible directly comments. It is silent on the matter. Therefore any solution to the question of what He could or could not do has to be decided upon the totality of the biblical teaching upon the subject. 2.

Jesus Did Not Sin

Whether or not Jesus could have sinned, the Scriptures make it clear that He did not. All Christians agree on this fact. There is no question that Jesus went through His entire life without breaking God’s law in any form. 3.

Jesus Christ Had Two Natures

Jesus possessed a perfect human nature as well as a divine nature. He was a real human being and was fully divine. 4.

His Temptation Was Genuine

The temptation that Jesus experienced was genuine. Scripture makes it clear that He actually was fully tested. 5.

He Is Able To Sympathize With Believers

Because the temptations were genuine Jesus is able to sympathize with believers through their temptations. Summary There are a number of things that all believers can agree upon with respect to the temptations of Jesus. First, the Bible is silent on the matter – it does not tell us one way or the other as to what He could or could not do. Second, whether of not could have sinned the evidence is that Jesus did not sin. Third, Christ had two natures – one human and one divine. Fourth, the temptations that He experienced were genuine. Finally, He is able to sympathize with believers because of His experience being tempted.

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QUESTION 65 What Was The Purpose Of Jesus’ Temptation? The account of Jesus’ temptation is closely related to the preceding narrative concerning His baptism. The specific connection between His baptism and temptation is in the term “God’s Son.” The two other members of the Trinity proclaim Jesus is “Son of God” immediately following His baptism. Now the question arises, “Will He be faithful to His calling, especially in the circumstances of testing?” There are at least five reasons as to why Jesus was tempted. 1.

It Demonstrated His Humanity

The temptations gave proof of His true humanity. The Bible says: Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:18). The fact that He could be tested showed that Jesus was genuinely human. 2.

It Is An Example To Us

It is part of His example to us. We are told to walk as He walked: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). We are to respond to temptations in the same manner as Jesus. 3.

It Formed Part Of His Personal Discipleship

The temptation formed part of His own personal discipline. In some sense Jesus learned obedience through the temptation. During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Hebrews 5:7-9). He learned obedience in the sense that He personally suffered the limitations of being human. 4.

He Can Sympathize With Us

It helped Him be a sympathizing intercessor. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus experie nced the same temptation as human beings and can therefore sympathize with humanity.

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Jesus It Is Part Of The Great Conflict

It formed part of the great conflict in which the “seed of woman” was to “bruise the head of the serpent.” (Genesis 3:15). In this first great struggle of the conflict the destined conqueror came off completely victorious. Summary Jesus was led of the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. These various temptations had a purpose. First, they demonstrated His humanity – only human beings can be tempted. Jesus was also tempted to be an example to us. We are to respond to temptations in the same manner in which He did. In addition, it was part of Jesus’ own personal discipleship. The temptations also helped Him to sympathize with us when we are tempted. Finally, the temptations were part of the great conflict that the Bible speaks about.

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QUESTION 66 Why Is Jesus Called The Last Adam And The Second Man? The Bible calls Jesus both the “last Adam” and the “second Man.” Paul wrote to the Corinthians. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:45-48). Adam Was The First Perfect Man These two names of Jesus compare Him with Adam. Adam was the first man who was created. The Bible says that God made Adam out of the dust of the earth. Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). Adam had one nature – that of a human. He had the possibility of disobedience and did disobey God. After the sin of Adam and Eve animal sacrifices were brought to God. Yet the blood of animals could not take away the sin of Adam and his race. God had to have perfect human nature sacrificed in place of sinful human nature. Jesus The Last Man Born Without A Sin Nature The Lord Jesus is the last Adam and the Second Man. He is the last man to be born without a sin nature. Everyone who came after Adam and Eve were born with sinful nature. Scripture says. When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth (Genesis 5:3). The likeness of Adam was a sinful likeness. His nature was both human and divine. Jesus said to the people of His day. Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? (John 8:46). Jesus Was The Man From Heaven He was the second man – the man from heaven. As the God-man He could be the suitable sacrifice for the sins of the world. The Bible says that Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for sin. Paul wrote the following to the Corinthians.

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Jesus Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

Summary Adam, the first human, was created perfect from the dust of the ground. But Adam disobeyed and brought sin into the world. Jesus is the “last Adam” in the sense that He was the last man who did not have a sin nature. Although He was like Adam in that He did not have a sin nature He was different from Adam in that Jesus was from heaven. Consequently Jesus was able to be the sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world.

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QUESTION 67 Is The Virgin Birth To Be Understood Literally? The Bible teaches the Virgin Birth, or more properly, the Virgin Conception of Jesus. The New Testament records the fact that God became a human being in Jesus Christ, and the means through which this was accomplished by the Virgin Birth - Jesus was conceived without the aid of a human male. It was a miraculous birth though a human birth. The Bible has a number of important things to say about this matter. From Eve To Christ: All Humans Were Conceived By Natural Processes When God made the first man Adam He made his body out of the dust of the earth. Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). Eve, the first woman, was created from the side of Adam. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which he had taken from the man, and brought her to the man (Genesis 2:21,22). All humans since that time have received their body through the natural processes- the union between a man and a woman. Jesus Was Conceived Without The Aid Of A Human Male However when Jesus Christ was conceived it was without the aid of a human male. The angel said to Mary concerning His conception. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:30-33). THE OLD TESTAMENT PREPARATION FOR THE VIRGIN B IRTH The Virgin Birth had been part of the plan of God from the beginning. It was prefigured in the Old Testament. In Genesis 3:15 we read God saying to the serpent. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. The seed of the woman is a prediction of the coming Messiah or Deliverer. He was to be born from the “seed of the woman.” The seed of the woman would bruise the head of the seed of the serpent. The promise gives the first hint of the Virgin Birth.

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The Messiah Would Be Virgin Born As the Old Testament history began to unfold further evidence was given that the Messiah would be virgin born. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). There has been considerable controversy about the Hebrew word almah, used in Isaiah 7:14, whether it means “virgin” or “young woman.” The word is not a technical term for “virgin” but rather means a young woman who has the characteristics of virginity. However it should be noted that in all seven occurrences of almah in the Old Testament it never refers to a young woman who has lost her virginity. Supposedly there is a better term in Hebrews for virgin – bethulah. Yet bethulah can refer to a woman who is not necessarily a virgin. Mourn like a young woman [bethulah] in sackcloth grieving for the husband of her youth (Joel 1:8). The Woman Was Assumed To Be A Virgin Even if Isaiah was only referring to a young woman who was ready for marriage the assumption would be that she was a virgin. Under the Mosaic Law a woman could be stoned to death for having a child out of wedlock. What can be said is that almah is consistent with the idea of a young woman who has not had any sexual relations with a man – a virgin. The Evidence From The Septuagint Translation There is also the issue of the Septuagint translation. The Old Testament was translated from the original Hebrew into Greek some two hundred years before the time of Christ. This translation is known as the Septuagint, or seventy. When they translated the Hebrew word almah in Isaiah 7:14, they used the Greek word parthenos, the usual word for “virgin.” Hence we can observe that before the time of Christ the people understood the passage to refer to a special birth. THE NEW TESTAMENT EVIDENCE While the virgin birth is predicted and implied in the Old Testament, the New Testament writers make it clear that Jesus was virgin born. The evidence is as follows. 1.

The Listing In Jesus’ Genealogy

In Matthew 1:2-15 we have a number of people listed who fathered sons. For example it says, “Abraham begat, or fathered, Isaac.” Each name in the genealogy is written this way. However in verse 16 there is a change in the way in which the genealogy is written. Rather than saying that someone “fathered” the son the phrase reads, “Jesus was born.” Nothing is said about Joseph being the father of Jesus. In contrast to all the preceding men listed in the genealogy, Joseph is not said to have fathered Jesus but rather Jesus was born to Mary. This deliberate change of phrasing emphasizes that Joseph had nothing to do with the conception of Jesus.

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The Christ Is Born Of Mary Not Joseph

Matthew is careful to state that Jesus was born of Mary, not Joseph. Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah (Matthew 1:16). The phrase “by whom” is in the feminine gender in Greek. Consequently it cannot refer to Joseph but must refer to Mary. 3.

The Holy Spirit Is The Source

On two occasions, Matthew makes it clear that the Holy Spirit was the source of Jesus’ birth. This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18-20). 4.

The Fulfilled Prophecy Of Isaiah

Matthew cited Isaiah 7:14 in identifying Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of a virgin birth. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” which means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22,23). 5.

Joseph Was The Husband Of Mary Not Jesus’ Father

Joseph is called the husband of Mary but not the father of Jesus. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:19). 6.

Jesus Was Her Son

In the announcement of the birth of Jesus the emphasis is on the fact the He is “her Son.” But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus (Matthew 1:25). In the birth narrative, Jesus is never called “his Son” or “their Son.” Matthew was one of the original twelve apostles. Therefore it is possible that the virgin birth of Christ was part of what the apostles taught the first church at Jerusalem. We are told. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42).

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While Matthew was writing to a Jewish audience, Luke, a Gentile doctor, was writing to a Gentile audience. Twice in his account he refers to Mary as a virgin. To a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary (Luke 1:27). Mary asked how she could have a child. How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). Luke identified Jesus as follows. Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli (Luke 3:23). In the accounts of Jesus’ birth, Luke never calls Jesus the son of Joseph. Rather Jesus is the “Son of the Highest” and the “Son of God.” 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 (Luke 1:32). Jesus is called the Son of God. The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Luke’s gospel is based upon his careful research as a historian. It seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught (Luke 1:3,4). The virgin birth of Christ was not just a rumor - it was the actual way in which Jesus entered into this word. While it is not a miracle that can be verified by eyewitnesses, such as the resurrection, we have the testimony of Mary and Joseph. 8.

Jesus’ Teaching On His Origin: He Was From Above

Jesus Himself taught that His origin was from above. Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me” (John 8:42). 9.

Jesus Acknowledged Mary As His Mother

Jesus acknowledged Mary as His mother.

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When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son” (John 19:26). He never said that Joseph was His father. Others spoke of Jesus as the “son of Joseph.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked (Luke 4:22). However the Bible is clear that Jesus wasn’t the physical son of Joseph. He only could be called Joseph’s son in the adopted sense. 10. Jesus Claime d God As His Father On a number of occasions Jesus claimed that God was His Father. When Jesus cleansed the temple He said. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market” (John 2:16). Later Jesus claimed equality with the Father. Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” For 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 (John 5:17,18). 11. The Testimony Of God The Father God the Father testified that Jesus was His Son. The New Testament records three different occasions in which the Father acknowledged the Son with an audible voice. At Jesus’ baptism we read. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-18). At the transfiguration the Father testified again to the Son. While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5). Finally in front of the multitudes the Father recognized the Son. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name! Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again” (John 12:27,28). In doing this the Father acknowledged Jesus as His Son.

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IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE ENTRANCE INTO THE WORLD FOR GOD’S SON The virgin birth was an appropriate entrance of Christ into the world. Since He lived a miraculous life that finished with the miracle of His resurrection and ascension it is not inconsistent that He entered the world with a miraculous birth. The virgin birth is in complete harmony with the other miraculous elements of the life of Jesus. Summary The evidence is clear that Jesus Christ came into the world by means of a virgin birth, or virgin conception. While God directly created Adam, Eve was taken from the body of Adam, and all humans since then have received their body through the union of a man and a woman, Jesus Christ was different. He entered the world without the aid of a human male. It was at the same time a human birth and a miraculous birth. This can be seen as follows. The Old Testament predicted the virgin birth of the coming Messiah In the New Testament in Matthew and Luke record the fulfillment of the promise. Matthew and Luke identify Mary as a virgin Matthew says that Mary was pregnant before her and Joseph had physical relationship Her pregnancy was due to the Holy Spirit Jesus Himself testified to the fact that God was His Father. God the Father verbally acknowledge the Son on three different occasions with an audible voice. Consequently the virgin birth of Christ is an established truth of the New Testament.

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QUESTION 68 Why Do We Find The Virgin Birth Only Recorded In Matthew And Luke? The virgin birth of Christ is only recorded in two of the four gospels – Matthew and Luke. Mark and John do not mention it. The remainder of the New Testament says nothing about it. If it is such an important belief, then why don’t we find it recorded in the Book of Acts and the writings of Paul? Some have argued that two of the Gospel writers, Mark and John, do not record the Virgin Birth because they knew nothing of it. This argument is unconvincing for the following reasons. 1.

Each Addressed A Particular Audience

Each Gospel writer addresses his work to a particular audience and, in doing so, records a different aspect of the life of Christ. Mark is emphasizing that Jesus is the servant of the Lord and that He can do the job God ordained Him to do. Mark says nothing about the first thirty years of the life of Christ. The reason that nothing is said in regard to Jesus’ birth, or early years, is that it is not relevant to Mark’s purpose. The same is true with the Gospel of John. John emphasizes that Jesus was God from all eternity. The Gospel begins in eternity past with Jesus already on the scene. John then stresses the fact that Jesus, as God, became a human. And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Consequently John is emphasizing the sublime truth that God came into the world, not the manner in which He came. He says nothing about Jesus’ first thirty years. 2.

John Called Him Jesus Of Nazareth

In John’s gospel we find Philip calling Jesus “Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). However this is irrelevant to the question of the virgin birth of Jesus since John has already told his readers that Jesus existed in the beginning as God. 3.

They Do Not Deny It

Though Mark and John do not expressly state that Jesus was born of a virgin, nowhere do they teach the contrary. We do not find Joseph ever spoken of as Jesus’ Father by either of these writers. They simply give us no details concerning His birth or who was His Father. 4.

It Is An Argument From Silence

An argument from silence is usually not a very strong argument. Because someone does not state a fact it does not necessarily follow that that person was unaware of that fact. It may mean the person, for whatever reason, chose not to mention it.

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Jesus These Two Gospels Imply The Knowledge Of A Virgin Birth

The Gospels of Mark and John imply knowledge of the Virgin Birth without expressly stating it. In Luke’s gospel Jesus is called the son of Joseph. All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked (Luke 4:22). Because Luke has already told his readers that Jesus was born of a virgin they understand when people call Jesus the “son of Joseph” in ignorance. Mark is careful not to use that phrase. Jesus is called the “son of Mary.” “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him (Mark 6:3). Consequently Mark makes the point that Jesus is Mary’s son but says nothing about Joseph being the father of Jesus. Therefore he says nothing that would contradict the idea of a virgin birth. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ divine origin had been a cause for argumentation with the religious leaders. He told them that His origin was from heaven. I speak what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have seen with your father (John 8:38). The Jews responded to this saying that Abraham was their father. Then they made the following accusation at Jesus. “We were not born of fornication” (John 8:41). They accused Him of being an illegitimate child. This shows they were aware of the fact that Mary had become pregnant before her marriage to Joseph. This gives further credence to the account of the Virgin Birth as recorded by Matthew, which states that Joseph considered divorcing her privately when he had discovered her pregnancy. In recording this dialogue between Jesus and the religious leaders John implies that the birth of Jesus was not ordinary but came through unusual circumstances. As Matthew and Luke so clearly tell us, it was not Mary’s unfaithfulness that made it an unusual birth, but rather the fact that God had performed a miracle having Jesus conceived not by a man, but by the Holy Spirit. 6.

The Testimony Of Paul

The fact that Paul does not record the virgin birth is not surprising. He does not deal with the story of the life of Christ. However he does say the following about Jesus. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law (Galatians 4:4) Certainly this means more than Jesus had a mother. It could suggest that he had only a human mother but not a human father. However it is also possible that Paul simply meant that Jesus, God the Son, became a genuine human.

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Summary The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is clearly recorded in two of the four gospels - Matthew and Luke. The other two gospels, Mark and John say nothing specifically about it but John presupposes it in the story of Jesus and the religious rulers. In addition, John emphasizes that God became a human being in Jesus Christ. Mark, however, says nothing about Jesus early years. However he is careful not to call Jesus “Joseph’s son” but rather “Mary’s son.” Paul says nothing of the virgin birth because he does not deal with the life of Christ. Consequently the fact that some writers do not mention the virgin conception of Christ does not in any way prove they rejected the doctrine, or knew nothing of it.

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QUESTION 69 Why Is The Doctrine Of The Virgin Birth Important? Why is this one doctrine so important? Does it matter whether or not Jesus was born of a virgin? There are at least five reasons why it is important to believe in the Virgin Birth. 1.

Jesus Had A Heavenly Origin

The most important reason to hold the belief in the Virgin Birth concerns Jesus’ identity as God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity. If Joseph were His true father, then Jesus would be only a human being. He would not be the Son of God as Scripture clearly states. He would have had His beginning in time rather than eternally existing. The Bible says. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). Thus the Virgin Birth is crucial to Jesus being the Son of God. 2.

Jesus Had A Sinless Nature

A second reason why the Virgin Birth is important concerns the sinless character of Christ. If Jesus had a human father, then seemingly He would have inherited a sinful nature as the rest of us have. The Bible says. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, . . . thus death spread to all, because all sinned (Romans 5:12). To the contrary the Scripture states that Jesus never sinned. Peter wrote, Who [Jesus] committed no sin, nor was guile found in his mouth (1 Peter 2:22). John testified. And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin (1 John 3:5). If Jesus were the son of Joseph, then His sinless character would only be a myth. 3.

Jesus Was The Perfect Sacrifice

A third reason why the Virgin Birth is crucial to the Christian faith concerns our salvation. Without the sinlessness of Christ there would be no salvation. Christ came, according to the Apostle Paul, to save those who were under the law. But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4,5). This echoes Jesus’ own statement, For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).

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God required a sacrifice that was without blemish, “Your lamb shall be without blemish” (Exodus 12:5). If Jesus were a sinner in any sense of the word, then He could not provide salvation for us. However, because He came into the world by supernatural means and lived a sinless life, He could be that sacrifice for our sins without spot and without blemish. The Bible makes this clear. For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). 4.

It Shows The Uniqueness Of Christ

What the virgin birth does is show the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. No one else has ever come into the world the same way as Jesus. The unique and miraculous nature of Jesus carried on through His entire life. His birth was a miracle, His public ministry consisted of miracles, Jesus miraculously lived a sinless life, He miraculously came back from the dead, and left this world in a miraculous way. From His entrance into this world until His departure, the life of Jesus Christ was a miracle. 5.

The Bible Says So

The fifth reason to believe in the Virgin Birth is because the Bible says so. If Jesus were not actually born of a virgin, then the Bible is wrong. If it is wrong concerning the Virgin Birth, then it is possible that it may be in error about other matters. Once the door opens to the possibility of error in Scripture the eventual and logical result is that the entire foundation of the Christian faith will crumble. The doctrine of the Virgin Birth and the credibility of Christianity go hand-in-hand. WAS THE VIRGIN CONCEPTION NECESSARY? The virgin birth is an important doctrine. This is because the Bible teaches that this is the way that Jesus became human. However, there is a related question, “Was the virgin birth necessary?” Some argue that is was absolutely necessary. Others point out that there are a number of ways that Jesus could have come into the world apart from the virgin birth. They include the following. 1.

He Could Have Come To Earth Fully Grown

There is the possibility that Jesus could have come to earth as a grown man. If God the Father had decided to send Jesus to earth in this manner He would not have predicted in the Old Testament that the Messiah would have been from David’s family. If this had happened, He would not have had any human parents. Consequently, He would have bypassed all the experiences that humans have until adulthood. Thus He could not really identify with humanity. While it is theoretically possible Jesus could have come to earth in this manner, it would not have allowed Him to experience humanity as the rest of us. 2.

He Could Have Come As A Result Of Normal Conception

This assumes that Jesus could have been sinless without being conceived by a virgin. Those who argue this way say that the Bible never clearly states that sin is transferred merely by conception. Therefore Joseph could have been the actual father of Jesus without passing along a sin nature to Jesus. Whatever the case may be, the Lord decided to send Jesus into the world by means of a virgin conception – Josepah was not His biological father.

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Summary There are at least five reasons why the virgin conception of Christ is an important doctrine of the Christian faith.. First, it confirms Jesus’ heavenly origin – He was not from this world. Second, it is important for His sinless nature. It is possible, but not certain, that the sin nature is passed along to each of us at conception. If the sin nature is passed on by conception, then Jesus could not have been conceived in the same manner as everyone else. In addition, the virgin conception was also necessary for Him to be the perfect sacrifice – one without defect. The virgin conception also points out the uniqueness of Jesus. Finally, the virgin birth is important because the Bible says that is what happened. The authority of the Bible is at stake in this issue. Some have argued that the virgin birth, while true, was not absolutely necessary. God could have sent Jesus into the world as a grown man or else He could have allowed Him to be conceived like the rest of us. However, there is really not much to gain from speculating as to the different way in which God might have sent Jesus into the world. The Scripture is clear – Jesus was conceived in a supernatural way without the aid of a human father.

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QUESTION 70 How Could A Virgin Birth Be Possible? (The Generation Of Christ) Granting that the Scriptures teach the Virgin Birth, the question always comes up as to how such an event could be possible. From the Bible we can make the following observations. 1.

THE DETAILS OF J ESUS ’ CONCEPTION ARE NOT STATED

It must be stated that the intricate details of how God worked within the body of Mary are not given to us. What is revealed is that the Virgin Birth was a supernatural act of God: Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’ (Luke 1:34,35). 2.

M ARY IS PASSIVE IN THE M ATTER

Mary was entirely passive in the matter of the virgin birth. The Bible says that Mary did not cooperate in any way in the process that brought about Jesus. She merely obeyed the angel Gabriel who told her what was going to occur. It was entirely a supernatural work of God. 3.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD

The angel told Mary that nothing is impossible with God. For nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Therefore we should not concern ourselves about how God accomplished this miracle. 4.

IT WAS A SUPERNATURAL ACT

One of the reasons the people deny the Virgin Birth of Jesus is because of its supernatural character. The Scripture, however, makes no apology for teaching the Virgin Birth. It is a miracle. But it is no more or less miraculous than other events the Bible records. It is inconsistent to accept some of the Bible miracles and yet deny others. If one grants the possibility of God performing miracles, then why, it may be asked, is the Virgin Birth so remarkable? God Has The Power To Do What He Wishes For example, if one can accept at face value the statement of Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” it is inconsistent to question His ability to perform any other miracle. If God can speak the universe into existence, He certainly possesses the power to allow a virgin to conceive a child. The God of the Bible has told humankind that He has that power. Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27). Consequently the virgin birth is not beyond His power.

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Summary The virgin birth of Christ is a miracle. The Bible, however, does not tell us how it occurred – it merely states the fact that it did occur. We know that God worked a miracle in the body of Mary while she was entirely passive in the matter. To bring a child from a virgin is not impossible with God – He can do anything that He pleases. The virgin conception should not be regarded as any more spectacular than other miracles in which the Bible records. Once the possibility is granted that God can do miracles, then the virgin birth of Christ must be decided upon the evidence.

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QUESTION 71 Why Was Jesus Called The Son Of David? God had promised David, the first rightful king of Israel, that his throne would be established forever. When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13). This caused the people to long to see David’s greater son – the one who would rule forever. 1.

Matthew Calls Jesus The Son Of David

On a number of occasions in the gospels Jesus is called the, “Son of David.” Matthew calls Jesus the, son of David in the very first sentence of his gospel. A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). 2.

People Called Jesus The Son Of David

Six times in the gospel of Matthew it records people calling Jesus the, “Son of David.” There were two blind men who needed healing who addressed him this way. As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 9:27). After Jesus performed a miraculous healing the crowd wondered if Jesus could be David’s son. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” (Matthew 12:23). A Canaanite woman who wanted her daughter healed used this title of Jesus. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed” (Matthew 15:22). In Jericho, two blind men called out to Jesus. And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 20:30). 3.

Jesus Was Called The Son Of David During The Triumphal Entry

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the people acknowledged Him as the “Son of David.” The crowds going ahead of him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9).

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In the temple in Jerusalem the people addressed Jesus as David’s son. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant (Matthew 21:5). 4.

Jesus Was Born In Bethlehem – The City Of David

Jesus was born in David’s city – Bethlehem. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1,2). 5.

He Had A Messianic Title

The Son of David was, therefore, a messianic title. Jesus called this to the attention of the religious rulers. “What do you think about the Christ Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him Lord? For he says, “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions (Matthew 22:42-46). Jesus was indeed the promised Son of David. Summary David was promised that one of his offspring would rule forever as King. Jesus was called the “Son of David” while He was here on the earth. To begin with, He was born in David’s city, Bethlehem. The gospel of Matthew also records that various people, on six different occasions, acknowledged Jesus as the Son of David. This is a messianic title. Jesus never denied that He was the Son of David. In fact, on Palm Sunday He received the praise and worship of the people as the promised Son of David.

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QUESTION 72 Was Jesus The Messiah? One of the major themes of the Old Testament is the coming of the Messiah, or Deliverer. The Hebrew word translated Messiah in its verb form literally means, “to anoint.” It refers to the process of consecrating the kings and priests to their office by anointing their heads with oil. The noun form of the word is used to refer to kings, “the Lord’s anointed” (2 Samuel 19:21). The Use Of The Term In The Old Testament The term, “anointed” applied particularly to the kings of Israel who served as the Lord’s representatives. This included the first king of Israel, Saul. David questioned an Amalekite who claimed to have killed King Saul. David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” (2 Samuel 1:14). In some cases the actual anointing by the Holy Spirit followed the symbolic anointing. Consequently the person became anointed of the Lord in a real and living sense. Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?” (1 Samuel 10:1). Samuel promised Saul that the Holy Spirit would come upon him. The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person (1 Samuel 10:6). The Spirit of the Lord came upon David when he was anointed. So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah (1 Samuel 16:13). The Word Came To Have A Special Meaning The term “the Lord’s anointed” came to have a special meaning. It referred to the anointed King who would rule in God’s kingdom upon the earth. The Old Testament contains many references to this King and this kingdom, with Messiah (or the Greek form, Christ)‚ being one of the designations for the King. Jesus Was The Messiah In Jesus’ day, the term Messiah (or Christ) became synonymous with the King who would rule. That is why we find people asking questions about the Messiah. John the Baptist was asked if he himself were the Christ, to which he replied, “No.” The people were divided over the issue of Jesus whether or not He was the Christ. The New Testament makes it clear that He claimed to be the promised Messiah and that He had the credentials to back up that claim. Therefore, Jesus is referred to as the Messiah, or the Christ, because that is the special designation of the promised King who would rule in God’s kingdom. The title eventually became part of His name. He is

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referred to as Jesus Christ. By doing so, we give testimony that Jesus is the special King, the anointed one sent from God. The Messiah Would Bring In A New Age The Jews saw the Scripture speaking about two ages – this present age and the age to come. When the Messiah would come to the world He would bring the new age. JESUS’ CLAIMS The Scriptures record several instances where Jesus either explicitly or implicitly stated He was the Messiah. Matthew 11:2-5 In Matthew 11 we find Jesus implying that He is the promised Messiah. And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.’ Jesus answered John by referring to the miraculous deeds He was performing. These were the signs that the Messiah would demonstrate. Isaiah 35:5,6 lists healing the blind, deaf and lame as the credentials of the Messiah. Jesus went beyond that promise by healing the lepers and raising the dead. By stating this to the two messengers, He was clearly indicating that He believed Himself to be the Messiah and had the credentials to prove it. Matthew 16:13-17 The disciples of Jesus had seen Him perform many mighty works, healing the sick, raising the dead, and preaching the kingdom of God. However, Jesus had never come right out and directly stated He was the Messiah. It was not time for Him to reveal clearly His true identity. When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’ In this instance we see Peter confessing Jesus as the Messiah. Instead of rebuking Peter for error, Jesus agreed with his confession. Jesus then told Peter that it was the heavenly Father who had revealed this truth to him. In this case we have a clear acknowledgment on the part of Jesus that He believed Himself to be the Promised Messiah. Matthew 26:63-65 During His trial at the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, Jesus was falsely accused of many things. The trial climaxed with the high prie st questioning Jesus concerning His identity.

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And the high priest answered and said to him, ‘I adjure you by the living God that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard his blasphemy!’ When Jesus confessed in the affirmative that He was the Christ, the high priest accused Him of blasphemy because He claimed to be Israel’s Messiah. There were no doubts in the minds of the people present that Jesus believed Himself to be the Messiah. Because they did not believe His claim they wanted to put Him to death. From these accounts there can be no doubt whatsoever that Jesus believed He was the Messiah, the Promised One, who would reveal God’s truth to humankind. Summary The word translated “Messiah” comes from the Hebrew word “to anoint.” It was used for the anointing of the Hebrew kings. Eventually it took on a special meaning. The Messiah is the “Christ,” the anointed one whom God would send into the world to set up an everlasting kingdom. He would be the King of the Jews. When Jesus asked His disciples whom they thought that He was Peter confessed Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus acknowledged the confession of Peter. Jesus also claimed to be the Messiah when He was on trial before the Jewish council. There is no doubt that He believed He was the One whom the Old Testament had promised would come.

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QUESTION 73 If Jesus Was The Messiah, Why Did His People Reject Him? Why Did John The Baptist Question Him? When Jesus came to earth His own people rejected Him. The Bible says. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him (John 1:11) Even John the Baptist, the one who pointed Him out to the world as the Promised Messiah, later asked Jesus if He was truly the Messiah. Why did He do this do? Why do we find people questioning Jesus’ identity as the Messiah? There Was No Good Reason To Reject Him While there were many factors that led the Jewish people to reject Jesus as their Messiah, it can be stated simply: they did not believe in Him because they did not want to believe. It is the same reason most people throughout history have rejected Jesus as Messiah. It is not that they could not believe, it is that they would not believe. It is not that people need more evidence, it is that they do not act upon the evidence that they have. We can make a couple of observations from the New Testament. 1.

There Was Corrupt Leadership In Jesus’ Day

The religious leaders at the time of Jesus were corrupt. Their leadership was indicative of the spiritual state of the people. Though the people went through the proper rituals that God had commanded, their hearts were not in them. They were not that interested in the truth of God. 2.

The Story Of Lazarus Illustrates Their Lack Of Interest In The Truth

The New Testament provides many such examples of the religious leaders attempting to suppress the truth of God. A case in point is that of Lazarus. In the presence of the religious rulers, Jesus brought back Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead four days. One would think that such a miracle would at least make them consider believing in Jesus as the Messiah. Indeed, from their own testimony they never saw anyone do such miracles. But after discussing what to do with Jesus, they decided to kill Him. Then from that day on they plotted to put him to death (John 11:53). Rather than causing belief, it made them want to get rid of Him. But it was not only Jesus that they wanted to kill. Lazarus was walking around alive, a living testimony to the power and credentials of Jesus. Therefore, the religious leaders wanted to kill Lazarus also! But the chief priests took counsel that they might also put Lazarus to death, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus (John 12:10,11). Jesus, in speaking to His disciples, summed up the state of the people: Seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand (Matthew 13:13). The basic reason that the majority of the nation Israel rejected Jesus is simply because they did not want to believe.

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John The Baptist Acknowledged Jesus As The Messiah

There is also the case of John the Baptist. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, had pointed Jesus out as the Messiah. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29). John clearly identified Jesus as the Messiah. John The Baptist Questions Jesus Yet we have the later account of John being put in prison by King Herod. The Baptist then sent two messengers to Jesus asking Him if He were the Christ or if they should look for another. When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:2,3). Jesus answered in such a way that left no doubt He was the Messiah. Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them (Luke 7:22). John certainly would have understood this message, for the signs Jesus was performing were the credentials of the Messiah. WHY DID J OHN ASK THE QUESTION? But why did John originally ask the question? Had he been mistaken about Jesus? Had Jesus let Him down? Had John wavered in faith? There is a better answer than assuming John had doubts about Jesus’ identity or that he was in some sort of depression while in prison. 1.

The Circumstances Of The Nation

The answer, as to why John would ask such a question, seems to lie in the circumstances of the nation Israel. Jesus came into the world when Rome ruled the Jewish people with an iron hand. There were many in Palestine who were proclaiming that the coming kingdom, predicted in the Old Testament, would come by means of a military overthrow. Jesus came upon the scene and proclaimed God’s kingdom was at hand but said it would belong to the meek, not the strong. His ministry was one of mercy, not judgment. The Bible says. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:17). This message of Jesus’ was revolutionary. He told the people to go the extra mile, to turn the other cheek, to submit rather than resist. 2.

John Predicted The Messiah Would Judge

John the Baptist, on the other hand, proclaimed the vengeance the Messiah would bring on the unbelievers. He said to the religious leaders who came to his baptism.

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Jesus Brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say of yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And now even the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:7-10).

John was probably wondering how the kingdom could be established in the manner Jesus prescribed. His question contains the idea that Jesus was not going about it fast enough. Jesus’ answer indicates that the program was underway, but according to His schedule and not John’s. The day of vengeance is something still awaiting the unbelievers in the future. It seems best to take John’s question as one concerned more with the tactics of Jesus in establishing His kingdom, rather than John questioning Jesus’ identity as Messiah. 3.

He Had The Wrong Expectation

There is also the matter of the type of Messiah they were expecting. Matthew made it clear the purpose of Jesus’ coming: She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). At His First Coming, Jesus’ purpose was to save, not to condemn. Summary Jesus claimed to be the promised Messiah but was rejected by His people. There are a number of reasons why this was so. The hearts of the people were hardened to the truth. In addition, there was a corrupt religious leadership who would not receive his claims. Therefore it was the sin of the people that kept them from accepting Jesus as the Promised One. Although John the Baptist had identified Jesus as the Messiah, he sent two of his messengers to Jesus to ask if He were indeed the Christ. It seems that Jesus was not moving forward with establishing the kingdom like John wanted. Jesus told the messengers that He was indeed the Messiah but not the type most people were expecting. Rather than coming into the world to overthrow the rule of Rome, Jesus came to give His life as a sacrifice for sins.

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QUESTION 74 Was Jesus The Prophet That Moses Predicted Would Come Into The World? A prophet is a spokesman for God, one who relates the message of God to the people. They were usually unpopular among their people. The Old Testament tells us of many prophets that God raised up. They include as Elijah, Jeremiah and Isaiah. The Old Testament, however, predicted that God would raise up one special Prophet who would be like Moses. 1.

The Old Testament Predicted A Special Prophet Would Appear

Moses wrote about a special prophet that was to come. The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brothers, him you shall hear . . The Lord said to me, ‘They have spoken well. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. It shall come about that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him’ (Deuteronomy 18:15, 17-19). But at the time of Moses’ death this particular Prophet had not yet appeared: But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face (Deuteronomy 34:10). 2.

That Particular Prophet Never Appeared

Furthermore, the Old Testament does not record that this particular prophet ever appeared. At the time of Jesus’ coming, the people were still looking for “the Prophet.” The religious leaders asked John the Baptist if he was that prophet. They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No” (John 1:21). John said that he was not. 3.

Jesus Was Recognized As The Prophet

When Jesus appeared on the scene and started performing His miracles He was recognized by many as the long-awaited prophet who is to come into the world. Therefore when the people saw the sign which he had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world” (John 6:14). 4.

Jesus’ Testimony That He Was “The” Prophet

Jesus Himself testified that He was that prophet – the One who spoke the words from God the Father.

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Jesus So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me”(John 7:16).

Jesus predicted the people would know He came from the Father. So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught me (John 8:28). Jesus also said. For I did not speak on my own initiative, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told me (John 12:49-50). Jesus again testified He was speaking the Father’s words. He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me (John 14:24). 5.

The Testimony Of His Disciples: Jesus Was The Prophet

After the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, His disciples made it clear that Jesus was that Prophet like unto Moses. Peter said. For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever he says to you. And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people’ (Acts 3:22,23). Therefore it is the united testimony of the New Testament that Jesus was the prophet that Moses said would come. 6.

Jesus Was Greater Than Moses

One final point needs to be emphasized Jesus was greater than Moses. The Bible says that Jesus has been with the Father for all eternity. John wrote. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known (John 1:18). Summary The Old Testament predicted that God would raise up a prophet like Moses who spoke with God face to face. This particular prophet did not appear during the entire Old Testament era. It is the claim of the New Testament that Jesus was “the Prophet” predicted in the Old Testament who would be like Moses, dealing with God on a face-to-face basis. But Jesus was greater than Moses for He was the one and only God who had eternally been face-to-face with the Father.

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QUESTION 75 Was Jesus A King? The Old Testament not only looked forward to a Prophet raised up who was like Moses, it also predicted that Israel would have a king. When you come to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, ‘I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me, you shall surely set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses; one from among your brothers you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother’ (Deuteronomy 17:14,15). This passage goes on to say what the king should and should not do. The type of king called for was never fulfilled by anyone who ruled Israel or Judah. David was the best king that Israel had, and he became the standard of comparison for later kings. But David was far from the ideal king. Scripture records that he was both a murderer and adulterer. 1.

David Was Promised His Descendant Would Be King Forever

David was given a promise of a king who would be his physical descendant. This man would rule over Israel: When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your Fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever . . . And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12,13,16). 2.

Jesus Was The King Of The Jews

The New Testament gives the answer that Jesus Christ is the true King of the Jews. The angel Gabriel said to Mary. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end’ (Luke 1:30-33). The objection will be raised that Jesus never ruled as King of the Jews. Quite right. He was the genuine King but was rejected by the unbelieving people. The Bible says. He came unto his own, and his own did not receive him (John 1:11). The kingdom nevertheless, was rightfully His. 3.

Jesus Was Executed As A King

Jesus was executed as the King of the Jews. We read in John’s gospel.

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Jesus Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS (John 19:19).

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The Nature Of His Kingdom Was Not Of This World System

When Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate He told the Roman leader the nature of His kingdom. My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight. Pilate therefore said to him, ‘Are you a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world’ (John 18:36,37). 5.

He Was Recognized By Some Of The People

Some, but not all of the people, recognized Jesus as king. And Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus (Acts 17:7). 6.

Jesus Will Be The King Of The Ages At His Return

He will return as the “King of the ages.” And sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages” (Revelation 15:3). 7.

He Will Rule In Righteousness

Christ’s rule will be one of righteousness. The writer to the Hebrews declared. But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8). Summary The promise was made to King David that one of his descendants would rule forever as King. Jesus of Nazareth is that descendant. At the announcement of His conception the angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would be the promised King. However at his First Coming Jesus was rejected as King and crucified. The title above His cross read, “King of the Jews.” Yet Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world system. Jesus will someday assume His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords. This will occur when He comes again to rule the earth. It is then that the promise made to David, of the everlasting kingdom, will receive its complete fulfillment.

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QUESTION 76 What Are The Different Ways In Which Jesus’ Claims Can Be Viewed? The New Testament records Jesus making some astounding claims about Himself. They include the following. 1.

J ESUS CLAIMED TO B E THE ONE WAY TO REACH THE ONE GOD

Jesus said that He was the only way that a human being could know the one true God. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). 2.

J ESUS CLAIMED AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE SINS

Jesus told a paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). 3.

J ESUS CLAIMED TO B E ABLE TO RAISE THE DEAD

Jesus said that He would raise the dead. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live (John 5:25). 4.

J ESUS CLAIMED TO B E ABLE TO RAISE HIMSELF FROM THE DEAD

Jesus said that He had the ability to bring Himself back from the dead. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father (John 10:18). 5.

J ESUS CLAIMED THAT HE WOULD SOMEDAY J UDGE THE WORLD

Finally, Jesus said that He would someday judge the world. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted his Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge all mankind because he is the Son of Man (John 5:26,27). To sum up: Jesus claimed that He was the only way to reach the one true God, He claimed the ability to forgive sins, to raise the dead, to raise Himself from the dead, and to eventually judge the entire world. What are we to make of these claims? HOW ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND THE CLAIMS OF J ESUS CHRIST? There are a number of possible ways in which these claims can be viewed.

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Jesus HIS CLAIMS COULD HAVE B EEN LEGENDARY

It is theoretically possible that Jesus never made the claims about Himself that are record in the New Testament. This would make the New Testament claims about Jesus as legendary. If He Made The Claims, Then They Were Either True Or False If Jesus actually made the claims about Himself that are recorded in the New Testament then His claims were either true or false. If Jesus Claims We re False Then We Have Two Choices If the claims of Jesus Christ were false, there are two basic choices. Jesus either did know they were false or He did not know. There are no other options. OPTION 2.

J ESUS COULD HAVE B EEN A LIAR

First, it is possible that He knew that He wasn’t really God’s Son, but made the claims anyway knowing they were false. If this is the case, then Jesus would have been a liar. OPTION 3.

J ESUS COULD HAVE B EEN A LUNATIC

There is also the possibility that Jesus made the claims about Himself thinking they were true when actually they were not true. This would make Him deluded or a lunatic. OPTION 4.

A FINAL POSSIBILITY: JESUS COULD HAVE B EEN LORD

The final possibility is that Jesus made the claims about Himself as recorded in the New Testament and His claims are true. This would make Him Lord. Summary According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ made some astounding claims about Himself. He claimed to be the only way to reach the one true God. He also claimed the ability to forgive sins. Jesus said that He would raise the dead someday. He also claimed the ability to raise Himself from the dead. Jesus also claimed that He would someday judge the entire world. There are four possibilities with respect to Jesus’ claims. They could be legendary – He never made the claims Himself. Jesus could have been a liar – making the claims while knowing they were not true. He could have been deluded or a lunatic – making the claims and thinking they were true but they were not. The last possibility is that He could have been Lord – He made the claims thinking they were true and indeed they were.

