I had the opportunity to teach a Sunday School class to New Christian Believers. These are the notes from the class.
Who He Was and Is
Knowing Jesus and having confidence in everything that He did and said will allow Christians to grow in their walk. Looking at those who were around Him and with Him during His ministry gives us a small glimpse into Jesus’ life.
Disciples:
The disciples were 12 handpicked ordinary men who, with the exception of one, followed Jesus until their end. Matthew and John wrote biographies in the Bible. Philip said, “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).” Nathaniel responded, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel (v. 49).”
Opposition:
The religious leaders (Matthew 23) hated Jesus more than anyone, yet they could never expose him as a fraud or silence Him because He spoke with authority and truth (Matt 7:29). The only way they could silence him was by putting Him to death, and this actually fulfilled the prophecies of the coming Messiah and accomplished what Jesus came to do.
Historians:
The Bible is the most reliable and trustworthy ancient document ever written. No archaeological discovery has ever contradicted the Bible and has even led some to amazing discoveries. However, there are still some who want more proof. Josephus, a respected Jewish historian, mentions Jesus often.
Jesus’ Deity
His birth was prophesized in the Old Testament (Isaiah 7:14) and we were told that he would called Immanuel, meaning God with us. In John 10:34 Jesus said, “The Father and I are one.” It is this distinction that is the foundation of Christianity and we can believe it for many reasons.
The Proof:
Jesus had supernatural powers.
- He gave sight to the blind (Mark 8:22-26
- He cured the lame (John 5:1-9)
- He healed the sick (Luke 7:1-10)
- He raised the dead to life (Matthew 9:18-26)
- He fed thousands with a boy’s lunch (Matthew 14:14-21)
- He calmed a raging storm with one command (Matthew 8:23-27)
Jesus had supernatural qualities.
- eternal -omnipresent (John 17:5)
- all-knowing –omniscient (John 16:30)
- all-powerful- omnipotent (5:19)
- unchangeable (Hebrews13:8)
- the Creator of the Universe (Colossians 1:16)
Fulfillment of the Coming Messiah in the Old Testament Prophecies:
God promised the Jews that He would send a king who would establish God’s kingdom on earth. He would be God himself; the Messiah. The prophets gave some clues about who the Messiah would be.
- City of birth-He was going to be born in the little town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
- Parentage- He would be the direct descendant of King David (Isaiah 11:1)
- Characteristics- He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
