P11/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Conclusions and Personal Appeal

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader:   We have covered much ground in this study, and I hope you have been blessed as a result.  For today's post we will combine lessons three and four, being that they both work together to draw to a conclusion all that has been covered. Please understand that this study has served to introduce the reader to the validity, historicity and rich theology of the four Gospels and how the Holy Spirit inspired them to enable the reader to discover the identity of Jesus Christ. As we saw in yesterday's study on the 8 reasons for the historical reliability of the Gospel records, the Christian faith rests on solid historical and doctrinal footings.

In today's post we will conclude this entire blog series that is dedicated to explaining the identity of Jesus Christ in light of the historical and doctrinal reality of His crucifixion and resurrection. 

Lesson Three: Drawing conclusions that identify the person and work of Jesus Christ

What we have just conducted is a historical, cultural and theological sketch of Jesus Christ. From all of the above considerations we can draw the following conclusions:
1. Jesus Christ fits the profile of the hundreds of prophecies and detailed plans that God ordained in the Old Testament concerning salvation and it’s agent.

2. The Gospels draw together these complex patterns and give us four individual portraits (King, Servant, Son of Man and Son of God) and five pictures common to them all (reconciler, mediator, sacrifice for sin, deliver and Yahweh (the source of Life)

3. Through His actions and statements, Jesus’ claims to being equal with God (Mark 2:7; John 8:58) fits within the context of the framework of the Old Testament (Psalm 110; Proverbs 30:4)

4. External secular sources paint a more generalized picture that, at least historically, generally matches with what the Gospels reveal about Jesus.

5. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ is not only verified by historical references outside the gospels, but fits well within the Old Testament’s teaching on the death of God’s agent of salvation (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53 and Zechariah 12).

6. The Gospels turn out to be reliable historical sources for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Additionally, the fact of their being four gospels only strengthens the ring of authenticity of the life and identity of Jesus Christ.

Questions:

1. What have you personally learned about Jesus and the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion? 

2. By having this evidence and profile of Jesus before you, how would this change your opinion of Christianity or becoming a follower of Jesus?                

Lesson Four: The difference between Knowing about Jesus and Knowing Jesus

One final Personal appeal before we close out this post...

In Matthew 27:22 Pilate asks this question : “What do I do about Jesus, who is also referred to as Christ?”[1]  It is clear that Pilate, having been face to face with the very one we have been studying in this course, had a knowledge of Jesus.  He was aware that Jesus claimed Himself as King of the Jews (Matthew 27:11); that He was called the Christ (verse 22) and that He could find no fault in Jesus (Verse 23). 

Pilate knew things about Jesus, but from what we see in Matthew and the other three gospels, Pilate did not really know Jesus.  What’s the difference?  In the Bible knowing someone or something entails the idea of relationship.  Furthermore, no one can truly say they no someone until they have achieved a close acquaintance with them. 

I would like to now ask you about the material we have just covered today.  You most likely have learned some facts regarding the person of Jesus from our study of first century culture, literature and the Gospel narratives.  What now?  What will you do with that knowledge?  Historians tell us that one of the key purposes of historical investigation is for the conclusions of history to shape how we understand the present.  

Understanding things about Jesus is one thing, but according to the Bible, we must confess with our mouth that Jesus is Master over everything and the source of life, and believe with everything within us that God raised Him from the dead, then will we be delivered from the threat of God’s wrath.[2]

If anything, what we know of the Jesus of history and the Jesus that you and I can know both personally and relationally is that they are one and the same.  The very Jesus that we have learned about in this study is the same one who I talk to and receive comfort from every day, for He is the same yesterday, Today and forever.[3]  

Pilate’s life remained empty.  Although he had met Jesus Christ face to face, he left that meeting empty.  He knew of Jesus but never knew Him.   Do not be like Pilate.  You can know Jesus Christ in a personal way.  For no one else in all of creation has the ability or nature to offer salvation to people in this world except Jesus Christ.[4] 

Talk to the Lord and admit to him that you are a sinner, as the Bible states. (Romans 3:23) Secondly tell Him that you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins according to the scriptures, was buried and three days later raised from the dead according to the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Thirdly tell the Lord that you completely trust in Jesus as your Savior, Lord and Treasure and ask His Holy Spirit to enable you to live for Him by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  

My prayer is that through this study, you have discovered how awesome Jesus is and how the Four Gospels accurately portray His life, death and resurrection. To God be the glory!