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QUESTION 77 Is It Possible That The Claims Of Jesus Christ Were Legendary? For modern humankind, the favorite way of dealing with the claims of the New Testament regarding Jesus Christ is simply to believe that He never made them. It is asserted that His followers made the claims after many years of their teaching and preaching about Him. Jesus, they argue, was a simple man who had a tremendous impact on His followers. After His death, stories about Him were told and retold. By the time these stories had been committed to writing, Jesus was transformed from a simple Galilean teacher into a miracle worker, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world. Those who believe Jesus never claimed any of these things assert that His well-meaning disciples got caught up in all the excitement around His character and exaggerated His claims and deeds. However, the accusation that Jesus never made the claims about Himself that are recorded in the New Testament, does not square with the facts for the following reasons. 1

There Was Not Enough Time For Legends To Arise

To begin with, we are not dealing with generations but rather with a short period of time between the actual occurrence of the events and their recording. There is strong evidence that three of the four gospels were written within twenty years of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In addition, the earliest letter of the Apostle Paul, First Thessalonians, was also written within twenty years of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. This is far too short of a time for the claims about Jesus to have been exaggerated to the point where they did not accurately reflect what He actually said and did. 2.

The New Testament Writers Understood The Importance Of Eyewitness Testimony

The importance of eyewitness testimony was not lost on the New Testament writers who repeatedly appealed to first-hand evidence to substantiate their assertions. For example, one of Jesus’ disciples, John, wrote. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us (1 John 1:1-2). They testified to what they knew was true - because they were there! It must be emphasized that not all of the eyewitnesses to the events in the life of Christ were believers. If the disciples tended to distort the facts, the unbelieving eyewitnesses would have immediately objected to their distortion. Yet we find no such objections. 3.

The Number Of Eyewitnesses Was Sufficient

Not only do we have eyewitnesses, the number of eyewitnesses to the events in the life of Christ also argues for their truthfulness. The Apostle Paul said that the resurrection of Christ was witnessed by over five hundred people at one time. After that he was seen by over five hundred people at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:6).

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Multitudes of people witnessed the miracles of Jesus, as well as heard His teachings. They were not isolated events seen only by a select few. 4.

They Lived In A Memory Culture

In addition, the people in the first century relied more upon memory than we do today. The memorization of Jesus’ teachings, as well as His mighty deeds, would be expected from His audience. They were used to committing to memory the important sayings and deeds of famous teachers. 5.

Jesus Made A Lasting Impression

The extraordinary events of the life of Christ would have made a lasting impression on all of the people who witnessed them. Miracles were not something they were used to seeing. After Jesus healed a paralyzed man, the Bible records the reaction of the people. Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:12). We note that they had never seen anything like this event. This miracle of Jesus astounded them. Such a deed would not be soon forgotten. These reasons refute the idea that the disciples exaggerated Jesus’ claims. The New Testament was composed in such a short time after the events occurred that it would be folly to assume that the writers’ memories were so faulty that neither they, nor the unbelievers, could remember the actual events of the life of Christ - especially because of the miraculous nature of the deeds. 6.

The Writers Had A Biographical Interest In Christ’s Life

It is also evident that the early church had a biographical interest in the life of Christ. The gospel accounts are filled with specific historical details or allusions to events in Jesus’ ministry. Matthew, for example, records Jesus’ genealogy (chapter 1), the visit of the Magi to Herod and the slaughter of the innocents (chapter 2). He also gives the events associa ted with the trial and death of Jesus (chapters 26-27). In the writings of Luke we also find many historical references. He wrote. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness (Luke 3:1,2). In this passage seven different people, and their governmental positions, are listed in order to indicate the time that God’s Word came to John the Baptist. This testifies that the gospel writers were interested in the biographical and historical details of the life of Jesus. 7.

They Had A Consistent Testimony

Furthermore, the testimony of the various gospel writers is consistent. They do not disagree among themselves on the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Their testimony remained consistent throughout their lives.

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If their testimony could have been challenged, it would have been. However, they were never accused of lying concerning what they said about Jesus. 8.

They Were Martyred For Their Beliefs

The final evidence of the truthfulness of the disciples’ testimony is that they were martyred for their beliefs. The disciples signed their testimony in their own blood. Certainly, a person might lie for someone else, but will not die for a person or a cause if they believe it to be false. The disciples obviously believed Jesus’ story to be true. Summary There is no evidence that Jesus’ claims were legendary. First of all, there was not enough time for any legends to occur. Those who were either eyewitnesses of Jesus’ deeds or those who recorded eyewitness testimony wrote the New Testament. Unfriendly eyewitnesses to the life of Christ would have corrected any exaggeration on the part of the New Testament writers. In addition, the number of eyewitnesses was sufficient to establish Jesus’ claims. There is also the fact that theirs was a memory culture. They were used to memorizing the sayings of important teachers. Jesus, with His powerful words and deeds, would have made a lasting impression on everyone. They would not likely have been quickly forgotten. An examination of the New Testament shows that the writers were interested in specific details of His life. This is inconsistent with someone making up a legendary story. Add to this the consistent testimony of the gospels with respect to Jesus’ claims – they all told the same story. Finally, history tells us they were all martyred for their faith – with the possible exception of John. One does not become a martyr unless they believe their cause to be true. All of these facts demonstrate that the New Testament account is not in the realm of legend.

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QUESTION 78 Is It Possible That Jesus Lied About Who He Was? It is possible that Jesus actually made the claims attributed to Him in the New Testament yet His claims were not true. If this is the case then there are two possibilities. The first is that He knew He was not the Son of God yet He lied about His identity. The second option is that Jesus thought He was the Son of God, but was deluded. WAS J ESUS A LIAR? Some people believe that Jesus was a liar. Jesus did make some fantastic claims about whom He was. He made Himself out to be the eternal God, the Creator of the universe and humankind’s only Savior. He consistently made these claims during His time here on earth. The question arises, “Is there any evidence that He lied about who He was?” We can make the following observations. 1.

There Is No Evidence For This Position

While it is theoretically possible that Jesus lied about whom He was, there is certainly no evidence to suggest it. Everything we know about the character of Jesus testifies that He always told the truth. He underscored the fact that His words were truthful. The Pharisees therefore said to him, ‘You bear witness of yourself; your witness is not true.’ [Jesus said] ‘Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going . . . I am one who bears witness of myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness of me’ (John 8:13,14,18). Jesus Himself clearly said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The centurion who presided over His crucifixion testified to Jesus’ character. Now when the centurion, who stood opposite him, saw that he had cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God’ (Mark 15:39). Therefore the totality of the evidence indicates that Jesus always told the truth. 2.

Jesus’ Testimony Was Consistent

If He were a liar, then He was a consistent liar up until the end. He confessed to being the Messia h before His accusers. When Jesus made His confession, He did it while He was under oath. And the high priest answered and said to him, ‘I adjure you by the living God that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said’ (Matthew 26:63,64). This statement caused the Jews to bring Jesus to Pilate to be crucified. The Jews answered him [Pilate], ‘We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God’ (John 19:7).

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Even when Jesus went to His death, He never changed His testimony as to His identity. 3.

There Was No Motivation To Lie

Furthermore, if one contends that Jesus lied about whom He was, a motive needs to be found for His lying. People lie to gain some advantage but one becomes hard-pressed to see any advantage in Jesus’ lying. What advantage was there to being pressured night and day by the multitudes to perform acts of healing and forgive sin? What advantage was there to being a traveling preacher who had no place to call home? What advantage was there to being put to death for claiming to be the Son of God, if He knew His claims were not true? He could have been released if He had only denied being the Christ. Why not simply admit that He was not? The conclusion is that Jesus did not lie. He truly believed that He was whom the one whom He claimed to be. Summary The evidence indicates that Jesus Christ did not deliberately lie about who He was or why He came to earth. First, there is no evidence that Jesus lied about anything. Everything we know about Him indicates that He always told the truth. Second, the portrait the New Testament paints of Jesus is consistent. If He lied about whom He was, He lied all the way to His death. He was always certain of who He was. Finally, there is no motivation for Him to lie about anything. There was no personal advantage to be gained for lying. Consequently we conclude that He did not lie about anything that He said – He truly believed that He was the One whom He cla imed to be.

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QUESTION 79 Is It Possible That Jesus Was Insane? It is clear that Jesus made outstanding claims about Himself. It is also clear that the evidence leads us to believe that He believed His claims were true. There are some who contend that Jesus made the claims and believed them to be true because He was mentally unbalanced. While it is theoretically possible that Jesus was deluded, the facts say otherwise. THE ACCUSATION IS NOT TRUE We respond to the accusation, that Jesus was somehow mentally imbalanced, in the following ways. 1.

Jesus Did Not Act Insane

From someone deluded or insane, we would expect them to act consistent with insanity. That is, someone insane would do and say insane things. When we look at the life and teachings of Jesus we see anything but insanity. After Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount the crowd was awed by His teachings. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at his teachings for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:28,29). The words of Jesus rang clear and true. No one had ever spoken with such authority. 2.

He Was Always In Control

Moreover, Jesus handled Himself as one always in control. When He was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He demonstrated self-control and mastery over the situation. He said. ‘Do you think that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will provide me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?’ In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, ‘Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled’ (Matthew 26:53-56). 3.

His Teachings Were Not That Of A Lunatic

As we search the Scriptures, we find there is nothing in the character of Jesus to cause us to believe Him to be insane. On the contrary, the depth of His teaching and His masterful character testify that He was indeed the Son of God. On one occasion the Pharisees sent some of their men to apprehend Jesus. They came back with the following testimony. Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought him?’ The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this man!’ (John 7:45,46). 4.

Jesus Understood His Identity And Mission

Jesus was always aware of His Person and mission. He told the religious rulers.

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But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23). Consequently, we find no hint whatsoever, in the behavior and teaching of Jesus, that suggests that He was deluded. Summary There is the claim that Jesus truly believed Himself to be the Son of God, but His claims were not true – He was actually mentally deranged. However, there is no evidence that Jesus was mentally unbalanced. He did not act like someone insane. There is nothing in His character that indicated any type of insanity. In addition, Jesus was a person who was in control of every situation- including His betrayal. He never let others control Him. The teachings of Jesus were not that of a lunatic. Far from it. They are acknowledged by all to be in a class by themselves. Finally Jesus was always aware of his Person and mission – He knew whom He was and why He was on the earth. Consequently there is no evidence anywhere that Jesus suffered from some type of delusion concerning His character.

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QUESTION 80 Is It Possible That Jesus Was Only A Great Prophet? If Jesus actually made the claims attributed to Him in Scripture, and He was not a liar or insane, then what are we to make of them? There are those who attempt to sidestep the issue of Jesus’ claims. They contend that He was not God, but neither was He lying or deranged. They usually place Him in the category of a great teacher, perhaps the greatest teacher who ever lived. Some go as far as calling Him a prophet. But they deny He was anything more. They deny that He is God. It Is Not A Possibility The possibility that Jesus was only a great teacher does not exist. He very clearly claimed to be more than that. Jesus said to the religious leaders. ‘Many good works I have shown you from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?’ The Jews answered him saying, ‘For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, being a man, make yourself God’ (John 10:32,33). At the grave of a friend Jesus said. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die (John 11:25,26). If He were the one whom He claimed to be, then He should be worshiped as God and His teaching diligently followed. Only Two Choices Are Available He clearly claimed to be God and Savior. If He was not whom He claimed to be then He was either a liar or a madman. There is no possibility that He was a great prophet. A great prophet would not lie about who he is neither would he be insane. Therefore the option of making Jesus a great prophet is not an option. Jesus is either Lord of all or not Lord at all! There is no middle ground. Summary Many people feel uncomfortable calling Jesus a liar or a lunatic – instead they say that He was a great prophet but not the Son of God. The idea that Jesus could merely be a great prophet is really not an option. Jesus claimed to be God’s Son as well as the only way in which a person could know God. If His claims are true, then He should be worshipped. If His claims are false, then He should be ignored. He cannot be just a great prophet – He must be either something more or something less.

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QUESTION 81 Was Jesus Always Confident Of His Identity? The Bible testifies that Jesus is the eternal God who became a human in order to sacrifice His life for the sins of the world. This brings up certain questions. Was this something He was always aware of? Was there ever a time Jesus doubted His calling? Or, could it be possible that He was overwhelmed by all the attention He received and allowed Himself to be taken for someone He was not? HE WAS ALWAYS CONFIDENT OF HIS IDENTITY The Bible is clear that Jesus was always confident of who He was and why He had come to earth. From our first glimpse of Him, until the end of His life, we find Jesus confident of His person and message. 1.

J ESUS AT AGE TWELVE – HE WAS DOING THE WORK OF THE FATHER

The first encounter we have of Him, apart from the birth record, is at age twelve. His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and his mother did not know it; but supposing him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusale m, seeking him. Now so it was that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard were astonished at his understanding and answers. So when they saw him, they were amazed; and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you done this to us? Look, your Father and I have sought you anxiously.’ And he said to them, ‘Why is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?’ (Luke 2:41-49). From this account we see that at the age of twelve He knew His identity. He told Mary that He was about His Father’s business. When Did Jesus Realize His Identity? As to exactly when and how He realized His identity we are not told. Scripture is silent on this matter. The only thing we can say for certain is that He did know by the age of twelve. Apart from this it is only futile speculation. 2.

J ESUS WAS ALWAYS CONFIDENT OF HIS IDENTITY DURING HIS PUBLIC M INISTRY

During His public ministry, His confidence in His calling was sure. He told the religious rulers exactly where He came from. You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world (John 8:23).

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Jesus clearly recognized His origin. 3.

J ESUS WAS CONFIDENT OF HIS IDENTITY AT THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

If there ever were a time when one would expect Jesus to have doubts about who He was, it would have been during His betrayal and death. But in the face of this great adversity, He never denied who He was or the calling that He had. In the Garden of Gethsemane He was still confident of His identity as God’s Son. He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is your will, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but yours be done’ (Luke 22:41,42). Jesus knew what He was about to face and He faced it without wavering. 4.

HE WAS CONFIDENT OF WHO HE WAS AT HIS TRIAL

At His trial, Jesus confessed to being the Christ. And the high priest answered and said to him, ‘I adjure you by the living God that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said’ (Matthew 26:63,64). He realized that this confession would lead to His eventual death. If He had any doubts about His calling, the trial was His chance to set the record straight. Yet He made it clear that He believed Himself to be the Christ. 5.

HE WAS CONFIDENT WHILE ON THE CROSS

Even when He was dying, Jesus was aware of His identity. He forgave the sins of a robber that was dying next to Him. Luke records. Then he [the robber] said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42,43). Therefore everything that we know about Jesus, from His early years through His death on the cross, tells us that He was always confident about His identity. Summary Jesus was fully aware of His identity. He knew who He was and why He was here upon the earth. From age twelve until His death on Calvary’s cross we find that Jesus was always certain of His identify. He never questioned His calling, never wavered on who He was. As to when He became certain of who He was the Bible does not tell us. What we do know is that on the first recorded occasion when He spoke with people, in the temple at age twelve, He knew exactly whom He was – the Christ. He recognized that God was His Father in a unique way. We also find Jesus confident of His identity during His public ministry, His agony in Gethsemane, His trial, and His death on the cross.

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QUESTION 82 Will Jesus Christ Have Two Natures Forever? The two natures of Christ have become permanent. This can be seen by Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection, the promise at His ascension that the same Jesus would return, the description of Jesus after His ascension, the present role He has as our mediator, and the qualifications that are necessary for His high priestly ministry. The New Testament says the following. 1.

The Resurrected Christ Had A Body

The appearances of Christ after He came back from the dead showed that He still had a literal body. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him (Matthew 28:9). Luke wrote. But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (Luke 24:3). Jesus Himself testified. Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’ (John 20:17). Therefore the risen Christ was not merely a spirit, He was raised in an actual body. 2.

At His Ascension There Was A Promise Of His Bodily Return

At Jesus’ ascension the angel promised that the same Jesus who left would return. And they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The Jesus that left the earth was both God and man. Therefore, it is necessary that Jesus remain the Godman until He returns because He will return as the God-man. 3.

Jesus Appeared In A Body After His Ascension

After His ascension Jesus is still represented as having a body. When the martyr Stephen was being stoned to death he saw the risen Christ. He described Him as follows. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56). This is consistent with Jesus still having a body.

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Jesus Humanity Is Necessary For His Mediation

There is also the issue of Jesus mediating between God and humanity. The Apostle Paul told Timothy that the man, Christ Jesus, is interceding on our behalf. For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). It is the “man” Christ Jesus who is mediating for us. 5.

Jesus Has To Be Human To Be Our High Priest

To be a high priest, Jesus would have to remain human. Paul says that the same Jesus who died for us is also interceding for us. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:34). Summary There is an issue with respect to the duration of the two natures of Christ. Scripture teaches that Jesus will retain His human nature forever. First, the resurrected Christ had a body – He was not a spirit. The Bible also says the same Jesus that left the earth will return. Jesus left in a glorified body He will return in a glorified body. Also, the description of Him after His ascension is consistent with one who has a body. In addition, the Apostle Paul said that the man Christ Jesus is our mediator. Finally, it is necessary for Jesus’ ministry as high priest that He remains human. The high priest is one who shares our nature and understands our feelings.

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Summary To The Identity Of Jesus (Topic 3) With respect to the identity of Jesus Christ we can make the following observations. Que stion 35. Jesus Christ is both a name and a title. Jesus was a common first century name meaning, “the Lord saves.” Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew word for “Messiah.” Jesus is the Messiah – the anointed one. The title Christ eventually became part of His name. When the title Lord is added to Jesus Christ it refers to His Deity as well as His name and title. Question 36. The Old Testament records the preparation for the Christ. The Gospels record the manifestation of the Christ. The Book of Acts gives us the propagation of the message of the Christ. The New Testament letters provide the explanation of the two comings of Christ. The Book of Revelation documents the consummation of all things in Christ. Therefore the entire Bible is truly about Him. Question 37. The stated purpose of the New Testament is to create belief in the reader that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Those who believe this message have life through His name. The specific claim of the New Testament is there is only God and only one way to get to the one God - through Jesus Christ. All others are pretenders. There is no salvation outside of the Person of Jesus Christ. This is their claim, not something the church later invented. Two basic questions about Jesus need to be answered by each individual. The first is, “Who do you think that He is?” The second question is, “What will you do with Him?” How we answer these two questions determines how Jesus will judge us. Question 38. When we explore the subject of the humanity of Jesus the Scripture is clear, Jesus was indeed human. He had all the traits that make up a human being except that He was without sin. He was born into the world through a human birth. He was circumcised like other male Jewish children. His genealogy consists entirely of human beings. In addition, the Old Testament predicted the Messiah would be human – like Moses. He would be a physical descendant of King David. He had a family with four brothers and at least two sisters. Jesus was a human child who grew to be a man. He possessed the essential elements of humanity – a body and a spirit. As a man He was hungry, tired, and needed sleep. Jesus Himself, as well as others, admitted that He was human. Jesus showed human emotions such as love, tears, hate, disappointment and compassion. Only humans can pray to God and we find Jesus praying to God. Finally we find that Jesus experienced pain and death. Therefore it is the united testimony of the New Testament that Jesus Christ was fully human. Question 39. As we survey the New Testament we find direct statements about the Deity of Christ from five different New Testament writers. John, Luke, Paul, the writer to the Hebrews, and Peter. They all testified directly that Jesus Christ was more than a mere human being – He was God almighty. Jesus is acknowledged as being God in the beginning, He is called the one and only God. Jesus also claimed equality with God. Thomas worshipped Him as God. While the Bible says that Jesus’ blood paid the penalty for sin it also says that the blood of God bought the church. Paul said that all of the fulness of God resided in Jesus. Both Peter and Paul say that Jesus is the great God and Savior. John says that He is the one, true God. Jesus is directly addressed as God in the Book of Hebrews. It is clear that the writers of the New Testament believed that Jesus was God Himself. Question 40. From the description of Jesus as recorded in Scripture, we find that He is the eternal God. We have the following indirect evidences that Jesus is called God. Jesus possesses attributes of Deity. Jesus has existed from all eternity. Jesus is a member of the Trinity. Jesus is equal to God in certain

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names. Jesus had a unique relationship with God the Father. Jesus is Immanuel – God with us. Jesus is put on an equal level with God. Jesus had a heavenly origin. He also allowed Himself to be worshiped. Jesus was addressed in prayer. Jesus and the One who would forgive sins. Jesus claimed to be the judge of the world. The Bible also says that He is the Creator of the universe. He sustains the universe by His spoken word. Jesus also presently rules the universe. Jesus will raise the dead. Jesus gives spiritual life to believers. Jesus will give eternal life to believers. Jesus will bring about the renewal of the heavens and the earth. Everyone will confess Jesus as Lord. Jesus has equal glory with God the Father. Jesus is the same essence as God. According to Scripture, what is true about God is true about Jesus. Jesus performs work that only God can perform. These abilities cannot be delegated because they are characteristics of God alone. We conclude that the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is God – the Second Person of the Trinity. Question 41. When the conception of Jesus was announced to Joseph the angel told him that a Son would be born who would be called Immanuel – God with us. The phrase may be emphasizing the truth of the gospel that God became a human being in Jesus Christ. It is also possible that Matthew is emphasizing that God was faithful to His promises in sending the Messiah to His people the Jews. Question 42. One of the key doctrines of the New Testament is the “preexistence of Jesus Christ.” The existence of Jesus Christ did not begin when He was born as a babe in Bethlehem. Jesus’ preexistence means that He existed before He came to earth. He told the religious rulers of His day that He existed before Abraham – a man who lived two thousand years earlier. The Bible speaks of Jesus not only existed before Abraham, He has existed for all eternity. He is the eternal God who became a human being. His position was of one who was preeminent over all creation. Scripture also speaks of His previous glory. He laid aside that glory when He came to earth as a human and took the role of a servant. Question 43. Jesus has been God from all eternity. He was not inactive before He came to earth. The Bible says that Jesus was the Creator of the universe, and also preserved His creation. Consequently we find Him active before He came to earth as a human being. He continues to preserve the universe to this day. Question 44. The Old Testament gives a number of prophetic pictures of the coming Messiah. These pictures illustrate both the character and ministry of Jesus. Three of the most outstanding ones are the slain lamb, the obedient servant, and the beloved Son. Jesus is spoken of as the lamb that was slain before the world was created. The Old Testament pictured His death in the Passover celebration. His death on the cross at Calvary fulfille d the Old Testament picture. In the Old Testament there is an emphasis on the “servant of the Lord.” Because of his love for his master, he willingly and faithfully serves his master. Matthew tells us that these prophetic pictures were fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus. He came to serve others, not to be served. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice in giving His life for the sins of others. Jesus is also the beloved Son that is pictured in the Old Testament. At His baptism and His transfiguration, God the Father acknowledged Him as this Son whom He loved. As the beloved Son Jesus is preeminent over all things.

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Question 45. As God the Son, Jesus rightfully received worship during His time here on the earth. However we must be careful about concluding that all of the instances when people bowed down to Him prove they acknowledged Him as God. In many cases, it is clear that He is worshipped as the one, true God. Yet the word translated, “worship” can also be a term of respect. In some contexts we should understand the people giving Jesus great respect rather than worship as God. Each instance of the use of the word toward Jesus needs to be decided on the context. Jesus is the Lord of glory whom everyone, believer and unbeliever alike, will one day acknowledge. Question 46. There are a number of objections that people make to the deity of Christ. Jesus is called the only begotten Son – this implies a beginning for Him. He Himself said that His Father was greater than Him. Also Jesus is called the firstborn of all creation. In Revelation, He is called the beginning of God’s creation. It is argued that all of these statements make Jesus something less than God. However when properly understood we will find that none of these statements deny the Deity of Christ. Question 47. The fact that Jesus said, “My Father is greater than I” has led some to conclude that He was lesser in nature than God the Father. However this statement refers to Jesus’ state of humiliation that He took when He became a human being. It does not to have reference to His basic nature. An analogy is found with the role of men and women. While the Bible stresses that men and women are equal in nature they have different roles to perform. Women are to be subordinate to men in many instances. This does not imply inferiority. In the same way, while Jesus was here upon the earth, He was submissive to God the Father in all things. However He was still equal in nature. He has now been exalted to His former glory as God the Son. Consequently there is nothing in His statement that suggests that He is lesser in character than God the Father. Question 48. Jesus is called the firstborn of all creation. This does not mean that He is a created being. The idea is that Jesus has preeminence over all creation. The word translated, “firstborn” can refer to preeminence in rank or preeminence in time. The context will determine. In the Psalms David is called the “firstborn” among the kings even though he was the youngest son of his father. Neither was he the first king of Israel. In this context, firstborn can only refer to rank. The word firstborn can also have the idea of “heir.” Jesus is the rightful heir of creation - all things belong to Him. This also has to do with His position or rank, not any idea of the time of His creation. Jesus is called the firstborn in the sense that He is “over” all of creation. This is made clear by the following verses in which it says that He is the Creator. Therefore a better translation would be that Jesus is the firstborn, “over all of creation.” Consequently there is no idea here of Jesus Christ being someone who was created by God the Father. On the contrary, Jesus was the Creator of all things. Question 49. Jesus is called the beginning of God’s creation. Some have argued that this means that Jesus was Himself created. However this does not fit the meaning of the word or the rest of the teaching of Scripture. Jesus is the Creator – not one who was created. The word could mean that Jesus was the “ruler” over creation or that He is the one who is the “origin” or “source” of creation. Either of these fits the context in Revelation 3.

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Question 50. Jesus is called the only begotten Son. There has been much discussion as to what is meant by the term “only begotten.” Some feel it means that Jesus’ existence began at some point in time. However the Bible clearly says this is not the case. Jesus has always been the eternal God. The question is, “Has He always been the eternal Son of God?” Some believe that Jesus was begotten in eternity past as God’s Son. Others think it means that Jesus became God’s Son sometime during His time here upon the earth. It has also been argued that the word translated, “only begotten” actually means unique – what is stressed is that Jesus is God’ unique Son. Whichever answer is correct, it is clear that Jesus has existed for al eternity. Question 51. Jesus is called, “the Word of God.” Although Scripture does not define what is meant by that term it could refer to the fact that He is the personification of wisdom. Wisdom is spoken of as something personal in the Book of Proverbs. It may also refer to the fact that Jesus is God’s communication to humanity. The testimony that God revealed through the prophets during the Old Testament period was now made human with the coming of Christ. Hence the Word became flesh. Question 52. God the Father, the angel Gabriel, His own disciples, the Apostle Paul, and even the demons acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. Although Adam, angels, Israel, peacemakers, and Christians are all called “sons of God” the Scripture designates Jesus as the unique Son of God. He possesses the same nature as the Father – God. However He is not a literal offspring for He has existed for all eternity. The Bible often uses the word “son” in the sense of “possessing the nature of.” Jesus is the “Son” of God in this sense- possessing the nature of God. The title “Son” does not, in any way, suggest the Son if inferior to the Father. Question 53. There has been a debate in the church as to whether Jesus was the eternal Son of God or that He became the Son of God when He came to the earth. The issue is not His nature - Jesus always has been the eternal God. The question is when did He assume a submissive role with God the Father. Those who advocate Jesus became the Son of God do not all agree as exactly when this happened. Arguments have been made for His birth, baptism, resurrection and ascension. Some argue that it was sometime before He came to earth. The Scriptures, however, seem to teach that Jesus has always been in a subordinate role to God the Father while still being equal in character. While Jesus character is equal to God the Father His role is one of subordination. Question 54. The biblical account of Jesus’ life demonstrates that Jesus Christ was God and man simultaneously. This is known as the “hypostatic union.” Though He possessed two natures, they were unified in one body. Christ had only one personality, one thought pattern. He lived His life as both God and man. It is not possible to divide His actions into categories of human or divine. He remains the God-man and forever will be. He suffered this humility because of His great love for us. For all eternity we will be reminded of that as we see Him in that body that was sacrificed on our behalf. Question 55. There are a number of misconceptions about the hypostatic union that need to be addressed. The union of the two natures of Christ does not mean that God turned into a human being. Neither does it mean that Jesus was merely a man of God. The idea of the union of Christ’s two natures does not mean that God merely took on a human body. Neither was it the same as the incarnation – this refers to the entire story of God becoming human. Finally, the hypostatic union is not the same as a theophany – a temporary appearance of God in a body.

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Question 56. The Bible teaches Jesus Christ, in one body, was both God and human. This is known as the communion of attributes. This truth is taught a number of ways in Scripture. We find that Jesus worshiped the Father and that people worshipped Jesus. The Bible says that Jesus was called God as well as a human being. Scripture says that Jesus was the Son of God (divine) as well as the Son of Man (human). Jesus was the fulness of Deity yet He had a body of flesh and bones. Although Jesus existed before Abraham He was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus. Jesus knew all things yet He grew in wisdom. Jesus was without sin yet He was tempted to sin. People prayed to Jesus, Jesus prayed to the Father. Finally, Jesus, the one who gives eternal life, also experienced death. Question 57. The Bible teaches Jesus Christ, in one body, was both God and human. This is known as the communion of attributes. This truth is taught a number of ways in Scripture. We find that Jesus worshiped the Father and that people worshipped Jesus. The Bible says that Jesus was called God as well as a human being. Scripture says that Jesus was the Son of God (divine) as well as the Son of Man (human). Jesus was the fulness of Deity yet He had a body of flesh and bones. Although Jesus existed before Abraham he was born during the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Jesus knew all things yet he grew in wisdom. Jesus was without sin yet he was tempted to sin. People prayed to Jesus, Jesus prayed to the Father. Finally, Jesus, the one who gives eternal life, also experienced death. Question 58. When Jesus came to earth He laid aside or emptied Himself of something. There are many misconceptions at to what He set aside. It was not His Deity. Jesus could not empty Himself of His Deity – He could not stop being God. He was always God the Son. He could not exchange His Deity for His humanity. Neither did He set aside only some of His divine attributes and keep others. In addition, Jesus always knew He was God and possessed these divine attributes – He was not ignorant of who He was or what He could do. Moreover Jesus allowed the people to know that He had such powers. Neither did Jesus set aside the use of His relative attributes such as being all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present. Those powers were always present with Him. When Jesus became a human being He divested Himself of certain rights as God the Son. This can be seen in three ways. First He restricted Himself to a human body with all its limitations. He gave up His position when He became a human being. Second He veiled or hid His glory from the people. Finally, He exercised His relative attributes only by the will of God the Father – never on His own initiative. Question 59. Christ came to do the will of God the Father although He testified that He did have His own unique will. Whether it consisted of one will or two wills the Bible does not specifically say. There are arguments that can be given to support both sides. It seems that the Bible does not give enough information on the subject to make a firm conclusion. Question 60. The Son of Man is a title that was used exclusively by Jesus – his disciples never addressed him as such. Jesus used it to emphasize his humanity. The title goes back to the Book of Daniel where the Son of Man would inherit the everlasting kingdom of God. It is a designation of the Messiah. At His trial Jesus acknowledged that He indeed was the Son of Man – the one who would bring in God’s everlasting kingdom. When the religious leaders heard this they accused him of blasphemy – making himself equal with God. Question 61. Jesus never sinned. Jesus never asked for forgiveness, offered any sacrifice, or confessed to any sin. Jesus Christ was without sin. This is the testimony of the angel Gabriel to Mary as well as the demons. Unbelievers such as those at Jesus’ trial, Herod, Pontius Pilate, Pilate’s wife, the robber that died next to Jesus, and the centurion at Jesus’ crucifixion all testified to His innocence. Believers such as Peter, John, Paul, the early church, and the writer to the Hebrews acknowledged the sinlessness of Jesus. Jesus Himself made it clear that He was without sin. Finally God the Father accepted Jesus as the sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world.

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Question 62. The idea of Christ’s peccability means that He was able to sin when He was here upon the earth. Three different views are expressed from this position. One theory holds that Christ could have sinned and did sin. This, however, has no basis whatsoever in the New Testament. Another theory is that Christ had a sinful nature but overcame it by the power of the Holy Spirit. However having a human nature does not mean that Christ had a sinful nature. The main theory of Christ’s peccability is that He was fully human without a sinful nature yet it was possible for Him to sin. Although it is admitted that He did not sin the possibility was still there. Question 63. Those who believe that Jesus could not have sinned do so based upon His nature as God. Since God cannot be tempted to sin, and Jesus was God, then Jesus could not have sinned. This is known as the impeccability of Christ. Question 64. There are a number of things that all believers can agree upon with respect to the temptations of Jesus. First, the Bible is silent on the matter – it does not tell us one way or the other as to what He could or could not do. Second, whether of not could have sinned the evidence is that Jesus did not sin. Third, Christ had two natures – one human and one divine. Fourth, the temptations that He experienced were genuine. Finally, He is able to sympathize with believers because of His experience being tempted. Question 65. Jesus was led of the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. These various temptations had a purpose. First, they demonstrated His humanity – only human beings can be tempted. Jesus was also tempted to be an example to us. We are to respond to temptations in the same manner in which He did. In addition, it was part of Jesus’ own personal discipleship. The temptations also helped Him to sympathize with us when we are tempted. Finally, the temptations were part of the great conflict that the Bible speaks about. Question 66. Adam, the first human, was created perfect from the dust of the ground. But Adam disobeyed and brought sin into the world. Jesus is the “last Adam” in the sense that He was the last man who did not have a sin nature. Although He was like Adam in that He did not have a sin nature He was different from Adam in that Jesus was from heaven. Consequently Jesus was able to be the sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world. Question 67. The evidence is clear that Jesus Christ came into the world by means of a virgin birth, or virgin conception. While God directly created Adam, Eve was taken from the body of Adam, and all humans since then have received their body through the union of a man and a woman, Jesus Christ was different. He entered the world without the aid of a human male. It was at the same time a human birth and a miraculous birth. This can be seen as follows. The Old Testament predicted the virgin birth of the coming Messiah In the New Testament in Matthew and Luke record the fulfillment of the promise. Matthew and Luke identify Mary as a virgin Matthew says that Mary was pregnant before her and Joseph had physical relationship Her pregnancy was due to the Holy Spirit Jesus Himself testified to the fact that God was His Father. God the Father verbally acknowledge the Son on three different occasions with an audible voice. Consequently the virgin birth of Christ is an established truth of the New Testament. Question 68. The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is clearly recorded in two of the four gospels - Matthew and Luke. The other two gospels, Mark and John say nothing specifically about it but John presupposes it in the story of Jesus and the religious rulers. In addition, John emphasizes that God became a human being in Jesus Christ. Mark, however, says nothing about Jesus early years. However he is careful not to call Jesus “Joseph’s son” but rather “Mary’s son.” Paul says nothing of the virgin birth because he does not deal with the life of Christ. Consequently the fact that some writers do not mention the virgin conception of Christ does not in any way prove they rejected the doctrine, or knew nothing of it.

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Question 69. There are at least five reasons why the virgin conception of Christ is an important doctrine of the Christian faith.. First, it confirms Jesus’ heavenly origin – He was not from this world. Second, it is important for His sinless nature. It is possible, but not certain, that the sin nature is passed along to each of us at conception. If the sin nature is passed on by conception, then Jesus could not have been conceived in the same manner as everyone else. In addition, the virgin conception was also necessary for Him to be the perfect sacrifice – one without defect. The virgin conception also points out the uniqueness of Jesus. Finally, the virgin birth is important because the Bible says that is what happened. The authority of the Bible is at stake in this issue. Some have argued that the virgin birth, while true, was not absolutely necessary. God could have sent Jesus into the world as a grown man or else He could have allowed Him to be conceived like the rest of us. However, there is really not much to gain from speculating as to the different way in which God might have sent Jesus into the world. The Scripture is clear – Jesus was conceived in a supernatural way without the aid of a human father. Question 70. The virgin birth of Christ is a miracle. The Bible, however, does not tell us how it occurred – it merely states the fact that it did occur. We know that God worked a miracle in the body of Mary while she was entirely passive in the matter. To bring a child from a virgin is not impossible with God – He can do anything that He pleases. The virgin conception should not be regarded as any more spectacular than other miracles in which the Bible records. Once the possibility is granted that God can do miracles, then the virgin birth of Christ must be decided upon the evidence. Question 71. David was promised that one of his offspring would rule forever as King. Jesus was called the “Son of David” while He was here on the earth. To begin with, He was born in David’s city, Bethlehem. The gospel of Matthew also records that various people, on six different occasions, acknowledged Jesus as the Son of David. This is a messianic title. Jesus never denied that He was the Son of David. In fact, on Palm Sunday He received the praise and worship of the people as the promised Son of David. Question 72. The word translated “Messiah” comes from the Hebrew word “to anoint.” It was used for the anointing of the Hebrew kings. Eventually it took on a special meaning. The Messiah is the “Christ,” the anointed one whom God would send into the world to set up an everlasting kingdom. He would be the King of the Jews. When Jesus asked His disciples whom they thought that He was Peter confessed Jesus to be the Messiah. Jesus acknowledged the confession of Peter. Jesus also claimed to be the Messiah when He was on trial before the Jewish council. There is no doubt that He believed He was the One whom the Old Testament had promised would come. Question 73 Jesus claimed to be the promised Messiah but was rejected by His people. There are a number of reasons why this was so. The hearts of the people were hardened to the truth. In addition, there was a corrupt religious leadership who would not receive his claims. Therefore it was the sin of the people that kept them from accepting Jesus as the Promised One. Although John the Baptist had identified Jesus as the Messiah, he sent two of his messengers to Jesus to ask if He were indeed the Christ. It seems that Jesus was not moving forward with establishing the kingdom like John wanted. Jesus told the messengers that He was indeed the Messiah but not the type most people were expecting. Rather than coming into the world to overthrow the rule of Rome, Jesus came to give His life as a sacrifice for sins. Question 74. The Old Testament predicted that God would raise up a prophet like Moses who spoke with God face to face. This particular prophet did not appear during the entire Old Testament era. It is the claim of the New Testament that Jesus was “the Prophet” predicted in the Old Testament who would be

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like Moses, dealing with God on a face-to-face basis. But Jesus was greater than Moses for He was the one and only God who had eternally been face-to-face with the Father. Question 75. The promise was made to King David that one of his descendants would rule forever as King. Jesus of Nazareth is that descendant. At the announcement of His conception the angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would be the promised King. However at his First Coming Jesus was rejected as King and crucified. The title above His cross read, “King of the Jews.” Yet Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world system. Jesus will someday assume His rightful place as King of kings and Lord of lords. This will occur when He comes again to rule the earth. It is then that the promise made to David, of the everlasting kingdom, will receive its complete fulfillment. Question 76. According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ made some astounding claims about Himself. He claimed to be the only way to reach the one true God. He also claimed the ability to forgive sins. Jesus said that He would raise the dead someday. He also claimed the ability to raise Himself from the dead. Jesus also claimed that He would someday judge the entire world. There are four possibilities with respect to Jesus’ claims. They could be legendary – He never made the claims Himself. Jesus could have been a liar – making the claims while knowing they were not true. He could have been deluded or a lunatic – making the claims and thinking they were true but they were not. The last possibility is that He could have been Lord – He made the claims thinking they were true and indeed they were. Que stion 77. There is no evidence that Jesus’ claims were legendary. First of all, there was not enough time for any legends to occur. Those who were either eyewitnesses of Jesus’ deeds or those who recorded eyewitness testimony wrote the New Testament. Unfriendly eyewitnesses to the life of Christ would have corrected any exaggeration on the part of the New Testament writers. In addition, the number of eyewitnesses was sufficient to establish Jesus’ claims. There is also the fact that theirs was a memory culture. They were used to memorizing the sayings of important teachers. Jesus, with His powerful words and deeds, would have made a lasting impression on everyone. They would not likely have been quickly forgotten. An examination of the New Testament shows that the writers were interested in specific details of His life. This is inconsistent with someone making up a legendary story. Add to this the consistent testimony of the gospels with respect to Jesus’ claims – they all told the same story. Finally, history tells us they were all martyred for their faith – with the possible exception of John. One does not become a martyr unless they believe their cause to be true. All of these facts demonstrate that the New Testament account is not in the realm of legend. Question 78. The evidence indicates that Jesus Christ did not deliberately lie about who He was or why He came to earth. First, there is no evidence that Jesus lied about anything. Everything we know about Him indicates that He always told the truth. Second, the portrait the New Testament paints of Jesus is consistent. If He lied about whom He was, He lied all the way to His death. He was always certain of who He was. Finally, there is no motivation for Him to lie about anything. There was no personal advantage to be gained for lying. Consequently we conclude that He did not lie about anything that He said – He truly believed that He was the One whom He claimed to be.

