MIKE MAZZALONGO Jesus Christ 4

The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ.

1.Old Testament describes the creation and preparation of the world for His coming.

1.O.T. describes the creation and preparation of the world for His coming. 2.4 Gospels are eyewitness account of His life.

1.O.T. describes the creation and preparation of the world for His coming. 2.4 Gospels are eyewitness account of His life. 3.Rest of New Testament describes the establishment of the Christian church.

Who is Jesus? HISTORY BOOKS Historians confirm His existence. (Flavius Josephus)

Who is Jesus? HISTORY BOOKS Historians confirm His existence. (Flavius Josephus) Born Jesus, Son of Joseph of Nazareth

Who is Jesus? HISTORY BOOKS Historians confirm His existence. (Flavius Josephus) Born Jesus, Son of Joseph of Nazareth Claimed to be the Messiah

Who is Jesus? HISTORY BOOKS Historians confirm His existence. (Flavius Josephus) Born Jesus, Son of Joseph of Nazareth Claimed to be the Messiah Executed by Romans

Who is Jesus? HISTORY BOOKS Historians confirm His existence. (Flavius Josephus) Born Jesus, Son of Joseph of Nazareth Claimed to be the Messiah Executed by Romans Followers established Christian religion

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses 1. Peter the Apostle Heard all of the teachings / witnessed miracles Helped establish early church Martyred in Rome

Eyewitness: Peter the Apostle You are the Messiah the Son of the living God. - Matthew 16:16

Eyewitness: Peter the Apostle You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact. - Acts 3:14-15

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses Peter claimed that Jesus: –Was the Christ / Messiah –Was divine –Was resurrected from the dead

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses 2. Thomas the Apostle: –“Doubting” Thomas –Saw the miracles –Convinced Jesus was dead –Skeptical about the resurrection –Jesus confronts Thomas

One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side. - John 20:24-25

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. - John 20:26-28

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses 2. Thomas the Apostle: –Jesus is risen from the dead –Jesus is God –Jesus is worthy of worship –Jesus has authority over him

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses 3. Paul the Apostle: –Persecuted the church –Jewish religious zealot –Encounters Jesus in a vision

“Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.” When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater. - Acts 22:1-2

Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. - Acts 22:3

And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished. - Acts 22:4-5

“As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ - Acts 22:6-7

“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me. - Acts 22:8-9

“I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’ “I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. - Acts 22:10-11

A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him! - Acts 22:12-13

“Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’ - Acts 22:14-16

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses 3. Paul the Apostle: –Established church in Roman Empire

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses 3. Paul the Apostle: –Established church in Roman Empire –Martyred by Nero in Rome 67 AD

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses 3. Paul the Apostle: –Established church in Roman Empire –Martyred by Nero in Rome 67 AD –Gave his life for the church he once persecuted

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. - Colossians 1:15-16

Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. - Colossians 1:17-18

Who is Jesus? - Eyewitnesses 3. Paul claims that Jesus: Visible image of God Existed before creation Supreme over creation Agent of creation Is Eternal Head of the Church Leads the resurrected

Who is Jesus? – The Testimony of Jesus 1. Samaritan Woman The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I A M the Messiah!” - John 4:25-26 The Savior of the Jews

Who is Jesus? – The Testimony of Jesus 2. Peter the Apostle Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. - Mt. 16:15-17 Son of the Living God

Who is Jesus? – The Testimony of Jesus 3. Apostles Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” - Mt. 28:18-20 Lord over Heaven and Earth

Summary Some of the things the Bible says about Jesus: A true historical figure Jewish Messiah Son of God Lord God Himself Resurrected from the dead Eternal Being Agent of Creation Head of the Church Supreme authority in heaven & earth

The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. - John 20:30

Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. - John 21:25

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