Endnotes

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[1] Translation rendered from the Greek Text of Nestle Aland 26^th edition.

[2] Romans 10:9-10  Translation from the Greek text of Nestle Aland 26^th edition

[3] Hebrews 13:5

[4] Acts 4:12 Translation from Nestle Aland 26^th edition

P10/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - 8 reasons why the Gospel records are historically reliable

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered how Jesus' crucifixion fits within the Old Testament Prophecies. Today we will consider 8 reasons for the historical reliability of the Gospel records. 

Note to reader: For those readers who want access to ancient historical documents that corroborate the Four Gospel accounts, please see my post at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/ancient-sources-demonstrating-that-the-christ-of-faith-is-the-historical-jesus/

8 reasons why the Gospel records and crucifixion narratives are historically reliable

1. The Gospel records have statements about Jesus’ life and crucifixion that reflect both the thought worlds of Old Testament Jewish though of the time and First Century Christianity.[1]

2. With all four being written from an eye-witness point of view (Matthew, Mark (dictating from Peter; Luke dictating from Paul and the Apostle John), the various distinctions and ordering of events reflect with what is currently known about typically multiple witness testimonies in court cases today.

3. The dating of the Gospels within 30-50 of the crucifixion leaves a reasonable enough amount of time for an eyewitness to recount everything in detail (especially eye-witnesses who followed Jesus’ teaching like Matthew, Mark with Peter, Luke with Paul and John). Documents written earlier than the gospels (1 Corinthians 15 in 53 A.D and Philippians 2 preserving a hymn going back to 35 A.D) corroborate what is written in the Gospels[2]

4. Key events in secular history such as Herod’s murder of firstborn infants; The census by Quirinius of Palestine and the whole world; Pilate’s rule over Judea and the eclipse of the sun during the crucifixion acts as fix markers in rooting the historicity of the gospels[3]

5. From the writings of Josephus (Jewish Historian of Rome; Tactius (Roman Historian); The philosopher Marus; Thallus and Philo, we find out that Jesus was a wise man, who taught throughout the region of Judea, performing miracles, crucified during the reign of Pontius Pilate and raised from the dead according to the Apostle Paul.[4]

6. Consider the events and people surrounding the crucifixion that would had made it impossible to substitute another body in place of Jesus on the cross:

a). Thursday night 10 p.m – 500 soldiers come to arrest Jesus and escort Him to his trial

b). He is condemned by the Jewish high court through the night and escorted by the same band of soldiers to Pilate’s hall early Friday morning

c). Before going to Pilate He is flogged and badly beaten under the supervision of about 100 soldiers

d). They escort him to Pilate between 7 a.m-8 a.m before thousands of people, again under heavy guard

e). From there to the place of crucifixion Jesus (along with two other thieves crucified on his left and right) where escorted to the place of crucifixion.  Jesus and each of the thieves would had had a special company of six soldiers plus a centurion guard placed in charge of the crucifixion, so as to ensure that no friends of the crucified criminal could rescue them.

f). Six hours later Jesus dies AT 3 P.M.  Joseph of Arimethea takes his body down from the cross, all the while being escorted by two Roman guards to the tomb. The tomb is sealed and guarded by Roman Soldiers.  Three days later the resurrection of Jesus Christ from dead occurred. No other satisfactory explanation of the events of the empty tomb has been able to stand up under scrutiny except the Biblical one: that Jesus Christ physically and bodily raised from the dead.  Whenever we consider such factors as the change in the disciples from fearful to fervently dying for their faith; the fact that the disciples had no occasion to go steal the body; that crucifixion would had rendered Jesus unable to "sneak out of the tomb"; the response of Jesus' enemies and other details points to one conclusion: that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and raised according to the scriptures! (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

7). We have over 5600 Greek Manuscripts that among themselves show the records of Jesus life to be preserved

8). External evidence shows the following profile of Jesus: He was a miracle worker, who died by crucifixion, was raised to life and was worshipped as God.  This thumbnail sketch of Jesus in the annals of history parallels with what we see of Him in the Gospel accounts, hence equating Him with the Gospel’s portrait of Jesus that Christians worship today.

