PLEASE NOTE-
THEIR ARE QUESTIONS AT THE END AND A FORM TO SUBMIT TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.
1 WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
In essence, is He not the very core of everything we believe in, trust in, hope in, It is logical then, to establish what we believe, we must fully understand who we believe in. We, therefore, need to know everything about His teachings, His life, who He is and what He means to us, and ultimately, what He requires of us who believe in Him. For this to happen, we must embark on a deeper understanding and study of Jesus in the New Testament; this is essential and vital if we are to not only maintain but progress, in our spiritual life. Andrew Murray said we need to enroll in a school of Jesus- he perceived the lack in the church. Knowledge of the spiritual life and principles, as taught by Jesus, will allow us to grow. More importantly, this means understanding the fundamentals of the life of the spirit. Ignorance will cause confusion, doubt, arguments, and strife.
What do they have to say about Jesus in the bible?
In this section, we examine what the Jewish leaders and others had to say about Jesus.
1. WHO DID THE PHARISEES AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE BIBLE SAY HE WAS?
- A glutton, Drinker – Lk. 7v34
- A friend of sinners – Lk. 7v34
- A worker of satan – Lk.11v15
- An unqualified teacher – Lk. 20v2
- A criminal, blasphemer – Lk. 22v71
- A traitor – Lk. 23v2
2. WHO DID THE CROWDS SAY HE WAS:
- A good man, deceiver – Jn. 7v12
- A prophet – Mt. 21v11
- A disruptive person – Lk. 8v37
- A laughing stock – Lk. 8v53
- A righteous man – Lk. 23v47
- A hated man – Jn.15v24
- A criminal – Lk. 22v63
3. WHO DID THE DISCIPLES SAY HE WAS:
- Lord, Teacher-The Christ, the Messiah – Mt.16.16
4. WHO DID THE DEMONS SAY HE WAS:
- The Son of God – Mt 8 v24
5.WHAT DID GOD HAVE TO SAY WHEN HE FORMED THE EARTH?
- ‘Let US make man in our image…’ – Gen 1 v26
6. WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT HIMSELF?
From the book of John-regarding Earth
- I Am the Messiah – Jn. 4v26
- I Am The fulfillment of the prophets
- I Am the Truth, the Way, the Life – Jn. 14v6
- I Am He who Moses wrote about – Jn. 5v46
- I Am The light of the world – Jn. 8v12
- I Am The Bread of Life – Jn.6v35
- I Am Before Abraham was – Jn. 8v58
- I had glory with you before the Earth existed – Jn. 17v5
From the book of John-regarding Heaven
- I Am not from this world – Jn. 8v23
- I Am From heaven – Jn. 6 v38
- I Am The way to heaven – Jn. 14v6
- I Am The door to heaven – Jn. 10v9
- I came down from heaven – Jn. 3v13/38
- I Am the Alpha and the Omega – Rev 1v8
- I came in this world for judgment – Jn. 9v39
- My Kingdom is not of this world – Jn. 18v36
More importantly-He said he was sent on a mission.
7. What does the name of Jesus mean to you personally?
A good man, some distant Deity, a prophet, my friend, my Saviour, my God, my creator, my Lord?
8. What is your response to your ‘salvation’, if you say you are ‘saved’
(see level 1.3.1 for definition)
May this challenge your understanding, your own beliefs, and your perceptions-May it bring a greater realisation and understanding who Jesus really is, and who He should be in our lives-eternal God and creator; a Holy God who should fill us with awe and reverence.
Our faith will depend on what we believe; what we believe will depend on what we know. What we know will also depend on what we have learnt and studied, as well as our experience.
