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Jesus, Who Is He? Week 1

Copyright 2007 Wilma Zalabak

Faith Statement: I can begin my relationship with Jesus today.

Meet Jesus through the Bible

1. The Bible pictures Jesus as human

a. Hungry, Matthew 4:2

b. Angry and grieved, Mark 3:5

c. Lonely and Sad, John 11:32-36

d. Tired, John 4:6

e. Obeyed, learned, grew, Luke 2:51-52

f. Worked a trade, Mark 6:3

g. Was tempted, Mark 1:13

2. The Bible records Jesus’ claims about being God

a. Claims our supreme love, which only God can have, Matthew 10:37; Deuteronomy 6:4

b. Claims the glory which God will give to no one, Matthew 16:27; Isaiah 42:8; 48:11

c. Claims to forgive sins, which only God can do, Mark 2:5-12; Isaiah 43:11, 25

d. Claims to judge, which only God can do, John 5:22; Isaiah 33:22; Psalm 50:6

e. Claims God’s personal name, John 8:58; Exodus 3:14

f. Claims God’s status as first and last, Rev 1:8-11; Isaiah 44:6

g. Claims to be Messiah, Son of God, Mark 14:62

Meet Jesus through History

1. The Apostles claimed He was God

a. Saviour, Acts 4:12; Isaiah 43:11; 44:22

b. Creator, Ephesians 3:9; Isaiah 44:24

c. God, John 20:28-29, Isaiah 44:6

2. The Apostles claimed He fulfilled messianic prophecy, Matthew 1:22

3. What we have is authentic Apostles’ reporting

25,000 copies, some dating to within 300 years of writing

4. The Apostles claimed He rose from the dead

a. Some would say He never died (see John 19:33-34)

b. Some would say someone stole His body (John 20:1-9)

5. The Apostles claimed they saw him after rising, not hallucinations (Luke 24:36-43)

6. The Apostles spread the Gospel to the world

7. The Apostles and many after them died rather than turn

Meet Jesus through Logic

1. C. S. Lewis – Jesus was

a. Either insane (only a madman would make so many false claims)

b. Or evil (deceiving so many about His identity),

c. Or else He was who He claimed to be, God living as a human.

2. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John use four different persuasion methods to meet all minds

a. Matthew’s Jesus is full of compassion

b. Mark’s Jesus is an immediate fixer

c. Luke’s Jesus provides Sabbath relief

d. John’s Jesus gives clues for adventure

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Response Questions

1. What do you hope to get from doing the Sevens Course?

2. When did you decide to do it?

3. Pick a time in your past to share with the group how you felt about Jesus at that time.

4. If you could meet Jesus as a human right now, what would you say to Him?

5. What would you like to hear Him to say to you?