THUS THE GOSPEL DOCUMENTS CAN BE SAID BOTH HISTORICALLY AND SCIENTIFICALLY TO BE ACCURATE ACCOUNTS OF JESUS LIFE
Questions:

1. What does it do for you to know that people who would had been unsympathetic towards Christianity or the Gospels account for the events of the crucifixion and the facts of the Gospels?

2. If Jesus really did die on the cross (as we have just seen, this event did happen) then what or how does this change your view of God and salvation?

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[1] N.T Wright. Jesus and the Victory of God

[2] This point is brought out in Lee Stroebel’s “The Case for Christ” during his interview with renouned scholar Edwin Yamahuchi

[3] N.T Wright. Jesus and the Victory of God

[4] Lee Stroebel’s “The Case for Christ”

P9/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Seeing how Jesus' crucifixion fits within the Old Testament Prophecies

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered John's Gospel identity of Jesus as - "The Son of God who came to be Savior". I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  

This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  The reader is invited to visit my other blog site to read today about how history corroborates the four Gospel accounts at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/ancient-sources-demonstrating-that-the-christ-of-faith-is-the-historical-jesus/

In today's post we will begin the third part of this blog series that is dedicated to explaining the identity of Jesus Christ in light of the historical and doctrinal reality of His crucifixion and resurrection.  To review the ground we have traveled far in this blog series, we have so far considered two general areas in our discovery of Jesus' identity:

1. PART ONE: OLD TESTAMENT BACKGROUNDS LEADING TO A PROFILE THAT CAN AID IN IDENTIFYING JESUS

Lesson One: Telling the Old Testament story
Lesson Two: Significant Meetings between God and key people
Lesson Three: To what place does the Old Testament story lead us to?

2. PART TWO: CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD
Lesson One: Matthew’s Gospel identity of Jesus – King and Lord
Lesson Two: Mark’s Gospel’s identity of Jesus – The King who came serve as a Ransom for many
Lesson Three: Luke’s Gospel’s identity of Jesus – The Son of Man
Lesson Four: John’s Gospel’s identity of Jesus – The Son of God, The ultimate sacrifice for sin
Lesson Five: Summarizing the Picture of Jesus in the Gospels


My prayer is that through this series you are getting to know Jesus better.  And so now we will move to the first lesson in the final Part of this study: Seeing how the crucifixion fits with the Old Testament's Prophecies about Jesus Christ.

PART THREE: IDENTITY OF JESUS AND THE CRUCIFIXION
Lesson One: Seeing how the crucifixion fits within the Old Testament’s prophecies about Jesus Christ

Introduction
Although some clues about Jesus’ death within the Old Testament framework have been observed, it is here that we want to observe in more detail explicit proof about the appropriateness for claiming the reality and reasons for the crucifixion accounts in the Gospel records. 

Key Old Testament Texts explicitly prophesying the death of God’s agent of salvation

1. Psalm 22
a). Details are given about the death of God’s servant (The name given to this agent of salvation) that parallels exactly with that of crucifixion

b). Jesus quotes the beginning of this passage on the cross

c). The attitudes and actions of His accusers and executioners are explained in striking detail paralleling that of the Gospel records

d). The Servant’s hands and feet being pierced parallels that of the putting of nails through the hands and feet in crucifixion

e). This prophecy occurred 1000 years prior to Jesus crucifxion

2. Isaiah 53
a). The idea of one person representing the entire nation and world is a concept spoken of in passages such as Ezekiel 14.

b). The Servant spoken of in this passage received strips or deep gouges in His back, a practice described to the detail of the Roman practice of scourging of prisoners before crucifixion. The practice of crucifixion would not be invented until roughly 350 years after the writing of Isaiah, demonstrating the prophetic reality of the scriptures!

c). This prophecy occurred 700 years before Jesus’ crucifixion. By the days of Jesus, crucifixion was a practice that was 350 years old, having been first utilized by the Persians and perfected by the Romans.