2 PROPHECIES ABOUT THE MESSIAH
New Testament scriptures relating to Jesus coming to the Jews
He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled by the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” – (Mt 2:23)
The words of Jeremiah was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel. – (Mt 27:9)
“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, “They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” – (Jn. 19:24)
Later, knowing that all was completed and that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” – (Jn. 19:28)
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” – (Jn. 19:36)
What did Jesus have to say about the messiah and himself
He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” – (Lk 4:21)
Jesus took the twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. – (Lk 18:31)
It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’, and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.” – (Lk. 22:37)
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” – (Lk 24:44)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill them. – (Mt. 5:17)
Comparison of Old and New Testament prophecies about Jesus the Messiah
| TOPIC | PROPHECY-OLD TESTAMENT | FULFILLMENT-NEW TESTAMENT |
| Place of birth would be in Bethlehem | 2. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” – (Micah 5 v 2 – 700bc.) | 1. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem – (Mathew 2 v 1) |
| Born of a virgin | 14. Therefore the Lord HE Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. – (Isaiah 7 v 14 – 500bc) | 18. 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. – (Mathew 1 v 18) |
| Betrayed by a friend | 9. Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. – (Zechariah 9 v 9) | 13. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”. – (Jn. 12 v 13) |
| His rejection – He will be rejected by his creation | 9. Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. – (Psalm 41 v 9) | 10. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. – (Mark 14 v 10) |
| Crucified with sinners | 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. – (Isaiah 53 v 3) | 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. – (Jn. 1 v 11) |
| -the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. – (Isaiah 53 v 12) | 38 Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. – (Mathew 27 v 38) |
We can see that the coming of Jesus was predicted by the Old Testament prophets, and confirmed in sections of the New Testament or Covenant. Jesus Himself said this many times, and that this was one of the reasons he was sent to earth for, which was to fulfil all Law and prophecy.
3 WHICH JESUS DO YOU FOLLOW?
A different Jesus??
Paul said- for if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 2 Cor. 11:4
A fully biblical Jesus and biblical Christianity-do you believe in this-or rather
A nominal, non offensive, intellectual, powerless Jesus and soft Christianity; friendly to denominations and fringe groups whose teachings and faith is weak and powerless; where the Holy Spirit is a hopefully friendly distant entity guiding our moral standards- Jesus said to the Jews- you don’t understand the scriptures, nor the power of God!
Selective exclusion of the power or dunamis component of the Holy Spirit
The dynamics of the Holy Spirit of God is swept under the carpet, where it should be the central pivot to all teaching, preaching and proclamation, with demonstrations of the supernatural; signs, wonders, miracles, healing, deliverance. These things will accompany those who believe; furthermore in the book of Mark it says that the Lord will work alongside us, when we proclaim the good news, with signs wonders and miracles. Mk. 16 v12-20
The gift of God-His Holy Spirit as in Biblical Christianity-must encompass the Spirit life in all its facets as outlined in the bible, with the understanding that there is only 1spiritual gift-that of the Holy spirit of God with a pre programmed heavenly agenda, to bring Gods kingdom to earth, who is the essence of God’s love.
Different facets or gifts –These are called ‘ gifts’ of His spirit- these are tools given to all- specifically to minister Christ e.g. to lost souls going to hell ( do we really believe that ?) and others under the burden of suffering etc. These tools or gifts are never to be the object of our faith, but to administer life through the nuances of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those around us; rather, their main object is to demonstrate the love of god in action. Cor. 12- 14
The law of Heaven
Jesus warns us that many will say they used all these tools ( gifts ) for healing etc, but Jesus will cast them out into the darkness, because their fruit was not in keeping with repentance, that they were law breakers ( of his law of love) and that they did not know or understand the will of God our Father. Only those who do the will of the Father will enter heaven; and Jesus tells us few are those who travel on the narrow road to life. Mt.7 v 21-22
Doing the will of God-Surely then, we are failing in our duty if we do not teach these principles- learning to do Gods will through hearing and obeying His Holy Spirit; this is the very centre of our life in Christ, not just employing good moral values only which most religions teach.
We need to make disciples and baptise them in and with the Holy Spirit.
They should experience the river of living water that flows from our bellies, as stated by Jesus.
We ourselves need to be born again in order to do this- this will be discussed in Chapter 3.
Power and Authority are essential
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Lk. 9:23
Jesus said whoever believes in me will do the works I do, and even greater. Jn. 14:12-14
Sadly, there are great multitudes of’ believers sitting in spiritually dead churches in many denominations- who are not even aware of the supernatural dimension of heaven on earth, although the bible is filled with evidence of this in the lives of the followers of Christ. This is because the leaders themselves have never experienced the dynamic and flow of God’s Holy spirit in and through them- the bible is a closed book in the sense that where ever Jesus and the disciples mention the supernatural, it is selectively glossed over- These are the blind guides leading the blind, against whom Jesus warns us.