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Question 79. There is the claim that Jesus truly believed Himself to be the Son of God, but His claims were not true – He was actually mentally deranged. However, there is no evidence that Jesus was mentally unbalanced. He did not act like someone insane. There is nothing in His character that indicated any type of insanity. In addition, Jesus was a person who was in control of every situation- including His betrayal. He never let others control Him. The teachings of Jesus were not that of a lunatic. Far from it. They are acknowledged by all to be in a class by themselves. Finally Jesus was always aware of his Person and mission – He knew whom He was and why He was on the earth. Consequently there is no evidence anywhere that Jesus suffered from some type of delusion concerning His character. Question 80. Many people feel uncomfortable calling Jesus a liar or a lunatic – instead they say that He was a great prophet but not the Son of God. The idea that Jesus could merely be a great prophet is really not an option. Jesus claimed to be God’s Son as well as the only way in which a person could know God. If His claims are true, then He should be worshipped. If His claims are false, then He should be ignored. He cannot be just a great prophet – He must be either something more or something less. Question 81. Jesus was fully aware of His identity. He knew who He was and why He was here upon the earth. From age twelve until His death on Calvary’s cross we find that Jesus was always certain of His identify. He never questioned His calling, never wavered on who He was. As to when He became certain of who He was the Bible does not tell us. What we do know is that on the first recorded occasion when He spoke with people, in the temple at age twelve, He knew exactly whom He was – the Christ. He recognized that God was His Father in a unique way. We also find Jesus confident of His identity during His public ministry, His agony in Gethsemane, His trial, and His death on the cross. Question 82. There is an issue with respect to the duration of the two natures of Christ. Scripture teaches that Jesus will retain his human nature forever. First, the resurrected Christ had a body – He was not a spirit. The Bible also says the same Jesus that left the earth will return. Jesus left in a glorified body he will return in a glorified body. Also, the description of him after his ascension is consistent with one who has a body. In addition, the Apostle Paul said that the man Christ Jesus is our mediator. Finally, it is necessary for Jesus’ ministry as high priest that he remains human. The high priest is one who shares our nature and understands our feelings. Our next topic deals with questions concerning His life and ministry here upon the earth. We will look at a number of issues including the following. Why did Jesus become a human being? What was His message? Why did He come at that particular time in history? Could His message have come from a source other than God? In what ways did Jesus demonstrate He had God’s authority?

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Topic 4

THE PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST What Jesus Did When He Was On The Earth Introduction This section examines some of the key elements of the public ministry of Jesus. Although His public life was for a period of a few short years, He has influenced the course of this world as none other. In this section we will find out why He came, His relationship to the Law of Moses, as well as examine His miraculous deeds and His relationship to Bible prophecy.

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QUESTION 83 Why Did Jesus, As God, Become A Human Being? (The Incarnation) The great truth revealed in the New Testament is that the eternal God became one of us; He became a human being. John wrote. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The Apostle Paul echoes John’s thoughts. Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of humanity (Philippians 2:6,7). The Incarnation Of Jesus Christ God became a human in Jesus Christ. This is known as the “incarnation.” Incarnation is from the Latin meaning “in flesh.” Although it is not a biblic al word, it presents a biblical truth. Jesus is the eternal God who became flesh and blood. Jesus became a man at a point in time in history. He did so without giving up His oneness with God. He became a human being without a sin nature. “In flesh” means more than Jesus had a physical body – He was a complete human personality. Jesus Took On A New Nature By the incarnation we do not mean that God was turned into a human or that Jesus ceased to be God while He was a human. The incarnation means that while remaining God, Jesus took upon a new nature – a human nature. The incarnation was the uniting the divine and the human into one being, one person. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully human. WHY DID J ESUS COME TO EARTH? In becoming a human being Jesus laid aside His heavenly glory to live among us. The question is, why did He do it? The Scriptures give us at least ten reasons why Jesus came to earth. REASON 1:

HE WANTED TO FURTHER REVEAL GOD TO HUMANITY

The first and foremost reason was to give a further revelation of God to humanity. If you wish to know what God is like you need go no further than to look at Jesus. The Bible says. No one has ever seen God, but God the one and only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known (John 1:18). This verse teaches that Jesus explained God to humanity. We need no longer wonder what God is like; Jesus shows us. Jesus Himself said. Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’”(John 14:9).

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Jesus Did This By Both Words And Deeds Jesus claimed that God guided both His words and deeds. Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these” (John 5:19,20). Jesus said. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father (John 10:38). The Old Testament Revelation Is Incomplete While God revealed Himself to humankind in the Old Testament the revelation was incomplete. There were a number of things that waited till God Himself came to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ. Thus Jesus revealed God to humanity in a personal way. REASON 2:

J ESUS CAME TO FULFILL GOD’S PROMISES TO CERTAIN PEOPLE

God made a number of promises to people like Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, and David. 1.

Adam And Eve

To Adam and Eve, He was the promised Messiah – the seed of the woman that would bruise the head of the serpent. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel (Genesis 3:15). 2.

Abraham

To Abraham, Jesus was his one descendant who would bless the world. God promised Abraham the following. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:3). 3.

David

To David, Jesus was the promised King that would come from His family. He is the one who would rule forever. When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12). The coming of Jesus fulfilled this promise. The angel Gabriel said to Mary.

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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 (Luke 1:31-33). 4.

Jesus Came To Bring Salvation To All Humanity

The covenants He made with them promised salvation for both Israel and the Gentiles. With the coming of Jesus to the world, these promises were fulfilled. Paul wrote. For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, “Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles, and I will sing to your name” (Romans 15:8,9). REASON 3

J ESUS CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW OF M OSES

Jesus also came to fulfill the Law of Moses. Jesus said. Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17,18). By living a perfect life here upon the earth Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law in every respect. REASON 4

JESUS CAME TO DIE FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD

When sin entered the world God instituted the concept of substitutionary sacrifice where God required the sacrifice to die. However the sacrifices of animals could not take away sin. Neither would the death of an ordinary human being be satisfactory to take away sin. What was needed was the perfect sacrifice. This was accomplished with God becoming a human being. Christ’s coming was to die on the cross for the sins of the world. When Christ came He sacrificed Himself on Calvary’s cross. Jesus Himself testified. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). His death on the cross has paid the penalty for ours sins. He died in our place so that we do not have to suffer eternally for our misdeeds. The Bible says. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation . . . he made him sin for us that we may be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:19,21). Jesus Christ came into the world to become humanity’s Savior. Without His coming humanity would not have a Savior.

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REASON 5:

J ESUS CAME TO B RING IN A NEW COVENANT

Jesus not only fulfilled the promises of the old covenant, His coming brought a new covenant into existence. On the night of His betrayal Jesus instituted the new covenant. While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). REASON 6:

J ESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL

His coming also was to destroy the works of the Devil and the hold he has had over humanity. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Jesus’ death on the cross frees us from the power of sin. The Devil no longer has any right to control us because Christ has given us the freedom to choose not to sin. REASON 7:

J ESUS CAME TO J UDGE THE WORLD RIGHTEOUSLY

Jesus came to be a righteous judge of humanity. Scripture says that it is He who will judge the world. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (John 5:22). Jesus also said. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man (John 5:27). He is qualified to judge humanity because He became a human being. Since He has lived as a human being His judgment will always be righteous and fair. REASON 8:

J ESUS CAME TO SYMPATHIZE WITH B ELIEVERS AS THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST

Because Jesus, the God-man, lived here upon the earth and experienced the limitations of being a human being, He is able to sympathize with the problems and concerns that humans face. The Bible says. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). REASON 9:

J ESUS CAME TO B E AN EXAMPLE FOR B ELIEVERS

Jesus also came to provide an example for the believer on how to live one’s life. When a person puts their faith in Christ they have an example to follow. Jesus lived the perfect life as the perfect man with faith in His Father. Hence we are told, “to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). Peter said.

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To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus Christ provides the pattern of how believers should live. REASON 10: J ESUS CAME TO PREPARE HUMANITY FOR A HEAVENLY DESTINY

Finally, Jesus came to earth to prepare humanity for their heavenly destiny. The Son of God became a human so that human beings could eventually be fitted with a new nature – a perfect one. One day we shall be like Him. John wrote. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2). We shall have a body like His. Paul emphasized. Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21). Believers who have borne the image of the earthly man Adam, will also bear the image of the heavenly man – Jesus. Paul wrote. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:47,48). The thing that hindered this from happening was sin. Jesus has taken care of the sin problem. Summary The incarnation means that the eternal God became a human being. When the Bible speaks about Jesus coming in the flesh it means that He had a complete, sinless human nature. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world was for the following ten reasons. Jesus came to provide a further revelation of God. The Old Testament was incomplete and the coming of Christ completed God’s revelation. Jesus also came to fulfill promises to individuals. The Old Testament records promises made to a number of individuals that were fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus also came to fulfill the Law of Moses – He perfectly kept the commandments of the Law. Jesus also came to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. Because He lived a sinless life He could sacrifice Himself. The coming of Christ not only fulfilled the old covenant, it also brought a new covenant into affect. Jesus’ coming to earth also allows Him to righteously judge the world in the future. In addition, He is now able to identify with humanity as the Great High Priest. Furthermore, Christ’s coming was also to destroy the works of the Devil. Christ also became an example for believers. His perfect life sets the standard. Finally, Jesus coming has prepared the way for believers to receive their new body – one without sin.

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QUESTION 84 Why Did Jesus Come At That Particular Time In History? The question often comes up as to why Jesus came to earth at the specific time that He did. Why didn’t He come at another time that perhaps could have been better suited to spread the message? Could Jesus have picked a better time to arrive in history? Was there any special reason He came when He did? The Bible tells us the following. 1.

He Came In The Fullness Of Time

The Bible is clear that Jesus came at the prescribed time. Paul wrote. But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law (Galatians 4:4,5). 2.

His Coming Had Been Predicted

His coming had been predicted in the Old Testament. Jesus upbraided the people for not knowing the time of His coming. If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will . . . surround you and close you in on every side . . . and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation (Luke 19:42-44). All the signs had been given, the prophecies fulfilled regarding His coming, yet the people still rejected Him. 3.

There Is Nothing Explicitly Stated As To Why He Came At That Time

Though everything indicates that Jesus came according to God’s schedule, nothing is said in Scripture about why He chose that time in history. God is silent on that matter except to say it was at the perfect time. To assume things would be different if instead He had chosen to come in the twenty first century is untrue. Twenty first century humanity has sufficient reason to believe in Jesus. The fact that He chose to come some two thousand years ago does not change the fact that He came and fulfilled that which the Bible had predicted. Summary The Bible says that Jesus came into our world “in the fulness of time” in God’s program. His coming had been predicted in the Old Testament. In addition, the people were chastised for not knowing the time of His appearing. Other than that the Bible is silent on the matter. For reasons known only to God, He picked that time in history to send His Son. Ultimately, however, the reason for that particular time in history for Jesus to come into the world is known to God alone.

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QUESTION 85 If Jesus Was Without Sin, Then Why Was He Baptized? Before Jesus began His public ministry He came to John the Baptist for baptism. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John (John 3:13). The problem this causes is that John’s baptism was one of repentance. He said. I baptize you with for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11) If sinless, why did Jesus submit Himself to water baptism that had to do with repentance? There are a couple of things that should be noted in answering this question. He Fulfilled All Righteousness At His Baptism John the Baptist did not want to baptize Him. However, Jesus explained why He was baptized. It was to fulfill all righteousness. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented (Matthew 3:13-15). Jesus’ life was to serve as a pattern, or example, to all believers. Those who trust Jesus as their Savior are to follow Him in His behavior. Therefore Jesus submitted to water baptism to establish a pattern for believers. John wrote. Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). Jesus Came Out Of The Water Immediately The Bible also emphasizes that Jesus came immediately out of the water. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him (Matthew 3:16). People stayed in the water to confess their sins. The fact that He came immediately out of the water is another indication that He had no sin. This is another indication the Jesus’ baptism was an example for us to follow. Summary John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance. Jesus came to John to be baptized by him. However, John attempted to stop Him because John knew Jesus was without sin. Jesus explained the necessity of Him being baptized – it was to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus submitted to John’s baptism to set a pattern for believers to follow. The Bible says that those who believe in Christ are to walk as He walked.

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QUESTION 86 Did Jesus Fulfill The Prophecies About The Messiah? Jesus made it clear that the Old Testament predicted His coming. He said to the religious leaders of His day. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me (John 5:39). The Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled include the following. 1.

THE FAMILY LINE OF THE M ESSIAH WAS PREDICTED

Jesus fulfilled a number of predictions that have to do with the Messiah’s genealogy, or family line. God narrowed down the family line of the Messiah in such a way that eliminated most people who have ever been born. Prediction: He Will Come From The Family Of Shem The Messiah was to come from the family line of Shem. He [Noah] also said, “Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. “May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant” (Genesis 9:26,27). Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japeth. God eliminated one third of humanity when He said the Messiah would come through the line of Shem. The Fulfillment Recorded Luke records the fulfillment. The son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech (Luke 3:36). Luke lists the genealogy of Jesus. It records Jesus was a descendant of Shem. Prediction: The Christ, Or Messiah, Will Be A Descendant Of Abraham One of the descendants of Abraham was to be the Messiah. Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3).

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Now God eliminates all the families of the earth but one—the family of Abraham. Whoever claims to be the Messiah has to be a descendant of Abraham for God told Abraham that one of his descendants will bless all the earth. The Fulfillment Recorded The fulfillment is recorded in Matthew. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). The Apostle Paul, in the New Testament, emphasized that God specified one from Abraham’s line would be the Christ. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to the seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your seed,’ who is Christ’ (Galatians 3:16). The Apostle Paul says that God uses the singular rather than the plural to emphasize it will be one particular descendant of Abraham who will bless the world. Prediction: He Will Be a Descendant Of Isaac Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. God promised Isaac that the Messiah would be through his family line. Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. And I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 26:3,4). The Fulfillment Recorded Matthew records the fulfillment. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Abraham begot Isaac (Matthew 1:1,2). Jesus was from Isaac’s line. Prediction: The Messiah Will Come From The Family Of Jacob The Messiah was to be a descendant of Jacob. God also said to him [Jacob], “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come forth from you. And the land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and I will give the land to your descendants after you” (Genesis 35:11,12). Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Scripture says that the chosen line was through Jacob. This continues to narrow the possible candidates for the Messiah.

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The Fulfillment Recorded Matthew records how this was fulfilled. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Isaac begot Jacob (Matthew 1:1,2). Jesus was also from the line of Jacob. Prediction: He Will Come From Tribe Of Judah Jacob had twelve sons. God eliminated 11/12 of the line of Jacob by saying the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples (Genesis 49:10). The Fulfillment Recorded Jesus descended from the line of Judah. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Jacob begot Judah and his brothers . . . and to Judah were born Perez and Zerah by Tamar; and to Perez (Matthew 1:1-3). Prediction: The Messiah Will Be From Family Line Of Jesse There were many family lines in the tribe of Judah, but only through the family line of Jesse could the Messiah come. He is the Branch that will bear fruit. We read in Isaiah. Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1) The Fulfillment Recorded Matthew records how this was fulfilled. The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Obed begot Jesse (Matthew 1:1,5). Prediction: He Will Descend From The House Of David God told David that the Messiah would be from His line: When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12). Jesse had at least eight sons. God eliminated 7/8 of the sons of Jesse when He said the Messiah would be through the line of David. Again, the list of potential candidates gets narrower and narrower. The Fulfillment Recorded The very first verse of the New Testament records the fulfillment of this prophecy.

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The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the Son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1). When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary announcing Jesus’ birth, he confirmed that Mary’s child would be a descendant of David. You will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give him the throne of His father David (Luke 1:31,32). All Of These Prophecies Were Fulfilled By Jesus Consequently whoever the promised Messiah would be, He would have to be a physical descendant of David the king. All other individuals would not qualify. Therefore, from the predictions with respect to the genealogy of the Messiah, the great majority of the people who have ever been born are eliminated from contention. Jesus, however, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the family line of the Messiah by being a descendant of David. 2.

THE PLACE OF HIS COMING WAS PREDICTED

In addition, the exact place of His birth was predicted. Prediction: He Will Born In Bethlehem God predicted, through the prophet Micah, the exact city where the Messiah would be born. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity (Micah 5:2). Every city in the world was eliminated but one—Bethlehem. Thus if someone was a descendant of King David, yet was born in any other city than Bethlehem, he would not qualify as the promised Messiah. The Fulfillment Recorded Matthew records this fulfillment. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1). Jesus was not only born in the right family, He was also born at the right place. 3.

THE TIME OF HIS COMING WAS PREDICTED

Finally, we have the prediction with respect to the time in history of the Messiah’s coming. Prediction: He Will Be Killed Before The Temple And The City Of Jerusalem Are Destroyed The Scripture predicted the death of the Messiah. The Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary (Daniel 9:26).

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We learn three things from this verse. 1.

The Messiah will come on the scene of history.

2.

He will be killed.

3.

After His death, the city of Jerusalem and temple will be destroyed.

The Fulfillment Recorded When Jesus came to the earth, the city of Jerusalem and the temple were still standing. Teaching at the temple was an important part of Jesus’ ministry. The temple, as well as the city, was destroyed in the year A.D. 70. This was forty years after His death and resurrection. Therefore, Jesus fulfilled certain prophecies about the coming Messiah. 1.

He was born in the right family line—David’s.

2.

He was born at the right place—the city of Bethlehem.

3.

He was born at the right time in history—before the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.

TWO IMPORTANT POINTS NEED TO B E NOTED These three areas of prophecy that we have looked at reveal two startling things: literal fulfillment and no human manipulation. 1.

The Prophecies Were Fulfilled Literally By Jesus

First, the prophecies were fulfilled literally—exactly as they were written. Jesus was literally a descendant of King David, He was literally born in the city of Bethlehem, and He literally came upon the scene of history and was killed before the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. 2.

Jesus’ Birth Fulfilled These Prophecies

Second, these three lines of prophecy were all fulfilled without any human manipulation or fulfillment. There is no way Jesus could have deliberately fulfilled them, seeing they were all fulfilled by His birth. Before He gave any sermons, before He did anything miraculous, Jesus supernaturally fulfilled these prophecies. He was born in the right family, at the right place, and at the right time in history. Humanly speaking, there is no way Jesus could control these factors. Summary After looking at only three lines of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled at His First Coming we can make the following observations. Jesus told the religious leaders to search the Scriptures and discover where they spoke about Him. From the Old Testament we find that the coming Messiah was to be born in one particular family. This would be through Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David. The New Testament is clear that Jesus was a descendant of David. The Old Testament prophet Micah predicted the Messiah would be born in the small town of Bethlehem. Matthew tells us that Jesus was born in

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Bethlehem. Daniel the prophet said the Messiah would be killed before the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. Jesus came upon the scene of history before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. He was crucifie d about forty years before they were destroyed. The prophecies that Jesus fulfilled were fulfilled literally. He was a literal descendant of David, literally born in Bethlehem, and literally died before the city and temple were destroyed. These three lines of prophecy were all fulfilled by Jesus’ birth. There is no way, humanly speaking, that He could have deliberately fulfilled them. The coming of the Messiah was predicted in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled these prophecies and, in doing so, has the right to claim to be the promised Messiah.

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QUESTION 87 Did Jesus Come To Bring Peace On Earth? When the angel announced the birth of Jesus, the host of heaven appeared with Him and praised God in these familiar words. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14). Jesus is also called the “Prince of Peace.” The prophet Isaiah wrote. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) The question then arises: Did Jesus come to earth to bring peace? If so, then He failed in His mission because the world has not known peace since His coming. However there are a number of things that need to be said. 1.

There Is A Different Reading Of The Text

First, it should be noted that the text in Luke should read a little differently. Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom He favors! (Luke 2:14). The peace promised is not to every person but rather those whom God favors. 2.

He Came To Bring Peace To Believers Only

Jesus has promised peace to believers. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). The Apostle Paul wrote of God’s peace. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). 3.

There Will Not Be Peace For Everyone

The idea of Jesus coming to earth for the purpose of bringing a lasting peace is contrary to His words. Although one of the designations of Jesus is the “Prince of Peace,” His first coming was not for the purpose of bringing peace on earth. He made this clear. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’ And ‘a man’s foes will be those of his own household’ (Matthew 10:34-36). According to His own words, Jesus came to testify of the truth.

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Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice (John 18:37). 4.

People Must Make A Choice Regarding Jesus

The nature of Jesus’ message called for people to make a choice. Rather than uniting humanity, it divided friends and families. It still has that effect today. Those who believe in Jesus are separated from those who do not believe. His mission was not that of bringing peace but rather bringing the truth of God. 5.

There Will Be Universal Peace Someday

One day He will return and establish an everlasting kingdom where peace will be the rule rather than the exception. The prophet Isaiah wrote. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:7). Until that time the message of Jesus divides those who love God’s truth from those who do not. Summary When Jesus Christ came to earth the angels announced that there would be peace. Jesus is called the, “Prince of Peace” yet there has been no peace for the world since He came. There are several reasons for this. First, the peace the angels promised were to those who have trusted Him – not to everyone. Believers can enjoy the peace of God. Second, Jesus Himself testified that His coming had the result of dividing people not uniting them. One day there will be peace on the earth. However this will only happen when Jesus Christ returns.

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QUESTION 88 Did Jesus Get Involved In The Contemporary Politics In Israel? Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Christ. He had the right to rule over the entire nation of Israel. However, when we look at the public ministry of Jesus, we find that He avoided any involvement in the current political issues of His day. From the New Testament we can make the following observations. 1.

Jesus Did Not Speak Out On Current Political Issues

There is nothing recorded in the New Testament about Jesus Christ speaking out against any of the political issues of His day. Nothing in His teachings gives even the slightest hint that He had any political involvement. 2.

He Refused To Be Made King

In fact, Jesus refused to lead any political movement. He resisted when the people wanted to make Him king. Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself (John 6:15). 3.

He Told His Disciples Not To Tell Others He Was Messiah

When Jesus acknowledged that He was the Messiah, He did not allow His disciples to publicly tell others. Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ (Matthew 16:20). 4.

He Told No One To Tell Of His Transfiguration

Jesus told His disciples that they were to tell no one about His Transfiguration. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead” (Matthew 17:9). This event was a clear demonstration that Jesus was the promised Messiah. 5.

Jesus Withdrew From Confrontation

Jesus also withdrew from confrontation with the religious rulers. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, warning them not to tell who he was (Matthew 12:15,16). 6.

Jesus Did Not Incite The People Against Rome

Although Jesus did not incite the people against Rome, this was one of the charges brought before Pilate by the religious leaders.

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But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here” (Luke 23:5). Yet there is no evidence that Jesus ever incited the people against Rome. 7.

Jesus Refused To Get Entangled In A Political Debate

Jesus refused to get into a debate about paying taxes to Rome. Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away (Matthew 22:15-22). 8.

Jesus Behavior Was In Contrast To False Messiahs

Jesus behavior was in contrast to some false Messiahs that preceded Him. Scripture records some of these failed attempts. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered (Acts 5:36-38). Luke also records. Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness? (Acts 21:38). While they attempted to stage a revolt against Rome, Jesus did not. 9.

His Kingdom Was Not Of This World System

Jesus kingdom was not of this world system. Jesus told Pontius Pilate. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice” (John 18:36,37).

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Summary Although Jesus was the promised Messiah, the one who could rightfully rule over Israel, He refused to become involved in any political issue of His day. We see this in a number of ways. First, we find that Jesus did not speak out on any of the current political issues of His day. After He fed the multitudes the people attempted to force Jesus to be made king. Knowing this, He withdrew from them. Although He was the promised Messiah, He told His disciples not to tell others. He also withdrew from confrontation with the religious rulers. When the religious leaders attempted to engage Jesus in a political issue, He refused. Although He was accused before Pilate as inciting the people again Rome, He never did this. This was in contrast to a number of false Messiahs who attempted to revolt against the Roman occupation. The reason He acted this way has to do with the nature of His kingdom – it was not of this world system.

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QUESTION 89 What Was Jesus’ Relationship To The Law Of Moses? The law that God gave to Moses for the people Israel was a central part of their existence. It was the perfect standard by which they were to conduct their lives. Though the law was perfect, it revealed how imperfect each individual was. The law gave people the knowledge of sin but not the solution. Paul wrote. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). Scripture says the following about the relationship of Jesus to the Old Testament law. 1.

Jesus Was Born Under Law

Jesus was born under the Law of Moses. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (Galatians 4:4,5). 2.

He Was Sinless Under The Law

Jesus was also sinless under the law. Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me (John 8:46) 3.

Jesus Fulfilled The Law

Jesus, as the promised Messiah, came and fulfilled the Law of Moses. He testified. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). 4.

Jesus Kept The Law

Jesus is the only person who has ever kept the law perfectly. He did everything the law required, never once breaking any of its commandments. Because He was sinless, Jesus was able to meet the requirements of the law to be the perfect sacrifice. His death redeemed humanity from the curse of the law. Paul wrote. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’) (Galatians 3:13). 5.

Jesus Taught The Law

Jesus faithfully taught the law. He rejected the unbiblical traditions of the Scribes and Pharisees. On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.

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Jesus “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Luke 10:25-27)

6.

The Curse Of The Law Was Removed By His Death

The curse that the law had over humanity was now removed. The death of Christ meant that those who were previously slaves under the law could become the children of God and heirs to His promises. The Bible says. God sent forth his Son . . . to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (Galatians 4:4-7). Christ has taken away the bondage of the law for the believer and given freedom in the pla ce of slavery. 7.

There Is A New Law Of Christ

Those who have become Christians are now under the law of Christ. Jesus said. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34). Paul wrote. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). The law of Christ is to love others as Jesus has loved us. Summary The Bible tells us of the relationship of Jesus Christ to the Law of Moses. Jesus was born under the law and He was sinless under the law. He fulfilled the law perfectly – keeping all its commandments. Jesus faithfully taught the law to others. His death on the cross removed the curse of the law. Believers now have a new law in Christ – to love as He loved.

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QUESTION 90 Why Was Jesus Called Lord? The gospels record people addressing Jesus as, “Lord.” This is a translation of the Greek word, kurios. What does it mean when they used this title? 1.

Yahweh Or Jehovah Is Translated As LORD In New Testament

Whenever God’s name, “Jehovah” or “Yahweh,” is given in the New Testament, it is rendered by the Greek word kurios. Sometimes this refers to the name of God. That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is LORD [kurios],’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:9,10). In this instance, Paul calls Jesus “LORD” or “Yahweh.” This is a reference to His Deity. 2.

It Does Not Always Mean Deity

While the Greek word kurios is used to translate the divine name of God, Jehovah or Yahweh, this is not always the case. The word can also mean a polite title like, “Sir.” For example, when a woman in Samaria addressed Jesus, she used the same word kurios. However in this context it is translated, “Sir.” “Sir [kurios],” the woman said, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? (John 4:11). She was not recognizing His Deity. 3.

They Are Not Necessarily Recognizing His Deity

Consequently, the fact that Jesus is addressed as “Lord” does not necessarily mean that people acknowledged His Deity. The Greek word for Lord, kurios, can be used for God’s name – Jehovah or Yahweh. However kurios can also be merely a polite way of addressing someone. For example, there are people apart from Jesus who are addressed as kurios in the New Testament. Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” [kurios] they said, “we would like to see Jesus” (John 12:20,21). Here we have Philip, the disciple of Jesus, being addressed with the Greek word kurios. Obviously this is not a reference to Deity. Summary In a number of places in the New Testament Jesus is called “Lord.” The word translated Lord is from the Greek word kurios. At times it is merely a polite form of address. However at other times it is a translation of the divine name for God – Yahweh or Jehovah. The context must determine which is so. People, such as Philip the disciple of Jesus, are addressed with the Greek word kurios.

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QUESTION 91 What Was The Significance Of Jesus’ Transfiguration? The Transfiguration was the glorification of the human body of Jesus. On this occasion His body underwent a change in form, a metamorphosis, so that it shone as brightly as the sun. At the time of the Transfiguration, Jesus’ earthly ministry was coming to a close. He had acknowledged that He was the Messiah and had predicted His death and resurrection. Now He was to reveal, to a select few, His divine glory. The Bible gives this account: Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother brought them up on a high mountain by themselves, and was transfigured before them. his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him . . . A bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him!’ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’ And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only (Matthew 17:1-3,5-8). Jesus told Peter, James, and John not to tell anyone about this until after He had risen from the dead. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead” (Matthew 17:9). Years Later Peter Recalled The Event Some years later Simon Peter would write of this event: For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to him from the excellent glory: ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain (2 Peter 1:16-18). WHAT DOES THE TRANSFIGURATION REPRESENT? The transfiguration represents a number of things. They include the following. 1.

It Shows Jesus Is The Son Of God

The Transfiguration provides further evidence that Jesus was the divine Son of God. It is not coincidental that this happened soon after Jesus had acknowledged Himself to be the Christ, the one who left heaven’s glory to come to earth. Now three of His disciples were to get a glimpse of that glory. 2.

It Shows He Fulfilled The Law And The Prophets

The appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus is also highly significant. The name Moses was equated with the Old Testament law that God had given to the people. Jesus came and fulfilled the

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commandments of the law and did the things the law could not do, that is, to provide an answer for the problem of sin. The law pointed out the problem; Jesus gave the solution. John wrote. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Elijah was an outstanding figure in the Old Testament. He was a great prophet and his appearance with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration testified that Jesus fulfilled the prophets, as well as the law. 3.

There Was A Confirmation Of The Father

The voice of God the Father gave further confirmation of the calling and Sonship of Jesus. He acknowledged that Jesus had pleased Him in the things He had said and done. 4.

It Represented His Coming Kingdom

The Transfiguration scene of Jesus is a representation of His coming kingdom in its fullness. Jesus Himself said to His disciples. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom (Matthew 16:28). The Transfiguration occurred with Jesus and three of His disciples – Peter, James, and John. Moses and Elijah miraculously appeared with Jesus. At the foot of the mountain were the remainder of Jesus’ disciples and the multitudes. IS THIS A PICTURE OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE COMING KINGDOM? When one considers the various individuals and groups involved, it seems to paint a marvelous picture of Jesus’ coming kingdom. Consider the following characters that were involved. 1.

Jesus Himself

First, there is the Lord Jesus in His glorified body. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light (Matthew 17:2) He will rule in His coming kingdom in His glorified body. 2.

Moses

Moses, in his glorified body, represented the saved that will enter God’s kingdom through death. They died with a promise of a future life. 3.

Elijah

Elijah never died. He represents those believers who enter the kingdom of God by the translation or the rapture of the church. Paul wrote.

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Jesus I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality (1 Corinthians 15:50-53).

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Jesus’ Disciples

Peter, James, and John in their natural bodies depict those Jewish believers who will enter the coming kingdom. There will be people alive when Christ returns. 5.

The Multitude Represents Various Nations That Will Make Up The Kingdom

The multitude of people, left at the base of the mountain, represent the various nations who will enter the kingdom of God in their natural or non-glorified bodies. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth (Isaiah 11:10-12). Some Bible -Believers Do Not Agree There are many good Bible -believers who do not think the Scripture teaches that Christ will reign on earth for a literal one thousand years. Consequently they do not see the same significance of the various personages that were at the Transfiguration or who were down the mountain. Summary Jesus’ body was transfigured, or changed, in the presence of three disciples. It was the glorification of the body of Jesus. The Transfiguration is significant for a number of reasons. Those with Him saw Jesus in His glory as the Son of God. The appearance of Moses and Elijah also testified that Jesus was the one of whom the Law and Prophets spoke. The approving testimony of God the Father further confirmed the identity of Jesus. The Transfiguration also represents His coming kingdom. In the Transfiguration of Jesus we seem to have the various elements of the coming kingdom represented. There is the glorified King, those who will come into the kingdom through death, those who will come into the kingdom through the transformation of their bodies at the rapture of the church, those Jewish believers who will enter into the millennial reign of Christ in their earthly bodies, as well as the people from the various nations who will also enter into the millennium in non-glorified bodies. This is the viewpoint of those who believe that Christ will literally rule for a thousand year period on the earth sometime in the future. Some Bible-believers do not believe that we should be that specific in determining what the various parties will represent in the future. They do not think the Scripture teaches that Christ will literally rule for a thousand years upon His return. Hence they do not think that we can find too many specific details in the account of the Transfiguration that refer to His future kingdom.

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QUESTION 92 Did Jesus Perform Miracles? Jesus Himself appealed to miracles as a testimony to His Divine character. When John the Baptist sent messengers to Jesus to ask if He were the Christ, Jesus replied as follows. Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them (Matthew 11:2-5). This would remind them of various Old Testament passages. For example, we read in Isaiah. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy (Isaiah 35:5,6) Jesus, therefore, appealed to His miracles to back up His claims. On another occasion He also told His disciples. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake (John 14:11). Therefore, the performing of miracles, is Jesus’ specific claim to substantiate His identity – it is not our claim. THERE WERE M IRACLES OF TIMING What is a miracle? The word miracle is used in two different ways in Scripture. In the first instance, it is used to describe an unusual or natural event that occurs at a precise time. This is usually in answer to prayer. The miracle is in the timing - not in the event itself. There are examples of this type of miracle in the gospels. 1.

The Miraculous Catch Of Fish

On two separate occasions, the gospels record Jesus involved in a miraculous catch of fish. Luke records one of these incidents. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at your bidding I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break; and they signaled to their partners in the other boat, for them to come and help them. And they came, and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink (Luke 5:4-7). After Jesus’ resurrection, John reports an incident between Jesus and several of His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Children, have you any food?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ and he said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish (John 21:4-6).

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There is nothing miraculous about throwing a net into the water and having it filled with fish. This event, however, was a miracle because they had been fishing all night and had not caught a thing. But when Jesus told where to put their net, it immediately became full. 2.

The Coin In The Mouth Of The Fish

Another natural event, that is a miracle of timing, is the episode of the coin found in the mouth of the fish to pay the temple tax. Jesus told Peter. But, lest we give them offense, go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for you and me (Matthew 17:27). Again, the miracle is not the event itself, but rather in the timing of the event. 3.

The Pigs Running Into The Sea

The account of the pigs running into the sea could also be considered a natural event. Matthew records it this way. And he [Jesus] said to them, “Begone!” And they came out, and went into the swine, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters (Matthew 8:32). It is possible for a herd of pigs to rush into the sea and drown because of natural causes. However, this herd did so immediately after the command of Jesus. 4.

The Servant Healed By Jesus

John’s gospel tells us of Jesus healing a man’s son at a distance. Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he started off. And as he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living. So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed, and his whole household (John 4:50-53). We have another example of a miracle of timing. The fact that the fever broke was not miraculous in-andof itself. The miracle is that it broke at the exact time Jesus told the man that his son was healed. 5.

The Earthquake At Jesus’ Death

The Bible says an earthquake occurred at Jesus’ death. And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit, and behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split (Matthew 27:50-51). The miracle is that the timing of the earthquake coincided with Jesus’ death.

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Events like these are not contrary to the laws of science. Nonetheless, they are miracles of timing and place. Other New Testament events that could fall into this category include the cessation of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, and the withering of the fig tree. THERE WERE EVENTS THAT WENT B EYOND NATURAL LAW The Bible speaks of a second type of miracle performed by God. This kind of miracle cannot be explained in terms of normal cause and effect. We will provide two examples. Jesus Walking On Water Jesus walking on the water is an example of this type of totally supernatural miracle: Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea (Matthew 14:25). The normal laws of science cannot explain this miracle because it is physically impossible for people to walk on water. The Feeding Of The Five Thousand Another example of this kind of miracle is Jesus feeding the five thousand. When a multitude of people who had followed Jesus became hungry, Jesus took the food that was available - five loaves and two fish and miraculously turned it into enough food to feed the great crowd. The Bible says. So when they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children (Matthew 14:20,21). Not only did everyone eat, they all were satisfied. The disciples gathered twelve baskets full of leftovers from the miracle. The normal laws of cause and effect cannot explain this event. Summary Jesus appealed to miracles to back up His claim as the Messiah. Miracles are either unusual events that occur at a precise time or they are things that happen in a strictly supernatural way. In the life of Jesus we see both of these types of miracles performed. For example, the miraculous catch of fish is an example of a miracle of timing. Jesus’ walking on water is a totally supernatural miracle. In either case, the miracles are convincing evidence of God’s great power and His control over the laws He established when He created the universe.

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QUESTION 93 What Was The Purpose Of Jesus’ Miracles? The word translated miracle can also mean, “sign.” The Apostle John testified why he recorded Jesus’ miracles. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30,31). The Miracles Testified To Jesus’ Identity The miracles were done as a testimony to the identity of Jesus which would create belief in Him. These signs that Jesus performed convinced many that He was the Messiah. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did (John 2:23). We find that many people believed in Him after seeing the signs He performed. Some Doubted The Miracles Yet even with all these miraculous signs, there were some who doubted. When Jesus was speaking to the multitude, He said. ‘Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’ Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him’ (John 12:28,29). Though it was the voice of the Father who spoke, many believed they only heard thunder. Some Didn’t Believe That Christ Had Risen After Jesus’ resurrection there were still some who did not believe. And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted (Matthew 28:17). Consequently the evidence of Jesus’ miracles did not cause everyone to believe. There were still people who rejected Him in spite of the evidence. An Important Lesson Learned This teaches us an important lesson. No amount of evidence will convince someone who does not wish to be convinced. Jesus testified to that fact when He compared the reasons the religious leaders rejected Him and John the Baptist. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions (Matthew 11:18,19)

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John the Baptist lived without worldly comforts. The people didn’t believe his message because of his lifestyle of self-denial. Jesus ate and drank with people. He was rejected because He was eating and drinking! Unbelief is never satisfied. Summary The miracles of Jesus were performed as signs to testify to His unique identity – only God could perform such miracles. And although the signs convinced many, there were still some who doubted. It is not so much that they could not believe as they would not believe. Jesus emphasized this in His illustration of why He and John the Baptist were rejected. John was rejected because he lived in self-denial and Jesus was rejected because He did not live a life of self-denial. It illustrates the truth that those who do not wish to believe in Jesus will always find an excuse. However no excuse will be accepted on Judgment Day.

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QUESTION 94 Why Should Anyone Believe In The Miracles Of Jesus? Since the time of Christ, there have been many people who have denied His miracles. For whatever reason, they have not believed the New Testament’s account of His supernatural works. The people in Jesus’ day, however, had a chance to witness firsthand whether or not He performed miraculous deeds. The following are reasons why the miracles attributed to Jesus should be believed. 1.

THERE WAS A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF M IRACLES

First, the number of miracles Jesus performed was sufficient for honest inquirers to believe in them. The four gospels record Jesus performing about thirty-five separate miracles. Most of the miracles that Jesus performed are recorded in more than one gospel. Two of His miracles, the feeding of the five thousand and the resurrection, are found in all four gospels. Jesus Did Many More Miracles Than Are Recorded In The Gospels In addition, each gospel writer says that Jesus performed many more miracles than they recorded. And Jesus was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23). Mark noted. And wherever he entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and entreating him that they might just touch the fringe of his cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured (Mark 6:56). Luke recorded. And all the multitude were trying to touch him, for power was coming from him and healing them all (Luke 6:19). John wrote. Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book (John 20:30). The vast number of miracles in which Jesus performed demonstrates that they were a regular part of His ministry. 2.

THE M IRACLES WERE OF A SUFFICIENT VARIETY

The miracles of Jesus were also of a sufficient variety to show that He had miraculous power. Of the specific miracles recorded in the four gospels we find: seventeen were bodily cures, six were healing of demonic possession, nine were miracles of nature, and there were three occasions where He raised someone from the dead.

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Of the seventeen specific healing miracles that are recorded there is a variety of different illnesses that Jesus healed. These include: leprosy, paralysis, fever, shriveled limbs, an amputated ear, blindness, deafness, muteness, and blood hemorrhaging. He Has Ultimate Authority Over Life And Death Jesus also had the authority over life and death. The Bible records three specific cases of Jesus resurrecting someone from the dead: Jairus’ daughter who had just died (Matthew 9:18-26), the widow of Nain’s son who was in the coffin (Luke 7:11-15), and Lazarus who had been in the tomb for four days (John 11). Thus Jesus showed His control over three stages of death - those who had just died, those who were going to be buried, and those who were already in the tomb. 3.

THE M IRACLES COVERED ALL POSSIBLE AREAS OF AUTHORITY

As the Son of God, Jesus exercised authority over all realms. The Gospel of Matthew, in the eight and ninth chapter, relates many different areas over which Jesus demonstrated His authority. The point of recording these various miracles is to show that Jesus is Lord of every realm imaginable - He is Lord of all! Jesus Healed Incurable Disease After delivering the Sermon on the Mount Jesus came down from the mountain and reached out to the most repulsive of people - a man with leprosy. At this time there was no known cure for the disease. Therefore, a leper was considered one of the living dead. Jesus had compassion on this particular man and healed him instantaneously. And behold, a leper came and worshiped him saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out his hand and touched him saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed (Matthew 8:2,3). Here Jesus demonstrated authority over the realm of incurable disease. Jesus Healed From A Distance Jesus also had the ability to heal someone without being physically present. A centurion approached Jesus on behalf of his paralyzed servant. The centurion’s faith was such that he believed the servant would be healed if Jesus just gave the word - there was no need for His actual presence. Jesus marveled at the man’s faith. When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’ . . . Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour (Matthew 8:10,13). Jesus exhibited power to heal when He was not present, not even near the afflicted person. This demonstrates that He is Lord of space and time. Jesus Is The Lord Of Nature Jesus is not only the Lord over disease, He is also the Lord over nature. A great storm arose on the Sea of Galilee covering their boat with waves.

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Jesus Then his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’ But he said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?’ Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey him?’ (Matthew 8:25-27).