3. Zechariah 12
a). This passage is referring to what will occur at the second coming of Jesus. Jesus, having been crucified, buried, raised and ascended some 2,000 years ago, will come again still retaining glorified resurrected body with nail prints in His hands and feet.

b). The fountain opened up on this day refers to the nation of Israel having access to the promise gained by His crucifixion on the cross

c). This prophecy of Zechariah occurred 600 years before Jesus’ crucifixion

Questions:

1. Do these passages allow there room for the death, burial, resurrection and ascnesion of Jesus Christ as an appropriate event in light of His perfect life and mission?

2. Do these passage indicate that such an event was God’s will?

More tomorrow........

P8/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Summarizing Jesus' Identity in the Four Gospels

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered John's Gospel identity of Jesus as - "The Son of God who came to be Savior". I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  

This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  

In today's post we will finish up part two of this blog series by summarizing the identity of Jesus Christ that we have gleaned from our consideration of the four Gospels.  My prayer is that through this series you are getting to know Jesus better.

PART TWO: CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD

Lesson Five: Summarizing the Picture of Jesus in the Gospels

1. Four particular pictures of Jesus emerge: King (Matthew); Source of life or The Servant (Mark); Judge of all time or Son of Man (Luke); and having the nature of God or Son of God (John)

2. These four pictures are combined with five others that run throughout the gospels (reconciler, sacrifice for sin, deliverer mediator and LORD (Jehovah) or Source of life.

3. The Gospels trace out the rich patterns of God’s plan of salvation in the Old Testament

With the idea of the death of Jesus fitting both theologically and thematically into the Old Testament framework, we will be able to turn to the Third and final part of this study entitled: Historical implications, reasons and evidences for Christ's accomplished work of salvation.

More tomorrow...

P7/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - John's Gospel Identity of Jesus - The Son of God Who came to be Savior

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered Luke's Gospel identity of Jesus as - "The Son of Man". I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  

This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  

In today's post we consider once again Part two of this series, and the fourth lesson of Part two entitled: John's Gospel presents Jesus as the Son of God who came to be the Savior.

PART TWO: CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD

Lesson Four: John’s Gospel’s identity of Jesus – The Son of God, The ultimate sacrifice for sin

1. John’s gospel enables there to be a theological set of glasses by which to properly view the first three gospels[1].

2. While the first three gospels give historical and thematic guidelines for viewing Jesus’ life, John’s focus is theological[2]

3. The primary Old Testament event that John uses in helping us identify Jesus is that of the Exodus and Passover.

a). In similitude to Moses, Jesus performed miracles and signs to confirm both His teaching and life.  For Jesus though, He did these to show that He could do what God can do (John 5:21); prove His existence from eternity before Abraham (John 8:58) as well as, like God said in Isaiah 48:16, being the only true Savior (John 10).

b). Jesus played out His role of the Passover lamb that was used to protect Israel from the destruction of God’s wrath (John 2).

4. John’s gospel aid the reader in seeing where the O.T patterns, revealed in Matthew, Mark and Luke, theologically and logically conclude. John’s conclusion about Jesus is that He took onto Himself a human nature, while still being divine, so as to enable the possibility of a relationship between God and people.

Questions:

1. How does God’s nature as Savior and Rescuer agree or disagree with how you view God?

2. Could anybody less than God be able to accomplish what only He could do (bring about forgiveness and be the source of life)?  If Jesus accomplished these very things (which the gospels indicate that He did), then what does this tell you about His identity? 