A Biblical disciple must have biblical characteristics such as Jesus stated when He empowered His disciples in Lk.ch. 9 and Mk, ch.16 etc where power and authority are given over spirit beings, healing of the sick and so on. This type of Christianity always has, and always will be, evident in those who follow the way of the cross; this is no reference to certain charismatic groups where these phenomena take place and become the focal point of their ministry; this too, is a travesty in the opposite dimension which content cannot be discussed here. Paul warns Timothy to avoid those who have a form of Godliness, but deny his power; here the power is sought to do miracles, without being filled with the source of Power, viz. Holy Spirit of God.
Spiritual death-many should be teachers-Many are the church members or Christians who are ignorant of the deeper things of the Spirit, because we and the churches they attend (do they go to church?) are themselves ignorant and afraid to offend those whose beliefs are so shallow as to be non biblical, which grieves the Spirit of God. In the book of Hebrews it warns against people who should be teachers but remain spiritual children. We should be the agents to lead each and every member to Jesus in such a way that they can also say like the woman at the well who led the townspeople to meet Jesus- ‘now we know Jesus for ourselves as we have also met Him. Heb. Ch5v12; Ch6.
Being Jesus to the world around us-Our lives must be where we live out a life being Jesus to the world around us; filled and lead by His Holy Spirit, directing us to heal broken hearts and bodies, to set free those in torment.
4 WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT POSITION IN CHRIST?
The following checklist depends entirely where you are in your faith life
(Do not feel in any way condemned, but rather feel challenged to grow more)
a. As a new believer, do you say you are a new creation –
Do you believe this in your life?
Do you live the crucified life?
Did you put the old man on the cross, or are you still looking at it and walking around it?
Do you remember any specific time when this took place or not?
Did you make a specific commitment with your mouth to give your life to Christ?
Did you undergo baptism-in the understanding- that you were burying the old man with Christ?
Do you identify that- you were raised from the dead with Christ?
Do you say without a doubt you are ‘born again’- A totally different person? Jn.3.3
Do you openly witness to others about your conversion as a new creation, as led by Holy Spirit? 2Cor.5.17
b. As a new church member, are you a trainee disciple, and learning about your calling
Do you know what your gifts are? 1 Cor. 12.8-10
Do you know what your ministry is? Eph 4.7-16
Do you know what your calling is? (Lay ministry or full time)
Have you read the new testament in a logical, ordered fashion from front to back (once or more?)
Do you regularly attend church, bible study etc?
Are you growing in the knowledge of the word- can you quote relevant scripture as needed?
Are you growing in being able to hear the voice of the Shepherd, the Holy Spirit? Jn. 10.27
Do you obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit, as he leads (Jesus said where I am, My sheep are)
Do you have the inexpressible joy as in 1peter ch. 1 v8 (and this in gratitude leading to worship)
Are you growing in the faith life? 2 pet.1.4-11
c. As a maturing Christian believer, are you experiencing fruits from the gift given you?
The Kingdom of God is not (only) about words, but about power (in the Holy Spirit) 1 Cor.4.20
Have you lead an unsaved person to the Lord, and seen a change in them? James 5.20
Have you experienced the flow of the Holy Spirit through yourself? Jn.7.37-38
Have you experienced miracles through prayer or the laying on of hands? Jn.14.12-14
Do you contribute your money as God directs you for his Kingdom sake?
Do you support any ministry financially as a blessing?
Do you have your own outreach ministry in some area of your life?
Do you perceive your sin full state as you come closer to God’s light?
Have you understood and gone past the basics of the faith life, so as to teach others?
Do you see the family of God around you, rather than different denominations?
Are you seeing a crop of 30, 60 or 100 coming to fruition in your life? Mat.13.4-8
d. As a maturing Disciple- and follower of Christ, are you making inroads into satans kingdom
Can you see the lost souls around you, does it grieve you?
Can you shed tears for the lost and the broken hearted?
Do you believe in the devil, his kingdom, and spiritual warfare? Jn.10.10
Are you aware of Christ’s mission-to destroy the works of the devil etc? 1 Jn.3.8
Do you align yourself with the calling on your life? Isaiah ch. 61
Do you believe in deliverance, and is it relevant to the world today?
