I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth : And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; he descended into hell ; the third day he rose again from the dead ; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the holy catholic church ; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

Key Question… “Who is Jesus Christ?” “I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is the Jesus? Was he who he said he was, or was he just a religious nut? That’s the question.” - Bono

“He was the meekest and lowest of all the sons of men, yet he spoke as coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was so genial and winsome and approachable that the children loved to play with him and the little ones nestled in his arms. No one was half so kind or compassionate to sinners, yet no one ever spoke such red hot scorching words about sin. A bruised reed he would not break. His whole life was love, yet on one occasion he demanded of the Pharisees how they ever expected to escape the damnation of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions, yet for sheer stock realism he has all of our self-styled realist soundly beaten. He was the servant of all, washing the disciple’s feet, yet masterfully he strolled into the temple and the hucksters and money changers fell over one another in their mad rush to get away from the fire they saw blazing in his eyes. He saved others, but at the last himself he did not save. There is nothing in history like the union of contrast which confronts us in the gospels, the mystery of Jesus is the mystery of divine personality.” - James Stewart, Scottish preacher

“Why should we consider the stories of Osiris, Dionysus, Adonis, Attis, Mithras, and the other pagan mystery saviors as fables, yet come across essentially the same story told in a Jewish context and believe it to be the biography of a carpenter from Bethlehem?” – Timothy Freke/ Peter Gandy Did Jesus Really Exist?

“Today no competent scholar denies the historicity of Jesus.” - Bruce Metzger, PhD Did Jesus Really Exist?

“At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good and was known to be virtuous. Many people among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders. ” – Antiquities (undisputed rendering) Extra-Biblical Writings of Jesus

“The last three decades have erased the Messiah from the Old Testament” -J. G. Eichorn, father of higher Criticism “Everything Christians claim for Jesus as the Jewish Messiah is false” -Rabbi Pinchas Stolper “One might say … the death of the Messiah – his torture, his crucifixion – is predicted in the Old Testament. Well, in fact, it’s not.” - Amy-Jill Levine, Vanderbilt Divinity School Is Jesus the Messiah / Christ?

What Does ‘Christ’ Mean? “To call Jesus the Christ, therefore, is to make a theological claim – that He is the Messiah long expected by the Jews” -Stephen Prothero -Chair, Boston University Religion Department

Symbolism of Christ in Scripture The acacia wood = Christ's humanity The gold overlay = His deity Law inside the Ark = Jesus with the Law of God in His heart The pot of manna = Jesus as the Bread of Life Aaron's rod that budded = the resurrection The mercy seat = the work of Jesus on the Cross covers the Law of God with His mercy. Two angels over Ark = two angels seated at head and foot of Christ’s lying place; the perfect mercy seat Just as the Ark was designed to be a symbol of the presence of God in the midst of His people, Jesus is the ultimate expression of God's love and care and presence. He is our Ark. He is our Law. He is our Manna. He is our Budded Rod. And, thank God, He is our Mercy Seat.

Prophecies Concerning the Messiah

Kingly Predictions about the Messiah

Predictions on the Servanthood the Messiah “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. “He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. “A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. “He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.” - Isaiah 42:1-4 “He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” - Isaiah 49:6

Predictions on the Servanthood the Messiah " Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man And His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what had not been told them they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand.” - Isaiah 52:13-15

Prophecies on Messiah’s Miracles & Betrayal

Prophecies Concerning Messiah’s Death

More Prophecies Concerning Messiah The Messiah would come through the line of Abraham, Judah, and David (Genesis 12:2, Genesis 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:12-16) The Messiah would be preceded by a messenger (Malachi 3:1). The Messiah would come to his people mounted on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9). The Messiah would remain silent/suffer at the hands of men (Isaiah 53). The Messiah would be disfigured at the hands of men (Isaiah 52). The Messiah would have no bone broken (Psalm 34:20). The Messiah would be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9). The Messiah would ascend to Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Luke 24:50-53)

One Chronology of the Messiah

Daniel’s Detailed Chronology Sabbatical Years 70 BCAD

Questions About the Messiah

“ O followers of the Book! do not exceed the limits in your religion, and do not speak (lies) against Allah, but (speak) the truth; the Messiah, Isa son of Marium is only an apostle of Allah and His Word which He communicated to Marium and a spirit from Him; believe therefore in Allah and His apostles, and say not, Three. Desist, it is better for you; Allah is only one God; far be It from His glory that He should have a son, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His, and Allah is sufficient for a Protector.” - The Koran, Sura 4:171 “Jesus … certainly never believed himself to be God.” – Should You Believe in the Trinity? Is Jesus God?