Endnotes:

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[1] Moises Silva in His lectures on John’s gospel alludes to this general idea when describing the relationship between John’s gospel and the first three Gospels.

[2]This is certainly not meant that Matthew, Mark and Luke did not have theological themes woven through their writings, for they most certainly had theological purposes as well!  The comment here means that John’s gospel is comparatively more theological than historical in tone the first three.

P6/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Luke's Gospel Identity of Jesus - The Son of Man

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered Mark's Gospel Identity of Jesus as: "The King who came to serve and be a Ransom". I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  

This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  

In today's post we will consider once again Part two of this series, and the third lesson of Part two entitled: Luke's Gospel presents Jesus as the Son of Man.

PART TWO: CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD

Lesson Three: Luke’s Gospel’s identity of Jesus – The Son of Man 

1.      Luke’s gospel, much like Matthew, has a list of Jesus’ human descendants.  While Matthew’s list focuses upon Jesus legal rights to the kingship of Israel, Luke’s genealogy focuses more upon Jesus right by birth as a literal descendant of David – hence the reasons for the differences between the two.[1]

2.   If we read Daniel 7, we come to understand the central reason of Luke’s focus on Jesus as the Son of Man:[2]

    Daniel 7:3-9-14   ⁹ “As I looked:

   “thrones were set in place,

  and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

   His clothing was as white as snow;

  the hair of his head was white like wool.

   His throne was flaming with fire,

  and its wheels were all ablaze.

   ¹⁰ A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. ¹¹ “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.  ¹² (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) ¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

3. Luke’s focus is upon how Jesus would   fulfill this prophecy by being empowered with glory and Sovereign power in His humanity by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 4:18)

4. The Holy Spirit's empowerment of Jesus in His humanity is also proof of Jesus fulfilling another prophecy in Isaiah 61, wherein He would go about healing sickness, delivering those in spiritual slavery, and most importantly of all offering forgiveness and hope. Of course we must remember that all the while the Person of the Son was experiencing these prophecies in His human nature, He in His Divine nature never ceased being God.

Questions:

1. What obligation to Jesus’ should His position as Divine judge place upon people living in this world?

  

  2. Why does God need to judge this      

  world?

More tomorrow.....

Endnotes:

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[1] In first century Jewish culture, any Jew would had been able to recount their genealogy on demand.  The fact that we have two records of Jesus’ descendants is not unusual, since his disciples would had had access to each of the lists from both Mary’s genaeological list (The one recorded in Luke) and Joseph’s (The one recorded in Matthew).

[2] This theme is developed more fully in the book “Shadows of the Almighty” by Ben Witherington III and Laura M. Ice.   

P5/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Mark's Gospel Identity of Jesus - The King who came to serve and be a Ransom

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered Matthew's Gospel Identity of Jesus as King and Lord. I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  

This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts, with today's post featuring Mark's Gospel Identity of Jesus as the King whom came to serve and be a ransom. 

CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD

Lesson Two: Mark’s Gospel’s identity of Jesus – The servant, King over the Kingdom 

1.  Mark’s gospel gives more of a fast paced and high powered look at the miracles and power of Jesus.  He casts out demons, raises the dead and heals sicknesses, demonstrating that by His arrival the very presence of God has ushered in the beginning of the closing of human history.

2. The picture of Isaiah’s servant in chapters 42-57 of his book discuss and progressively reveal as mysterious figure who would bring the light of hope to the very land Jesus was preaching and who would act as God and for God in bringing about healing, deliverance and forgiveness of sins.