Has the devil got your number, are you making inroads into his kingdom?
Do you speak life through prophetic unction, words of knowledge led by Holy Spirit?
Do you pick up your cross daily and encourage, exhort, admonish as the Spirit leads?
Do you realise that the things Jesus did- you can do? Jn.14.12-14
Do you really love God with all your heart, soul and mind- are you a worshipper as a result?
This survey is for encouragement and exhortation to grow in the Kingdom of God.
If we are guilty of one sin, it is this -Neglect and passivity (definition- lack of action) Joshua18.3
Do not allow any condemnation to come over you as you examine your Christ life- rather be challenged to grow in the teachings and commandments of Jesus- he said ‘ If you love me, you will obey my commands.
We are all on a journey towards heaven, and because we are all different we will be at different points on the road there. The main thing is that we continue to grow in our faith life, as Peter tells us.
5. How to grow in our faith life
Peters 2nd book chapter 1 tells us how to grow in our faith.
Verse 5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to
- add to your faith-goodness; (Try to be a better person)
- and to goodness, add knowledge; (Learn more about Jesus.Mt 11 v28-30)
- and to knowledge, add self-control; (try to apply what you are learning)
- and to self-control, add perseverance; (don’t give up when obstacles arise)
- and to perseverance, add godliness; (try and see the world through His eyes)
- and to godliness, add brotherly kindness; (be kind and more tolerant)
- and to brotherly kindness, add love. (Love them even if you don’t like them)
8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your (experiential) knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,
11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In the end, it all boils down to how grateful we are to Jesus for our salvation and healing, and that will determine whether we desire to grow more or just stagnate and be a nominal (in name only) Christian.
6. SUMMARY WHO IS JESUS?
Is Jesus a madman, a liar; or He is who He says He is?
If you died tonight, do you think you will go to heaven, or hell?
Have you received His Holy Spirit in partial or full measure?
Do you have a story to tell-and are you telling it to all around when prompted to do so?
Have you found the peace that God has promised, or are you still searching for it?
Are you able to say yet that you are a new creature, reborn by the spirit of God?
If not, will you commit yourself to press in until you can say that you are born again?
7. Things to remember
- Jesus told us plainly that He was not from this world-an alien, so to speak.
- He also told us clearly that He was the Messiah to come, who the Jews were expecting.
- The Jews rejected Him, His teaching and His authority over man and nature, in spite of His miracles.
- Jesus birth, crucifixion and death were all prophesied, as we have just learnt, by the Jewish prophets.
- His mission to earth was simply to proclaim and manifest the Kingdom of God on earth.
- This involved saving the lost and bringing new life to all who believed in Him.
- Jesus also told us that He was the way, and the door, to enter heaven.
- This kingdom was spelled out as one of love, service- whoever believed would have the same nature.
- We looked at which Jesus was being portrayed to the world-a biblical or inoffensive Jesus.
- Jesus mission to earth was to demonstrate the love and compassion that God has for his creatures.
- In coming to earth, He showed us the character of God-one who sent Jesus on a mission to earth.
- Jesus claimed also to be the son of God, and creator of the world.
- If this were to be true, then only He is able to help mankind in their troubled world.
- God’s character was revealed by Jesus; he said that if we have seen Him, we have seen the Father.
- Furthermore, He sent His Holy Spirit to earth, who would guide and protect us from the evil one.
- His Holy Spirit would enable all believers with power to do the same as Jesus did. Jn.14.12-14
- Jesus was rejected by the religious order of the day, as he constantly chastised them.
- This was because they failed to understand the nature of God, who desired mercy and love for all.
- In other words, He was not interested in their ‘religion’, but their outward lifestyle to others.
- True religion is not going to church, reading a bible, reciting prayers.
- Rather it is a transformed and reborn life, which demonstrates the love of God in action.
8. Things to do
- Study and learn from the life of Jesus in the New Testament (see level 1.4 for bible studies)
- Try and identify areas in life that are lacking.
- Purpose in your heart to put God to the test, to understand who Jesus really is to you.
- Refuse to accept that your identity is rooted in what you may or may not believe.
- Also refuse to believe that your identity is what others may say about you.