Prophecies of the Messiah Being God

"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.” “I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.” “I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it.” - Napoleon

Did Jesus Compare Himself to God? God in the Old TestamentJesus Comparison to Himself I AM (Exodus 3:14-15; Isaiah 48:12)I AM (John 8:58; John 8:18, 24) The Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)The Shepherd (John 10:11) The Light (Psalm 27:1)The Light (John 8:12) Ruler of all (Isaiah 9:6)Ruler of all (Matthew 28:18) Judge of all nations (Joel 3:12)Judge of all (John 5:12) The Bridegroom (Isaiah 62:5; Hosea 2:16)The Bridegroom (Matthew 25:1) God’s Word never pass away (Isaiah 40:8)Jesus’ words never pass away (Mk. 13:31) First and the Last (Isaiah 48:12)First and the Last (Revelation 1:17-18)

Did Jesus Compare Himself to God? God in the Old TestamentJesus Comparison to Himself The Sower (Jeremiah 31:27; Ezra 34:9)The Sower (Matthew 13:3-9) The Shepherd (Gen 49:24; Psalm 23:1)The Shepherd (John 10:11) The Rock (Psalm 18:2)The Rock (Matthew 7:24) The Bridegroom (Isaiah 54:5, Hosea 2:16)The Bridegroom (Matthew 25:1)

Statements Made by Jesus “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”(John 8:58) “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”(John 8:24) “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father”, John 14:9 “I and the Father are one”, John 10:30 “Father glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began”, John 17:5. “I am the Lord that is My name! I will not give My glory to another”, Isaiah 42:8 “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too, am working.”, John 5:17

Statements Made by Jesus

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” - C. S. Lewis

Did Jesus Act like God?

Jesus accepted worship nine times in the gospels. Jesus forgave sins (Mark 2). Jesus said to pray in His name (John 16:23-24). Jesus never said “Thus says the Lord”, but rather “I say”. Jesus said to baptize in His name (Matthew 28). Did Jesus Act like God?

Testimony of the New Testament Writers WitnessVerseStatement JohnJohn 1:1-3,14God became flesh ThomasJohn 20:28“My Lord and my God!” PaulRomans 9:5Jesus is God over all PaulPhilippians 2:5-8Jesus set aside His right as God PaulColossians 1:16-19, 2:9-10Created all things including angels; all fullness of Deity dwells Paul1 Timothy 6:15, Deut 10:17King of kings, Lord of Lords Peter2 Peter 1:1Jesus our God and Savior Writer of HebrewsHebrews 1:8, 13:8Has everlasting throne and is immutable

Testimony of the New Testament Writers

"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. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:5-10 “By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear.” - Isaiah 45:23

Testimony of the New Testament Writers

Jesus in the Book of Revelation The First and the Last, who was dead and am now is alive (1:17, 2:8). God says He is the First and Last in Isaiah 41:4 The Alpha and Omega (22:13). God is called the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1:8 and 21:6. The King of kings and the Lord of lords (17:14, 19:16).

External References to Jesus as God “I conjure you by the God of the Hebrews, Jesus … who appears in fire, who is in the midst of land, snow, and fog…” (lines ) -Exorcism formula from the Greek Magical Papyrus “They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang an anthem to Christ as God, and bound themselves by a solemn oath not to commit any wicked deed…” – Pliny the Younger, Letters, series 10 “Now if the Christians worshipped only one God they might have reason on their side … But as a matter of fact they worship a man who appeared only recently. And their worship of this Jesus is the more outrageous because they refuse to listen to any talk about God, the father of all, unless it includes some reference to Jesus … And when they call him Son of God, they are not really paying homage to God, rather, they are attempting to exalt Jesus to the heights.” – Celsus, 2 nd century Christian critic

Ancient Archaeological Evidence The earliest church building (currently) found is in Megiddo and dated to the early third century. The prayer hall contains various mosaics and inscriptions with the one above reading: “Akeptous (a woman), the God- loving, offered this table for (the) God Jesus Christ, as a remembrance”.

Primary Objections to Jesus as God 1.Colossians 1:15 says Jesus is the “firstborn” of all creation and Revelation 3:14 says the Jesus is the “Beginning of the creation of God.” 2.John 14:28 has Jesus saying, “The Father is greater than I”. 3.Luke 18:19 states Jesus as saying, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.” 4.Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the Son, but the Father alone.

Primary Objections to Jesus as God 1.Colossians 1:15 says Jesus is the “firstborn” of all creation and Revelation 3:14 says the Jesus is the “Beginning of the creation of God.” “firstborn” signifies preeminence. For example, David is called the firstborn of Jesse (Psalm 89:27) even though he was not the “first born” in the family. “Beginning” comes from the Greek word arche, which is where the word “architect” comes from. Jesus is the ruler/architect of all creation.

Primary Objections to Jesus as God 2.John 14:28 has Jesus saying, “The Father is greater than I”. Christ is of the same essence and nature as God, but holds a different office/role in the Trinity. Philippians 2:7 describes how Jesus laid aside His godly form and chose to become a man during His incarnation. Ontological equality and functional hierarchy are two different things. Jesus holds a lesser office than the Father, but is equal to Him in nature.

Primary Objections to Jesus as God

4.Matthew 24:36 says, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the Son, but the Father alone. Paul makes it clear in Philippians 2 that Christ voluntarily laid aside part of His deity to become a man on earth. For example, did Christ ever get tired? As God no, as man yes. Hungry? As God no, as man yes. Jesus said in John 15:15 that what He heard from the Father, He made known. In His incarnation, Jesus would “do nothing on My own initiative …”

Jesus Supplies All

Final Questions & Answers

Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher. This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself. While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend. But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death. This one Man’s life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems and paintings than any other person or event in history. Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages and other institutions have been founded in honor of this One who gave His life for us. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this One Solitary Life. - One Solitary Life

“Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mr.s Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.” “Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth : And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord ; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried ; he descended into hell ; the third day he rose again from the dead ; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the holy catholic church ; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

Jesus Traverses the Past, Present, and Future