3. Mark’s writing focuses more intently on what is called “The Kingdom of God”.  With Matthew, the Kingdom of God is spoken about in terms of its purpose and nature, while with Mark’s writing it is spoken of in terms of its presence and nearness.[1]

4.  So what exactly is meant by the idea of God’s kingdom?

a). Having a Kingdom implies that God has personal involvement in the affairs of this world.  He did not just make this world and leave it to run like a clock.

b). Kingdom implies that there is a specific domain, wherein we are the objects and God is the supreme Subject.

c). Jesus in both Matthew and Mark teaches that the Kingdom is not of this world, and that in order to be a true citizen or partaker of it, one must “repent and come to a knowledge of the truth (Mark 1:15) – i.e it is (for now) primarily spiritual in nature.  The day of course will come when Jesus returns and the Kingdom unseen now will become completely manifest and Christ Himself will reign on this planet for 1,000 years. (Mark 13 & Revelation 20)

d). Having a Kingdom means that God has a representative that shares both His nature in having the authority to rule and reign over everything as well as a human nature in being able to relate to the subjects of the kingdom.  Jesus Christ reveals that He has been given authority over all things (Matthew 28:16) and that He is the Servant having the humanity to relate to those who choose to partake of this kingdom (Mark 10:45).

5. In Mark 10:45 we see what many consider the key verse of Mark's Gospel: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

6. According to church history, Mark recorded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the collection of Peter’s sermons on the life of Jesus as Peter himself, under the revelation of God, dictated it to Mark.[2]

Questions:

1. Can God, being holy and infinite, come down to us as He is? Why or why not?

2. Does God’s setting up of a mediating structure such as His kingdom speak more to His desire to be with us, our inability to come to Him on basis of our good deeds, or both? Explain your answer.

Endnotes:

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[1] That there is a link between Matthew’s gospel, Mark’s Gospel and Luke’s Gospel is no accident.  Though each was an independent effort in recounting Jesus life under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Matthew’s gospel is believed to have been the first one written.  Mark, taking dictation from the apostle Peter, would had most likely had a copy of Matthew to use as a guide to corroborate what Peter was saying.  Then Luke would had used these resources along with what God spoke through the mouth of the Apostle Paul in writing His gospel.  This process by which the first three gospels came about is what is referred to as the synoptic problem.  For further discussion on this issues, the reader can consult David Alan Black’s “Why the Four Gospels”, as well as Merrill Tenny’s “Survey of the New Testament”.

[2]  David Alan Black. Why Four Gospels – The Historical Origins of the gospels. Kregel. Grand Rapids. 2001. Page 77.  This is a common pattern in the Bible for God to speak His words or thought through the mouth of the prophet or apostle, and in turn have a scribe write them down (compare the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch; Apostle Peter and Silvanus)

P4/11 Discovering the Identity of Jesus - Matthew's Gospel Identity of Jesus - King and Lord

Matthew 16:15 "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Note to the reader: These next several posts are designed to present a cultural, historical and theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion.  In yesterday's post we considered how the Old Testament's predictions of the Messiah are traced out in the four Gospels. I have chosen to present this material partly in response to the History Channel's recent series: "Bible Secrets Revealed" and partly to give the readers of this blog a chance to see what the Four Gospels truly say about Jesus Christ.  This particular series of blogs are more concerned with explaining the contents and validity of the four Gospel accounts.  The reader is invited today to visit my other blog site to read more indepth on the validity of the four Gospels and Luke's Gospel in particular at: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/p2-the-reliability-of-lukes-gospel-and-early-church-history-testify-about-the-four-gospels-why-it-matters/

In today's post here we consider Part two of this blog series, and the first lesson of Part two entitled: "Matthew’s Gospel identity of Jesus – King and Lord" 

Discovering the Identity of Jesus

A Cultural, Historical and Theological study of Jesus Christ and the facts behind the crucifixion & resurrection

PART TWO: CONCERNING THE RECORDS OF JESUS’ LIFE AS A MEANS OF TYING TOGETHER THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORD

Lesson One: Matthew’s Gospel identity of Jesus – King and Lord

In the first three lessons of this study, it could be said that the Old Testament functions as an “extended” introduction to the plan that God had in reconciling both people and His creation to Himself.  Today we aim to consider Matthew’s account of Jesus life.