- Rather believe in faith that you are beloved of God, and your identity is rooted in Him.
- Ask God to fill you with His Holy spirit, and all the benefits that will result.
- These are what are called ‘fruits of the spirit, such as peace, love for yourself and others.
- More will be explained on this topic in level 1.3, about the basics of a believer’s life.
9. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION-TEST YOURSELF
Read Level 1. Chapter 1– Who is Jesus
Read the summary, and your current position in Christ
READ THE FOLLOWING VERSES AND DISCUSS THE QUESTIONS-You can use them for Bible Sudy as well!!
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What did the Jewish leaders and teachers think of Him?
Jesus, the Christ, or messiah as the Jews called Him, has been central to all Jewish prophecy –the Jews were expecting their Messiah as foretold by God, and yet they refused to believe in Him. For Christian believers, He is the very CORE and essence of who and what we believe in.
1. Lk. 20v2-Jewish leaders said Jesus was unqualified to teach; are qualifications needed to preach the gospel
2. Lk. 7.34– He was called a glutton, and a drinker; is drinking wine a sin, and sitting with prostitutes wrong
3. Lk. 6.2-; Is it wrong to go against man made laws in church
Who did the disciples think He was?
The disciples were ordinary men of the world, with the exception of John, who was a disciple of John the Baptist-they thought that Jesus would become their King ultimately, and were unable to comprehend the spirit life that Jesus was trying to convey to them; even Nicodemus, a teacher could not understand His teachings
4. Jn. 6.66-Many disciples turned their backs on Jesus and left Him; why did they do this, and what was wrong with His teaching
5. If we did not drink His blood, we would have no life in us; explain what Jesus meant by this saying
6. Mk. 4.38-The disciples were about to drown in the storm, so they woke and said Teacher, don’t you care if we drown-this was after already seeing many miracles being done; why did they still call Him Teacher
Who did the ordinary people say He was?
Jesus was followed everywhere by the crowds, who sought healing and deliverance- to them He was a teacher and prophet, one who went around doing good
7. Lk.11.15-Jesus drove out a demon in front of the crowds and they were amazed; they thought He was under the influence of the devil; why did they think this
8. Lk. 9.18-The crowds also called Him John the Baptist, Elijah or a prophet of old; can you explain why they said this, and did not see Him for who He was
9. Jn. 4.42-The Samaritans called Jesus they Saviour of the world; how could they say this?
Who did the demons say He was?
Jesus was instantly recognised by the demons, because they were spirit beings, and knew that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and also knew who He was. The power that they possessed could never stand up to that which Jesus had; they also recognised His authority to cast them back into hell
10. Mt. 8.29-The demons called Jesus the Son of God; how could they know this
11. Lk. 4.34 “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!;Was the man in the synagogue mocking Jesus
Who did Jesus say He was?
Jesus had many things to say about Himself-in a sense the things He mentioned were all about another world, another Kingdom, and that He was alive before the creation of the world, together with God, and that He was co –creator in heaven with God, whom He called His Father
- Jn. 8.23-Jesus said that He was not from this world; explain what He meant
- Jn. 14.6-Jesus said he was the way to heaven-describe what the way to heaven is
- Mt. 5.17-Jesus said he was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets; what does He mean
What did the prophets of old say about Him?
Jesus said He came to fulfill the messages of the prophets and all law; the ancient prophets foretold His coming, and we see many prophecies fulfilled describing the advent of Jesus. In a sense they pointed to Jesus, and yet He was rejected
- Lk. 24.44-Jesus said that that everything written about Him in the Law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalm was to be fulfilled; In your understanding, what did they say about Him
- Which prophecy best describes the coming of Jesus the messiah in your understanding
Which Jesus do you follow?
The things Jesus had to say about life and the hereafter were radical, and one would have to make a decision as to whether Jesus was a liar, or He was who He said He was-this should be cause for great concern for us.
17. 1 Cor.11.4-Paul talks about a different Jesus-is it possible the church can preach a different Jesus-explain
18. Mt10.38– anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me; what does this mean,?
Thanks for reading-hope it is meaningful to you!!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS CHECKED?
If you would like to submit your answers to see how many you got right, please write down your answers with the answer numbers 1-18 next to it
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