When He calmed the storm, Jesus displayed authority over nature - the realm of the visible world. He Is Lord Of The Supernatural Realm Jesus also had authority over the supernatural realm. Jesus met two demon-possessed men who were terrorizing the countryside. When Jesus approached they cried out: What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time? (Matthew 8:29). Jesus cast out demons into a herd of swine and the two men returned to normal. By doing this Jesus showed authority in the area of the supernatural - the invisible realm. In one short boat trip on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus showed His authority over both the visible and invisible realm. Jesus Had Authority To Forgive Sins This account is found in Matthew 9:1-8. In the episode of healing a paralyzed man at Capernaum, Jesus showed that His authority extended to the forgiveness of sins. Some men brought to him [Jesus] a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). He Had Authority Over Life And Death Furthermore, Jesus demonstrated His authority was over life and death. While he spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.’ . . . And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, he said to them, ‘Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.’ And they laughed him to scorn. But when the crowd was put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose (Matthew 9:18,23-25). Even death was subject to His authority. Jesus Had Authority Over The Natural And The Supernatural At The Same Time The last miracle consists of a man who had problems in both the natural and supernatural realm. And as they were going out, behold, a mute man, demon-possessed, was brought to him. And after the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marveled, saying, “Nothing like this was ever seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees were saying, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons” (Matthew 9:32-34). This man was demon-possessed and mute at the same time. Jesus had no problem dealing with both realms simultaneously.

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Therefore, in these two chapters in Matthew Jesus’ miracles consisted of the following. 1.

Authority over incurable disease.

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Being able to heal without being physically present.

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Authority over nature.

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Authority over the supernatural realm.

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Authority over sins.

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Authority over life and death.

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Authority over the natural and supernatural realm at the same time.

These varied miracles prove that Jesus is Lord of all! 4.

THE M IRACLES WERE DONE PUBLICLY

Another important fact concerning the miracles of Jesus is that they were done publicly. The Apostle Paul said. I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner (Acts 26:25,26). The facts concerning the miracles of Christ were obviously well-known. If not, Paul could not make such a statement. Everyone Knew That Jesus Was A Miracle Worker When Jesus rose on Easter Sunday He walked, unrecognized, with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. When Jesus asked them what they were talking about, He received the following response. And one of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” (Luke 24:18). Cleopas could not believe that this stranger would even ask the question. There is only one subject that everyone was talking about - Jesus. 5.

THEY WERE DONE IN A STRATEGIC LOCATION

Furthermore, the land of Israel was a strategic place in the Roman Empire, in the middle of great crossroads. A large amount of travel occurred through the Holy Land. This is the spot where Jesus performed His miraculous deeds, not on some barren fringe of the empire where no one could observe them. He performed His miracles where the maximum number of people could see for themselves if they were genuine.

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When Jesus performed His miracles, it was often done in the presence of the crowds. Some passages emphasize that multitudes, and entire cities, saw the miracles of Jesus. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel (Matthew 15:30,31). Matthew speaks of another occasion where large crowds followed Jesus. When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there (Matthew 19:1,2). Mark records that the entire city of Capernaum came out to see Jesus heal. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was (Mark 1:32-34). Mark testified that large crowds followed Jesus wherever He went. When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went-- into villages, towns or countryside-they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed (Mark 6:53-56). Luke also speaks of a great number of people being healed by Jesus. He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all (Luke 6:17-19). Therefore we have the consistent testimony of the gospel writers that Jesus healed large numbers of people. 7.

THEY DID NOT OCCUR IN ONE SPECIAL PLACE

The ability of Jesus to perform miracles went with Him wherever He went. Whether it be on the Sea of Galilee, the city of Jerusalem, or the town of Jericho, the miracle power went with Him. There was no staging area where Jesus brought those who needed healing. Consequently there was no way in which His followers could control the event or the outcome. 8.

THERE WAS NO SPECIAL TIME OF DAY WHEN THEY WERE DONE

His miraculous deeds were performed at all times of the day - morning, noon, and night and all seasons of the year - fall, winter, spring, and summer There was nothing hindering the miracle power of Jesus.

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We find Jesus walking on the water in the early morning, healing the servant’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane at night, and healing the infirmed in the temple during the day. 9.

THEY WERE PERFORMED B EFORE GENTILES

The miracles of Jesus were not limited to His countrymen the Jews, we also find Jesus doing miracles for Gentiles as well (Mark 7:24-30; John 4:46-53). These people were not looking for a Jewish Messiah. Yet Jesus performed miracles on their behalf. This demonstrates that He is the Savior of all humanity. 10. THEY WERE DONE WITHOUT PROPS Jesus’ miracles were performed without any props. There were no devices that helped Him when He performed His miraculous deeds as other religious figures have used. Many times Jesus merely spoke the word and the miracle occurred. 11. THE M IRACLES WERE DONE WITH RESTRAINT Whenever Jesus performed a miracle, it was always done for a specific purpose. The miracle s were performed for two basic reasons - as signs to testify of God’s existence and power, or to meet a specific need. They were never performed as a sideshow or to merely attract attention. For example, when Jesus was being tempted by the devil, He refused to use His miraculous powers to show off. The devil wanted Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple and let the angels miraculously save Him, but Jesus would not stoop to this type of supernatural sideshow. 12. J ESUS DID ONLY B ENEFICIAL M IRACLES With only two exceptions, the cursing of the fig tree and the demons sent into the swine, the miracles of Jesus were curative in nature. They were done to help people, not to curse His enemies. When two of Jesus’ disciples wanted Him to destroy a Samaritan village by fire, they were rebuked. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of” (Luke 9:54,55). The miraculous power of Jesus was never done vindictively or in reaction to what someone said or did. 13. THEY WERE NOT DONE FOR HIS OWN ADVANTAGE Jesus’ miracles were not done in His own interest but in the interest of others. He would not turn stones into bread for Himself to eat, but He multiplied the fish and bread for the five thousand. He was always thinking of others. When Peter tried to stop Jesus’ arrest in Gethsemane, Jesus corrected His well-intentioned sword play. He also told Peter that it was well within His capability to perform a miracle if necessary. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:52,53).

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14. THEY M ET REAL HUMAN NEEDS Jesus performed miracles to meet real human needs, not to draw a crowd. For example, when people were in a desert place and needed food, Jesus miraculously provided the food. The miracle met the particular need of the people at that time. We find that each miracle of Jesus was performed either as a sign of His authority or to meet a genuine need. They were never performed as a sideshow. 15. THEY ARE IN CONTRAST TO THE M IRACLES IN APOCRYPHAL GOSPELS After the New Testament was completed, a number of accounts about the life of Jesus were composed. Some of these filled in the gaps of Jesus’ missing years. When they are read in comparison to the four gospels, the differences become immediately obvious. One of these stories has Jesus making birds out of clay and then making them fly. Another account of the boyhood of Jesus has Him turning the shell of a snail on the Sea of Galilee into the size of Mt. Tabor! Then suddenly the snail went back to its original form. Some of these later stories paint Jesus as vindictive - one who uses His miraculous power to turn His friends into stones or animals. In contrast, the four gospels never contain any of this type of nonsensical material. Thus we never find the type of miracles that are grotesque or childish. Nothing in the miracles of Jesus leads us to think of the absurd or the bizarre. 16. THEY WERE DONE WITH GREAT EASE The miracles of Jesus were performed without ceremony or ostentatious behavior - they were done with great ease. There was no strain on Jesus’ behalf to bring forth the miracle. He simply spoke and it was done. In almost all of the cases, the miracles occurred immediately after His simple word or gesture. They were so much a part of His ministry that He could easily move into the area of the miraculous without going through any outward display. 17. THEY WERE RECORDED B Y EYEWITNESSES We will emphasize again that the accounts given to us in the four Gospels were from eyewitnesses. The writers Matthew and John were observers of the miracles and reported what they saw occur. Mark and Luke recorded the eyewitness testimony that was reported to them. Therefore, the miracles of Jesus are well substantiated by people who were there. John the evangelist wrote. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handle d, concerning the Word of life (1 John 1:1). 18. THE REACTION TO HIS M IRACLES IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT Our next point is extremely important! The reaction to Jesus’ miracles from those who observed them is exactly what we would expect - if they had occurred. Those who witnessed the miracles of Jesus were not gullible people expecting miraculous deeds. It must be recognized that the people living at the time of Jesus were as skeptical of the miraculous as modern humanity. One need only look at the responses by the people to the miracles of Jesus to see that this is the case. The Disciples Were The First Unbelievers Of The Resurrection For example, the disciples were the first unbelievers of Jesus’ resurrection. When certain women returned from the tomb and told them Jesus had risen, His disciples responded as follows.

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And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Luke 24:11). When Jesus healed a man who had been blind from birth, the response was amazement. The crowd said. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of the blind (John 9:32). They were not used to seeing something like this. The deed was something extraordinary to them. They Had Never Seen This Sort Of Thing Before On another occasion, Jesus healed a man who had been lame. When He performed this miracle, the people reacted just as we would expect anyone to act who witnessed a similar thing. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw anything like this’ (Mark 2:12). On the Sea of Galilee Jesus performed another miracle like no one had ever seen. And a wind storm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him and awoke him saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But he said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ And they were afraid, and marveled, saying one to another, ‘Who can this be? For he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him!’ (Luke 8:23-25). These accounts illustrate that people of the first-century were just as amazed and puzzled as modern humankind would be when it comes to viewing the miraculous first hand. 19. THE M IRACLES OF J ESUS WERE NEVER DENIED But we see that these same people, even though they were not used to seeing miracles, could not deny these deeds. The religious rule rs, who were enemies of Jesus, sought to discredit Him. Instead of denying His miracles, they attributed them to the power of the Devil. Then one was brought to him who was demon-possessed, blind, and mute; and he healed them, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ But when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons’ (Matthew 12:22-24). The religious leaders, by arguing that Christ’s miracles were a work of Satan, were acknowledging the fact that Jesus was a miracle worker. If they could have denied them, they would have, but the lack of denial on their part shows, from an unfriendly source, that the miracles attributed to Jesus did indeed occur. Everyone Was Aware Of His Miracles On the Day of Pentecost, after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Simon Peter, in testifying to Christ’s resurrection, appealed to the knowledge of His hearers. Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves also know (Acts 2:22).

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He stated to that large audience that the miracles of Jesus were something that they themselves knew about. The fact that Peter was not immediately shouted down demonstrates that the people knew he was telling the truth. Multitudes had seen Jesus perform many miracles. The certainty that Jesus performed miracles was never in question. The question was, “How did He do it?” All Early Reports Of Jesus Agree That He Performed Miracles Another important point is this: for the first five centuries of the Christian era, every account of Jesus, whether coming from a believer or a non-believer, has Jesus performing miracles. No friend or foe, in the early centuries, ever denied His miraculous power. 20. THE TESTIMONY IS SUFFICIENT The testimony of Christ’s miracles comes from several different groups of witnesses. They include those who benefited from the miracles, those who observed the miracles and those who were skeptical. There Were Those Who Benefited From The Miracles The first group that gives testimony are those who directly benefited from Jesus’ deeds. They give firsthand testimony with respect to what Jesus did for them. There Were Those Who Observed The Miracles Next, we have those who were not direct beneficiaries of the miracles but who saw them occur. This would include Jesus’ disciples as well as the multitudes. There Were Those Who Were Unbelievers And Skeptics Of His Miracles Not only were the miracles of Jesus done publicly with the multitudes present, they were also performed in front of unbelievers. Among those who watched Jesus perform healings were the unbelieving religious leaders (Matthew 12). They were there to find fault, not to believe. Jesus, therefore, was not just preaching to the converted. 21. THEY WERE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HIS M INISTRY Miracles were not something that was an afterthought in the ministry of Jesus. They are interlocked with everything that He said or did. Certain teachings of Jesus would be meaningless without the miracle connected to it. For example, the discourse in John’s gospel about Jesus being the bread of life makes no sense whatsoever without the miracle that explains it. Apart from the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, this discourse is unexplainable (John 5,6). 22. THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE FOR J ESUS ’ M IRACLES We also have circumstantial testimony to Jesus’ miracles. The Testimony Of The Book Of Acts The Book of Acts testifies to His miraculous deeds. On the Day of Pentecost Peter said.

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Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracle s, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves also know (Acts 2:22). The Testimony Of Paul The Apostle Paul emphasized that the miracle of the resurrection proved Jesus was whom He claimed to be. Who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:4). This includes miracles of Jesus’ disciples both during His public ministry and after His ascension. Miracles By Jesus’ Disciples When He Was Still On Earth While Jesus was here on earth, He gave His own disciples the power to perform miracles. He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness (Matthew 10:1) Miracles Of The Disciples After Jesus Had Ascended After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples of Jesus still had the ability to perform miracles. The Book of Acts records some of their miracles done through the authority of Jesus. When Peter saw a lame man at the temple he said. I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene - walk! And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God (Acts 3:6-8). After Peter healed this man, the religious leaders made the following admission. What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it (Acts 4:16). Even the miracles of the apostles were undeniable. Consequently, when all the evidence is in, we find that Jesus Christ truly performed miracles. Summary There are a number of reasons as to why we should believe the miracles attributed to Jesus actually occurred. To begin with, there were a sufficient number of them. They were also of a sufficient variety. The miracles of Jesus covered all possible areas of authority. These signs were also done publicly. His miracles were done in a strategic location. They were performed before large crowds. There was no special place in which the miracles occurred. There was no special time when they were performed. They were performed in front of Gentiles as well as Jews. They were done without props. They were done with restraint. The miracles were beneficial to humanity. They were not done for Jesus’ own advantage. They met real needs. They are in contrast to the miracles in the apocryphal gospels. They were done with great

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ease. Eyewitnesses recorded the miracles. Those who observed them had same reaction as we would have. His contemporaries never denied the miracles of Jesus. There was sufficient testimony to them. His miracles were an essential part of His ministry. There is also circumstantial evidence that Jesus performed miracles. In the Book of Acts we have the testimony that Jesus performed miracles while here on earth. The apostle Paul also confirmed the fact that Jesus did miracles. In addition, Jesus’ disciples had the ability to perform miracles. This ability was with them during Jesus’ public ministry and after His ascension. The totality of the evidence shows that Jesus was indeed a worker of miracles.

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QUESTION 95 What Objections Have Been Made To Jesus’ Miracles? Historically there have been many objections to Jesus’ miracles. They include the following. OBJECTION 1.

M IRACLES , B Y DEFINITION, ARE IMPOSSIBLE

One of the popular ways to deny miracles is simply to define them out the realm of possibility. Many people state as a fact that the idea of a miracle is impossibility. End of discussion. Everyone knows that unchangeable laws of cause and effect govern the universe. These laws always have existed and always will continue to exist. Therefore miracles, by definition, are impossibility. Of course, the problem with that position is that only God could know whether miracles are possible or not. Therefore, the denial of the possibility of miracles is something that is beyond the ability of humans. The Illustration Of The Platypus The rejection of the miraculous can be found in the illustration of the platypus. When explorers first came to eastern Australia they came across a creature that should not have existed. It was a furry, semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal with a ducks bill and webbed feet. It was named the platypus. The characteristics of this little rabbit-sized creature were so strange that some people in England considered it a hoax when the skin of a dead platypus was first brought to London. The Doubts Had Nothing To Do With The Evidence The reason the existence of the platypus was doubted had nothing to do with the evidence. For the evidence, strange as it was, clearly pointed to the existence of this egg-laying mammal. The rejection came because it did not fit the scientist’s particular view of the world of nature. Since no mammal was known to have laid eggs, zoologists were certain this creature could not exist. Eventually scientists came around to believe the platypus did exist with all its bizarre characteristics. The Same Misconception Is With Us Today Since no one had ever seen a creature like this before, people assumed that it could not exist. This is the same misconception of many of those who reject miracles - because they have never seen a miracle they assume it cannot happen. No amount of evidence would convince them to change their mind. Yet the platypus does exist and miracles did happen - this is what the evidence testifies. OBJECTION 2. THE M IRACLES HAPPENED IN A PRE-SCIENTIFIC AGE It is alleged that since the miracles recorded in Scripture occurred from two thousand to four thousand years ago they should not be believed. Supposedly they took place before the age of modern science when people were ignorant about the way the universe functioned. Granted the miracles were recorded before modern times, yet the testimony to their truthfulness remains. The eyewitnesses were just as skeptical as modern humanity and their reaction to the miraculous was the same as ours would have been if we saw the same events.

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OBJECTION 3. THE M IRACLES WERE SELF-INDUCED There are those who argue that the healing miracles recorded in the New Testament could have been self-induced. In the first century, before the advent of modern medicine, there was much ignorance regarding disease. Could not one easily argue that the healings of Jesus were self-induced because the illnesses were psychological rather than physical? They Are Beyond Natural Explanation A study of the Gospel accounts will put that question to rest. The healing miracles of Jesus were of such a nature as to be beyond any natural explanation. For example, Jesus healed a man who was paralyzed (Mark 2:3-12) and another who was blind from birth (John 9:1-7). Lazarus was dead four days when Jesus brought him back to life (John 11). A young girl who was dead was brought back to life by Jesus (Luke 8:51-56). He healed ten lepers at once (Luke 17:11-19) and healed a man who was a deaf mute (Mark 7:31-37). They Could Not All Be Self-Induced It stretches beyond the bounds of imagination to think all these people, including the ones who had been dead, could only be ill in their minds and not in their bodies. Furthermore, we are never told of Jesus ever refusing to heal a person because of lack of ability. Unless one would want to argue that no legitimate disease was present in the first century, it seems clear that His healings were often and varied enough to prove valid. OBJECTION 4. WHY AREN’T THEY HAPPENING TODAY? Another objection, which is similar to an earlier one, is that if miracles occurred long ago, we should expect them to occur today, if indeed they really did occur. First, it ignores the fact that miracles are found in clusters in Scripture, not on every page. But even if they were, “So what?” The issue is, “Did they happen as the eyewitnesses testify?” OBJECTION 5. THE POSSIBILITY OF M ISINTERPRETING THE EVENT This objection deals with the frailty of us as humans. We all know that it is possible to watch an event and describe it in such a way as to misinterpret what actually happened. Since humans sometimes poorly report what they have seen, why should we believe the biblical account of miracles? Events Can Be Properly Interpreted If we took this objection to its logical fulfillment, then there could be no accurate reporting of any event. All reports would be suspect and nothing could be believed. Yet experience tells us that humans can accurately report on events they witness. The evidence has to be weighed and evaluated for each incident. OBJECTION 6. THERE ARE CONTRADICTIONS B ETWEEN THE ACCOUNTS Often it is alleged that the biblical accounts of the miraculous are so hopelessly contradictory that they should not be believed. Yet this is not the case. The fact that there are minor differences in detail only shows that the accounts are independent of one another. There is agreement between them on the major points.

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OBJECTION 7. WE FIND M IRACLE REPORTS IN OTHER RELIGIONS What about the miracles in other religions? Since there are other religions who also report miraculous deeds occurring among them, why should they be rejected and the biblical miracles believed? Three things should be considered when answering this question. 1.

There Were Not That Many Miracles

First, there are not as many miracles in the world religions as some people assume. Miracles are very rare in the accounts of the major religions of the world. The exception, of course, is the biblical account, where miracles are an important part of the message. 2.

The So-Called Miracles Were Not Done Publicly

The public demonstration of Jesus with respect to His miracles is in contrast to other so-called miracle workers who did their work in private. For example, almost all the miracles that are attributed to Mohammed in the Koran occurred in private - where there was no way either to prove or disprove the testimony. 3.

There Is No Real Purpose For Them

The miracles attributed to other religions are not backed up by eyewitness testimony. Furthermore, they are all too often performed as a sideshow with no direct purpose in mind. The so-called miracles of other religions do not touch humanity at its basic needs as do the miracles recorded in the Bible. This, and the lack of corroborative testimony to their actually occurring, causes them to be rejected. OBJECTION 8. THEY WERE RECORDED LONG AFTER THE FACT Often it is objected that the miracles of the New Testament were written long after the events transpired. Supposedly this makes them untrue. Those who were there - eyewitnesses to the events, recorded the miracles in Scripture. Their accounts did not grow larger and larger with time. John wrote. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life (1 John 1:1). All the evidence points to the fact that Jesus Christ did indeed work miracles. Both believers and unbelievers testified to this fact. No one doubted His ability to perform supernatural deeds. The question asked Jesus was not if He performed miracles but rather how did He do these supernatural works. The truth of His miracle working ability was beyond all doubt. Summary Whenever the miracles of Jesus are mentioned there are a number of objections that are usually brought up. To many, the idea of miracles is simply impossible. Consequently there is no reason to refute something that everyone knows does not occur. However this assumes knowledge that none of us have. Nobody is in a position to say whether miracles can or never have happened. Another objection concerns miracles done in a pre-scientific age. This supposedly makes them untrue. However when they occurred has nothing to do with whether or not they occurred.

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Some attempt to argue that the miracles were merely self-induced experiences – not real miracles. The problem with this view is that many of the biblical miracles, such as raising people from the dead, cannot be attributed to some mere psychological cause. The fact they are not happening today has also been raised. Again, this has nothing to do as to whether or not they happened in the past. There is also the objection that the event was not really a miracle but only interpreted as such. Yet this does not take into account the nature of the events or the eyewitness testimony. The gospel accounts of the miraculous supposedly have contradictions between them. Yet these can be harmonized if one will carefully examine all that is said. The miracles in other religions do not contradict the biblical miracles. They do not have the type of attesting evidence as the ones in Scripture. Finally it is objected that they were recorded long after the fact. However this is untrue. Eyewitnesses testified to the gospel miracles. Consequently the evidence points to the fact that the Bible is accurate in attributing miracles to Jesus.

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QUESTION 96 Could The Teachings Of Jesus Have Come From A Different Source Than God? Throughout the history of the Christian church there have been those who have tried to explain Jesus’ teachings by attributing them to influences that He, or the early Christians, received. These include the following. 1.

Jesus went to India or Egypt and derived His teachings from religious masters in those countries.

2.

Jesus’ teachings came from the Essene community, a group of ascetic Jews living on the edge of the Dead Sea who copied ancient manuscripts onto the Dead Sea Scrolls.

3.

Jesus based His teachings on the various “mystery religions” that were popular in the Roman Empire.

We will look at each accusation. Accusation 1.

Jesus Went To India To Learn His Teaching

It has been argued that Jesus went to India or Egypt to derive His teachings from the various masters. The problem with this view is that there is no evidence Jesus ever traveled out of His own land. In addition, His teachings bear no resemblance with those of the religions of India or Egypt. Accusation 2.

Jesus Got His Doctrine From The Essenes

The Essenes were a community of people who lived near the Dead Sea. It has been alleged that John the Baptist derived some of His beliefs from association with the Essenes. Scripture does say that John lived in the desert – the area where the Essenes lived. And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel (Luke 1:80). They also supposedly influenced Jesus. However a comparison between the teachings of the Essenes and that of John show they are contradictory in many aspects. There is no convincing evidence that the Essenes influenced either John the Baptist or Jesus. Accusation 3.

The Mystery Religions Teach The Same Message As Jesus

Both before and after the time of Jesus there were various mystery religions in the Roman Empire. Some of these mystery religions had a concept of a dying/rising Redeemer God. It has often been alleged that Christianity is merely another “mystery” religion. However many of the mystery religions did not originate until after Christianity. Furthermore, the mystery religions did not deal with flesh and blood characters but rather with mythical individuals. However, Jesus was a historical person. There is really no comparison between them and Christianity.

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These Are Representative Theories These three theories are representative of what has been taught down through the centuries. While the theories are different, they all have one thing in common; they deny Jesus’ teachings were from God the Father. If this is true, then Jesus was not the Son of God as the New Testament declares. They Lack Convincing Evidence These theories lack all convincing evidence to support their contention that Jesus “borrowed” His teaching. The differences between Jesus’ teaching and these supposed sources, are much greater than any similarity. No human source can explain the teachings of Jesus. Jesus Demonstrated His Power But there is a greater problem in proposing any of these theories. Jesus not only said His teachings were from God, He demonstrated that He had the authority to make the claims that He did. His miracles have been verified by eyewitness testimony. If He were only another religious leader, then how was He able to perform the miracles that He did, including that of the resurrection? Only The Gospels Explain His Miraculous Life The issue is clear when it comes to determining the source of Jesus’ teaching. An answer needs to be found by taking into consideration His miraculous life. Simplistic parallels that are drawn from other religions at the time do not in any way explain His teachings or how He was able to perform miracles. Jesus made it clear where his doctrine came from. My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone wants to do his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it was from God or whether I speak of my own authority (John 7:16,17). He said to the people of his day. He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world” (John 8:23). Summary People have attempted to attribute Jesus’ teachings either by His going to Egypt or India, or having contact with the Essenes, or being influenced by the mystery religions. Yet none of these theories fit the evidence. The teachings of Jesus cannot be attributed to anything else but the supernatural revelation of God. Jesus not only taught like no one else He did things that no one else has done. Consequently to attempt to compare Jesus and His teachings to any human source will meet with failure. His teachings came from above – not from this world.

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QUESTION 97 Why Did Jesus Speak In Parables? One of the methods Jesus employed in communicating His message was through parable s. A parable is basically an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. When Jesus started telling parables to the people, His disciples asked the obvious question. Why do you speak to them in parables? (Matthew 13:10). 1.

Jesus Gives A Revealing Answer To Their Question

Jesus’ answer to the question was quite revealing. Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given . . . . And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive, for the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their heart and turn, so that I should heal them’ (Matthew 13:11,14,15). Unwillingness on the part of the people to receive Jesus’ message of the kingdom was the reason that He taught in parables. They heard the truths of the kingdom of God, but they were not understood. It was not because God was hiding the truth from them—it was because they did not want to hear. 2.

The People Had The Chance To Believe

This points to a great truth. God has given the people every chance to accept the message of Jesus. His ministry was attested by miracles. He offered the proper credentials as the Messiah, yet they did not believe Him. The realities of the kingdom, therefore, were not theirs to know. The people who believed in Jesus as the Messiah would understand the parables. They would comprehend the great truths of the kingdom of God. 3.

They Are To Be Understood Spiritually

Some years later the Apostle Paul would echo the same truth: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory . . . For what man knows the things of man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God . . . But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:7,8,11,14). 4.

Most People Were Not Interested In The Truth

The truth of God is to be understood spiritually. The great majority of the people in Jesus’ day were not interested in God’s truth. Jesus clearly explained this. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand (Matthew 13:13).

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Summary Jesus spoke in parables – earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. He did so that His disciples would comprehend His teachings and that unbelievers would be without comprehension. Those interested in understanding the truth of His message would understand while those not interested would remain without understanding. His message is clear for anyone who wants to hear it.

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QUESTION 98 Did Jesus Know The People Would Reject Him? When Christ came and preached the kingdom of God to the nation Israel His message was rejected. The religious leaders brought Him to Pilate for crucifixion because they believed Him to be a blasphemer. They said. We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God (John 19:7). Although some had believed in Him, the nation as a whole rejected Him. Did Christ know this would occur? Was He aware that His message would not be heeded? If so, then was His offer of a kingdom a legitimate one? 1.

Jesus’ Suffering And Glory Were Predicted

The two comings of Christ were predicted in the Old Testament. The prophets spoke of both His suffering and His glory. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow (1 Peter 1:10,11). At His First Coming He was to suffer for the sins of the world. Jesus was well aware of what would happen to Him. He knew that His message would be rejected. 2.

Jesus Often Spoke Of His Death And Resurrection

At the beginning of His public ministry Jesus spoke of both His death and resurrection. So the Jews answered and said to him, ‘What sign do you show to us, since you do these things?’ ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ . . . But he was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when he had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that he had said this to them (John 2:18-22). From the beginning of His ministry Jesus was well aware that the people would reject Him. 3.

He Made A Legitimate Offer Of A Kingdom

Does this make His offer of a kingdom illegitimate? No. When Jesus came the first time, He promised the people that God’s kingdom would take place if they believed in Him. Yet they rejected Him. The Bible says. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him (John 1:10)

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Jesus knew they were going to reject Him. However that did not make His offer invalid. If the people would have believed in Him, God’s kingdom would have been established then and there. The offer was legitimate. But He knew they would not believe. 4.

He Has Promised To Come Again

Though the rightful king was crucified Jesus has promised to come again for those who believe in Him. He said to His disciples. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:1-3). Therefore the kingdom will indeed be set up, but only when He comes again. Summary The people of Jesus’ time rejected Him as their Messiah. Jesus knew ahead of time that this would happen. However, this does not make His offer of an immediate kingdom illegitimate. Had the people believed in Him God’s kingdom would have been immediately set up. However, the people chose to reject Him and put Him to death rather than accept Him as their Messiah. Knowing this, Jesus talked about His death and resurrection from the dead. He will indeed set up His promised kingdom – when He comes the second time.

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QUESTION 99 Was Jesus A Prophet? The New Testament makes it clear that Jesus was a prophet – one who speaks to the people on behalf of God. We see this in a number of ways. 1.

Jesus Confirmed That He Was A Prophet

The gospels confirm that Jesus believed that He was a prophet. And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household” (Matthew 13:57). 2.

The People Knew He Was A Prophet

The people considered Jesus to be a prophet. And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14). The crowds in Jerusalem testified that Jesus was a prophet. The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee” (Matthew 21:11). Again the crowd realized that Jesus was a prophet. When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet” (John 7:40). 3.

The Woman In Samaria Knew Jesus Was A Prophet

The woman in Samaria perceived Jesus as a prophet. The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet” (John 4:19). 4.

The Testimony Of John That Jesus Was A Prophet

John testified that Jesus was a prophet. But among you there are some who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him (John 6:14). 5.

The Blind Man That Jesus Healed Recognized He Was A Prophet

The blind man that Jesus healed realized that He was a prophet. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet” (John 9:17).

294 6.

Jesus The Testimony Of Peter

Peter said that Jesus was a prophet. Moses said, “The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you” (Acts 3:22). 7.

The Martyr Stephen Testified To Jesus’ Prophetic Status

The martyr Stephen testified that Jesus was a prophet. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, “God will raise up a prophet for you from your own brothers as he raised me up” (Acts 7:37). Consequently, the New Testament makes it clear that Jesus was a prophet. Summary The Old Testament predicted that the Messiah would be a prophet. The gospels make it clear that Jesus was indeed a prophet. We find a number of different people testifying to this fact. This includes Jesus Himself as well as the crowds, a woman in Samaria, a blind man in Jericho, John the Baptist, Simon Peter, and the martyr Stephen.

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QUESTION 100 In What Ways Did Jesus Fulfill The Prophetic Ministry? A prophet had a twofold function. They spoke forth the word of God as well as foretold the future. Jesus, in His prophetic ministry, fulfilled the role of a prophet. The New Testament says the following about the prophetic ministry of Jesus. 1.

Jesus Spoke God’s Words

The words of Jesus were prophetic – they spoke forth God’s Word. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying (Matthew 5:2). The crowds were amazed at His teaching. Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes (Matthew 7:28,29). Jesus testified to the power of His words. It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63). Jesus’ words were like the sound of a trumpet. We read in the Book of Revelation. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea” (Revelation 1:10,11) 2.

The Extent Of Jesus’ Prophetic Ministry Was From His Baptism To The Cross

The prophetic ministry of Jesus began at the river Jordan. After His baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon Him. He then began to proclaim the message of God’s coming kingdom. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then his fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. Great multitudes followed him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan (Matthew 4:23-25). His prophetic ministry ended when He offered Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world upon Calvary’s cross.

296 3.

Jesus Jesus, Like Some Prophets, Performed Miraculous Deeds

While not all of God’s prophets performed miraculous deeds, many of them did. Jesus performed miracles as part of his prophetic ministry. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me (John 5:36). Jesus emphasized His miraculous deeds. Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me (John 10:25). Jesus said. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both me and my Father (John 15:24). On the Day of Pentecost, Peter reminded the people of Jesus miracles. Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves also know (Acts 2:22). They were familiar with the fact that Jesus was a miracle worker. 4.

He Was A Matchless Example

Jesus was a spokesman for God by His matchless example. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you (John 13:15). Peter wrote. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth;” who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:21-23). 5.

He Was Silent When Necessary

Jesus not only spoke forth the Word of God, He was also silent when necessary. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” (Matthew 27:13). Yet He did not respond. But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge - to the great amazement of the governor (Matthew 27:14).

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Later, Peter wrote about this silence. Who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:23). 6.

Jesus Sent The Holy Spirit

Jesus also fulfilled the role of a prophet by sending the Holy Spirit. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you (John 14:26). Jesus also said. But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of me (John 15:26). Today, the Holy Spirit carries on the prophetic ministry of Christ. Summary Jesus fulfilled the prophetic ministry in a number of ways. As a prophet He publicly spoke the words of God to the people. His prophetic ministry extended from the time of His baptism at the Jordan River until He died on Calvary’s cross. Unlike some prophets, Jesus also performed miraculous deeds. His words and His life give a matchless example to all. While Jesus was God’s spokesman while He was here on the earth, there were times when He was remained silent. He did not defend Himself to Pontius Pilate. Today, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent, carries on His prophetic ministry.

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QUESTION 101 Did Jesus Make Predictions That Have Come True? Yes. Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy in His own life, He Himself predicted events that were to come to pass some time in the future. One of the ministries of Jesus was that of a prophet. As has been true with prophecies fulfilled in His own life, His prophetic words have been literally and marvelously fulfilled. PROPHECIES OF J ESUS THAT HAVE B EEN FULFILLED We are going to look at a number of specific predictions that Jesus made as well as their fulfillment. They include the following. Prediction 1.

His Words Would Be Everlasting

Jesus made the astounding prediction that “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35). He predicted that His words would be everlasting. We need to appreciate the amazing nature of this prophecy. Here was a man who lived in the first century A.D. with only a small group of followers, and His country was subject to the bondage of Rome. There were no modern means of mass communication or storage of a person’s words, Yet Jesus made the statement that His words were eternal - they will never pass away. Although it seemed improbable at the time, it has occurred exactly as He predicted. The words of Jesus are still with us today, read and believed by untold millions. It has happened just as He said. Prediction 2.

The Story Of Mary Of Bethany Would Be Remembered

Mary of Bethany poured oil on the body of Jesus in anticipation of His coming death. The disciples rebuked her for wasting the oil, but Jesus said she had done a good thing. Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for me. For the poor you have with you always; but you do not always have me. For when she poured this perfume upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her (Matthew 26:11-13). Jesus predicted that her story would be told wherever the gospel was preached. As He predicted, the story of Mary of Bethany, and her anointing of Jesus before His death, is still told today wherever the gospel is preached. The fact that you are reading about it right now continues to fulfill Jesus’ prophecy. Prediction 3. His Own Betrayal By One Of His Disciples He also predicted that He would be betrayed by one of His own disciples. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.” And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, “Is it I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:21, 22). This was literally fulfilled by Judas Iscariot.

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While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47,48). Prediction 4.

All Of His Disciples Would Leave Him

Jesus predicted that all His disciples would leave Him when He was betrayed. Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee” (Matthew 26:31,32). This was literally fulfilled when Jesus was arrested. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled (Matthew 26:56). Prediction 5.

Peter Would Deny Him Three Times

Jesus also predicted that Peter would deny knowing Him three times. Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (Matthew 26:33,34). As Jesus had predicted this was literally fulfilled. Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don't know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:74,75). Prediction 6.

He Would Suffer Because Of The Religious Rulers

He would suffer as a result of the religious rulers. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes (Matthew 16:21). On the night of His arrest, the religious rulers allowed Him to be beaten. The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him (Luke 23:6365). Prediction 7.

He Would Die In Jerusalem

Although attempts had been made on His life outside of Jerusalem, Jesus predicted that His death must take place there. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed (Matthew 16:21).

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Jesus died in the city of Jerusalem. Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there (Mark 15:40,41). Prediction 8.

He Would Die By Crucifixion

Jesus predicted the exact manner of His death – crucifixion. You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified (Matthew 26:2). Jesus died by crucifixion. It was the third hour when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Mark 15:26,27). Prediction 9.

He Would Die During The Passover

Jesus also predicted His death would occur during the Passover celebration. You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified (Matthew 26:2). As He predicted His death took place at the Passover. It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified (John 19:14-16). Prediction 10.

His Resurrection From The Dead On The Third Day

Jesus also predicted His resurrection from the dead. He said it would happen exactly three days after His death. The Jews then said to him, “What sign do you show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken (John 2:18-22). Jesus predicted His resurrection. From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day (Matthew 16:21).

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After Jesus’ crucifixion the people remembered Jesus’ prophecy. On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chie f priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember, while he was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise’ (Matthew 27:62,63). The chief priests and the scribes were the ones who arrested Jesus and brought Him to Pilate for execution. Yet three days after His crucifixion, Jesus was alive again. The angel at His tomb on that first Easter made it clear to those who arrived: He is not here; for he is risen, as he said (Matthew 28:6). Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and came back from the dead on Easter Sunday morning - three days by Jewish reckoning. Again, His predictions were literally fulfilled. Prediction 11.

The Coming Of The Holy Spirit

Jesus predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26). This was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Acts 2:1-4). Prediction 12.

The Destruction Of The City Of Jerusalem Within One Generation

After the Jewish nation rejected Jesus, He pronounced judgment upon them. Jesus predicted that the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed. Forty years before it occurred, Jesus gave specifics to its destruction. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground (Luke 19:43,44). Jesus predicted Jerusalem would be surrounded. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near (Luke 21:20). These events would occur in the same generation that Jesus was speaking. Matthew records Jesus predicted the following. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Matthew 24:34).

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At the time when Jesus made this prediction, there was no imminent threat to the city of Jerusalem. However, in A.D. 70, as Jesus had predicted, the city of Jerusalem was surrounded and destroyed by Titus the Roman. The reason Jesus gave for the fall of the city was the peoples’ rejection of Him as Messiah, “because you did not know the time of your visitation” (Luke 19:44). Prediction 13.

The Temple In Jerusalem Would Be Destroyed Within One Generation

Another prediction of Jesus that was literally fulfilled concerns the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus specified the manner of its destruction. Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down’ (Matthew 24:1,2). As was true with the city of Jerusalem, these events would occur in the same generation that Jesus was speaking. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place (Matthew 24:34). This happened exactly as predicted. When Titus the Roman destroyed the city of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, he also destroyed the temple. Prediction 14.

The People Would Be Scattered

When Jesus predicted the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the temple, He made clear the fate that awaited the Jewish people. The people will be scattered from their land and taken captive by other nations. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24). This occurred just as He had predicted. When the city and temple were destroyed, the people were scattered to the ends of the earth. Those who were not killed when the city was captured, were sold into slavery. Prediction 15.

The Holy Land Would Be Ruled By Gentiles

Jesus also predicted the nation Israel would be dominated for a long period of time by the Gentile (nonJewish) peoples. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24). The land remained under Gentile domination for two thousand years. Except for a few short years in the second century the Jews had no rule over Jerusalem until 1967. The prediction that the nation would be subject to Gentile rule has been literally fulfilled.

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The Jewish People Would Be Persecuted

The people would not only be scattered, Jesus also predicted that the Jewish race would be persecuted. He said. Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, “Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” (Luke 23:28-30). History records that the Jewish people have indeed gone through terrible persecution. This occurred just as Jesus predicted. From the ghettos of the Middle Ages, to the Holocaust of World War II, the Jews have been a persecuted race, like no other people in history. Prediction 17.

Though Persecuted, The Nation Will Survive

Though scattered and persecuted, Jesus also predicted the Jewish people would not perish. While the nation was to suffer terribly, Jesus made it clear they will still survive. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24). They would be persecuted until the times of the Gentiles would be fulfilled. Once this period of Gentile rule was over, the Jews would again have self-rule. These predictions, as well as their fulfillment, testify that Jesus had the ability to accurately predict the future. Summary We find that Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy in His own life, He also made predictions that have been miraculously fulfilled. There are at least seventeen specific predictions that He has made. Each of these predictions has been fulfilled exactly as they were given. They include the following. His words would be everlasting. Jesus predicted that His Words would never be forgotten. He correctly predicted that the story of Mary of Bethany would be preached forever. Jesus said that He would be betrayed. This betrayal would happen by one of His own disciples. He also said that all of the disciples would leave Him. He would be by Himself. Jesus told Peter that would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. Jesus predicted He would suffer because of the religious rulers. On a number of occasions He predicted His death would occur in Jerusalem. He said that He would die by crucifixion. His death would occur during the feast of the Passover. Death would not hold Him for Jesus predicted that He would be raised from the dead. His resurrection would occur the third day after His death. He predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus also said that the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed within a generation. The temple in Jerusalem would also be destroyed within one generation. Then the Jewish people would be scattered. While they were scattered, Gentiles would rule the Holy Land. The Jewish people would be persecuted during this time. Finally, Jesus predicted that although persecuted the nation would survive. All of these predictions have been literally fulfilled. This fact demonstrates beyond any doubt that Jesus was indeed a genuine prophet.