Matthew presents all of Israel’s life and purpose being fulfilled and accomplished in the life of Jesus[1]

a). Israel was originally brought about to bless the nations.  Jesus came into the world to be a blessing to all who believe in him

b). Much like Israel, Jesus was called out of Egypt during a time of the death of the first born in the land (Matthew 2). 

c).  Israel went into a desert because of failure, Jesus went into a desert and did not fall once into sin or failure (Matthew 3 and 

d). Much like Moses, Jesus gave instruction from God on what the agenda would be for His followers as they would be going throughout the world.  Unlike the Mosaic law, Jesus Sermon would have internal power to change those who follow Him (Matthew 5-7)

e). Much like Joshua, Jesus went throughout the very same land that he did, only Jesus conquered spiritual enemies, healing the sick and delivering those held captive to sin (Matthew 8-9)

f). Just as Moses sent out spies to look at the promised land that was promised by God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Jesus would send out the twelve to proclaim throughout the very same land some 1400 years later the source of God’s promises, Jesus Himself.  Unlike Moses’ spies, of who ten of his twelve spies came back denying God’s promise and thus finding themselves forty years in the desert, Jesus’ twelve followers found healing and the source of hope by going about proclaiming the message of Jesus (Matthew 10-11)

g).  From chapters 12-26, Jesus appears to be almost living out the very life of David, a very prominent figure in the Old Testament. 

-Jesus experiences people wanting to reject His leadership, deny His authority and threaten His life (like David did in most of 1 Samuel). 

-Much like David providing spiritual nourishment to Israel through the writings of the Psalms, Jesus fed over five thousand people (Matthew 14) and four thousand people (Matthew 15).

     h). Much like David, Jesus was teaching about His own Kingdom, speaking parables (or spiritual stories) of how the kingdom would reflect the King (Jesus Himself) (Psalm 78)

     i). In Matthew 27, the crucifixion account   illustrates the darkest time in Israel’s history, stretching from 1 Kings all the way up to Zechariah.  Jesus became the soul object of God’s judgment, becoming captive and suffering like Israel did, except to an infinite degree. 

j).  In Matthew 28, Jesus becomes alive again, showing that the future of God conquering evil and bringing healing (The end of the last book of the Old Testament) could be experienced in a real way by believing in the healing power of the resurrection.

2). Matthew shows how Jesus both physically and spiritually fulfilled all of the Old Testament promises regarding The Kingly representative (Matthew 28:16-20).

3). Jesus discussion about Himself being LORD of the Sabbath in Matthew 12 (The same LORD that Moses encountered in Exodus 3) is affirmed by His raising from the dead.[2]

Questions:

1. Consider for a moment how Israel’s pattern of birth as a nation (Ezekiel 14), Triumph (Book of Joshua), near destruction and death (Books of 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles) and new life (coming back from enslavement in Ezra and Nehemiah) compare to Jesus born in the manger, popularity with the crowds, death and resurrection. What does this indicate to us about the appropriate nature of Jesus’ crucifixion as fitting within His overall purpose and mission?

2. How does Jesus experiencing all of our temptations connect with you personally?

Endnotes:

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[1] This idea, called a theo-drama, includes the notion of Jesus’ life being like a theater by which God’s purposes and man’s destiny through the life of Israel are played out on the stage of His life, death and resurrection.  I gleaned this idea from listening to speakers one year (I cannot recall the year) who were presenting papers at the Evangelical Theological Society.

  In salvation terms, some theologians note that Jesus’ humanity interacting with His Divinity portrays our own lives being lived out by Jesus, a process called recapitulation.  In this notion the fact that Jesus lived out the very processes and encountered the same temptations that we do (yet without sin) makes Him a fit candidate for bearing the sins of the world.

[2] When Jesus is referred to as Lord, it is the same meaning behind the revelation Moses receives about God’s personal name and nature (Yahweh).  This term, translated as “I am who I am”, signifies that God is the source of all life and existence, and that He is the prime actor in both history and salvation.  Jesus attributes this title to Himself (John 8:58 where He says “Before Abraham was, I AM).  

Thus Jesus here is identifying Himself as sharing the same essence and ability to give life, take life and provide salvation as God (whom He refers to as His Father) in the Old Testament.