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Summary To The Public Ministry Of Jesus Christ (Topic 4) After examining some key points the New Testament says about the coming of Christ to earth, we can make the following conclusions. Question 83. The incarnation means that the eternal God became a human being. When the Bible speaks about Jesus coming in the flesh it means that He had a complete, sinless human nature. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world was for the following ten reasons. Jesus came to provide a further revelation of God. The Old Testament was incomplete and the coming of Christ completed God’s revelation. Jesus also came to fulfill promises to individuals. The Old Testament records promises made to a number of individuals that were fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus also came to fulfill the Law of Moses – He perfectly kept the commandments of the Law. Jesus also came to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. Because He lived a sinless life He could sacrifice Himself. The coming of Christ not only fulfilled the old covenant, it also brought a new covenant into affect. Jesus’ coming to earth also allows Him to righteously judge the world in the future. In addition, He is now able to identify with humanity as the Great High Priest. Furthermore, Christ’s coming was also to destroy the works of the Devil. Christ also became an example for believers. His perfect life sets the standard. Finally, Jesus coming has prepared the way for believers to receive their new body – one without sin. Question 84. The Bible says that Jesus came into our world “in the fulness of time” in God’s program. His coming had been predicted in the Old Testament. In addition, the people were chastised for not knowing the time of His appearing. Other than that the Bible is silent on the matter. For reasons known only to God, He picked that time in history to send His Son. Ultimately, however, the reason for that particular time in history for Jesus to come into the world is known to God alone. Question 85. John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance. Jesus came to John to be baptized by him. However, John attempted to stop Him because John knew Jesus was without sin. Jesus explained the necessity of Him being baptized – it was to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus submitted to John’s baptism to set a pattern for believers to follow. The Bible says that those who believe in Christ are to walk as He walked. Question 86. After looking at only three lines of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled at His First Coming we can make the following observations. Jesus told the religious leaders to search the Scriptures and discover where they spoke about Him. From the Old Testament we find that the coming Messiah was to be born in one particular family. This would be through Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David. The New Testament is clear that Jesus was a descendant of David. The Old Testament prophet Micah predicted the Messiah would be born in the small town of Bethlehem. Matthew tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Daniel the prophet said the Messiah would be killed before the city of Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. Jesus came upon the scene of history before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. He was crucified about forty years before they were destroyed. The prophecies that Jesus fulfilled were fulfilled literally. He was a literal descendant of David, literally born in Bethlehem, and literally died before the city and temple were destroyed. These three lines of prophecy were all fulfilled by Jesus’ birth. There is no way, humanly speaking, that He could have deliberately fulfilled them. The coming of the Messiah was predicted in the Old Testament. Jesus fulfilled these prophecies and, in doing so, has the right to claim to be the promised Messiah.

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Question 87. When Jesus Christ came to earth the angels announced that there would be peace. Jesus is called the, “Prince of Peace” yet there has been no peace for the world since He came. There are several reasons for this. First, the peace the angels promised were to those who have trusted Him – not to everyone. Believers can enjoy the peace of God. Second, Jesus Himself testified that His coming had the result of dividing people not uniting them. One day there will be peace on the earth. However this will only happen when Jesus Christ returns.

Question 88. Although Jesus was the promised Messiah, the one who could rightfully rule over Israel, He refused to become involved in any political issue of His day. We see this in a number of ways. First, we find that Jesus did not speak out on any of the current political issues of His day. After He fed the multitudes the people attempted to force Jesus to be made king. Knowing this, He withdrew from them. Although He was the promised Messiah, He told His disciples not to tell others. He also withdrew from confrontation with the religious rulers. When the religious leaders attempted to engage Jesus in a political issue, He refused. Although He was accused before Pilate as inciting the people again Rome, He never did this. This was in contrast to a number of false Messiahs who attempted to revolt against the Roman occupation. The reason He acted this way has to do with the nature of His kingdom – it was not of this world system. Question 89. The Bible tells us of the relationship of Jesus Christ to the Law of Moses. Jesus was born under the law and He was sinless under the law. He fulfilled the law perfectly – keeping all its commandments. Jesus faithfully taught the law to others. His death on the cross removed the curse of the law. Believers now have a new law in Christ – to love as He loved. Question 90. In a number of places in the New Testament Jesus is called “Lord.” The word translated Lord is from the Greek word kurios. At times it is merely a polite form of address. However at other times it is a translation of the divine name for God – Yahweh or Jehovah. The context must determine which is so. People, such as Philip the disciple of Jesus, are addressed with the Greek word kurios. Question 91. Jesus’ body was transfigured, or changed, in the presence of three disciples. It was the glorification of the body of Jesus. The Transfiguration is significant for a number of reasons. Those with Him saw Jesus in His glory as the Son of God. The appearance of Moses and Elijah also testified that Jesus was the one of whom the Law and Prophets spoke. The approving testimony of God the Father further confirmed the identity of Jesus. The Transfiguration also represents His coming kingdom. In the Transfiguration of Jesus we seem to have the various elements of the coming kingdom represented. There is the glorified King, those who will come into the kingdom through death, those who will come into the kingdom through the transformation of their bodies at the rapture of the church, those Jewish believers who will enter into the millennial reign of Christ in their earthly bodies, as well as the people from the various nations who will also enter into the millennium in non-glorified bodies. This is the viewpoint of those who believe that Christ will literally rule for a thousand year period on the earth sometime in the future. Some Bible-believers do not believe that we should be that specific in determining what the various parties will represent in the future. They do not think the Scripture teaches that Christ will literally rule for a thousand years upon His return. Hence they do not think that we can find too many specific details in the account of the Transfiguration that refer to His future kingdom.

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Question 92. Jesus appealed to miracles to back up His claim as the Messiah. Miracles are either unusual events that occur at a precise time or they are things that happen in a strictly supernatural way. In the life of Jesus we see both of these types of miracles performed. For example, the miraculous catch of fish is an example of a miracle of timing. Jesus’ walking on water is a totally supernatural miracle. In either case, the miracles are convincing evidence of God’s great power and His control over the laws He established when He created the universe. Question 93. The miracles of Jesus were performed as signs to testify to His unique identity – only God could perform such miracles. And although the signs convinced many, there were still some who doubted. It is not so much that they could not believe as they would not believe. Jesus emphasized this in His illustration of why He and John the Baptist were rejected. John was rejected because he lived in self-denial and Jesus was rejected because He did not live a life of self-denial. It illustrates the truth that those who do not wish to believe in Jesus will always find an excuse. However no excuse will be accepted on Judgment Day. Question 94. There are a number of reasons as to why we should believe the miracles attributed to Jesus actually occurred. To begin with, there were a sufficient number of them. They were also of a sufficient variety. The miracles of Jesus covered all possible areas of authority. These signs were also done publicly. His miracles were done in a strategic location. They were performed before large crowds. There was no special place in which the miracles occurred. There was no special time when they were performed. They were performed in front of Gentiles as well as Jews. They were done without props. They were done with restraint. The miracles were beneficial to humanity. They were not done for Jesus’ own advantage. They met real needs. They are in contrast to the miracles in the apocryphal gospels. They were done with great ease. Eyewitnesses recorded the miracles. Those who observed them had same reaction as we would have. His contemporaries never denied the miracles of Jesus. There was sufficient testimony to them. His miracles were an essential part of His ministry. There is also circumstantial evidence that Jesus performed miracles. In the Book of Acts we have the testimony that Jesus performed miracles while here on earth. The apostle Paul also confirmed the fact that Jesus did miracles. In addition, Jesus’ disciples had the ability to perform miracles. This ability was with them during Jesus’ public ministry and after His ascension. The totality of the evidence shows that Jesus was indeed a worker of miracles. Question 95. Whenever the miracles of Jesus are mentioned there are a number of objections that are usually brought up. To many, the idea of miracles is simply impossible. Consequently there is no reason to refute something that everyone knows does not occur. However this assumes knowledge that none of us have. Nobody is in a position to say whether miracles can or never have happened. Another objection concerns miracles done in a pre-scientific age. This supposedly makes them untrue. However when they occurred has nothing to do with whether or not they occurred. Some attempt to argue that the miracles were merely self-induced experiences – not real miracles. The problem with this view is that many of the biblical miracles, such as raising people from the dead, cannot be attributed to some mere psychological cause. The fact they are not happening today has also been raised. Again, this has nothing to do as to whether or not they happened in the past. There is also the objection that the event was not really a miracle but only interpreted as such. Yet this does not take into account the nature of the events or the eyewitness testimony. The gospel accounts of the miraculous supposedly have contradictions between them. Yet these can be harmonized if one will carefully examine all that is said.

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The miracles in other religions do not contradict the biblical miracles. They do not have the type of attesting evidence as the ones in Scripture. Finally it is objected that they were recorded long after the fact. However this is untrue. Eyewitnesses testified to the gospel miracles. Consequently the evidence points to the fact that the Bible is accurate in attributing miracles to Jesus. Question 96. People have attempted to attribute Jesus’ teachings either by His going to Egypt or India, or having contact with the Essenes, or being influenced by the mystery religions. Yet none of these theories fit the evidence. The teachings of Jesus cannot be attributed to anything else but the supernatural revela tion of God. Jesus not only taught like no one else He did things that no one else has done. Consequently to attempt to compare Jesus and His teachings to any human source will meet with failure. His teachings came from above – not from this world. Question 97. Jesus spoke in parables – earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. He did so that His disciples would comprehend His teachings and that unbelievers would be without comprehension. Those interested in understanding the truth of His message would understand while those not interested would remain without understanding. His message is clear for anyone who wants to hear it. Question 98. The people of Jesus’ time rejected Him as their Messiah. Jesus knew ahead of time that this would happen. However, this does not make His offer of an immediate kingdom illegitimate. Had the people believed in Him God’s kingdom would have been immediately set up. However, the people chose to reject Him and put Him to death rather than accept Him as their Messiah. Knowing this, Jesus talked about His death and resurrection from the dead. He will indeed set up His promised kingdom – when He comes the second time. Question 99. The Old Testament predicted that the Messiah would be a prophet. The gospels make it clear that Jesus was indeed a prophet. We find a number of different people testifying to this fact. This includes Jesus Himself as well as the crowds, a woman in Samaria, a blind man in Jericho, John the Baptist, Simon Peter, and the martyr Stephen. Question 100. Jesus fulfilled the prophetic ministry in a number of ways. As a prophet He publicly spoke the words of God to the people. His prophetic ministry extended from the time of His baptism at the Jordan River until He died on Calvary’s cross. Unlike some prophets, Jesus also performed miraculous deeds. His words and His life give a matchless example to all. While Jesus was God’s spokesman while He was here on the earth, there were times when He was remained silent. He did not defend Himself to Pontius Pilate. Today, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent, carries on His prophetic ministry. Question 101. We find that Jesus not only fulfilled prophecy in His own life, He also made predictions that have been miraculously fulfilled. There are at least seventeen specific predictions that He has made. Each of these predictions has been fulfilled exactly as they were given. They include the following. His words would be everlasting. Jesus predicted that his Words would never be forgotten. He correctly predicted that the story of Mary of Bethany would be preached forever. Jesus said that He would be betrayed. This betrayal would happen by one of His own disciples. He also said that all of the disciples would leave Him. He would be by Himself. Jesus told Peter that would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. Jesus predicted He would suffer because of the religious rulers. On a number of occasions He predicted His death would occur in Jerusalem. He said that He would die by crucifixion. His death would occur during the feast of the Passover. Death would not hold Him for Jesus predicted that He would be raised from the dead. His resurrection would occur the third day after His death. He predicted the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus also said that the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed within a generation. The temple in Jerusalem would also be destroyed within one

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generation. Then the Jewish people would be scattered. While they were scattered, Gentiles would rule the Holy Land. The Jewish people would be persecuted during this time. Finally, Jesus predicted that although persecuted the nation would survive. All of these predictions have been literally fulfilled. This fact demonstrates beyond any doubt that Jesus was indeed a genuine prophet. Jesus public ministry ended with His betrayal by Judas Iscariot. In our next topic we will examine Jesus’ betrayal, trial, death, resurrection and ascension. Why did Judas betray Jesus? Was Jesus death an accident? Why did Jesus die? What is the evidence that Jesus came back from the dead? What is the significance of Jesus ascension?

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Topic 5

THE BETRAYAL, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND ASCENSION OF JESUS The Last Days Of The Ministry Of Christ On Earth

Introduction This section will look at the events of the end of the life of Jesus. We consider His betrayal, death, resurrection, and ascension. When Jesus was a child the first recorded thing that He uttered was that He must be about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49). On the cross, Jesus final words were, “It is finished.” Jesus announced to the world that He had completed His Father’s business.

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QUESTION 102 What Was The Chronology Of The Events Surrounding The Death Of Christ? It is important to have an idea of the basic chronology of the events surrounding the death of Christ. The truth of the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is rooted in historical events. Just as the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was an historical event, so were the events surrounding Jesus’ betrayal, death, resurrection, and ascension. We will briefly summarize the main points of his betrayal, death, and burial. The Last Supper The final night of Jesus’ earthly life began with the celebration of the Last Supper with his intimate disciples. Jesus, in an act of humility, washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-20). While they were eating the Last Supper Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him. After they had finished eating, Jesus introduced a new ordinance that His followers would observe – the Lord’s Supper. After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you (Luke 22:17-20). Jesus then gave them the Upper Room Discourse. This contained teaching on a number of important subjects. He was continuing to teach these disciples up until the very end. The Garden Of Gethsemane Jesus and His eleven disciples left the upper room and headed toward the Mount of Olives. Judas had left earlier in the evening to arrange the betrayal of Jesus. While He was walking along the way Jesus prayed for a number of things. Once they reached Gethsemane Jesus withdrew a short distance from His disciples. Jesus prayed again. He specifically addressed God the Father about the events that He would soon experie nce. He also prayed for His own disciples as well as those who would someday believe in Him. He also prayed for Himself. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done (Matthew 26:39-44). When Jesus had finished praying He awoke His disciples. His arrest was about to occur.

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The Arrest Of Jesus And Trials Of Jesus The traitor Judas arrived with religious leaders and soldiers. Although a large crowd came to arrest Jesus He offered no resistance. Instead He asked them why they came after Him like some kind of criminal. Jesus was arrested and taken away. A number of trials occurred during the night and early morning. Jesus appeared before the High Priest, the Sanhedrin, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and then He was sent back to Pilate. Although Pilate admitted that he found Jesus innocent, he still presented Him to the crowd to suggest how Jesus should be punished. The crowd said to crucify Him. Pilate gave in to the crowd and ordered Jesus to be crucified. Jesus Died By Crucifixion The New Testament reports that the soldiers beat Jesus before leading Him away to be crucified. The accusation against Him would have been written out and tied around His neck while He was carrying His cross to the place of crucifixion. This would let everyone know the crime for which He was being executed. The accusation was then be nailed above the cross. Jesus’ crime was published in three languages. It read: This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. According to the New Testament, Jesus was on the cross for about six hours. When the soldiers came to break His legs to hasten His death they found that He had already died. Jesus Was Buried Jesus was taken down from the cross by friendly hands. He was anointed with spices and then buried in the tomb of a rich man. This ended the earthly life of Jesus. From a human perspective it looked like everything was over. However, the New Testament records the good news that this was not the end; it was just the beginning! Something happened on Easter Sunday that changed the world forever – Jesus Christ had risen from the dead! Summary The basic chronology of the death of Christ was as follows. Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples in the Upper Room. After washing the disciples feet, Jesus predicted that one of them would betray Him that very night. After they ate Jesus instituted a new ordinance – the Lord’s Supper. Jesus then gave His disciples their final teaching session before His death - the Upper Room Discourse. Jesus and His eleven disciples then went to the Garden of Gethsemane. The traitor Judas had long since left to bring the religious leaders to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. Jesus was arrested and taken away. After going through a number of trials He was sent to Pontius Pilate. Pilate pronounced Him innocent but still ordered Him to be crucified. Jesus was crucified. He was on the cross some six hours when He died. He was taken down from the cross by loving hands, anointed with spices, and then buried in the tomb of a rich man. At that time the religious leaders assumed they had defeated Jesus. However they were about to learn of an incredible event – an event that would literally change the world. Jesus of Nazareth did not stay dead!

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QUESTION 103 Why Was Jesus Betrayed By Judas Iscariot? One of the darkest moments in all of history is the betrayal of Jesus by one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot. When the disciples came to Jerusalem for the last time, Jesus made it clear that His death would be upcoming. You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified (Matthew 26:2). Realizing this, Judas went to the chief priests and said. ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray him (Matthew 26:15). On the night when Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Last Supper, Judas plotted with the religious rulers to take them to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was there in the garden that Jesus was betrayed and arrested. WHY DID J UDAS B ETRAY J ESUS ? Why did he do it? If Jesus clearly demonstrated that He was the Son of God, then why did one of His own disciples betray Him? 1.

It Was Foreordained But Judas Still Had Choice

There have been a number of views put forth to explain why Judas did this. One view says that Judas was foreordained as a traitor and could do nothing about it. Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas would betray Him. He had said to His disciples. ‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and would betray him (John 6:64). Though Jesus knew ahead of time that Judas would betray Him it does not mean He caused Judas to do it. Judas acted on his own accord. He was not just a pawn or puppet in God’s hands. 2,

Was Judas A Fanatical Believer?

Another view argues that Judas was a fanatical believer in Jesus who wanted to force His hand by betraying Him. Handing Jesus over to the religious leaders would supposedly force Him to set up His Messianic kingdom. But this view does not square with the facts. Judas asked the chief priests for money for the betrayal, which is hardly in keeping with such “pure” spiritual motives. Moreover, the Gospels refer to Judas as a thief and a betrayer. Hardly the designation one would expect for a fanatical believer.

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Was Judas A Superpatriot?

Others have considered Judas a superpatriot who wanted to use Jesus as a means to revolt against their Roman oppressors. But this does not fit the facts for the reasons mentioned above. There is no indication that Judas had any other motive but greed. 4.

He Was A Thief

This brings us to the likely explanation. Judas was a thief whose ambition was to have power and money. The gospel of John gives us some insight into his character. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it (John 12:3-6). By aligning himself close to Jesus, Judas believed that He would receive a prominent place in the kingdom. When Jesus talked about dying, Judas realized the kingdom was not going to come immediately. Therefore, he gained what he could by betraying Jesus. Judas did not ever believe in Jesus. He never referred to Jesus as Lord but rather as “master” or “teacher.” Judas is an example of one who follows Jesus for all the wrong reasons. Jesus gave Judas’ epitaph: The Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born (Matthew 26:24). Summary Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus had predicted His betrayal by one of His disciples. Different motives have been ascribed to Judas for doing this terrible deed. It has been contended that Judas was some fanatical believer who wanted Jesus to immediately set up His kingdom. Some have argued that he was a superpatriot who was attempting to force Jesus to revolt against the Romans. While people continue to make excuses for Judas to why he betrayed Jesus there are no excuses. Judas was called a thief who never really believed in Jesus as his Lord. The betrayal of Jesus was for Judas’ own benefit. Jesus Himself stated that it would have been better if Judas had not been born. The fact that Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him does not remove the responsibility from Judas. He betrayed Jesus because he chose to.

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QUESTION 104 Why Did The Religious Leaders Want To Kill Jesus? The New Testament records that the religious leaders hated Jesus to the point that they arrested Him, tried Him, and brought Him to Pilate for a sentence of death. What made them so angry at Jesus that they wanted to see Him dead? THERE ARE M ANY REASONS THEY WANTED J ESUS DEAD There were a number of things about Jesus that infuriated the religious leaders. These included. 1.

The claims that He made.

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The deeds that He did.

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His threat to their religious system.

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His threat to their way of life.

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The people with whom He socialized.

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The lack of respect He had for their religious traditions.

These six things caused outraged among the religious rulers. Consequently they wanted to see Jesus dead. We will consider each of these reasons. 1.

Jesus’ Claims Outweighed Their Authority

When Jesus claimed to be the Messiah it meant His authority outweighed their authority. The religious leaders did not believe His claims and were angry that some of the people did. They said the following. Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed (John 7:48,49). The religious leaders assumed that the belief of some of the crowd was due to ignorance. But the attention Jesus was getting brought out the leaders’ hatred and jealousy. The jealousy of the religious leaders caused them to want Jesus dead. 2.

His Deeds Outraged The Religious Rulers

The deeds of Jesus also angered the religious leaders. After seeing Jesus heal a demon-possessed man some of the multitude questioned if Jesus could be the Messiah. And some of the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David [the Messiah]?’ But when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons’ (Matthew 12:23,24).

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The miracle was undeniable, for the man was blind and mute as well as demon-possessed. Rather than believe Jesus to be the Messiah, these religious rulers attributed Jesus’ power to the Devil. Thus their “official” explanation was that Jesus’ power came from Satan. This was another cause for which they wanted Him dead. 3.

Jesus Was A Threat To Their Religious System

Jesus was also a threat to their religious system. He pointed out the hypocrisy that was connected with their practice. The Bible records that on two different occasions He came into the temple precincts and drove out the moneychangers. The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And he made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves he said, “Take these things away; stop making my Father's house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me (John 2:13-17). He claimed greater authority over the temple than them. 4.

Jesus Was A Threat To Their Way Of Life

There were political reasons that the religious leaders wanted Jesus dead. There was an unstable situation between the Jews and the Romans. The thought of a Messiah who may lead an uprising against Rome was not something they wanted. We read of the opinion of the High Priest Caiaphas. Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish” (John 11:49,50). 5.

The People With Whom He Socialized Outraged The Religious Rulers

The religious leaders were filled with pride and arrogance. They were particularly proud that they did not socialize with “sinners.” They did not believe that the Messiah would socialize with such a crowd. When one Pharisee saw Jesus allow a woman to wash His feet he was outraged. This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner (Luke 7:39). Jesus noted their opinion of Him. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ (Matthew 11:19). The religious rulers believed themselves to be righteous by avoiding sinners. When Jesus kept company with these individuals, it infuriated the proud Pharisees and other religious rulers.

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Jesus Jesus Had A Lack Of Respect For Their Traditions

As much as anything, the lack of respect that Jesus had for their religious traditions incensed the religious leaders. Jesus ignored these traditions, which they observed so minutely. He knew they were human-made rules that had not come from God. And it was Jesus’ disregard for their traditions concerning the Sabbath that caused the most outrage. God had commanded the Sabbath to be a day of rest from labors and a time to worship Him. The religious leaders added all types of restrictions to the Sabbath making it difficult, if not impossible to observe. Jesus was grieved and angry at the way they had perverted the Sabbath observance. He asked the religious leaders the following questions. Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they kept silent. So when he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts (Mark 3:4,5). Jesus then healed a man in their presence. This healing on the Sabbath was more than they could endure. They concluded that the genuine Messiah would not dare do such a thing. Their response was immediate: Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him (Mark 3:6). They were convinced that Jesus had to die. 7.

They Had No Godly Or Righteous Motive

It was not for anything godly or righteous that the religious leaders wanted to put Jesus to death. It was their hypocrisy, pride and arrogance that caused them to bring Jesus before Pilate to be crucified. They did not want to hear the truth of God. Summary The religious leaders wanted Jesus dead for a number of reasons—none of the reasons were righteous. First, the claims that He made demonstrated that His authority was greater than theirs. The religious leaders could not accept this. The miraculous deeds that He, which demonstrated His superior authority, was also a reason they wanted Him dead. Jesus was also a threat to their religious system. He went the temple and condemned the practices. They also considered Him a threat to their way of life. They were worried how the Romans would respond. The people with whom Jesus socialized offended the pride of the religious leaders. Above all, it was the lack of respect for their religious traditions that caused them to desire to kill Him. This is particularly true of Jesus’ attitude toward the Sabbath. All of these things contributed to their evil desire to want Jesus dead.

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QUESTION 105 Was The Death Of Jesus Planned Ahead Of Time? Was the death of Jesus Christ something that happened without any planning? Was it merely an afterthought among the Jews to kill Jesus? To the contrary, the death of Jesus had been planned for sometime. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS There were a number of attempts to kill Jesus before His crucifixion in Jerusalem. They include the following. 1.

The Slaughter Of The Innocents

There was an attempt on Jesus’ life as soon as He was born. When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi (Matthew 2:16). 2.

An Early Attempt In Jerusalem

On an earlier trip to Jerusalem the religious leaders attempted to kill him. Therefore they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple (John 8:59). 3.

The Attempt On His Life At Nazareth

In Nazareth the people tried to throw Him over a large cliff. All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way (Luke 4:28-30). 4

The Argument Over The Sabbath Issue

Jesus’ breaking of the religious leaders traditions regarding the Sabbath, and His claim of equality with the Father, caused them to want to kill Him. For 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 (John 5:18,19). 5.

Herod Wanted To Kill Jesus

The Bible also says that Herod plotted to kill Jesus.

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Jesus At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you” (Luke 13:31).

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The Plot In Jerusalem

There was a plot to kill Jesus when he came to Jerusalem on His last visit. Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people” (Matthew 26:3,4). 7.

The Prediction Of Caiaphas

The High Priest Caiaphas spoke of the necessity of Jesus’ death. Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life (John 11:49-53). Without realizing it he correctly predicted the reason for Jesus’ death. HIS DEATH WAS PART OF GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN The death of Christ is part of the eternal plan of God. Fifty days after Jesus’ death, the Apostle Peter declared on the day of Pentecost. Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves also know - him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it (Acts 2:22-24). In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John tells us that Jesus was the lamb slain before the foundation of the world. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain (Revelation 13:8). Summary The death of Jesus Christ was not a spontaneous tragedy or a historical mistake – it was in the predetermined program of God - planned before the foundation of the world. It is a crucial element in God’s eternal plan to save humanity from their sins. It was not an isolated event. On a human level, it was part of a pre-determined plot by the religious leaders of Jesus’ day to put Him to death. The High Priest Caiaphas predicted the necessity of the death of Jesus. They were constantly looking for a convenient time to kill Him. King Herod also wanted Him dead. Earlier attempts had been made on His life in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Nazareth.

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QUESTION 106 Did Jesus Receive A Fair Trial? The trial of Jesus is the most famous in history. Actually it was in two parts – one Jewish and one Roman. Each of these contained a number of parts. They can be broken down as follows. THE J EWISH TRIALS Jesus first went before Annas. Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people (John 18:12-14). He was then brought to Caiaphas. Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled (Matthew 26:57). Next, Jesus appeared before the Sanhedrin. They are the ones who determined that He should die. Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered (Matthew 27:65,66). THE ROMANS TRIALS Jesus was then brought to Pontius Pilate. After examining Jesus for a time Pilate discovered that Jesus was from Galilee. Consequently he sent Him to Herod, the ruler of Galilee who was in Jerusalem for the Passover. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time (Luke 23:7). Jesus did not say a word to Herod. Eventually he sent Jesus back to Pilate. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate (Luke 23:11). It was Pilate who sentenced Jesus to death. DID J ESUS RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL? The question is whether Jesus received a fair trial. Among believers there are two responses. One view is that the religious leaders kept the letter of the law but not the spirit when they condemned Him. The other perspective is that a number of illegal things occurred.

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WAS IT B AD LAW? It has been argued that the trial of Jesus is the classic example of following the law in a bad way. The religious leaders, it is contended followed the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law. While they may have done everything correct in a technical way they did not follow the clear intention of the law. THE TRIAL WAS ILLEGAL Traditionally Christians have argued that the trial of Jesus consisted of one illegal act after another by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling authority. Some of the main problems with the trial of Jesus include the following. 1.

There Was No Possibility Of A Fair Trial

First, the Sanhedrin should have never held the trial. They had plotted to kill Jesus weeks ahead of time. We read the following in the Gospel of John Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life. (John 11:47-53) Since they had plotted to kill Jesus, there was no way they could fairly judge Him. Indeed, Caiaphas the High Priest, the one presiding over the trial, is the one who said that it was necessary for Jesus to die for the entire nation. Consequently the verdict was decided before the trial was even held. 2.

A Capital Trial At Night Was Illegal

When a person’s life was at stake it was illegal to try that person at night. By holding the first trial of Jesus at night, the Sanhedrin broke their own law. 3.

They Should Not Have Looked For Witnesses After The Trial Started

According to Jewish law, a trial could only start after the witnesses had previously come forward to testify. First, the witnesses were found, and then the trial was to occur. Yet the Bible is clear that they looked for witnesses after the trial started. 4.

They Should Not Have Looked For False Witnesses

There was something even worse. Not only should the Sanhedrin have not looked for witnesses, they certainly should not have looked for false witnesses. Yet the Bible says they were deliberately looking for false evidence. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death (Matthew 26:59).

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The False Witnesses Should Have Been Punished

Since the Sanhedrin knew the testimony of the witnesses was false, these witnesses should have been punished. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days’” (Matthew 26:60,61). There is no indication that these false witnesses were ever punished. Yet Jewish law calls for false witnesses to be punished. 6.

Any Judgment Should Have Been Delayed Till Next Day

In cases where a person’s life was at stake, the judgment was to be supposed to be delayed until the next day. However the Sanhedrin immediately pronounced judgment against Jesus. Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death (Matthew 27:1). 7.

There Was Not Supposed To Be A Trial On The Day Before The Sabbath Or Before Holy Days

The timing of the trial was also illegal. Judgment in a capital case could not be rendered until the next day. This made it illegal to try someone on the day before the Sabbath or before some holy day. The Sanhedrin could not legally meet during the Sabbath day or holy day. Yet they illegally met the night before the Passover to try Jesus. 8.

They Never Considered Jesus’ Testimony

There is also the problem of Jesus’ testimony. When Jesus was put under oath He acknowledged that He was the Messiah – the promised Deliverer that the Law and the Prophets spoke of. This admission of Jesus was what caused the Sanhedrin to call for His death. However, they never stopped for one moment to consider the possibility that Jesus was telling the truth! There was not the slightest interest among the members of the Sanhedrin to attempt to find out whether Jesus may indeed be the promised Messiah. No evidence was allowed to be presented on Jesus’ behalf, and no witnesses were called to back up His claims. Nothing. As soon as He made the claim, under oath, they assumed Him guilty of blasphemy. His side was never heard. 9.

They Could Not Agree On The Charges

The Sanhedrin could not agree on what crime Jesus committed. They judged Him guilty because of blasphemy. You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think? They all condemned him as worthy of death (Mark 14:64). However they brought Him before Pilate, the Roman governor, because supposedly He was inciting the people against Caesar.

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Jesus And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king” (Luke 23:2)

10. Pilate Declared Him Innocent Three Different Times Pilate actually declared Jesus innocent three different times! Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man” (Luke 23:4). When Jesus had returned, after seeing Herod, Pilate again declared Him innocent. Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death (Luke 23:13-15). After trying, in vain, to release Jesus Pilate again testified to His innocence. For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him” (Luke 23:22). Finally, Pilate sentenced a man, whom He knew to be innocent, to the horrible death by crucifixion. Conclusion When all the facts are weighed it becomes clear that those who tried Jesus on that night were not interested in giving Him a fair trial. The verdict had been determined ahead of time. They only went through the motions of the appearance of a fair trial. Jesus was illegally and wrongfully tried. Although Pilate declared Him innocent He was still put to death. This was a mockery of justice. Summary Jesus went through a number of trials – Jewish and Roman – before He was put to death. There is a question as to whether or not Jesus received a fair trial. Some have argued that the trial of Jesus was legal but not ethical. It was the textbook example of using the law in a bad way. The traditional view among Christians, however, is that the trial of Jesus was illegal in a number of ways. First, there was no possibility of him receiving a fair trial because the verdict had already been determined in advance. It was also illegal to try someone at night for a capital crime. According to Jewish law witnesses were needed to start the trial. The trial did not begin and then a search got underway for witnesses. The witnesses used at Jesus’ trial were false. Not only should their testimony have been rejected they themselves should have been punished. Because judgment in capital cases had to be delayed until the next day no trial should have been held before the Sabbath day. Most important, Jesus admission to being the Messiah was never seriously considered. As soon as He admitted His identity they charged Him with blasphemy and declared Him guilty. There was not the least bit of effort to determine if His claims may have been true.

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The farce continued. The religious rulers could not agree among themselves on the charges. They considered Jesus was worthy of death because He blasphemed. Yet they told Pilate that He was guilty of attempting to overthrow Rome. Finally, Pilate, the judge, admitted on three different occasions that Jesus was innocent of all the charges. Yet he still ordered a known innocent man to be crucified. Therefore when all the facts are considered we conclude that Jesus’ trial was the greatest injustice in all of history.

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QUESTION 107 Why Did Jesus Die On The Cross? Scripture testifies to the fact that Jesus died on a cross after being betrayed to the religious rulers by one of His own disciples, Judas Iscariot. But the immediate reason Jesus died was because of the envy of the Jews. Pontius Pilate recognized this when the Jewish religious leaders brought Jesus to him. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For he knew because of envy they had delivered him (Matthew 27:15-18). Their envy toward Jesus was due to the fact that He had drawn a large following by claiming to be the Messiah. His miracles verified His claims. Jesus also criticized their corrupt religious system. Because of this they decided to kill Him. WHY J ESUS DIED There are more significant reasons, however, why Jesus died on Calvary’s cross. They include the following. 1.

Jesus’ Death Was Necessary In God’s Plan

The Bible makes it clear that the death of Christ was necessary. Jesus Himself said. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up (John 3:14). Scripture says Christ’s death was part of God’s eternal purpose. Then I said, ‘Here I am - it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God.” First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10:7-10). Jesus had come into the world for the purpose of dying on the cross. Just as 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) 2.

Jesus Was The Lamb Of God

At His baptism, when John the Baptist saw Jesus coming, He said. Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). In the Book of Revelation we read.

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All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast-- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world (Revelation 13:8). 3.

Jesus Paid The Penalty For Sin

The death of Christ was the payment for sin—the ransom paid to God to satisfy His holy demands. The Bible pictures humans as sinners who had rebelled against God. Christ’s death on the cross paid the penalty for the sin of humankind. Jesus died in our place as our substitute, receiving the punishment that was due us. The Bible says. [Jesus Christ] was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification (Romans 4:25). The writer to the Hebrews declared. So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many (Hebrews 9:28). Paul wrote. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3). Because of Christ’s death, believers will not have to suffer eternally for their sins. The penalty that Jesus paid for sin was not only for the human race; it was also for everything in the universe that had been marred by sin. Paul wrote. Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21). The demands of a holy God were satisfied by Jesus’ death on the cross. 4.

Jesus’ Death Bought Our Freedom

As we study the life of Christ we often come into contact with the term, “redemption.” The word, “redeem” means “to purchase.” When Christ died for our sins He paid the price for them with His own blood. Peter wrote. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18,19). The Bible also speaks of Christ redeeming us from the curse of the law. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). What does this mean? The New Testament uses two terms that shed light upon the full meaning of redemption, agorazo and lutro. The word agorazo, along with its variation, exagorazo, has the idea of buying a slave out of the market and then taking him home. This term speaks of Christ buying us out of

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the slave market of the world. The price Jesus paid, with His own blood, was sufficient to buy every slave out of the market. His purchase also means that slave would never be sold again. We have all been slaves to sin, and if we allow Him to be our Master, then we need never be sold again, for He becomes our eternal Master. The word lutro has the idea of, “to buy and give freedom.” When Christ bought us from the marketplace of the world, he not only gave us our freedom, He made us part of His family. Those who receive by faith the benefits of the sacrifice Christ has provided become children of God, part of His eternal family. The Spirit himself bears witness with out spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together (Romans 8:16,17). Redemption properly understood, means that Jesus Christ bought humanity out of the slave market of the world. The price He paid was His own blood. When He bought us, He gave us our freedom. We cannot be sold again as slaves. We have become part of His family and participants in His rightful inheritance. All this is obtainable if we choose to place our faith in the sacrifice He made on our behalf. 5.

Jesus’ Death Showed The Love Of God

The death of Christ upon the cross also demonstrated that God loves sinful humanity. The Scripture speaks of His death as an act of love toward humankind. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Paul wrote. But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). It was love that motivated Jesus to come to earth and die on the cross for our sins. 6.

He Was An Example To The Believer

The Bible tells us the love of God that was demonstrated by Jesus should serve as an example for how we should treat one another. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34,35). Summary Although the immediate reason for the death of Christ was the envy of the Jews, the Bible lists a number of other reasons as to why Christ died. First, it was in the eternal plan of God – it was not an afterthought. Jesus’ death was necessary to complete the plan of redemption for the sinful world. He had to die so that others could live. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. He was the sacrifice that was acceptable to God. The death of Christ was also a visible demonstration of the love of God for sinful humanity. His death should serve as an example for the believers. Believers are to love one another in the same manner as Jesus has loved us.

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QUESTION 108 Why Was Jesus Crucified Rather Than Stoned To Death? At the time of Jesus, those who committed crimes worthy of capital punishment were stoned to death. Crucifixion was not the Jewish form of execution. Why then did the religious leaders take Jesus to Pilate in order to have Him crucified? Crucifixion was the Roman form of punishment. Why didn’t they stone Him like they eventually did with the martyr Stephen? Several observations can be made. 1.

There Is A Curse Associated With Crucifixion

One of the reasons may have been the curse associated with crucifixion. The Old Testament speaks of those being cursed who hang upon a tree. When someone is convicted of a crime punishable by death and is executed, and you hang them on a tree, their corpse must not remain all night upon the tree; you shall bury them that same day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you for possession (Deuteronomy 21:22,23). By having Jesus crucified, the religious leaders may have thought that this would end any talk about Him being the Messiah – since the Messiah certainly would not have been cursed. Paul wrote to the Galatians about the curse that Christ bore on our behalf. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). 2.

Only The Lowest Members Of Society Were Crucified

Another reason may have been the way the Romans used crucifixion. A Roman citizen was never crucified - they were put to death by the quick method of beheading. Only slaves, political rebels, and the lowest criminals were put to death by crucifixion. The cross was a symbol of shame for the Romans. The Roman writer Cicero wrote. Even the word ‘cross’ must remain far, not only from the lips of the citizens of Rome, but also from their thoughts their eyes their ears. 3.

The New Testament Writers Do Not Emphasize His Suffering

The New Testament writers did not emphasize the physical suffering of Jesus upon the cross. The suffering that Jesus went through was more than physical agony – His death paid the penalty for the world’s sins. In doing so He was, in some way unknown to us, separated from God the Father. The Bible says. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” - which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46). Therefore the symbol of the cross does not have so much to do with the physical suffering of Jesus. It represents the “good news” that salvation has been obtained for those who come to God in faith.

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Summary Jesus was put to death by the terrible method of crucifixion. Although we are not told why the religious leaders did not organize a group of people to stone Him, it is likely due to the curse associated with crucifixion. Crucifixion was reserved for the slaves, political rebels and the worst criminals. The New Testament writers spoke of Jesus’ death, it was not to emphasize the horrible suffering that He endured on our behalf. Rather it was to proclaim the victory that Jesus won in paying the penalty for sin.

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QUESTION 109 What Is The Significance Of The Words Jesus Spoke While On The Cross? The Gospels record that during the six hours Jesus was hanging on the cross He made seven different statements. These statements are of tremendous significance because they are the last words of Jesus before His death. They demonstrate that Jesus was consistent in His life and in His message until the end. 1.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 24:34).

This first of seven sayings of Jesus shows that He was thinking of others until the end of His life. Even while experiencing the horrible pain of crucifixion, He was praying for the very people who caused His suffering. He came to earth for the purpose of forgiving sinners and He loved them and forgave them up until the end. It was because of humanity’s sin that He was on the cross—suffering on behalf of that sin. 2.

“Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Not only did Jesus forgive those who crucified Him, He also forgave one of the criminals crucified next to Him. When the criminals were put on the cross both of them cursed Jesus but, as time elapsed, one of the thieves had a change of heart. Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed him, saying, ‘If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom’ (Luke 23:39-42). It was at this juncture that Jesus made His second statement from the cross promising to forgive the repentant criminal. Again we see Jesus’ concern for others. His example later led the Apostle Paul to exhort the Philippian church in the following manner. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself (Philippians 2:3). 3.

“Woman, behold your Son” (John 19:26).

As Jesus continued to suffer on the cross His mind was still upon others. He saw His mother standing near the Apostle John and said, “Woman, behold your son.” He then looked at John and said, “Behold your mother!” By doing this He was entrusting the care of His mother to John. The law required the firstborn son to take care of his parents, and Jesus was obeying the law of God up until the end. Early in His ministry Jesus emphasized His respect for the law. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). He honored and obeyed the law throughout His life and He also honored the law while suffering His death.

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Jesus “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

The fourth saying of Jesus from the cross is probably the most difficult for us to understand. The sinless Son of God who had been, from all eternity, in an intimate relationship with His Father, is now spiritually separated from Him. The penalty of the sins of the world was put upon Jesus. Consequently there was, for the first time, a separation between the Father and the Son. The Bible records something happened between them that we can only understand through the eye of faith. That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). The Father was placing the penalty of the sins of the world upon the Son in order that everything in the universe that had been affected by sin could again be made right with God. Jesus was suffering the pain and separation that we deserve. For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). In order for this to occur, the Father had to forsake the Son and punish Him on our behalf. 5.

“I thirst” (John 19:28).

The fifth statement that Jesus made from the cross reminds us again that He suffered as a human being. The Bible says. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst’ (John 19:28). He lived as a human and suffered as a human in order that He could identify with suffering humanity. From this statement we observe that Jesus suffered the full physical effect of crucifixion. There was no easing up, for the weight of our sins was placed upon Him. 6.

“It is finished” (John 19:30).

The sixth statement from Jesus while on the cross was a cry of victory. The Greek text reads tetelestai, “It is finished.” What was finished? As we consider the life and ministry of Jesus we can think of several things that His death made complete. First, Jesus had to finish the task the Father had sent Him to earth to accomplish, namely to provide salvation for humankind. By living His entire life without sin, Jesus was able to become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. The way of salvation had now been made complete. No more animal sacrifices were necessary. They had only pointed to the ultimate sacrifice Jesus had now offered. His was the supreme sacrifice that satisfied the righteous demands of a holy God. The second thing that was accomplished by Jesus on the cross was a fulfillment of prophecy. The predicted Messiah had come as God promised He would. Prophecies of the Word of God, which are always accurate, had again come to pass. The Savior was promised; now Christ the Savior had come. He accomplished the promised salvation. A third matter that was accomplished by Jesus’ death on the cross was the victory over the Devil. The Scripture says that one of the purposes for Jesus’ coming was to destroy the works of the Devil (1 John 3:8). The death of Christ finished that task. The dominion over the earth that humanity, through his sin,

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had handed over to the Devil was now won back. The authority of Satan had been vanquished - the victory had been won. When Christ comes back again He will take hold of the victory that He won over the Devil on Calvary’s cross. A fourth and final reason that Jesus said, “It is finished” is with regard to His own suffering. Jesus spent over thirty years upon the earth living among sinful humanity, suffering from the self-imposed limitations of that existence. He had now endured the final six hours of that suffering on a cross. This was now finished. He would no longer have to suffer the limits of space and time. It was finished! 7.

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

This is the final statement that we have from Jesus before His death. Everything had been completed and now it was time to dismiss His spirit. Jesus had previously made the statement that He would willingly lay down His life for His sheep. Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father (John 10:17,18). From this we realize that Jesus had to purposely dismiss His spirit; it could not be taken from Him. Unless He desired to die, He would not have had to. Because He was a willing victim, however, He chose to die. Upon making His final statement, Jesus died. Summary The seven statements Jesus made from the cross have far-reaching significance for us today. They once again remind us that His death, besides being a fact of history, was much more than that. It was the supreme sacrific e that secured our salvation. His final words show us that we can have the utmost confidence in Him as our Savior. The first statement was consistent with Jesus’ entire life – He always thought about others. He asked the Father to forgive the sin of those who crucified Him. The second statement also shows concern for others. He told a criminal that he would be with Him in paradise. The third statement is another example of Jesus thinking about others. He entrusted His mother to John. The fourth statement was recognition that He was forsaken by the Father when the penalty of the sins of the world was placed upon Him. The fifth statement makes us aware of the human Jesus – He was thirsty. The sixth statement was one of victory – Jesus’ mission had been finished! The last statement allowed His spirit to return to the Father.

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QUESTION 110 Who Was Responsible For The Death Of Jesus? There is an age-old question concerning the responsibility for Jesus’ death. Who is to blame for the terrible crime of executing Jesus? Actually there are a number of different people to blame. 1.

The Jewish Religious Rulers Were Responsible

The Jewish religious rulers deserve their share of the blame. They hated Jesus without any just cause. Their hatred caused them to arrest Jesus, find false witnesses at His trial, and then condemn him as guilty. They also brought false charges against Him in front of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. We read. Then the whole body of them got up and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a King” (Luke 23:1,2). 2.

The Jewish People Were Responsible

The Jewish people were responsible. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him (John 1:11) Jesus said the city of Jerusalem was responsible for rejecting Him. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matthew 23:37). At His trial before Pilate, the crowd shouted to crucify Jesus. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.” What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:20-23). 3.

Pontius Pilate Was Responsible

Pontius Pilate has his share of the blame in the death of Jesus Christ. As he told Jesus, he had the authority to release Him or crucify Him. When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” (John 19:8-10). Pilate did not accept the Sanhedrin’s verdict of Jesus being guilty of any crime. To the contrary, Pilate testified to his innocence.

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Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him” (John 19:4). Still, he gave the command for Jesus to be executed. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus (John 19:16). 4.

The Entire Human Race Was Responsible

Ultimately, it was the entire human race that is responsible for Jesus’ death on the cross. The penalty for the sins of all of us was placed upon Jesus. Paul wrote. God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) While there was the immediate blame with the Jewish religious rulers and Pontius Pilate the real blame should be placed where it deserves to be placed – all of us. Summary The death of Jesus was a horrible crime. Blame can be rightly be placed upon the Jewish religious leaders. For a number of years they wanted Jesus dead. The Jewish people were to blame as well. They rejected His claim to be the Messiah. Pontius Pilate also deserves blame. He ordered Jesus executed after declaring Him innocent of all charges. However the blame has to be ultimately placed on the entire human race. It was for our sins that Jesus went to His death on Calvary’s cross. Therefore all of us were ultimately responsible.

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QUESTION 111 How Important Is The Resurrection To Christianity? The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central truth of the Christian faith. Without it there is no such thing as the Christian faith. Long ago man named Job asked the big question, that sooner or later every human being has to face. If a person dies, will they live again? (Job 14:14). This same question remains to this day, “Is this life all that there is? Or is there life beyond the grave? Is it possible for anyone to know the answer to this question?” The Christian’s answer to Job’s question is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. THE PLACE OF THE RESURRECTION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT The resurrection of Christ occupies a central place in the New Testament. It is mentioned directly over one hundred times. 1.

It Is The Focal Point Of The Christian Faith

The message of the early Christians, and the focal point of the New Testament, was stated in this simple truth by the Apostle Paul. Jesus Christ, risen from the dead (2 Timothy 2:8). This is the central truth of the Christian faith. The importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot be overemphasized. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity. 2.

The Resurrection Was The Central Teaching Of The Apostles

The resurrection was central to the teaching and preaching in the Apostles. It was the subject of every sermon we find in the Book of Acts. On the Day of Pentecost Peter declared. Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). The apostles continued to proclaim Jesus’ resurrection. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead (Acts 4:2). Paul told a crowd in Athens. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:31).

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It Was The Substance Of The ir Teaching

The substance of the preaching of the early church was the resurrection of Christ. However, many of the Jew rejected Jesus because He died on the cross. The Old Testament says. You must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse (Deuteronomy 21:33). Yet there were many Jews who were converted to Him. So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41). This includes a number of priests who believed in Jesus. And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). The only explanation for so many Jews accepting Jesus as their Messiah was His resurrection. 4.

The Resurrection Is The Cornerstone Of Christianity

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about the importance of the resurrection of Jesus. Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we witnessed against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Notice how clearly Paul stated the matter - no resurrection, no Christianity. According to Paul, if Christ has not been raised then the following five things would be true. 1. Christian preaching is empty and so in anyone’s faith because the object of the faith, Christ, is not whom He said He was. 2.

The apostles are liars for testifying to a resurrection that did not occur.

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No forgiveness has been granted for anybody’s sin.

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Those who have died believing in Christ have no hope.

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If hope in Christ is limited to this life, then Christians are to be pitied above all people.

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Without the resurrection, Christianity has no meaning for humanity - its founder would have been a liar and a failure, and its followers would have no hope. Thus the importance of the resurrection to Christian faith cannot be overestimated. There are those who say that even without the resurrection, Christianity has significance. They hold that Christ’s teachings provide ethical guidelines for humanity. The New Testament, however, testifies that this is not the case. Without the resurrection there is no meaningful Christianity. We add further areas of importance of Christ’s resurrection. It is important to Jesus’ identity, to His true character to His ministry, and to His message. 5.

It Is Important To His Identity

The resurrection is crucial to confirming the identity of Jesus. Paul wrote. And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. (Romans 1:4) 6.

It Is Important To His True Character

If Christ did not rise then He was a liar, for He predicted He would come back from the dead. He said. Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify him, and on the third day he will be raised up (Matthew 20:18,19). The resurrection authenticates Him as a true prophet. Without His resurrection everything that Jesus said would be subject to doubt. 7.

It Is Important To His Ministry

If Jesus did not rise, then His ministry would have ended in defeat. Believers would not have a High Priest to intercede for them to God the Father. There would be no one to head the church and no one to indwell believers and give them power to live godly lives. 8.

It Is Important To His Message

According to the Apostle Paul, the resurrection of Jesus is one of the four pillars of the gospel message. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that he appeared to . . . (1 Corinthians 15:3-5). These four pillars of the gospel are as follows. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Christ died. Christ was buried Christ was raised. Christ appeared.

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Without the resurrection there is no gospel message. Its importance to the Christian faith cannot be overestimated. 9.

The Resurrection Was Unique To Christianity

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is unique to the Christian faith - no other religious figure has ever predicted his own resurrection, and then accomplished it. All of the other world religions are based on a founder who lived in the past and whose religion is his only legacy. Mohammed died at age 61 on June 8, A.D. 632 in Medina. He is still dead. Confucius died and Buddha also died. They also remain dead - Jesus Christ is alive. Summary The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. It is mentioned over one hundred times in the New Testament. It was the main point for each sermon in the Book of Acts. Without it there is no Christian faith. Paul said the resurrection is important to the believer for a number of reasons. He said that Christian preaching is empty if Jesus did not come back from the dead. The faith of the believer is worthless if Christ is not risen because He is the object of the faith. In addition, Christ, is not whom He said He was. He would have been a liar. The apostles are also liars for testifying to a resurrection that did not occur. Furthermore, there is no forgiveness for anybody’s sin. Those who have died believing in Christ have no hope. If hope in Christ is limited to this life, Christians are to be pitied above all people. The resurrection is also important to the identity and mission of Jesus. First, the resurrection is important to His identity. The resurrection is the demonstration that Jesus indeed is the Son of God. The resurrection is also important to His character. Jesus would not have been a true prophet had He not come back from the dead as He predicted that He would. It is important to Jesus’ ministry. If He did not come back from the dead then His ministry would have ended in defeat. Finally, it is important to His message. The centrality of the Christian message is that Jesus died and then came back from the dead. If He did not come back from the dead then there is no Christianity. Consequently we see that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely crucial to the Christian faith.

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QUESTION 112 Did Jesus Predict His Own Resurrection? Yes. Jesus predicted the resurrection beforehand. The fact that He would rise from the dead was central to Jesus’ ministry and message. The resurrection must not be seen as an isolated event in the life of Christ. As one reads the four gospels, they are struck by the fact that Jesus predicted, over and over again, His betrayal, death, and resurrection. Three years before He was raised from the dead, the following exchange between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders occurred. So the Jews answered and said to him, ‘What sign do you show to us, since you do these things?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken (John 2:18-22). 1.

The Resurrection Was “The” Sign

The resurrection was to be the sign that demonstrated Jesus as the one whom He claimed to be. When asked for a specific sign from the religious leaders Jesus said. An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign shall be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:39-40). Especially during the last six months of His earthly life, Jesus emphasized the importance and necessity of His upcoming crucifixion as well as the triumph of His resurrection. From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day (Matthew 16:21). 2.

Jesus Had The Ability To Raise Himself

Jesus also made the amazing claim that He had the authority to accomplish the resurrection Himself. Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again (John 10:17, 18). 3.

Jesus’ Predictions Were Common Knowledge

The predictions by Jesus of His resurrection were of such common knowledge that it led the religious rulers to ask Pontius Pilate to secure the tomb. On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate saying, ‘Sir, we remember, while he was still alive, how that deceiver said, “After

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three days I will rise.” Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, “He has risen from the dead.” So the last deception will be worse than the first’ (Matthew 27:62-64). Therefore it is clear that Jesus predicted His resurrection ahead of time. Summary Jesus predicted His own resurrection. The first time we find Him speaking about being raised from the dead was at the beginning of His ministry. When asked for a sign He gave them the sign of the temple – which was figurative for His body. On another occasion, when asked for a sign, He gave them the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was three days in the belly of the sea creature so Jesus will be three days in the earth. He also privately told His disciples the details about His death and resurrection. Jesus made public statements about His resurrection. This caused the religious leaders to request a guard at His tomb. There would be no need for a guard unless He had predicted that He would come back from the dead. Therefore the evidence is clear – Jesus predicted His resurrection.

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QUESTION 113 What Precautions Were Taken To Keep The Tomb Of Jesus Secure? As we examine the events leading up to Easter Sunday, we discover that certain precautions taken by Jesus’ enemies actually give circumstantial evidence to His resurrection. The Bible says the following things about the burial site of Jesus and the precautions taken. 1.

The Tomb Had Never Been Occupied

The tomb was a new one that had never been occupied. And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain (Luke 23:53). Therefore there was no possibility of confusing the body of Jesus with another body. 2.

No Other Bodies Were Placed In The Tomb After Jesus’

In addition no other bodies was placed in the tomb after Jesus was buried. Again, there was no chance for confusion as to where He was buried or which body was His. 3.

It Was Hewn Out Of Solid Rock

It was hewn out of solid rock. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock (Matthew 27:59). This would make it impossible for anyone to get to the body except through the opening at the front. In addition, the tomb was near the city of Jerusalem and accessible for investigation after the events of Easter Sunday. THE PRECAUTIONS AT THE TOMB : THE STONE, THE ROMAN SEAL, AND THE GUARD The precautions taken at the tomb consisted of three things - the large stone, the Roman seal, and the guard. 1.

The Stone

The Bible says that a large stone was rolled in front of the tomb of Jesus. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away (Matthew 27:59,60). This stone, not only sealed the tomb, it also would have made it difficult for someone to come right in and steal the body.

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The Roman Seal

The Roman seal was also placed over the tomb. And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone (Matthew 27:66). The seal was sign of authentication that the tomb was occupied and the power and authority of Rome stood behind the seal. Anyone found breaking the Roman seal would suffer the punishment of an unpleasant death. 3.

The Guard

A guard watched Jesus’ tomb. This was either the Roman guard or the Jewish temple police. Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone (Matthew 27:65,66). There is a question as to which one of the two groups was watching over it. The context seems to favor the Roman guard. The Roman guard was a sixteen-man unit that was governed by very strict rules. Each member was responsible for six square feet of space. The guard members could not sit down or lean against anything while they were on duty. If a guard member fell asleep, he was beaten and burned with his own clothes. But he was not the only one executed, the entire sixteen-man guard unit was executed if only one of the members fell asleep while on duty. These precautions made the religious rulers feel secure that the excitement around Jesus would soon go away. Jesus lay dead in the tomb, and His frightened disciples had scattered and gone into hiding. They thought that they had won. The Event That Changed The World But the story was not over. The Bible says that early Sunday morning certain women came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. The stone had been removed, the seal had been broken, and the body was gone. An angel at the tomb asked. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen (Luke 24:5,6). They went back to tell the other disciples, who at first did not believe their report. And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Luke 24:11). However, they were persuaded to look for themselves, and they also found the tomb empty. This caused them confusion. The confusion vanished as the resurrected Christ first appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to some other women, and finally to the disciples. After being with the disciples for forty days, Jesus ascended into heaven. Ten days later, the disciples publicly proclaimed to all Jerusalem, and to the world, the fact that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. Summary The circumstances around the burial of Jesus adds further evidence to the truth of His resurrection. Jesus was buried in a tomb that had never been occupied. In addition, no body was placed in the tomb after His.

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Consequently there could be no mistaking whose body was in the tomb. Add to this the fact that the tomb was hewn out of solid stone – there was not chance of getting to it except through the one opening. Although the religious leaders felt satisfied when they handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate to be crucified they remembered Jesus’ words that He would come back from the dead. Consequently they asked Pilate to make the tomb as secure as possible. This consisted of a guard, either Roman or Jewish, a large stone rolled at the entrance of the tomb, and the Roman seal. However these precautions were worthless when it came to stopping the tomb from being empty on Easter Sunday. The disciples were not able to steal the body – Jesus came back from the dead!

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QUESTION 114 What Historical Facts Are Undisputed About Jesus And His Resurrection? There are certain undisputed facts that both believers and unbelievers can agree upon when it comes to examining the case for Jesus and His resurrection. They include the following. 1.

Jesus Existed

Jesus was a historical figure who lived two thousand years ago. The primary source for His life and ministry is the New Testament. Eyewitnesses or people who recorded eyewitness testimony wrote this document. There is no doubt about His existence. 2.

Jesus Performed Miracles

Another historical fact about Jesus is that He was a miracle worker. Both friend and foe testify to this fact. In the first five centuries of the Christian era, every report that has come down to us about Jesus, whether from friend or foe, has Him working miracles. There is no doubt that miracles were a central part of His ministry. 3.

There Was No Dying Redeemer In First Century Judaism

Another fact beyond dispute is that the disciples of Jesus were not prepared for His death. First-century Judaism had no concept of the Messiah dying and then coming back from the dead. The disciples were not expecting the resurrection of Jesus because they were not expecting Him to die. 4.

Jesus Died On A Cross In The City Of Jerusalem

Another fact that is beyond dispute is the manner of death of Jesus - He died on a cross. All four gospels make it clear that Christ was crucified in Jerusalem. The testimony of the Book of Acts concurs as do the writings of Paul. Jesus was executed by means of crucifixion in the city of Jerusalem. 5.

Jesus Was Buried

The New Testament also states that Jesus was buried after His death. All four gospels testify to this fact as well as Paul’s statement. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). 6.

The Tomb Was Empty On Easter Sunday

A further fact is that the tomb of Jesus was empty on Easter Sunday morning. Had the body of Jesus remained in the tomb it would have been a simple thing for the authorities to remove the stone and produce it.

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The Sanhedrin itself testifies that the tomb was empty. They concocted a story in which they commanded the soldiers to repeat thereafter to explain how the tomb became empty - the body was stolen by the disciples. 7.

Jesus Was Reported To Have Risen

The New Testament is unanimous in the fact that Jesus’ disciples saw Him after His death. This was the message they brought to the world - Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! 8.

The Message Was Preached In The City Where The Events Took Place

When the account of the resurrection was first proclaimed, it occurred in Jerusalem - the same city where Jesus was buried. The disciples did not go away to some distant place where it would have been hard to check out the facts. They began in the very city where all the events took place. If their testimony were not true, then their enemies would have promptly corrected them. 9.

The New Testament Writers Believed Jesus Had Risen From The Dead

When the New Testament was committed to writing, it was from the perspective that Jesus had risen from the dead. All of the New Testament writers believed the resurrection occurred. Obviously something led them to that belief. The question, of course, is, “What made them believe?” Summary There are a number of facts about the life of Jesus that are not in dispute. Jesus existed. There is no reason at all to doubt this fact. Also during His earthly ministry Jesus reportedly worked miracles. This is the consistent portrait of Jesus. In addition, we know that His disciples were not prepared for His death – they were expecting the Messiah to bring in God’s kingdom. They were certainly not looking for a resurrection because they were not expecting Him to die. It is also clear that Jesus was dead and buried – all sources testify to this fact. Yet it is also clear that the tomb was empty on Easter morning. The disciples of Jesus testified they saw Him alive after His death. They began by proclaiming the message of the resurrection in Jerusalem – the very city where all the events took place. Finally, all the New Testament writers believed the resurrection was a reality. They wrote from the perspective that Jesus had risen. These are all reliable historical facts that friend and foe can agree upon.

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QUESTION 115 To Whom Did Jesus Appear After His Death? The main reason the disciples believed in the resurrection of Jesus is that they saw Him alive after He was dead. Jesus presented Himself alive on a number of different occasions to His followers. Thus we see them testifying, time and time again, to the fact they were eyewitnesses of His resurrection. This firsthand evidence of the disciples is a powerful argument for the resurrection of Christ. The disciples knew that He had risen because they saw Him with their own eyes. Jesus’ Testimony About His Resurrection First, we have Jesus’ own personal testimony is that He was raised from the dead. He said. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18). Luke records Jesus’ saying. Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have (Luke 24:39). THE VARIOUS APPEARANCES OF J ESUS Many different people saw Jesus after the resurrection. The appearances were as follows. 1.

Mary Magdalene

The first appearance of Jesus was to Mary Magdalene. Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher) (John 20:14-16). This appearance was totally unexpected. 2.

Mary The Mother Of James, Salome, And Joanna

Jesus also appeared to these three women. This happened after the appearance to Mary Magdalene. After an angel told them Jesus had risen, they were on their way to tell Jesus’ disciples when they met the risen Christ. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him (Matthew 28:9). Again, we have another unexpected appearance. As was true with Mary Magdalene, these women touched the body of Jesus.

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Peter is the first person mentioned in Paul’s list of witnesses, and is the first of the apostles to see the risen Christ. This was a private appearance to reassure him, since he had just denied his Lord. The gospels are completely silent as to the details of this meeting. Luke merely wrote. The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon! (Luke 24:34). 4.

Two Disciples On The Emmaus Road

Later on Easter Sunday, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were conversing with each other about all these things which had taken place. And it came about that while they were conversing and discussing, Jesus himself approached, and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him (Luke 24:13-16). As was true with the women, these two disciples were not expecting Jesus to rise. In fact, they were leaving Jerusalem because they had lost hope in Him. 5.

The Eleven Disciples - Thomas Absent

This is the last of the five appearances of Jesus on Easter Sunday. It took place in the evening, probably in the upper room in which Jesus had instituted the Lord’s Supper. It is recorded in both Luke’s and John’s gospel, giving us two independent accounts as to what happened. John wrote: When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when he had said this, he showed them both his hands and his side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. . . But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came (John 20:19,20,24). 6.

The Eleven Disciples With Thomas Present

Eight days later He appeared again - this time with Thomas present. And after eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to him, ‘My Lord and My God!’ (John 20:26-28). Thomas saw and believed. 7.

To Seven Disciples On The Sea Of Galilee

Another appearance was to seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee.

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After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and he manifested himself in this way. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples (John 20:1,2). 8.

To Eleven Disciples On A Mountain In Galilee

There is also the account of Jesus appearing before His eleven disciples in Galilee. But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw him, they worshiped him; but some were doubtful (Matthew 28:16,17). 9.

To Over Five Hundred People At The Same Time

On another occasion, Jesus appeared to over five hundred people at one time. After that he was seen by over five hundred people at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:6). 10. James Scripture also says that Jesus appeared to His half-brother James. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7). The details of this appearance are not recorded. 11. All Of The Apostles Jesus also appeared to all of the apostles. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7). These are disciples other than the Twelve. 12. Saul After Jesus’ ascension He appeared again - this time to Saul of Tarsus. And as he [Saul] traveled he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are your persecuting me?’ And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting’ (Acts 9:3-5). These are the appearances of Jesus that the New Testament records. They caused His disciples to believe that He had risen from the dead. Luke says that Jesus showed Himself alive with many convincing proofs. To these he also presented himself alive after his suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3)

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Summary Scripture says that Jesus rose bodily from the dead. First, we have Jesus’ own statement that He was alive. The Bible also says that Jesus made a number of appearances after His death. They were to a number of different people over a forty-day period. The Bible specifically says that on Easter Sunday Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the women that came to Jesus tomb (Mary the Mother of James, Salome, and Joanna), Peter, and two disciples on the Emmaus road. He also appeared to the remainder of the Twelve Disciples with Thomas absent. Later he appeared to them with Thomas present. There was also an appearance to seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee. On another occasion He appeared to over five hundred people at the same time. There is also an appearance to James. Jesus also appeared to all the apostles. Finally Jesus appeared to Saul of Tarsus – the man who became the Apostle Paul. These appearances convinced His disciples, beyond any doubt, that He had risen from the dead.

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QUESTION 116 What Observations Can Be Made About Jesus’ Resurrection Appearances? As we examine the New Testament account of the appearances of Christ after His death, we can make the following observations. 1.

The Appearances Were Convincing

The different appearances of Jesus convinced His disciples that He had truly risen from the dead. The first chapter of Acts makes this statement about Jesus’ appearances. To these he also presented himself alive, after his suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). When describing Jesus’ appearances, Luke uses a Greek word translated as “convincing proof.” This term refers to the strongest type of legal proof imaginable. The case for Jesus’ resurrection would stand up in a court of law. 2. He Appeared To Many Different People We note that Jesus appeared to a number of different people after His death. The multiple appearances that are recorded in the New Testament range in size from one individual (Peter) to over five hundred people (1 Corinthians 15). These various appearances to different numbers of people testifies to the fact that He did indeed come back from the dead. 3.

He Appeared At Different Times And Places

There was no specific time or place when the resurrected Jesus appeared. His appearances include: in a locked room, on the road to Emmaus, on a mountain in Galilee, on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and at the empty tomb. Jesus was able to appear wherever He wished, He was not limited to one geographical area. Jesus’ appearances consisted of brief encounters with people (the women returning from the tomb) to long periods of time (the two disciples on the road to Emmaus). He also appeared at different times of day - morning (to Mary Magdalene at the tomb), afternoon (the two disciples on the road to Emmaus), and night (the disciples in the locked upper room). 4.

The People Were Not Expecting Him To Appear

Jesus’ followers were surprised by the events that occurred in those few short days. Beginning with His betrayal by one of their own - Judas Iscariot - to the arrest, trial and crucifixion, these rapidly occurring events shocked the disciples. They were not expecting any of this to happen. However, the one thing that surprised them most was seeing Christ alive after His death.

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The women who arrived at the tomb were not expecting Jesus to rise. Their intention was to embalm His body. They went to the tomb expecting to find someone there. This shows they did not expect a resurrection. When the disciples were first told of the empty tomb, and the reports that Jesus was alive, they did not believe them. They thought the women making these reports were mad. When Thomas first heard that Jesus had risen, he did not believe it. Until he saw Jesus for himself, and touched the scars of His wounds, he would not believe. All of these facts testify to the state of mind of the disciples - they were not looking for Him to appear. 5.

His Appearances Suddenly Stopped After He Ascended Into Heaven

The New Testament says it was for only forty days that Jesus showed Himself after His resurrection before ascending into heaven. After His ascension, Jesus did not appear any longer to His disciples except for one episode on the isle of Patmos to John. In that instance He appeared as the glorified Christ. Summary From an examination of the New Testament accounts of Jesus resurrection we can conclude the following. His appearances were convincing. Those who saw the risen Christ were convinced that it was truly Him. Jesus appeared to many different people. One appearance there was over five hundred people. Jesus also appeared at different times and places. We know for a fact that the people were not expecting Him to appear. Finally His appearances suddenly stopped after He ascended into heaven.

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QUESTION 117 What Do We Know About The Character Of The Witnesses Who Testified Of The Risen Christ? We also need to consider the character of the witnesses who testified that Christ had risen. The following observations need to be made concerning them. 1.

THEY WERE IN A POSITION TO TESTIFY

The ones who saw Jesus after His death were in a position to give testimony to whether or not Jesus had risen from the dead. First, they would have been able to testify if He had died. We are told that John and certain others were there at the cross when Jesus died - they observed His death. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” (John 19:25,26). John saw the actual moment of Jesus death. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe (John 19:34,35). Others saw where He was buried. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment (Luke 23:55,56). Finally, the same Jesus they had seen dead and buried, appeared to them alive. They saw the scars that were on His body from the cross. They knew Jesus intimately and some impostor would not have fooled them. Therefore those who testified that Jesus had risen could certainly certify that Jesus had been dead, and that they saw Him alive again. John wrote. What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life (1 John 1:1) 2.

THERE WAS A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF THEM

The number of witnesses to the resurrection was sufficient for us to believe their account. We are dealing with the twelve disciples of Jesus (minus Judas), other disciples apart from the twelve, and certain women who knew Him well. One appearance was before over five hundred people at one time. The different number of people who saw the risen Christ is sufficient to cause belief. 3.

THEY EXHIBITED AN HONEST CHARACTER

Next, we consider the honesty of the witnesses. We are told they were not expecting Him to rise, they were all surprised by His appearance, and, in the case of Jesus’ disciples, and they were the first unbelievers of the resurrection story. There is no effort to make the disciples into some type of super

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believers. Their faults are listed - Peter denying knowing Jesus on the night of His betrayal as well as the other disciples fleeing the scene. 4.

THEY HAD NO M OTIVATION FOR LYING

When all the facts are considered, we find no motivation for them to lie about what happened. There was no financial gain or greed that motivated the witnesses to tell the story that Jesus had risen. To the contrary, they suffered mightily from their fellow countrymen by proclaiming the resurrection. Their status in society was certainly not elevated for believing in Jesus - they were considered members of a sect or cult. When everything is considered, lying about Jesus’ resurrection caused them no direct benefit but rather only grief. 5.

THEY WERE OF NORMAL INTELLIGENCE

The disciples of Jesus were men of normal intelligence – they were not ignoramuses. They were not the type to be easily fooled. For example, Matthew the tax collector, and Thomas the doubter, would need overwhelming evidence to be convinced that Jesus was raised. Indeed Jesus disciples were the first to be told of Jesus’ resurrection and the first unbelievers. But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Luke 24:11). 6.

THEIR STORY WAS CONSISTENT

The ones who had seen Him alive consistently told the story that Jesus had risen from the dead. As we read through the sermons in the book of Acts, we find them always telling the same account. Their story was consistently told as long as they lived. While the minute details of each account differed, as we would expect, the main points were always the same. 7.

THEY DID NOT EMBELLISH THE STORY WITH EXCESSIVE DETAILS

The account surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection is told in a straightforward manner without excessive details. Many things we would like to know are not told us. The account is sober and restrained - something we would not expect from a made up story. There are no elements in the account that are mythical. For example, if the account of the resurrection were legendary, we would expect some explanation of what occurred the moment Jesus rose from the dead, yet the New Testament gives us no such explanation of what happened the moment He left the tomb. 8.

THEY PROVIDE A NUMBER OF M INUTE DETAILS

One of the strongest arguments for the authenticity of the accounts of the resurrection is the number of minute details that are recorded. These unintentional proofs testify to the truthfulness of the overall account. They are as follows. Peter And John At Jesus Tomb We are told that Peter and John ran to the tomb together when told of Jesus resurrection. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen (John 20:4-7).

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John, the younger man, outruns the older Peter. John reverently stays outside of the tomb while the impetuous Peter immediately goes inside. These events are consistent with what we know about the character of both of these men. Mary’s Desire To Carry Jesus Away The account of Mary at the tomb of Jesus also has marks of authenticity. “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him” (John 20:15). Jesus then speaks her name. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means teacher) (John 20:16). The fact that Jesus said her name in His own unique way was an unmistakable sign that He had risen. They Were To Tell The Disciples And Peter We have the account of the resurrected Jesus telling the women to tell the disciples and Peter that He had risen. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you’ (Mark 16:7). This statement is only recorded in Mark’s gospel – the gospel that derives its information from Peter. Jesus Asking Peter Three Times If He Loved Him John records a conversation between Jesus and Peter. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep (John 21:15-17). The three times that Jesus asked Peter if He loved Him correspond to the three times Peter denied even knowing Jesus. The Questioning Of Doubting Thomas Doubting Thomas natural questioning of Jesus’ resurrection is another mark of authenticity. He wanted evidence that Jesus had risen. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it (John 20:25).

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Jesus Hid His Identity To Two Disciples On the road to Emmaus Jesus traveled and spoke with two of His disciples without revealing His identity. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him (Luke 24:16). There would be no point in making up such a story. The Miracle Of The Fish The fact that Jesus repeated an earlier miracle in the miraculous catch of fish was a further testimony as to His identity. He called out to them, “Friends, haven't you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish (John 21:5-7). This would be unmistakable proof that it was Jesus since He performed the same miracle during His public ministry (Luke 5:1-11). Summary The character of those who saw the resurrected Christ is sufficient for us to believe their testimony. They were in a position to testify. They intimately knew Jesus. They also knew that He had been executed by crucifixion. They, therefore, could testify as to whether it was actually Him who had risen. In addition, there were a sufficient number of them. One appearance consisted of over five hundred people. Furthermore, they exhibited an honest character. They certainly had no motivation for lying. Only persecution and martyrdom awaited them. They were of normal intelligence. Their story was consistent – they all gave the same major details. They did not embellish their story with excessive details. They stayed with the basic facts. In addition, they provide a number of minute details that unintentionally verify their overall account. Consequently there is nothing in their behavior or their writings that would cause us to be suspicious of their account of what transpired. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to accept their report that Jesus had risen.

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QUESTION 118 What Is The Indirect Evidence That Jesus Came Back From The Dead? There is circumstantial testimony that Jesus has risen from the dead. This includes the following. 1.

THE CHANGED LIVES OF THE DISCIPLES

The changed lives of the disciples give indirect testimony to Christ’s resurrection. Something changed the disciples of Jesus from cowards to martyrs, from frightened individuals to bold proclaimers of the resurrection. It had to be something more powerful than a delusion or lie. They said their lives were changed because they had seen the risen Christ. The Order Of The Resurrection Events We find the New Testament chronicling the events that led to the changed lives of Jesus’ disciples. When Jesus was betrayed, the Bible says His disciples scattered. Then all the disciples forsook him and fled (Matthew 26:56). Simon Peter, who had promised to die for Jesus, denied that he ever knew Him. Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, ‘You were also with Jesus of Galilee.’ But he denied it before them all saying, ‘I do not know what you are saying.’ . . . And after a while those who stood by came to him and said to Peter, ‘Surely you also are one of them, because your speech betrays you.’ Then he began to curse and swear saying, ‘I do not know the man!’ (Matthew 26:69-74). At Jesus’ crucifixion, His disciples were nowhere to be found. But all his acquaintances, and the women who followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things (Luke 23:39). The picture we get of the disciples at the time of Jesus’ trial and death is that of a frightened band of individuals who denied their Lord and went into hiding. The Day Of Pentecost Some fifty days later, however, we find these same disciples standing up bravely proclaiming, in the city of Jerusalem, that Christ has risen from the dead. On that day Peter said. Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know this man delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put him to death. “But God raised him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:22-24). Something changed these cowards into bold preachers of Christ’s resurrection.

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The Disciples Were Arrested For Jesus Soon thereafter the boldness of the disciples caused the religious leaders to arrest them. Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day (Acts 4:1-3). The religious leaders then resorted to threats. They said to one another. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.’ And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ So when they had furthered threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them (Acts 4:17-21). The former cowards were now fearlessly proclaiming the resurrection of Christ. Obviously, something happened to change the lives of these men. The disciples attributed their bravery to having seen Christ risen. If Christ had not risen, then some other explanation for their changed lives must be in order. 2.

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS

A second line of indirect evidence that can be offered for the resurrection of Christ is the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul. Saul of Tarsus, the greatest antagonist of the Christian faith, was converted and became the Apostle Paul - the greatest proclaimer of the faith. According to his own testimony, Saul persecuted the believers in Christ. Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities (Acts 26:9-11). Saul had believers jailed and consented to their death sentence. In doing all this, he believed he was serving God. However, something happened to Saul to change his way of thinking. As I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the ground I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ . . So I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which I will yet reveal to you’ (Acts 26:12-16). Saul obeyed the heavenly vision and became the Apostle Paul- the mighty defender of the faith. He wrote many of the books of the New Testament. The greatest antagonist to the faith became its greatest champion. What was it that changed this man’s life? He said it was meeting the risen Christ.

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Saul Went From Unbeliever To Believer Here we have an example of a man who was not a believer during Jesus’ earthly life, who became a believer after Christ had risen. This is in contrast to Jesus’ disciples - who believed in Him during His earthly ministry. Saul’s testimony is another in the line of circumstantial evidence that Christ rose from the dead. Eighteenth century author George Lyttleton wrote the following concerning the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. I thought the conversion and the Apostleship of St. Paul alone, duly considered, was of itself a demonstration sufficient to prove Christianity as a Divine Revelation (George Lord Lyttleton, Observations on the Conversion and Apostleship of St. Paul in a letter to Gilbert West, London, 1814). 3.

THE RISE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The New Testament church came into existence as a result of the resurrection faith of the believers. In every sermon, the substance of the preaching of the apostles was that Christ had risen from the dead. Multitudes soon believed their message Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:41). The Bible says. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). It is a historical fact that Christianity spread faster than any other religion or philosophy in the ancient world. By the early part of the fourth century, the Roman Empire became “Christianized.” Something had to account for this unprecedented growth - something at least as compelling as a resurrected Christ. The fact of Christianity’s rapid expansion gives a further witness to the truth of its resurrection message. People embraced Christianity because they were convinced that Jesus Christ has conquered death and could offer them eternal life. 4.

THE CHANGE IN THE DAY OF WORSHIP

A further line of circumstantial evidence for the resurrection concerns the changing of the day of worship. The Jewish worship was on the Sabbath (from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). However the early Christians observed Sunday as their day of worship to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection. This was no small thing to the first believers who were Jews. The day of worship, the Sabbath, was something that no Jew would dare break or change. Yet Jesus’ disciples preferred to worship on the first day of the week - the day He came back from the dead (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2; Revelation 1:10). Something monumental had to happen to make them change the day of worship - something like a resurrection. The Letter of Barnabas, an early Christian document, stated. Therefore we keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day on which Jesus rose from the dead.

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Jesus WOMEN TESTIFYING FIRST SHOWS THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ACCOUNT

According to the New Testament, the first person that saw the resurrected Christ was Mary Magdalene. She thought Jesus was the gardener. Jesus then appeared to another group of women. If one were to make up the story of Christ’s resurrection, they certainly would not have Him first appearing to women. In that culture, at the time of Christ, the witness of a woman was not as readily accepted as a man’s. Their testimony would not have been admissible as legal proof except in a few specific situations. If the story had been made up, then Jesus would have first appeared to a man - either one of His disciples or perhaps one of His enemies such as Herod, Pilate, or Caiaphas the High Priest. Yet the New Testament says that Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene and then to other women. This is not what one would expect in a made up story. The special privilege of seeing the risen Christ would not have been given to women. Again, this is another indication the story is reliable. 6.

THE CHRISTIANS B URIED THEIR DEAD

Another indirect line of evidence concerns Christians burying their dead. Unbelievers cremated their dead. However, from the beginning, the Christians buried theirs in underground cemeteries and catacombs. Six hundred miles of catacombs stretch around Rome. In these catacombs about four million Christians from the first three centuries are buried. Each one of these buried believers testifies to their faith in the resurrection of Jesus and faith in their own ultimate resurrection. 7.

THE EVENTS ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST

On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit supernaturally fell upon the disciples of Jesus. They were able to speak in languages they had not previously learned. This caused amazement to those who heard it. And they were amazed and marveled, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?” (Acts 2:7,8). What caused the supernatural ability of Jesus’ disciples to speak in languages they had not previously learned? Peter stood up and told them the reason for this miracle - the resurrection of Christ. Three thousand people converted to Christ on that day. The reason for their conversion, according to the Scripture, was the truth of the resurrection. 8.

THE M IRACLES IN THE B OOK OF ACTS

The miracles in the Book of Acts gives further circumstantial testimony to Jesus’ resurrection. The fact that the disciples of Jesus were able to perform similar miracles as He performed demonstrated that Jesus’ power was still working after His death, resurrection and ascension. Acts 3: The Healing Of A Lame Man Peter and John performed a miracle - healing a lame man at the temple . They testified that the ability to perform this miracle was granted to them by the risen Christ. They emphasized again that they were eyewitnesses of His resurrection. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses (Acts 3:14,15).

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Acts 4: The Testified Before The Council When Peter spoke before the council he testified that it was the power of the risen Christ that healed this sick man. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead - by this name this man stands here before you in good health (Acts 4:8-10). The enemies could not deny this healing. They had to admit something special had occurred. What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it (Acts 4:16). The miracles of the apostles, as recorded in the Book of Acts, were all based on the power of the resurrection. The message of the early church was that Christ had risen from the dead and His disciples were witnesses to that event. This testimony was evidenced by these miracles. 9.

THE GRAVE CLOTHES WERE UNDISTURBED

Another bit of circumstantial evidence is the undisturbed and folded grave clothes. If the body of Jesus had been taken from the tomb by Jesus’ disciples, they would not have taken the time to remove and unwind the grave clothes and then fold them again. We read in the gospel of John. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on his head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself (John 20:6,7). Thus the position of the grave clothes at Jesus’ tomb is another circumstantial indication of His resurrection. 10. THE NAZARETH DECREE In 1930, a Frenchman named Franz Cumont published an inscription of a text from the city of Nazareth. Though the inscription is in Greek, it is probably a translation of a Latin original. The inscription records the decree of the Emperor Claudius, who ruled from A.D. 41 to 54. This decree ordered the death penalty for anyone disturbing tombs. The inscription reads as follows: It is my pleasure that sepulchers and tombs, which have been erected as solemn memorial of ancestors or children or relatives, shall remain undisturbed in perpetuity. If it be shown that anyone has either destroyed them or otherwise thrown out bodies which have been buried there or removed them with malicious intent to another place, thus committing a crime against those buried there, or removed the headstones or other stones, I command that against such person the same sentence be passed in respect to solemn memorials of men as is laid down in respect of the gods. Much rather one must pay respect to those who are buried. Let no one disturb them on any account. Otherwise it is my will that capital sentence be passed upon such person for the crime of tomb-spoilation. Obviously something led to this decree. Why would the Roman Emperor give his attention to body snatching in this remote part of the Roman Empire? Why did Claudius institute the death penalty for

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robbing tombs only in this one particular geographic area - the area where Jesus came from? The decree of Claudius seems to support the early Jewish contention that the body of Jesus was stolen - which is an admission that the tomb was empty. 11. J ESUS CHRIST CAN STILL CHANGE LIVES The final testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that He is still in the business of changing lives. Millions of people throughout history, as well as millions today, personally testify to a changed life. This power to live a new life is based on the belief in the resurrected Christ. Summary Apart from the direct testimony of the eyewitnesses to Christ’s resurrection, we also have much circumstantial evidence that it actually occurred. We have noted eleven different lines of circumstantial evidence. They are as follows: the risen Christ can only explain the changed lives of the disciples. Nothing else could have changed them from cowards to martyrs. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul makes no sense without the resurrection. Some power had to have given rise to the Christian church. Women were the first to see the risen Jesus. This is not to be expected in a made up story. The change of the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday had to have been occasioned by some great event. The Christians buried their dead expecting them to eventually rise. The miraculous events on the Day of Pentecost have to have some explanation. The miracles in the Book of Acts testify to the resurrection power of Jesus. The grave clothes were undisturbed in Jesus’ tomb. The Nazareth Decree testifies that the first century Jews were concerned about empty tombs. Jesus Christ has changed lives and can still change lives today. The evidence, both direct and circumstantia l testifies to the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead three days after He was crucified on Calvary’s cross.

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QUESTION 119 Who Brought Jesus Back From The Dead? The Bible has much to say about the mode of Jesus resurrection. It testifies that the three members of the Trinity were involved in Jesus resurrection. 1.

God The Father Raised Jesus

The Bible says that God the Father brought Jesus back from the dead. Peter said. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear (Acts 2:32,33). Paul wrote. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Romans 6:4). Paul wrote to the Galatians. Paul, an apostle - sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead (Galatians 1:1). By raising Jesus from the dead, God the Father reversed the death sentence that was pronounced on Him and exalted Jesus to the Lord of glory. 2.

Jesus Brought Himself Back From The Dead

Jesus also arose by His own power. Three years before His death He predicted. Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days (John 2:18,19). Speaking of His life Jesus declared. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father (John 10:18). 3.

The Holy Spirit Raised Jesus

The Third Person of the Trinity was also involved in the resurrection. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you (Romans 8:11). Peter wrote.

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4.

God Raised Jesus

We also have statements that God raised Jesus. Peter said. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him (Acts 2:24). Peter said to Cornelius. But God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen (Acts 10:40). Paul wrote. But God raised him from the dead (Acts 13:30). In these contexts God could refer to the Father or to the entire Trinity. Summary All three members of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were involved in the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is individually ascribed to each one of them. Yet elsewhere the Scripture says that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is another line of evidence of the doctrine of the Trinity – the one God consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

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QUESTION 120 What Objections Have Been Made To The Resurrection? If Jesus did not come back from the dead, as the New Testament plainly says He did, then some alternative explanation must be offered to explain what happened. The problem is that other explanations take as much faith to believe as the New Testament’s account. These alternative theories leave more questions unanswered than they explain. How To Falsify The Resurrection Of Jesus First, we want to make it clear that it is theoretically possible to falsify the resurrection account. It can be done in one of two ways. Either some has to: (1) produce the body; or (2) have a reasonable theory that explains all the evidence. Since the body has not been produced, we will examine the major theories that attempt to explain away the New Testament account. These include the following.

1.

THE REAL STORY WAS SUPPRESSED .

2.

THE STORY ABOUT J ESUS B ECAME EMBELLISHED.

3.

THE B ODY WAS STOLEN.

4.

J ESUS DID NOT ACTUALLY DIE ON THE CROSS.

5.

THE WOMEN WENT TO THE WRONG TOMB ON EASTER SUNDAY.

6.

THE GARDENER REMOVED THE B ODY (THE LETTUCE THEORY).

7.

THERE WAS A TWIN B ROTHER OF J ESUS .

8.

THE DISCIPLES M ERELY HAD HALLUCINATIONS ABOUT SEEING THE RISEN J ESUS .

9.

J ESUS ACTUALLY APPEARED; B UT ONLY IN A VISION.

10. J ESUS APPEARED TO B ELIEVERS ONLY – THOSE EXPECTING A RESURRECTION. 11. THE REPORTS ABOUT HIS RESURRECTION ARE HOPELESSLY CONTRADICTORY. 12. IT DOESN’T M ATTER WHAT HAPPENED. We will now take a look at each of these objections and evaluate them in light of all the evidence.

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OBJECTION 1.

THE REAL STORY WAS SUPPRESSED

There are many people who question the accuracy of the New Testament account of the resurrection. They contend that the true story was never told because those later in power had suppressed the facts. Any evidence to the contrary would have been burned or destroyed. Response The answer to this view is simple - there were unbelievers who gave alternative theorie s to the resurrection, their writings were not suppressed. We have writings from unbelievers who all argue that the body was stolen - they all admit the body was gone the third day. There was no attempt to suppress their ideas. There Was No Better Explanation However, they had no better explanation than Jesus’ disciples stole His body. The Christians certainly did not suppress this popular theory by the unbelievers. To the contrary, Matthew records this theory in his gospel. OBJECTION 2.

THE STORY B ECAME EMBELLISHED

One of the most popular explanations has been to say the stories about Jesus have been embellished. From a simple teacher Jesus’ disciples turned Him into the resurrected Son of God. There Was Not Enough Time The problem with this theory is that there is not enough time for this to happen. Paul’s earliest letter, First Thessalonians, refutes that. The fact that Christ was killed is stated in First Thessalonians. Who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men (1 Thessalonians 2:15). Paul also wrote to the Thessalonians about Jesus’ resurrection. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him (1 Thessalonians 4:14). This was written about A.D. 51, less than twenty years after the resurrection. Moreover legends do not produce Pentecost, the changed lives of the disciples, or the conversion of Saul. A legend would not produce an empty tomb. OBJECTION 3.

THE STOLEN B ODY THEORY

Many argue the body of Jesus was removed from the tomb before Easter Sunday morning. Since the evidence proves the tomb was empty the question is, “What caused it to be empty?” The empty tomb means two possibilities: the body of Jesus was removed by either: (1) human hands or (2) supernatural power.

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Did Human Hands Take The Body Of Jesus? If human hands removed the body of Jesus, then we have four basic possibilities as to who did it. The suspects include the following. 1. 2. 3. 4.

The Jews The Romans Joseph of Arimathea Jesus’ disciples.

Two questions immediately arise about the stolen body theory. First, concerning His enemies and Joseph of Arimathea, “Would they have stolen the body?” Next, His disciple s, “Could they have stolen the body?” POSSIBILITY 1.

DID THE J EWS STEAL THE B ODY OF J ESUS ?

The Jews could have had the body of Jesus removed from the tomb, yet they had no motivation for such an act. Some have argued they may have removed the body to keep the site from becoming a place of pilgrimage for Jesus’ disciples. Yet this would have caused the sort of problem they were trying to avoid rumors that Jesus had risen. The Jews are the ones who asked for the guard because they were afraid His disciples would come and steal the body. If they had taken the body, then certainly they would have produced it fifty days later when Peter, in the same city of Jerusalem, proclaimed that Jesus had risen. POSSIBILITY 2.

COULD THE ROMANS HAVE TAKEN J ESUS ’ B ODY?

A second possible group, that could have removed Jesus’ body, was the Romans. Since they were in charge of keeping law and order, it is possible that they could have taken the body from the tomb. The problem with them is also lack of motivation. Why would they do such a thing? They wanted to keep the peace. Stealing the body of an executed religious leader would only add to the rumors about Him. It would stir up greater conflict. Consequently, there is no motivation for them to steal the body. Furthermore, when the Christian faith began to grow, they could have easily stopped it by producing the body. But they did not do this. POSSIBILITY 3.

DID J OSEPH OF ARIMATHEA ROB HIS OWN TOMB ?

He obviously had access to Christ’s body since He is the one who requested it from Pilate. It is argued that he may have had second thoughts about placing the body of Jesus in his family tomb. Thus he could have removed Jesus’ body after the initial burial and placed it elsewhere - possibly in an unmarked grave. Again, we have no motivation for him to do such a thing - especially since he and Nicodemus took the time and expense to prepare Jesus for burial. If he removed the body, then why didn’t he tell anyone? Furthermore, it was not the empty tomb that caused the other disciples to believe in Jesus - it was seeing the risen Christ.

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POSSIBILITY 4.

DID THE DISCIPLES OF J ESUS STEAL THE B ODY?

The oldest alternative explanation to the resurrection is that the body of Jesus was stolen by His disciples while the guard was sleeping. Matthew tells us this was the story the bribed Roman guard was to tell, even though they knew it was false: Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, his disciples came at night and stole him away while we slept. And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.’ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day (Matthew 28:11-15). The idea that the disciples stole the body is inadequate for the following reasons. 1.

How Could They Get Past The Guards?

To begin with, the disciples would have had to get by the guards at the tomb. This theory has the guard members conveniently asleep. The disciples would have had to move the large stone away from the tomb without waking any of them. While this is not impossible, it certainly is inconsistent with the facts as we know them. 2.

Why Leave Behind Jesus’ Grave Clothes?

If the Roman guard was asleep you need to move fast. The position of the grave clothes shows the impossibility of the theft of the body. Why take the time to remove the grave clothes and leave them behind? It would have been much easier to remove the body, grave clothes and all, especially if time were a factor. The explanation that the Roman guard was asleep does not help solve this problem. 3.

How Could The Guard Testify?

Furthermore, the guard story doesn’t stand up to cross-examination. What does anyone know when they are asleep? If the guard were sleeping, how did they know the disciples stole the body? How can you determine anything that’s going on while you are asleep? Couldn’t Jesus, just as easily, have risen from the dead while they were asleep without the guards knowing it? 4.

The Disciples Would Have Been Liars

The stolen body theory would make the disciples deliberate liars. These are the same disciples who gave us the New Testament - the same New Testament where they reported Jesus was sinless. They testified He never lied - rather He always told the truth. Yet this theory wants people to belie ve that His disciples, while spreading the message of the truth-telling Jesus, lied and continued to lie about the most important event in His life! On the one hand, they proclaimed to the world the story of the most perfect man who ever lived, on the other hand, according to the stolen body theory, they pulled off this gigantic deception. Even if they could have gotten past the Roman guard to get to the body, they would have had to live with that lie for the rest of their lives, proclaiming it, suffering for it, and dying for it. They would have been preaching the resurrection in direct contradiction to their own knowledge of the truth.

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They Had No Motivation For Stealing The Body

Assuming the disciples could have stolen the body, another set of questions arise, “What motivated them to do it?” By proclaiming Christ had risen, they subjected themselves to beatings and jail. They eventually died for their testimony. If they had stolen the body, they would have been liars as well as thieves. They would not only have lied for the cause, they would have died for their lie. What advantage would there have been for doing this? There was nothing to be gained for lying about Jesus.’ Their Lord’s body received a proper burial. They had nothing to gain and everything to lose by stealing His body. Thus we can find no motivation for the disciples stealing the body. Their leader was buried with loving hands in a tomb of a rich man. Since they were not expecting Him to rise from the dead, this would have been the best end to Jesus’ life - all things considered. 6.

There Was No Time To Plan The Theft

There is also the problem of time. Jesus was betrayed on Thursday night, and brought to trial early Friday morning. His crucifixion took place from approximately 9:00 to 3:00 on Friday. At sundown on Friday the Sabbath began and the disciples, as observant Jews, would rest. The end of the Sabbath was on Saturday night. The first visit to the tomb realistically would have been on Sunday morning. By then Jesus had risen. There was simply no time to steal the body. 7.

The Mental State Of The Disciples Has To Be Considered

The mental state of the disciples also needs to be considered. They were now leaderless for the first time in three years. All the disciples left Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane. Later Peter denied Jesus and John was looking after Jesus’ mother. Being afraid and leaderless, did they suddenly become brave? After the surprise betrayal and crucifixion, is it really possible to think they concocted a pla n late Friday afternoon to have the body removed by Sunday morning? 8.

The Transformed Lives Of The Disciples Has To Be Explained

The mere removal of Jesus’ body from the tomb could not have transformed their sadness into gladness. In less than thirty-six hours, they went from the depths of despair to the heights of joy. They had lost hope when Christ died, but they immediately went from hopelessness to certainty, from cowards to eventual martyrs. Something gave them the power to sustain their preaching during persecution and martyrdom. A stolen body would not have changed their lives in this manner. 9.

Liars Are Usually Caught

There is another important point - liars are usually caught in their lies. This is especially true when a number of different people are lying. Cover-ups have a way of becoming public, yet none of the disciples ever denied the resurrection. If Jesus had not risen, one would have expected the eventual confession of at least some of them. But they all went to their deaths proclaiming Christ had risen. Why? 10. Why Weren’t The Disciples Prosecuted? According to Roman law, the body of a condemned criminal belonged to the state. That is why Joseph of Arimathea had to ask for Jesus’ body. To steal a body was a serious offense and it is odd that neither the Romans, nor the Jews, did anything to substantiate the charges if the body had been stolen. The disciples were never prosecuted for this alleged crime. Why?

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11. Jesus Would Have Also Been A Liar If Jesus did not rise, that would make Him a liar because He predicted His resurrection. However, lying is totally contrary to everything we know about His character. There is no evidence whatsoever that Jesus lied about anything. 12. Why Was There No Veneration Of His Burial Place? The Jews venerated the graves of their religious leaders. If Christ were not buried in Joseph’s tomb, then He must have been buried elsewhere, yet there is no trace of any burial place in Jerusalem for the body of Jesus. No tradition exists anywhere that Jesus remained buried. 13. Why Did They Die For Jesus? Finally, there is the ultimate question, “Why did they die for Jesus?” If they had stolen the body, they would have died for a lie knowing it was a lie. The disciples who would have “died for a lie ” included Peter (crucified); Andrew (crucified); James, son of Alphaeus (crucified); Philip (crucified); Simon (crucified); Thaddaeus (killed with arrows); Thomas (died by a spear thrust); Bartholomew (crucified); and James, the son of Zebedee (killed with the sword). Jesus’ disciples were transformed from cowards to martyrs. Why? It is one thing to lie; it is quite another thing to die for a lie if you know that it is a lie. The disciples sealed their testimony in their own blood. To save their own life they would only have had to confess to lying, yet they never recanted their testimony. Furthermore, they died separately. It is one thing to die as a member of a group - strength could be gained from each other as you are awaiting death. However, each of the disciples died separately, apart from one another, apart from any type of moral support. Again, we ask the question, “Why?” These different factors make the popular stolen body theory hopelessly inadequate. The disciples were no longer capable of raiding the tomb and the other possible culprits had no motivation for stealing Jesus’ body. OBJECTION 4.

J ESUS DID NOT DIE ON THE CROSS

A favorite objection is that Jesus did not die on the cross, but rather He fainted from exhaustion. When He appeared to His disciples, it was not as the resurrected Lord but rather as one who had been resuscitated. Therefore, what we have is resuscitation, not a resurrection. Like the other objections to the resurrection, there are many problems with this theory. 1.

The Romans Did Their Job Well

Crucifixion was common in Jesus’ time and the Roman soldiers had become experts at it. They had reduced it to a science with a set of rules to be followed. There is no possible way Jesus could have survived the crucifixion, scourging, and lance thrust. Since the governor had personally condemned Jesus to death, it is highly unlikely the soldiers would make a mistake and not finish the job. Furthermore, we have Pilate cross-examining the centurion to make certain that Jesus had died.

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And when evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether he was already dead. And ascertaining this from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph (Mark 15:42-45). 2.

The Breaking Of Jesus’ Legs Was Not Necessary

Crucifixion was a slow, painful way to die, with the person usually dying of asphyxiation. The victim had to push his body up in order to breathe. Therefore, breaking of the legs would hasten the death of victim. The legs of the two criminals that were crucified next to Jesus were broken because the Passover was drawing near. Passover began at sunset, and according to Jewish law, bodies could not be left on the cross on that Holy Day. Jesus’ legs were not broken because He was obviously dead. In addition, Pilate would not have given permission for Joseph to take Jesus’ body for burial if He were not already dead. 3.

Blood And Water Came Out From His Side

John reported that, at Jesus’ death, blood and water came out from His side when it was pierced with a spear. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water (John 19:34). The purpose of the spear thrust was to ensure that Jesus was dead. The blood and water coming out is an outward sign that someone has died. This is eyewitness detail - which shows that death did indeed occur. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe (John 19:35). 4.

How Did Jesus Get Out Of The Tomb?

Another question that needs to be addressed is, “How did Jesus get out of the tomb in the first place?” He had been wrapped in grave clothes and the spices would have hardened around Him in a few hours. This would make His escape difficult, if not impossible - assuming He was still alive. There was also a large stone rolled in front of the tomb that is virtually impossible to move from the inside. In addition, the guards had to have been conveniently asleep for Jesus to get by them. 5.

Jesus Would Have Been Perpetrating A Deliberate Hoax

If this theory is correct, then Jesus would have been guilty of perpetrating a deliberate hoax by passing Himself off as one who had risen from the dead. He did not tell His disciples that He narrowly escaped death, He told them He had risen. This would make Jesus a liar - contrary to everything we know about Him and His character. 6.

Would This Convince The Disciples?

If Jesus had survived His crucifixion, He would have been in an extremely weak condition. He had been up all night, had been beaten with thirty-nine lashes, and placed on a cross for six hours. In addition, a spear was thrust in His side. It is not reasonable to believe that a man who had experienced such agony,

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and needing immediate medical treatment, could have given His disciples the impression that He had just conquered death. 7.

When Did He Die?

If it were a mere resuscitation we are faced with the question of when did He die? Where, if anywhere, was He buried? Why wasn’t His other tomb venerated? The evidence is clear - Jesus died on Calvary’s cross. Therefore, any theory that attempts to explain away the resurrection must take this fact into account. OBJECTION 5.

THE WOMEN WENT TO THE WRONG TOMB

Kirsopp Lake, the great textual scholar, came up with this ridiculous theory. Simply stated: the women were not sure where Jesus was buried and hence they went in the semi-darkness to an empty tomb, thinking it was the tomb where Jesus was actually buried. When they found the tomb empty they assumed He had risen. Supposedly, the young man they saw on that dark morning, confirmed they were at the wrong tomb. Mark 16:6 says, “Do not be alarmed, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.” Professor Lake omits the words “he has risen” from the text. Therefore the young man is saying to the women, “He is not here, He is over there. Come see where they have placed Him.” Let’s consider the problems with this theory. 1.

The Body Would Still Have Been In The Tomb

There are so many problems with this theory - not the least of which is that the body would still have been in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb. When Peter preached the resurrection on the Day of Pentecost, it would have been a simple thing to go to the correct tomb and produce the body. 2.

It Was Too Dark For The Gardener

In addition, if it were too dark for the women to find the right tomb, it would have been too dark for a gardener or caretaker to be working. 3.

There Is No Reason To Omit The Words

Furthermore, to argue for this theory, you have to omit from the text the words, “He has risen.” There is no justification for this omission for every manuscript has these crucial words. 4.

Everyone Would Have Gone To The Wrong Tomb

If this theory is correct, then everyone went to the wrong tomb to see if the body of Jesus was still there. This includes all the different groups of people who visited the tomb on Easter Sunday as well as the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb, the Jews who asked for the guard, and Joseph of Arimathea.

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The Empty Tomb Did Not Cause Belief

Finally, it was not the empty tomb that convinced the disciples that Jesus had risen, it was the fact they saw Him after His death. No one really takes this theory seriously. OBJECTION 6.

THE GARDENER REMOVED THE B ODY (THE LETTUCE THEORY)

The “lettuce theory” was one of the earliest explanations of the empty tomb by non-believers. It is similar to the wrong tomb theory. Supposedly the gardener at the tomb where Jesus was buried was upset with all the curiosity seekers who were trampling over his newly planted lettuce seeds. This caused him to remove the body from the tomb and bury it elsewhere. When visitors came to the now empty tomb they assumed that Jesus had risen from the dead. The lettuce theory has many of the same problems as other theories. 1.

How Did He Get Past The Guards?

Even if such a lettuce garden existed, and this gardener wanted the people to stop trampling on his seeds, he still would have to get by the guard, remove the seal and the stone, steal the body, nicely wrap the grave clothes and leave them at the tomb and then rebury the body elsewhere. It is not very realistic to assume that he could have, or would have, done all of this. 2.

Why Didn’t He Come Forward?

If the gardener had removed the body to keep visitors from ruining his lettuce seeds, then why didn’t he tell anyone? Why did he let the story about Jesus resurrection be told and retold in the same cityJerusalem. Why didn’t he tell the authorities? He had nothing to gain by remaining silent. 3.

The Empty Tomb Did Not Cause Belief

We again emphasize it was not the empty tomb that caused the disciples to believe in the resurrection it was seeing the risen Christ. Merely removing the body does not explain the appearances of Jesus, His ascension, the disciples later miracles, and the conversion of Saul to Paul. OBJECTION 7.

THE TWIN B ROTHER THEORY (AN IMPOSTER APPEARED)

This theory states that the disciples actually did see someone after Jesus’ death on the cross who looked exactly like Jesus – His identical twin brother. Like magicians who often have twins for assistants Jesus had a twin brother that no one knew about. After Jesus’ death on the cross, the twin brother appeared causing people to believe that Jesus had risen. The following things may be said in response to the twin brother theory. 1.

There Is No Twin Brother Known

There is no evidence whatsoever that Jesus had a twin brother. The birth accounts in Matthew and Luke make it clear that only one child was born to Joseph and Mary – not identical twins. No record exists anywhere of Jesus having a twin brother.

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Jesus His Step Brothers Would Have Known About The Imposter

Scripture says that at first Jesus own brothers “did not believe in Him” (John 7:5). However after His resurrection they became believers. Certainly something caused them to believe. It would not be the appearance of one of their twin brothers (had the twins even existed). They certainly would have known the difference. 3.

How Was He Able To Appear And Reappear?

How would any imposter be able to appear and reappear at will? The risen Christ appeared to His disciples in the Upper Room through locked doors. He also disappeared in front of the eyes of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. How could anyone do such a thing? 4.

How Did He Have The Marks Of Crucifixion?

We are told that when Jesus appeared to doubting Thomas He offered to show Thomas the nail prints in His hand and the scar of the spear thrust into His side. How was an imposter able to match these wounds? 5.

There Were Other Miracles Connected With Jesus’ Death

The Bible says that a number of miracles were connected with Jesus death. How was the veil of the Temple torn in half upon the death of Jesus? Who let certain people out of the graves and gave them the ability to appear to people in Jerusalem. These miracles connected with the death of Jesus have to be explained. 6.

Who Ascended Into Heaven?

Are we to assume the twin brother ascended into heaven in front of all the disciples? How was he able to arrange that? 7.

Where Would He Go?

The imposter would have to keep out of sight after the ascension, since the Scripture is adamant that Jesus never appeared to His disciples again. Where did He hide? 8.

How Was Saul Converted?

Are we to assume that some imposter arranged for Saul of Tarsus to be struck down by a blinding light and then convince him it was Jesus of Nazareth? 9.

Who Gave Disciples Power To Work Miracles?

How were the disciples, and later the Apostle Paul, able to work miracles? They attributed the power to Jesus. How could He give them any power if He were dead? OBJECTION 8.

THE DISCIPLES EXPERIENCED HALLUCINATIONS

Another objection to the resurrection is the contention that His disciples experienced hallucinations. This does not make them liars, as much as fools. The disciples only thought they saw Jesus, for He had not really risen. Hallucinations often occur when someone wishes for something so much. This theory holds the disciples saw exactly what they wanted to see.

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We respond to this as follows. 1.

The Body Would Have Still Been In The Tomb

The hallucination theory does not explain how the tomb became empty, or why the authorities failed to produce a body. The enemies of Jesus could have permanently silenced His disciples by producing the body of Jesus. Since they did not produce a body, it leaves open the question what happened to Jesus. The authorities could have produced the body, ending any testimony that Jesus had risen. The hallucination theory does not explain the missing body. 2.

Hallucinations Are Not Collective

Furthermore, hallucinations are not collective; individuals experience them. Five hundred people at one time do not have the same hallucination! 3.

Hallucinations Do Not Just Come And Go

Hallucinations tend to increase in intensity and occur on a regular basis over a long period. They become worse not better. According to Scripture, it was after forty days that the appearances of Jesus stopped and He did not appear again. This is inconsistent with the nature of hallucinations. 4.

Who Gave Them Power To Work Miracles?

If the disciples were only hallucinating about seeing the risen Christ, then how were they able to perform miracles? Who gave the disciples the power to heal the sick and raise the dead? 5.

Who Appeared To Paul?

Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul, was converted as an unbeliever. Are we to assume that he had the same hallucination? 6.

The Disciples Did Not Expect Jesus To Rise

According to the New Testament, the disciples did not expect Jesus to rise because they had not expected Him to die. When Jesus appeared to them it was unexpected, they were not ready for it. The disciples did not convince themselves that Jesus was alive; it was Jesus Himself who convinced them. This was the exact opposite of what they were expecting. He Was Not Who They Originally Thought For example, Mary Magdalene did not see a gardener near the empty tomb and think it was Jesus, she saw Jesus and thought it was a gardener. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus did not talk with a stranger and then assume they were conversing with Jesus. The talked with Jesus and thought they were conversing with a stranger. Finally, in the upper room, the disciples of Jesus did not see a ghost and believe it was Jesus, they saw Jesus and thought they had seen a ghost. 7.

Only Certain Types Of People Suffer Hallucinations

Usually it is highly imaginative people who suffer hallucinations. The appearances of Jesus were to a diverse group of people of different psychological makeup. This included: fishermen, a tax collector, and a Rabbi.

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Jesus Jesus Appeared At Different Times And Places

The appearances of Christ occurred at different times and places: early in the morning, late afternoon, in the evening, at the garden tomb, in a crowded room, at the Sea of Galilee, on top of a mountain, and on the Emmaus road. This is not consistent with hallucinations. Again, we have a theory that just does not fit all the facts. Jesus’ disciples saw more than mere hallucinations. OBJECTION 9.

ONLY J ESUS ’ SPIRIT APPEARED

This theory denies the bodily resurrection of Christ but does say that Jesus did appear after His death. However He did not appear in a body. Rather Jesus’ spirit appeared and told them of life in the next world. Consequently the disciples did not lie when they said Jesus appeared to them – He appeared to them as a spirit or a temporary materialization. Response Jesus Himself denied that He was some sort of spirit without a body. Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have (Luke 24:39). This theory does hold to the miraculous appearing of Jesus, that of materializing to His disciples. However nothing is gained by substituting this miracle for another. The big problem with this view is that it has Jesus deceiving His disciples. He gave them the impression that He appeared bodily after His death. There is also the additional issue of the empty tomb. If it were merely a vision of Jesus, even if divinely inspired, the body would still be in the tomb. OBJECTION 10.

J ESUS ONLY APPEARED TO B ELIEVERS

One of the objections is that Jesus appeared only to believers - people who already had a desire to believe the marvelous stories about Him. Again, the facts say otherwise. 1.

The Disciples Were The First Unbelievers

We are told that the first unbelievers of the resurrection story were none other than the disciples themselves. And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Luke 24:11). 2.

Doubting Thomas Was An Unbeliever

Thomas did not believe - even when the other disciples told him they had seen the risen Christ. The other disciples therefore were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I shall see in his hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).

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Others Disciples Also Doubted

We are even told that when Jesus met His disciples in Galilee, there were some who doubted. And when they saw him, they worshiped him; but some were doubtful (Matthew 28:17). 4.

Paul Was A Non-believer

Paul was not a believer when the resurrected Christ appeared to Him. He had to be convinced from his position of unbelief. OBJECTION 11.

THE REPORTS ARE CONTRADICTORY

Often it is charged that the accounts of the resurrection, as contained in the four gospels, are so contradictory that they cannot be reconciled. However, a reasonable reconciliation of the resurrection accounts is as follows: 1. After the resurrection, but before dawn on Easter Sunday, an earthquake occurred, an angel rolled away the stone from the entrance to the tomb and then sat upon it (Matthew 28:2-4). 2. As Sunday morning was beginning to dawn, three women approached the tomb (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and Salome). Their intent was to anoint the body of Jesus with perfumed oil. The oil was to be brought by a second group of women who set out later to the tomb (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-4; John 20:1). They were amazed to find the stone rolled away when they arrived. 3. At least one of the women entered into the tomb and announced that the body of Jesus was not there. This is an inference from John 20:2. 4. Mary Magdalene immediately returned to inform Peter and John that someone had removed Jesus’ body (John 20:2). 5. Mary, the mother of James and Joses, along with Salome saw an angel inside the tomb. The angel had the appearance of a young man. The angel announced that Jesus was risen and that they should go tell Jesus’ disciples that He would meet them in the Galilee (Matthew 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7). 6. These two women returned to the city without greeting anyone along the way. They were left speechless by the events which transpired (Matthew 28:8; Mark 16:8). 7. Another group of women from the Galilee, along with Joanna (see Luke 8:3), arrived at the tomb carrying perfumed oil to anoint the body of Jesus. They met the angel, along with another angel (Luke 24:4,23). They then returned to report the angel’s message of the resurrection to the eleven as well as to other disciples that had gathered together (Matthew 26:56; Luke 24:1-9; 22:23). 8. Having been informed by Mary Magdalene that the body was gone, Peter and John (and possibly others Luke 24:24) ran to the tomb without encountering Mary and Salome. They saw the grave clothes and then went back home (John 20:3-10; Luke 24:12). The grave clothes caused John to believe that something had happened. 9. Mary Magdalene followed Peter and John to the tomb. She saw two angels inside, and then met Jesus after supposing Him to be the gardener (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-17).

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10. Mary Magdalene then returned to inform the disciples that Jesus had risen (Mark 16:10,11; John 20:18). 11. Mary, the mother of James and Joses, along with Salome meet Jesus on their way back from the tomb. Jesus commands them to tell His disciples that He will meet them in Galilee. 12. The disciples, who had reports of the empty tomb and resurrection from three sources - Mary Magdalene, Joanna and the women from Galilee, and Mary and Salome, still refused to believe these witnesses (Mark 16:11; Luke 24:11). 13. During that same afternoon, Jesus appeared to two disciples on the way to Emmaus. They returned to Jerusalem to report the appearance to the eleven and the other disciples (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:1335). 14. Jesus appeared to Peter sometime before these two disciples returned to speak to the Eleven. 15. That evening Jesus appeared to ten disciples - Judas was dead and Thomas was absent (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:33; 36-43; John 20:19-23; 1 Corinthians 15:5). 16. Eight days later, Jesus appeared to the eleven with Thomas being present (John 20:26-29). 17. Sometime later, seven disciples encountered Jesus on the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-22). 18. Still later, the eleven met Jesus on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18). 19. Jesus appeared to more than five hundred people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6). 20. Jesus appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:7). 21. Before His ascension, He appeared to the eleven near Bethany (Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:6-11; 1 Corinthians 15:7). 22. Finally, Jesus appeared to the Apostle Paul on the Damascus road (Acts 9, 22, 26). This is a reasonable scenario of the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. The fact that we are not exactly certain of their order only goes to prove there was no collusion between the various authors. If the story would have been made up, the different writers would have made certain that there stories matched detail for detail. However, when four different people tell any story, they will all give the same basic account, but there will always be slight differences in the details. The differences only point to the independence of each author. OBJECTION 12.

WE WILL NEVER KNOW AND IT DOES NOT M ATTER

Finally, there is the argument that we will never know what happened to the body of Jesus. It is a mystery that does not have an explanation. Furthermore, it does not really matter what happened. This argument ignores the facts. It does matter what happened and we can know, if we are willing to look at the evidence.

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Summary In the last two thousand years many theories have been presented that attempt to give an alternative explanation to the one given in Scripture - Christ rose from the dead. Sometimes it is argued that the real story about what happened to Jesus was suppressed. There are those who argue that the accounts of Jesus and His miracles were embellished by His disciples. One of the most popular theories is that His body was stolen. Some have argued against a resurrection by saying that Jesus did not actually die on the cross. One theory has the women going to the wrong tomb on Easter Sunday morning. There is an ancient theory that says that the gardener removed Jesus’ body. It has been proposed that Jesus had a twin brother and it was he who appeared after Jesus’ death. Many believe the disciples had hallucinations when reporting seeing the risen Christ. Some believe Christ did appear – but only in a vision. Others argue that Jesus appeared to believers only – those who were expecting a resurrection. The reports of the resurrections are thought by some to be hopelessly contradictory. Finally, many believe that it does not really matter what happened. However none of these objections are adequate, for they do not fully explain all the different lines of evidence. The theory that best fits all the facts is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead three days after His death and that He is Lord of all!

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QUESTION 121 Was Jesus Raised Bodily From The Dead? There are some who believe that Jesus did not have a resurrected body, but was only a spirit. However, the Scripture is very clear on the issue - the resurrection of Jesus was in bodily form. Early in His ministry, Jesus predicted that He would come back from the dead in a body. He said. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. Therefore, when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them (John 2:19-22). The Scripture is clear that it was the body of Jesus that was to be resurrected. Jesus refuted the idea that He was some disembodied spirit when He appeared to His disciples after His death. THE SIMILARITIES B ETWEEN THE EARTHLY AND RESURRECTED B ODY OF J ESUS There were a number of similarities between Christ’s earthly body and His resurrected body. They include the following. 1.

People Recognized Him After His Resurrection

Jesus was recognizable after His resurrection. And when he had said this, he showed them both his hands and his side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord (John 20:20). It was the same Jesus who had been crucified on the cross. 2.

Jesus Talked With People After He Was Raised From The Dead

Jesus talked to people after His resurrection. Now as they said these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you.’ But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:36-38). 3.

Jesus Invited People To Touch Him

The disciples were frightened with Jesus’ appearance, since they assumed they had seen a spirit. Therefore He invited them to touch His body to see if it were real. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet (Luke 24:39,40). This proves that Jesus had a genuine body – He was not some disembodied spirit.

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Jesus Showed His Scars To The Disciples

When Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room Thomas was not among them. Thomas told the other disciples that He would not believe in the resurrection until he could see Jesus with his own eyes and touch His wounds. The Gospel of John records what happened after that. After eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see my hands; and reach here your hand and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:26-28). On this occasion Thomas was challenged by Jesus to see if He were indeed real. The doubter immediately realized that Jesus had come back from the dead in a resurrected body. 5.

Jesus Ate Food With His Resurrected Body

He had the capacity, though not the need, to eat. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, he said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ So they gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. And he took it and ate it in their presence (Luke 24:41-43). Simon Peter later told a group of Gentiles. And we are witnesses of all the things he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And they also put him to death by hanging him on a cross. “God raised him up on the third day, and granted that he should become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us, who ate and drank with h im after he arose from the dead (Acts 10:39-41). He ate food in their presence, showing that His resurrection was indeed bodily. 6.

He Was Able To Breathe Out

Scripture also records that Jesus breathed out. And when he had said this, he breathed out, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:23). Summary From the accounts in Scripture we can see that Jesus’ resurrection was bodily. We discover this in two ways. First is Jesus own testimony. Jesus made it clear that He was not a disembodied spirit. Second, the things that Jesus did. He did things only a person having a body can do. Jesus walked, He showed His disciples the prints of the crucifixion on His body, He breathed and ate. Consequently both His words and His deeds testify to the fact that His resurrection was bodily.

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QUESTION 122 What Were The Differences Between Jesus’ Body Before And After His Resurrection? While it was the same Jesus who was placed in the tomb on Good Friday, and rose on Easter Sunday, His resurrection body was also different in some respects. This can be seen in a number of ways. 1.

He Could Enter Closed Rooms

He could enter closed rooms without opening the doors. We read in John’s gospel. When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). 2.

He Was Able To Disappear

He was also able to disappear. Jesus disappeared from the sight of two people with whom He had been walking with on the road to Emmaus. And it came about that when he had reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, he began giving it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight (Luke 24:30-31). 3.

He Never Needed Rest

As far as we are able to tell, Jesus’ resurrected body did not need any rest or food. Every account of Jesus after His resurrection has Him busy with ministry. Luke wrote. To these he also presented himself alive, after his suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). 4.

He Ascended Into Heaven

Jesus’ resurrected body was able to ascend into heaven. And after he had said these things, he was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while he was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). 5.

The Description Of The Glorified Christ

The most detailed description of the risen and ascended Christ is found in Revelation 1:12-16. Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe

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reaching to the feet, and girded across his chest with a golden sash. His head and his hair were white like white wool, like snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and his face was like the sun shining in its strength (Revelation 1:12-16). Here John records the vision of the glorified Christ. He was like the Son of Man, which links Him to His former earthly appearance, but He also radiated glory from His eyes, feet, voice, and face. This is the way believers will someday see Him. Summary The body Jesus possessed, though like His pre-resurrection body, was in some aspects different. He could suddenly appear and disappear. In the locked upper room, Jesus suddenly appeared in the midst of His disciples. His new body had abilities the previous one either did not have or did not demonstrate. He did not have to eat or rest. He also ascended into heaven when His earthly ministry was finished. Consequently there are similarities, as well as differences, between the body that Jesus had while upon the earth and the one in which He was raised.

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QUESTION 123 Haven’t People Apart From Jesus Come Back From The Dead? While the Bible speaks of the resurrection of Jesus it also speaks of a number of others that have come back from the dead. If these accounts are true, then what make the resurrection of Jesus unique? Resurrection Is Not The Same As Resuscitation The biblical idea of resurrection is the raising to a new body that will never die again. Paul wrote to the church at Rome. Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him (Romans 6:9). Paul also wrote that Jesus was raised in a spiritual body. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15:44). The body of Jesus was not an earthly body but rather a spiritual body. In addition, it could not die anymore. NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES OF RESUSCITATION In the New Testament there are a number of examples of resuscitations or reanimations. They include: the son of the widow at Nain, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, Tabitha (Dorcas) and Eutychus. 1.

The Only Son From Nain

Jesus raised the only son from a woman from Nain. Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe (Luke 7:14,15). 2.

Jairus’ Daughter

The daughter of a man named Jairus was raised from the dead. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished (Mark 5:41,42). 3.

Lazarus

Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead after he was four days in the grave.

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When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go (John 11:43,44). 4.

Tabitha (Dorcas)

Peter brought a woman named Dorcas back from the dead. But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive (Acts 9:40). 5.

Eutychus

Paul raised Eutychus from the dead. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don't be alarmed,” he said. “He's alive!” (Acts 20:9,10). Though there were people brought back to life, they all died again. This is not the same as what happened to Jesus. He was raised immortal in a new body - never to die again. Therefore we have the difference between resurrection and resuscitation. Summary The Bible lists a number of people who had actually died, and then come back to life. They include Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, the son of the widow of Nain, Tabitha and Eutyches. However there is a huge difference between the resurrection of Jesus and the different resuscitations or reanimations that are listed in the New Testament. All of the people who came back to life eventually died again. Jesus was raised from the dead in a glorified body never to die again. He is the first of many who will follow.

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QUESTION 124 What Is The Meaning Of The Resurrection? The resurrection of Jesus Christ means a number of things for our world. They include the following. 1.

It Validates Jesus’ Claims As The Son Of God

First, the resurrection demonstrates that Jesus is the One whom He claimed to be. Paul wrote to the Romans: And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). The deity of Christ is proven by the fact that Jesus has risen. 2.

It Demonstrates That He Is A Prophet

The resurrection validates Jesus’ claims to be a prophet since Jesus predicted His resurrection. From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life (Matthew 16:21). Jesus was able to predict His resurrection. 3.

The Resurrection Shows That He Is The Promised Messiah

Jesus’ claim to be the promised Messiah is proved by His resurrection. Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). Everything He claimed to be has been validated by the resurrection. 4.

It Demonstrates The Truth Of The Christian Faith

The resurrection also proves the truth of the Christian faith as opposed to every other belief system that claims to be true. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead settles the matter as to which of these beliefs is true. It is the Christian faith! Therefore, there is only one God who exists, and only one way to reach the one God, through Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates this to be true. 5.

It Acknowledges The Acceptance Of Christ’s Death For Sin

The fact that Jesus came back from the dead is an acknowledgement that His sacrifice for the sins of the world as accepted by God the Father. Paul wrote. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25). When Jesus came back from the dead it indicated that His death was satisfactory in God’s eyes.

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It Answers The Big Questions Of Life

Therefore, the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, gives humanity the answers to the three basic questions about life, “Who am I? Why am I alive? What will happen to me when I die?” The resurrection of Jesus solves our identity problem. Humans need no longer wonder who they are. We now realize that we are created in the image of God. This means we have the ability to think, love and communicate. We have the chance to know the one true God because He has given us these abilities. We now know that human beings are special. Along with identity comes a genuine purpose for living. Instead of living life without any real purpose, we can now know the reason we have been created - to love God and enjoy Him forever. Jesus Christ, and His resurrection from the dead, has provided the answer to what our purpose is here upon the earth. We not only know who we are, we know why we are here. Finally, the truth of the resurrection of Jesus provides us with an answer about our future destiny. We now know that this life is not all there is. We are beings made for eternity, and belief in Jesus allows us to spend eternity in the presence of God. Thus, the grave has no ultimate terror for us because we know there is a better existence beyond this life. Belief in Jesus gives us a destiny to which we can look forward. 7.

It Is The Guarantee Of Everlasting Life For The Believer

The resurrection of Jesus is the factual basis for everlasting life for those who believe in Him If a person believes in Jesus Christ, then one of the provisions is eternal life. Jesus said, Because I live, you will live also (John 14:19). This everlasting life is based upon His resurrection. Jesus said. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live (John 11:25). Paul wrote. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Christ’s resurrection is the first in a long line of resurrections of those who believe upon Him. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20). The resurrection body of Jesus serves as the prototype of the resurrection body of believers. Jesus is referred to as the firstborn, or the preeminent one, over those who have died. Paul wrote. He is also head of the body, the church; and he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that he himself might come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:18). In the Book of Revelation it says.

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Jesus Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5).

This means that He was the first to have an eternal resurrected body. Our resurrection bodies, like His, will be different from our earthly bodies. Paul says our resurrection bodies will be related to our former ones (1 Corinthians 15:35-41). In eternity we will be like Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him just as he is (1 John 3:2). 8.

It Is A Comfort For Those Who Have Died Or Face Death

The realization that Christ has risen provides comfort to the believer. After writing to the church at Thessalonica on the matter of the resurrection of Christ and the eventual resurrection of the believer, the Apostle Paul exhorted the church to “comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The knowledge, that this life is not all that there is, brings comfort to the believer. Because of this, we do not fear death in the same way as unbelievers do. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). 9.

There Is Genuine Hope For The Future

Because Christ has risen from the dead, and granted eternal life to those who put their trust in Him, there is hope for the future. One of the simplest prayers and earliest creeds of the church was the Aramaic word Maranatha “our Lord come” (1 Corinthians 16:22). The hope of the church is the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. It has been said that a human being can live eight minutes without air, three days without water, and about thirty days without food, but a person cannot live one second without hope. We all need to hope for something better than what this life offers. The resurrection of Christ provides the basis for that hope. 10. It Gives Believers A High Priest The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives the believer a High Priest who lives forever to make intercession for them with God the Father. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (Hebrews 7:25). Paul wrote. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

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John said. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1 John 2:1). The believer has continual access to Jesus the Great High Priest who pleads the case before God the Father for each believer. 11. It Provides A Satisfying Life Right Now Another benefit of the resurrection is that it provides the believer with the basis to live a satisfying life. Paul wrote that believers could now experience. What is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:19,20). Abundant life is available right now because Christ has risen. The power of the resurrected Christ is experienced in the life of the believer. Summary The resurrection of Christ is more than a historical event, for it does the following things. It validates Jesus’ claims as the Son of God. The resurrection also shows Jesus is a true prophet. In addition, it demonstrates that He is the Messiah. The resurrection also proves the truth of the Christian faith – no other religious leader has yet come back from the dead. Furthermore, it acknowledges the acceptance of God the Father of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. The resurrection gives humanity a purpose for living. It also provides the basis for eternal life. The resurrection of Christ gives the believer comfort. The resurrection also offers a genuine hope for the future. The fact that Christ has risen provides the believer with a continual High Priest who can answer their prayers. The knowledge of all these things results in a satisfying life right now for those who have trusted Him.

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QUESTION 125 How Did Jesus Leave The Earth? (The Ascension) One of the most significant events in the life of Christ was His ascension into heaven. The Bible teaches that forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven both visibly and bodily. 1.

The Testimony Of Luke

The only New Testament writer to record the ascension was Luke. He recorded the ascension in his gospel as we as in the Book of Acts. In the gospel of Luke we read. Now it came to pass, while he blessed them, that he was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen (Luke 24:51,52). 2.

The Testimony Of The Book Of Acts

In the first chapter of the Book of Acts Luke records the following about Jesus’ being “taken up.” The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen (Acts 1:1,2). The Bible testifies that Jesus ascended into heaven in full view of His disciples. Now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven’ (Acts 1:9-11). Scripture provides further testimony that Jesus ascended to His rightful place next to the Father. Stephen was the first believer put to death for his faith in Christ. As he was dying by stoning, he looked up into heaven and saw Jesus. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ (Acts 7:55,56). Stephen saw Jesus at the right hand, the place of authority, of God the Father. This testified that Jesus ascended and remained in heaven. 3.

Matthew

The gospel of Matthew does not specifically speak of the ascension of Christ. However the following statement of Jesus assumes the ascension would occur.

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Hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64) 4.

Mark

There is a question as to whether the last twelve verses of Mark were originally written by him. However, whether original or not, these verses reflect an ancient belief. In Mark 16:19 we find the same verb as in Acts 1:2. Here it is translated, “received up.” So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). 5.

John

John’s gospel spoke of Jesus’ ascension. Jesus said to her, ‘Stop clinging to me; for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers, and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God’ (John 20:17). Also, John has Christ predicting His ascension. What then if you should behold the Son of Man ascending where he was before? (John 6:62). 6.

1 Timothy

First Timothy 3:16 is an ancient Christian creed, or statement of belief. It assumes the ascension occurred. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory (1 Timothy 3:16). The verb, “received up” is the same verb as used in Acts 1:2 where it is translated, “taken up.” 7.

Ephesians

Paul speaks of Jesus’ ascension as something that had already occurred. He who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things (Ephesians 4:10). He also said. Which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:20). For Christ to be exalted in heaven it assumes an ascension-type event.

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Jesus Philippians

Paul wrote to the Philippians about the exaltation of Jesus. Therefore also God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9–11). This gives the explanation of what happened when Jesus ascended – God exalted Jesus above everyone else. 8.

1 Peter

The apostle Peter spoke of Christ’s ascension. He speaks of Jesus Christ in the following manner. Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to him (1 Peter 3:22). In addition, he used the same Greek word as in Acts 1:11 which is translated, “taken up.” 9.

Hebrews

The writer to the Hebrews understood the ascension as having literally occurred. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession (Hebrews 4:14). Therefore we have a number of New Testament writers that directly, or indirectly, testify to Jesus’ ascension. Summary The reality of Jesus’ ascension is testified by a number of New Testament writers. First, there is the historical narrative of Jesus ascending into heaven from the Mount of Olives. Luke records this in his gospel as well as the Book of Acts. In addition, the other two gospel writers allude to Jesus’ ascension. Add to this is the testimony of Stephen, Paul, Peter, and the writer to the Hebrews. Consequently there are a number of different New Testament references to the ascension of Jesus.

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QUESTION 126 What Is The Meaning Of The Ascension? The ascension of Christ is significant for a number of reasons. They include the following. 1.

It Was The End Of Jesus’ Earthly Ministry

First, the ascension meant the end of the earthly ministry of Christ. The last act He performed before taking His place in heaven was the ascension. It was the culmination of His first coming. The writer to the Hebrew notes. We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not humanity (Hebrews 8:1,2). 2.

It Was Jesus’ Return To His Former Residence And Glory

The ascension was also Jesus’ return to the place of His former residence. This is where He took hold of what was rightfully His. Jesus prayed to receive His former glory in His High Priestly prayer. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. (John 17:5). The ascension accomplished the answer to this prayer. Paul wrote. God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9–11). At the ascension the Father seated Him in the heavenly places. Paul wrote. [God] seated him [Jesus]at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him as head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:20–22). During His time on earth, Jesus had certain self-imposed limitations. For example, He limited Himself to being at only one particular place at a time. This is no longer the case. Once He ascended to the Father in heaven these limitations were no longer in force. He is now the risen Lord, awaiting the time He will return and claim what is rightfully His on the earth. 3.

Jesus’ Work Was Satisfactory: The Father Accepted The Son Back Into Heaven

All that Jesus had set out to do had been accomplished. The fact that Jesus ascended into heaven and remained there is also of great significance. God the Father received Jesus back into His presence. This gave evidence to the fact that Jesus’ earthly ministry was acceptable. The Scripture records that the work of Jesus had been finished, and finished in a way that satisfies God the Father. Therefore we can have assurance that our sins have been forgiven by what the Jesus has accomplished because God the Father has accepted Him into His presence.

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4. The First Of Resurrected Humanity Has Now Entered Into Heaven Jesus was the first human to enter heaven. He has done this with a glorified body. The writer to the Hebrews stated that He is our forerunner. Where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:20). The presence of Jesus Christ in heaven is the guarantee that each believer will be resurrected and taken to heaven. 5. Christ Began His New Ministry Of Intercession and Advocacy Once the mission on earth was accomplished Jesus ascended to take up a new mission – He is the Intercessor and Advocate for believers. The writer to the Hebrews stated. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (Hebrews 7:25). He continually pleads our case before the God the Father. John wrote. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). 6. It Allowed Christ To Send The Holy Spirit To Do His Work Jesus’ ascension allowed Him to send the Holy Spirit in His place. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you (John 16:7). The Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus was glorified. He now carries the ministry of Jesus all around the world. When Jesus was here on earth He was limited to one geographical place. This is no longer the case. Jesus promised that believers would do greater works than He. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12). The works are greater in scope because the Holy Spirit indwells each believer with the ability to do the work of Christ. 7.

It Allowed Spiritual Gifts To Be Given To Believers

With the ascension of Jesus He was able to send spiritual gifts to believers. Paul wrote. This is why God says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up Ephesians 4:8-12)

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These gifts allow believers to do the work of the ministry. 8. Jesus Is Now Preparing Our Heavenly Home In John’s gospel we read about Jesus’ preparations for our heavenly home. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:2–3). Jesus is in the process of preparing a place for believers. The Bible says that the real home for believers is in heaven. We are only pilgrims here upon the earth. Peter wrote. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul (1 Peter 2:11). 9.

It Anticipates His Return To Earth

The fact that Jesus ascended anticipates the time He will return. The angel said to the disciples who were watching Jesus ascend. This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). We know the exact spot and manner of His return because of the ascension. He will return visibly and boldly to the Mount of Olives. Consequently the ascension emphasizes one of the great truths of Scripture – Jesus Christ will come again. Summary Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. He did this in the presence of His disciples. This marked the end of His earthly ministry. He completed all that He had set out to accomplish. He took up His former residence at the right hand, or place of authority, next to God the Father. When he was being stoned to death, the martyr Stephen later saw Jesus next to the Father. The fact that Jesus remained next to the Father demonstrates that the Father received His sacrifice as sufficient.

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QUESTION 127 What Is Jesus’ Ministry Today? Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection from the dead. Now that He is back with the Father in heaven, what is His present ministry? The ministry of Jesus has three aspects. At His first coming He functioned as a prophet, one who represented God to the people. At His second coming Jesus will reign as King – the one who will rule everything. Presently He functions as a priest, one who is a people’s representative to God. 1.

Today He Has The Job Of The Great High Priest

The priest represented the people to God and makes communion possible between God and humanity. The writer to the Hebrews declared. How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it (Hebrews 9:14-16). The Bible speaks of Jesus as being our Great High Priest. As our high priest, He is representing those who believe to the Father. He is the Mediator, the go-between. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and humankind, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). The writer to the Hebrews noted. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:24). Jesus speaks to the Father on behalf of believers. 2.

The Need For A High Priest: God Is Unapproachable

The reason we need a high priest is because we cannot approach God on our own behalf. God’s perfect nature cannot be approached by sinful humanity. Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no human has seen or can see (1 Timothy 6:16). 3.

Jesus Pleads The Case Of Believers Before God The Father

When we sin we need someone to plead the case to the Father on our behalf. We cannot do it ourselves. This is what Jesus Christ does for us. My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).

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The Bible paints the picture of Christ in heaven pleading the case of the believers to the Father. When the Father forgives us of our sins it is because of the mediation of Christ. 4.

The Father Hears Our Prayers Only Because Of Jesus

There is another purpose for Him being with the Father and that is to relate our prayers. The reason God the Father hears our prayers is because of the Son. He alone is our access to the Father. Without Him our prayers would not be heard. As long as believers are in the world, Jesus will intercede on their behalf. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who will come to God through him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25). He is there as long as we need Him in that particular ministry. Summary The Scripture says that Christ is presently in heaven. He speaks to God on our behalf. Apart from Him we would have no spokesman. His interceding allows our prayers to be answered and our sins forgiven. His ministry will continue on our behalf as long as it is necessary. Whatever needs we might have are related to the Father by the high priestly ministry of Jesus. This is what He is presently doing on our behalf.

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QUESTION 128 How Is Jesus’ Priesthood Better Than That Of The Earthly Priests? Jesus Christ is the High Priest for believers - He is the one who represents the people before God the Father. The New Testament says that His High Priestly ministry was superior to that of the priests of Israel. As the Son of God, Jesus performed everything better than the earthly priests. Jesus’ priesthood is superior to that of the earthly priests in every way. 1.

They Had To Offer A Sacrifice For Their Own Sin

One problem with the earthly priests was that they were sinful. They had to bring sin-offerings for the people as well as sin-offerings for themselves. On the holiest day of the year, the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, the high priest had into the Holy of Holies twice. The first time he went to present a sin offering for himself. He had to do this before he could be a representative of the people. The second time he went in was to present a sin offering for the people. 2.

Jesus Christ Did Not Bring Any Sin Offering

In contrast to the earthly priests, Jesus Christ did not bring a sin offering. The Scriptures speak of Him in this manner. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever (Hebrews 7:26-28). Jesus stands sinless before the Father. Because He withstood all temptation, He can effectively intercede to God on our behalf in a vastly superior fashion to those earthly priests who were as sinful as those they represented. 3.

Jesus Sacrificed Himself

The High Priest would bring an animal sacrifice. The sacrifice Jesus made for sin was not that of an animal—He sacrificed Himself. The animals were brought to the altar as unwilling victims but Jesus went to the cross as a willing sacrifice. Jesus Himself said. Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from command I have received from my Father (John 10:17). 4.

There Are No More Sacrifices Necessary

Because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice the need for the offering of animals is now finished. Consequently there is no longer the need for the priests to offer sacrifices of this type. Jesus fulfilled this need by offering Himself once and for all. The earthly priests had to repeat the animal sacrifices time and time again, but Jesus’ one offering of Himself ended that need.

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Furthermore, the Levitical priests stood when they discharged their duties, but the writer to the Hebrews says that after Jesus offered His single sacrifice for our sins He “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus’ one sacrifice was complete, ending all need for further sacrifice. 5.

Jesus Is An Eternal Priest

Jesus’ priesthood is far superior to the earthly priests in the fact that they all grew old and died while He lives eternally. The Old Testament priests, who were all mortal men, had to die and transfer their priesthood to the next generation. Jesus, the Eternal Priest, does not have to do this for He is forevermore alive and a permanent priest. We read in Hebrews. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he ever lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25). 6.

Jesus Is A Merciful And Faithful Priest

Jesus is a merciful and faithful priest. The Bible says. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:17). 7.

Jesus Is A Sympathetic High Priest

Jesus is also a sympathetic priest. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). Summary Jesus’ priesthood is superior to the earthly priests in the following ways. His duties are performed in heaven. They take place in a spiritual building not in an earthly sanctuary. An eternal, sinless, priest – not a sinful human priest, performs the duties. This sinless priest offered Himself as a once and-for-all sacrifice for sin, ending the need of the Levitical, earthly priesthood. Jesus was superior to the human priesthood in every way.

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QUESTION 129 What Will Be The Ministry Of Jesus Christ In The Future? Jesus’ past ministry consisted of living a perfect life, dying for the sins of the world, and coming back from the dead. His present ministry is looking out for those who believe in Him. The Bible also has much to say about His future ministry. 1.

Jesus Will Return To Earth

Jesus Christ has promised to come to earth a second time. He said to His disciples. Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:1-3). 2.

He Will Raise The Dead

When Christ returns He will raise the dead. Jesus said. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned (John 5:28,29). 3.

Jesus Will Judge All Humanity

After the dead are raised Jesus will judge humanity. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left (Matthew 25:31-33). 4.

Jesus Will Rule Forever

He will rule forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This will fulfill the promise that the angel Gabriel made to Mary when he told her of the coming birth of Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and his kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32,33). Summary There is a future ministry for Jesus Christ. Christ has promised to come again to this earth. When He returns He will raise the dead, judge all humanity, and then rule forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What a glorious future that will be!

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QUESTION 130 What Objections Do People Have About Becoming A Christian? While the evidence is sufficient that the Christian faith is true there are a number of objections that people make to keep them from becoming a Christian. They include the following. Objection One:

I Don’t Need It—Christianity Is Just A Crutch

“Life is fine the way it is. I have no need of anything. I can stand on my own two feet. I don’t need Jesus Christ.” This is a common objection. However, we all need Jesus. God is not a luxury He is a necessity. You may feel fulfilled in your present lifestyle, but that satisfaction is, at best, only temporary. Jesus said. For what advantage is it to a person if they gain the whole world, and they are destroyed or lost? (Luke 9:25). You may have everything material and emotional in this life, yet you may lack the most important thing of all, knowing God personally through Jesus Christ. Maybe you do not have a lot of earthly possessions, but you still have peace of mind in your simple lifestyle. That’s fine. You still need Jesus Christ. If you feel Christianity is just a crutch, it must be said that all of us use one kind of crutch or another to get by. Admitting the need for Jesus is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of wisdom. Objection Two:

There Are Too Many Hypocrites

One common excuse that is used to reject the Christian faith concerns the number of hypocrites in the church. A hypocrite is an actor, a person who puts on a false face. He says one thing, yet he does something else. Examples of hypocrisy, both past and present, are readily pointed to, many of which involve people in the ministry. This supposedly invalidates the Christian faith. Yes, there are people today who go to church and are hypocrites. Their lives are inconsistent with what they say they believe. This, however, does not invalidate Christianity. It just demonstrates that some people who claim to be Christians are hypocrites. For every example of a hypocrite, a counter-example of someone living consistently with their Christian beliefs can be observed. Part of the problem is the failure to distinguish between hypocrisy and sin. All Christians are sinners but they are not all hypocrites. A person becomes a Christian by admitting they are a sinner and with God’s help they try to keep from sinning. Jesus had some very strong words for those who were practicing religious hypocrisy. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in (Matthew 23:13). Objection Three:

I’m Already Good Enough

Why should I become a Christian—I’m already good enough to go to heaven. I’ve never killed anyone; I’ve lived a decent life. If there is a heaven, I certainly deserve to go there. This view misses what the Bible says about a person’s relationship to God and how to get to heaven. The Bible clearly says,

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in many places, that good works are not credits toward heaven. Jesus’ disciples asked Him what kind of works would get them approval from God. Then they said to him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he sent” (John 6:28, 29). The work of God is to believe in Jesus. Paul wrote. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9). We hope that you’re not trusting in your good works to get to heaven. None of us, no matter how good, can make it on our own. Objection Four:

I’m Not Good Enough Yet

“I’m not good enough now to be a Christian—I still have some bad habits. But when I stop doing these things, then I’ll be good enough to be a Christian.” Unfortunately, a lot of people hold the view that being a Christian is the same as being a good person. They observe their lives and see some habits that are not consistent with what they think a Christian should be. They think that only when they change their lifestyle can they become a Christian. This, however, involves two misconceptions. First, a Christian is not a “good” person. A Christian is someone who is a sinner and who has admitted that fact, and has asked God for forgiveness. Second, no one can or ever will be good enough to be a Christian. Merely breaking a few bad habits does not make a person acceptable to God. God’s standard is one of perfection. The only way to approach God is through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Bible says. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). Objection Five:

I’ll Never Be Good Enough

Another excuse people use to keep from becoming a Christian is that they will never be good enough. They feel that their lives have been so ruined that God could never forgive them. Others believe that they do not have the ability to be a Christian, or live the Christian life. They mistakenly think God doesn’t want them. Fortunately, there is good news for both types of people. No matter how bad you have been, no matter how much you have ruined your life, there is still forgiveness available. Jesus Christ said the following. Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). He also said. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).

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What great news! You have not passed the point of no return. God can and will forgive you if you ask Him. There is also good news for those who do not feel they have the ability to live the Christian life. The Christian life is not a difficult life to live—it is an impossible life to live. You cannot do it. It must be lived through us by the power of the Holy Spirit, who indwells each believer. It is God working through us who makes it possible. Objection Six:

Maybe Someday I’ll Believe, But Not Now

Whatever the excuse may be, these people are not yet ready to become Christians. They say that they will believe someday. The problem is that tomorrow never comes. We all believe we will live a long life but which of us can say how long we will live? Jesus gave the following parable. And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God (Luke 12:16-21). We do not know when it will be our time to die. The Bible encourages us to trust Jesus Christ now and not to put it off. Do not wait until the eleventh hour to repent—you might die at ten-thirty! Objection Seven:

I Don’t Want My Life Changed

“My life is fine the way it is.” People like these realize that becoming a Christian would mean a changed life. Some people would rather continue in their sins. Jesus gave this warning. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, people loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19). People whose highest goal is to give themselves pleasure are called hedonists. Hedonists will sacrifice anything for their own selfish interests. However, rejecting Jesus Christ to wallow in sin is self-defeating. While securing pleasure for a season, these people are storing up an eternity of judgment and separation from God. Since accepting Jesus Christ is the ultimate satisfaction for any human being, hedonists owe it to themselves to consider Jesus’ offer of the free gift of salvation and the genuine joy of a fulfilling abundant life in Christ. Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to think about exchanging the transitory pleasures for an eternity of happiness? Objection Eight:

I Don’t Want To Believe

When it comes right down to it, many people reject Christ simply because they don’t want to believe. It is not that they cannot believe; they will not believe. One of the miracles Jesus performed was raising a man named Lazarus from the dead. The religious leaders, who knew of this fact, not only wanted to kill Jesus for this they wanted to kill Lazarus also. They wanted to destroy the evidence! Their unbelief certainly was not because of lack of evidence. A Christian friend of mine has a radio talk show in which he interviews a variety of guests. He told me that over the years, he has had occasion to interview dozens of atheists, and agnostics. He always asks

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them the question, “If I could prove to you, to your satisfaction, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that He did come back from the dead, would that make a difference in your attitude toward Him?” Almost everyone he has asked has said no, it would not make a difference. As with the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, these people do not have a problem of the mind, they have a problem of the will. No matter what the facts may be, they refuse to believe. Objection Nine:

I Don’t Want To Be Religious

Many people believe that becoming a Christian involves adapting a restrictive lifestyle. Since this is what their idea of a Christian is, they do not find Christianity appealing. Unfortunately some Christians give this impression. Jesus, however, said that He had come so that we might have life abundantly (John 10:10). Rather than being a dull, boring life, the Christian experience is one of adventure and fulfillment. It’s exciting being a Christian! We have the freedom to be the person that God has created us to be. While it is true that there are certain things that God command us not to do, these negative commandments are for our own good. Jesus said. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36). Objection Ten:

What Would My Friends Think?

“If I become a Christian, I would lose my job my wife would leave me, my friends would think I’m crazy.” This excuse is common, but it is not valid. We’re always afraid of how the other person is going to view what we are going to do. People might think we’ve gone off the deep end. We don’t want to risk that, so we remain in our secure position, even though we know it isn’t right. Any division caused by serving Jesus Christ is based upon who is following the truth and who is not. Jesus made it clear that those who follow Him are seeking the truth. Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) What kind of friend is it who rejects you because you find peace, joy and satisfaction? A real friend will be happy for you. The Bible makes it clear who your real friend is: His name is Jesus. Paul wrote. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8). Objection Eleven:

I Don’t Understand The Issue

Sometimes people do not become Christians because they do not understand what it is all about. The ignorance can be self-imposed or merely a lack of information on the subject. Self-imposed ignorance about Jesus Christ is common. People do not know about Jesus because they do not want to be responsible to Him. Moreover, the Bible teaches that this ignorance is something that the unbeliever is actively participating. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of humanity, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).

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There is another type of ignorance where people are unaware that it is possible to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. They think Christianity is just another religion, practiced by going through the motions. It is a ritual, a set of laws. There are many who are still unaware of God’s gift of salvation. Objection Twelve: It’s Not Relevant “This is the twenty first century. How can someone who lived two thousand years ago have any affect on my life today?” People feel they have more important things to do then worry about the identity of Jesus. However, nothing could be further from the truth. If Jesus Christ is the Lord of the universe, and if eternal happiness and peace with God is only available through a personal relationship with Him, then there is nothing more relevant to your entire existence. It does matter. Although people come up with a number of excuses concerning why they don’t want to believe in Jesus, none of the excuses are any good. Summary There are a number of common objections that people offer when confronted with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Some feel they do not need Christianity because it is just a crutch for the weak. Others believe there are too many hypocrites in the church. There are those individuals who believe they are already good enough to get to heaven. Others feel they are not good enough yet but someday may be good enough. However there are those people who think they will never be good enough to reach heaven so they do not try. The message of Jesus is often rejected until some later time in the future. There are certain people who do not want their life change. Consequently they will not listen to the life-changing message of Jesus. Some admit that, for whatever reason, they just do not wish to believe in Jesus. There is also the worry that a person might have to be religious if they become a Christian. Some people worry about what their friends would think. There are those who do not really understand the issue at hand. Finally, there is the objection that the Christian faith is not relevant any longer. All of the objections have answers to them. The problem is that many people will not take the time to find the answers. Whatever the case may be, no one has a legitimate excuse for rejecting the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

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Summary To The Betrayal, Death, Resurrection, And Ascension Of Jesus (Topic 5) Looking at the betrayal, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus we can conclude the following. Question 102. The basic chronology of the death of Christ was as follows. Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples in the Upper Room. After washing the disciples feet, Jesus predicted that one of them would betray Him that very night. After they ate Jesus instituted a new ordinance – the Lord’s Supper. Jesus then gave His disciples their final teaching session before His death - the Upper Room Discourse. Jesus and His eleven disciples then went to the Garden of Gethsemane. The traitor Judas had long since left to bring the religious leaders to Gethsemane to arrest Jesus. Jesus was arrested and taken away. After going through a number of trials He was sent to Pontius Pilate. Pilate pronounced Him innocent but still ordered Him to be crucified. Jesus was crucified. He was on the cross some six hours when He died. He was taken down from the cross by loving hands, anointed with spices, and then buried in the tomb of a rich man. At that time the religious leaders assumed they had defeated Jesus. However they were about to learn of an incredible event – an event that would literally change the world. Jesus of Nazareth did not stay dead! Question 103. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Jesus had predicted his betrayal by one of his disciples. Different motives have been ascribed to Judas for doing this terrible deed. It has been contended that Judas was some fanatical believer who wanted Jesus to immediately set up his kingdom. Some have argued that he was a superpatriot who was attempting to force Jesus to revolt against the Romans. While people continue to make excuses for Judas to why he betrayed Jesus there are no excuses. Judas was called a thief who never really believed in Jesus as his Lord. The betrayal of Jesus was for Judas’ own benefit. Jesus Himself stated that it would have been better if Judas had not been born. The fact that Jesus knew that Judas would betray him does not remove the responsibility from Judas. He betrayed Jesus because he chose to. Question 104. The religious leaders wanted Jesus dead for a number of reasons—none of the reasons were righteous. First, the claims that he made demonstrated that his authority was greater than theirs. The religious leaders could not accept this. The miraculous deeds that he, which demonstrated his superior authority, was also a reason they wanted him dead. Jesus was also a threat to their religious system. He went the temple and condemned the practices. They also considered him a threat to their way of life. They were worrie d how the Romans would respond. The people with whom Jesus socialized offended the pride of the religious leaders. Above all, it was the lack of respect for their religious traditions that caused them to desire to kill him. This is particularly true of Jesus’ attitude toward the Sabbath. All of these things contributed to their evil desire to want Jesus dead. Question 105. The death of Jesus Christ was not a spontaneous tragedy or a historical mistake. It was part of a pre-determined plot by the religious leaders of Jesus’ day to put Him to death. They had attempted to kill Him in Nazareth. The High Priest Caiaphas predicted the necessity of the death of Jesus. They were constantly looking for a convenient time to kill him. King Herod also wanted him dead. The death of Christ was in the predetermined program of God - planned before the foundation of the world. It is a crucial element in God’s eternal plan to save humanity from their sins. It was not an isolated event.

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Question 106. Jesus went through a number of trials – Jewish and Roman – before He was put to death. There is a question as to whether or not Jesus received a fair trial. Some have argued that the trial of Jesus was legal but not ethical. It was the textbook example of using the law in a bad way. The traditional view among Christians, however, is that the trial of Jesus was illegal in a number of ways. First, there was no possibility of him receiving a fair trial because the verdict had already been determined in advance. It was also illegal to try someone at night for a capital crime. According to Jewish law witnesses were needed to start the trial. The trial did not begin and then a search got underway for witnesses. The witnesses used at Jesus’ trial were false. Not only should their testimony have been rejected they themselves should have been punished. Because judgment in capital cases had to be delayed until the next day no trial should have been held before the Sabbath day. Most important, Jesus admission to being the Messiah was never seriously considered. As soon as He admitted His identity they charged Him with blasphemy and declared Him guilty. There was not the least bit of effort to determine if His claims may have been true. The farce continued. The religious rulers could not agree among themselves on the charges. They considered Jesus was worthy of death because He blasphemed. Yet they told Pilate that He was guilty of attempting to overthrow Rome. Finally, Pilate, the judge, admitted on three different occasions that Jesus was innocent of all the charges. Yet he still ordered a known innocent man to be crucified. Therefore when all the facts are considered we conclude that Jesus’ trial was the greatest injustice in all of history. . Question 107. Although the immediate reason for the death of Christ was the envy of the Jews, the Bible lists a number of other reasons as to why Christ died. First, it was in the eternal plan of God – it was not an afterthought. Jesus’ death was necessary to complete the plan of redemption for the sinful world. He had to die so that others could live. Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. He was the sacrifice that was acceptable to God. The death of Christ was also a visible demonstration of the love of God for sinful humanity. His death should serve as an example for the believers. Believers are to love one another in the same manner as Jesus has loved us. Question 108. Jesus was put to death by the terrible method of crucifixion. Although we are not told why the religious leaders did not organize a group of people to stone Him, it is likely due to the curse associated with crucifixion. Crucifixion was reserved for the slaves, political rebels and the worst criminals. The New Testament writers spoke of Jesus’ death, it was not to emphasize the horrible suffering that He endured on our behalf. Rather it was to proclaim the victory that Jesus won in paying the penalty for sin. Question 109. The seven statements Jesus made from the cross have far-reaching significance for us today. They once again remind us that His death, besides being a fact of history, was much more than that. It was the supreme sacrifice that secured our salvation. His final words show us that we can have the utmost confidence in Him as our Savior. The first statement was consistent with Jesus’ entire life – He always thought about others. He asked the Father to forgive the sin of those who crucified Him. The second statement also shows concern for others. He told a criminal that he would be with Him in paradise. The third statement is another example of Jesus thinking about others. He entrusted His mother to John. The fourth statement was recognition

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that He was forsaken by the Father when the penalty of the sins of the world was placed upon Him. The fifth statement makes us aware of the human Jesus – He was thirsty. The sixth statement was one of victory – Jesus’ mission had been finished! The last statement allowed His spirit to return to the Father. Question 110. The death of Jesus was a horrible crime. Blame can be rightly be placed upon the Jewish religious leaders. For a number of years they wanted Jesus dead. The Jewish people were to blame as well. They rejected His claim to be the Messiah. Pontius Pilate also deserves blame. He ordered Jesus executed after declaring Him innocent of all charges. However the blame has to be ultimately placed on the entire human race. It was for our sins that Jesus went to His death on Calvary’s cross. Therefore all of us were ultimately responsible. Question 111. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. It is mentioned over one hundred times in the New Testament. It was the main point for each sermon in the Book of Acts. Without it there is no Christian faith. Paul said the resurrection is important to the believer for a number of reasons. He said that Christian preaching is empty if Jesus did not come back from the dead. The faith of the believer is worthless if Christ is not risen because He is the object of the faith. In addition, Christ, is not whom He said He was. He would have been a liar. The apostles are also liars for testifying to a resurrection that did not occur. Furthermore, there is no forgiveness for anybody’s sin. Those who have died believing in Christ have no hope. If hope in Christ is limited to this life, Christians are to be pitied above all people. The resurrection is also important to the identity and mission of Jesus. First, the resurrection is important to His identity. The resurrection is the demonstration that Jesus indeed is the Son of God. The resurrection is also important to His character. Jesus would not have been a true prophet had He not come back from the dead as He predicted that He would. It is important to Jesus’ ministry. If He did not come back from the dead then His ministry would have ended in defeat. Finally, it is important to His message. The centrality of the Christian message is that Jesus died and then came back from the dead. If He did not come back from the dead then there is no Christianity. Consequently we see that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely crucial to the Christian faith. Question 112. Jesus predicted His own resurrection. The first time we find Him speaking about being raised from the dead was at the beginning of His ministry. When asked for a sign He gave them the sign of the temple – which was figurative for His body. On another occasion, when asked for a sign, He gave them the sign of Jonah. As Jonah was three days in the belly of the sea creature so Jesus will be three days in the earth. He also privately told His disciples the details about His death and resurrection. Jesus made public statements about His resurrection. This caused the religious leaders to request a guard at His tomb. There would be no need for a guard unless He had predicted that He would come back from the dead. Therefore the evidence is clear – Jesus predicted His resurrection. Question 113. The circumstances around the burial of Jesus adds further evidence to the truth of His resurrection. Jesus was buried in a tomb that had never been occupied. In addition, no body was placed in the tomb after His. Consequently there could be no mistaking whose body was in the tomb. Add to this the fact that the tomb was hewn out of solid stone – there was not chance of getting to it except through the one opening. Although the religious leaders felt satisfied when they handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate to be crucified they remembered Jesus’ words that He would come back from the dead. Consequently they asked Pilate

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to make the tomb as secure as possible. This consisted of a guard, either Roman or Jewish, a large stone rolled at the entrance of the tomb, and the Roman seal. However these precautions were worthless when it came to stopping the tomb from being empty on Easter Sunday. The disciples were not able to steal the body – Jesus came back from the dead! Question 114. There are a number of facts about the life of Jesus that are not in dispute. Jesus existed. There is no reason at all to doubt this fact. Also during His earthly ministry Jesus reportedly worked miracles. This is the consistent portrait of Jesus. In addition, we know that His disciples were not prepared for His death – they were expecting the Messiah to bring in God’s kingdom. They were certainly not looking for a resurrection because they were not expecting Him to die. It is also clear that Jesus was dead and buried – all sources testify to this fact. Yet it is also clear that the tomb was empty on Easter morning. The disciples of Jesus testified they saw Him alive after His death. They began by proclaiming the message of the resurrection in Jerusalem – the very city where all the events took place. Finally, all the New Testament writers believed the resurrection was a reality. They wrote from the perspective that Jesus had risen. These are all reliable historical facts that friend and foe can agree upon. Question 115. Scripture says that Jesus rose bodily from the dead. First, we have Jesus’ own statement that He was alive. The Bible also says that Jesus made a number of appearances after His death. They were to a number of different people over a forty-day period. The Bible specifically says that on Easter Sunday Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the women that came to Jesus tomb (Mary the Mother of James, Salome, and Joanna), Peter, and two disciples on the Emmaus road. He also appeared to the remainder of the Twelve Disciples with Thomas absent. Later he appeared to them with Thomas present. There was also an appearance to seven disciples on the Sea of Galilee. On another occasion He appeared to over five hundred people at the same time. There is also an appearance to James. Jesus also appeared to all the apostles. Finally Jesus appeared to Saul of Tarsus – the man who became the Apostle Paul. These appearances convinced His disciples, beyond any doubt, that He had risen from the dead. Question 116. From an examination of the New Testament accounts of Jesus resurrection we can conclude the following. His appearances were convincing. Those who saw the risen Christ were convinced that it was truly Him. Jesus appeared to many different people. One appearance there was over five hundred people. Jesus also appeared at different times and places. We know for a fact that the people were not expecting Him to appear. Finally His appearances suddenly stopped after He ascended into heaven. Question 117. The character of those who saw the resurrected Christ is sufficient for us to believe their testimony. They were in a position to testify. They intimately knew Jesus. They also knew that He had been executed by crucifixion. They, therefore, could testify as to whether it was actually Him who had risen. In addition, there were a sufficient number of them. One appearance consisted of over five hundred people. Furthermore, they exhibited an honest character. They certainly had no motivation for lying. Only persecution and martyrdom awaited them. They were of normal intelligence. Their story was consistent – they all gave the same major details. They did not embellish their story with excessive details. They stayed with the basic facts. In addition, they provide a number of minute details that unintentionally verify their overall account. Consequently there is nothing in their behavior or their writings that would cause us to be suspicious of their account of what transpired. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to accept their report that Jesus had risen.

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Question 118. Apart from the direct testimony of the eyewitnesses to Christ’s resurrection, we also have much circumstantial evidence that it actually occurred. We have noted eleven different lines of circumstantial evidence. They are as follows: the risen Christ can only explain the changed lives of the disciples. Nothing else could have changed them from cowards to martyrs. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul makes no sense without the resurrection. Some power had to have given rise to the Christian church. Women were the first to see the risen Jesus. This is not to be expected in a made up story. The change of the day of worship from Saturday to Sunday had to have been occasioned by some great event. The Christians buried their dead expecting them to eventually rise. The miraculous events on the Day of Pentecost have to have some explanation. The miracles in the Book of Acts testify to the resurrection power of Jesus. The grave clothes were undisturbed in Jesus’ tomb. The Nazareth Decree testifies that the first century Jews were concerned about empty tombs. Jesus Christ has changed lives and can still change lives today. The evidence, both direct and circumstantial testifies to the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead three days after He was crucified on Calvary’s cross. Question 119. All three members of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were involved in the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is individually ascribed to each one of them. Yet elsewhere the Scripture says that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is another line of evidence of the doctrine of the Trinity – the one God consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Question 120. In the last two thousand years many theories have been presented that attempt to give an alternative explanation to the one given in Scripture - Christ rose from the dead. Sometimes it is argued that the real story about what happened to Jesus was suppressed. There are those who argue that the accounts of Jesus and His miracles were embellished by His disciples. One of the most popular theories is that His body was stolen. Some have argued against a resurrection by saying that Jesus did not actually die on the cross. One theory has the women going to the wrong tomb on Easter Sunday morning. There is an ancient theory that says that the gardener removed Jesus’ body. It has been proposed that Jesus had a twin brother and it was he who appeared after Jesus’ death. Many believe the disciples had hallucinations when reporting seeing the risen Christ. Some believe Christ did appear – but only in a vision. Others argue that Jesus appeared to believers only – those who were expecting a resurrection. The reports of the resurrections are thought by some to be hopelessly contradictory. Finally, many believe that it does not really matter what happened. However none of these objections are adequate, for they do not fully explain all the different lines of evidence. The theory that best fits all the facts is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead three days after His death and that He is Lord of all! Question 121. From the accounts in Scripture we can see that Jesus’ resurrection was bodily. We discover this in two ways. First is Jesus own testimony. Jesus made it clear that He was not a disembodied spirit. Second, the things that Jesus did. He did things only a person having a body can do. Jesus walked, He showed His disciples the prints of the crucifixion on His body, He breathed and ate. Consequently both His words and His deeds testify to the fact that His resurrection was bodily. Question 122. The body Jesus possessed, though like His pre-resurrection body, was in some aspects different. He could suddenly appear and disappear. In the locked upper room, Jesus suddenly appeared in the midst of His disciples. His new body had abilities the previous one either did not have or did not demonstrate. He did not have to eat or rest. He also ascended into heaven when His earthly ministry was finished. Consequently there are similarities, as well as differences, between the body that Jesus had while upon the earth and the one in which He was raised.

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Question 123. The Bible lists a number of people who had actually died, and then come back to life. They include Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, the son of the widow of Nain, Tabitha and Eutyches. However there is a huge difference between the resurrection of Jesus and the different resuscitations or reanimations that are listed in the New Testament. All of the people who came back to life eventually died again. Jesus was raised from the dead in a glorified body never to die again. He is the first of many who will follow. Question 124. The resurrection of Christ is more than a historical event, for it does the following things. It validates Jesus’ claims as the Son of God. The resurrection also shows Jesus is a true prophet. In addition, it demonstrates that He is the Messiah. The resurrection also proves the truth of the Christian faith – no other religious leader has yet come back from the dead. Furthermore, it acknowledges the acceptance of God the Father of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. The resurrection gives humanity a purpose for living. It also provides the basis for eternal life. The resurrection of Christ gives the believer comfort. The resurrection also offers a genuine hope for the future. The fact that Christ has risen provides the believer with a continual High Priest who can answer their prayers. The knowledge of all these things results in a satisfying life right now for those who have trusted Him. Question 125. The reality of Jesus’ ascension is testified by a number of New Testament writers. First, there is the historical narrative of Jesus ascending into heaven from the Mount of Olives. Luke records this in his gospel as well as the Book of Acts. In addition, the other two gospel writers allude to Jesus’ ascension. Add to this is the testimony of Stephen, Paul, Peter, and the writer to the Hebrews. Consequently there are a number of different New Testament references to the ascension of Jesus. Question 126. Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. He did this in the presence of His disciples. This marked the end of His earthly ministry. He completed all that He had set out to accomplish. He took up His former residence at the right hand, or place of authority, next to God the Father. When he was being stoned to death, the martyr Stephen later saw Jesus next to the Father. The fact that Jesus remained next to the Father demonstrates that the Father received His sacrifice as sufficient. Question 127. The Scripture says that Christ is presently in heaven. He speaks to God on our behalf. Apart from Him we would have no spokesman. His interceding allows our prayers to be answered and our sins forgiven. His ministry will continue on our behalf as long as it is necessary. Whatever needs we might have are related to the Father by the high priestly ministry of Jesus. This is what He is presently doing on our behalf. Question 128. Jesus’ priesthood is superior to the earthly priests in the following ways. His duties are performed in heaven. They take place in a spiritual building not in an earthly sanctuary. An eternal, sinless, priest – not a sinful human priest, performs the duties. This sinless priest offered Himself as a once and-for-all sacrifice for sin, ending the need of the Levitical, earthly priesthood. Jesus was superior to the human priesthood in every way. Question 129. There is a future ministry for Jesus Christ. Christ has promised to come again to this earth. When He returns He will raise the dead, judge all humanity, and then rule forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What a glorious future that will be! Question 130. There are a number of common objections that people offer when confronted with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Some feel they do not need Christianity because it is just a crutch for the weak. Others believe there are too many hypocrites in the church. There are those individuals who believe they are already good enough to get to heaven. Others feel they are not good enough yet but someday may be good enough. However there are those people who think they will never

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be good enough to reach heaven so they do not try. The message of Jesus is often rejected until some later time in the future. There are certain people who do not want their life change. Consequently they will not listen to the life-changing message of Jesus. Some admit that, for whatever reason, they just do not wish to believe in Jesus. There is also the worry that a person might have to be religious if they become a Christian. Some people worry about what their friends would think. There are those who do not really understand the issue at hand. Finally, there is the objection that the Christian faith is not relevant any longer. All of the objections have answers to them. The problem is that many people will not take the time to find the answers. Whatever the case may be, no one has a legitimate excuse for rejecting the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Next Course – The Holy Spirit We now move on to the Third Person of the Trinity – The Holy Spirit. In our course we will look at the identity of the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and the relationship of the Holy Spirit to the believer.