The Jesus controversy

Matthew 16:13–16; John 5:19–40

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

John 5:19–40

Intro:

Controversial People

Have you ever noticed that certain people stir up controversy? Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Colin Kapernickt, Hitler, and Napoleon are just a few names that come to mind. Who do you suppose is the most controversial figure in human history? The answer to that is simple: Jesus Christ.

If you want to spark a real dialogue at a party or in a college classroom. ask these two questions:

• Who is Jesus Christ?

• What is your opinion about Jesus Christ?

Some will say Jesus is a good teacher.

Some might say He was a prophet.

Others might say He was a holy man who thought He was the Son of God.

Just consider the Jesus Seminar led by Robert Funk.

The "Jesus Seminar" was started by New Testament "scholar" Robert Funk in the 1970s. It was Funk’s desire to rediscover the "historical Jesus" that was hidden, he believed, behind almost 2,000 years of Christian traditions, myths, and legends. The Jesus Seminar was created to examine the biblical gospels and other early Christian literature to discover who Jesus truly was and what He truly said. The Jesus Seminar was (and still is) comprised almost entirely of individuals who deny the inspiration, authority, and inerrancy of the Bible. The agenda of the Jesus Seminar is not to discover who the historical Jesus was. Rather, the purpose of the Jesus Seminar is to attack what the Bible clearly says about who Jesus is and what He taught.

The scholars decided what Jesus really said as well as examined the historicity of Jesus.

Their results were published in three reports from 1993 through 1999.

An then: England’s Hugh Schonfield wrote a book, The Passover Plot, in 1966, alleging that the Crucifixion was part of a scheme by Jesus to fulfill the Messianic expectations rampant in His time and that the plan went wrong.

Then there was also: In 1970 John Marco Allegro, a graduate of Manchester University and Oxford University, who wrote a book called, The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross, voicing his opinion that Christian religion was based on a cult practicing frequent drug use (psychedelic mushrooms) and sex.

He theorized that Jesus’ last words on the Cross were not a lament to God but “a paean of praise to the god of the mushroom.”16

And who can forget the controversy raised by Dan Brown’s book, and later movie, The DaVinci Code?”

In Ecclesiastes 1:9, Solomon says that there is nothing new under the sun. The controversy surrounding Jesus is nothing new. It is not the product of modern-day science or religion. It is not the result of modern or postmodern thought. It is not due to new discoveries or more astute minds. Jesus has always been at the center of controversy. Even when Jesus walked the face of the earth, He was the source of controversy (Matt. 9:11, 34; 26:65; Mark 3:21; John 7:20; 9:16, 24).

Who Is Jesus?

Jesus was quite aware of the controversy surrounding Him.

Once, while in Caesarea Philippi, He engaged the disciples in conversation about public opinion as well as their personal opinion about who He was.

Matthew 16:13-16

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

NIV

It was during this dialogue that Peter made his famous confession, followed by Jesus’ affirmation (Matt. 16:13–17). From this incident, we gain great insight into the person of Jesus.

It is amazing to see how confused the public was about Jesus; just four chapters beyond we see this.

Turn with me to (John 10:19–21).

Jesus is fully man (Matt. 16:13).

Jesus uses the title “Son of Man” for Himself.

It was the most common designation Jesus used for Himself during His earthly ministry.

It is found some eighty times in the New Testament.

The term “Son of Man” focuses on Jesus’ humanity.

Jesus is fully human.

Now, that is where liberalism likes to stop—Jesus is human.

The problem is that is not where the Bible stops.

The clear teaching of Scripture is that not only is Jesus fully human; He is also fully God.

2. Jesus is fully God (Matt. 16:16, 17).

The title “Son of God” is used more than fifty times in the New Testament.

What does the title “Son of God” tell us about Jesus and what He believed about Himself?

The Moody Handbook of Theology says:

A son is of the same nature and essence as a father; in affirming Jesus as His Son, God the Father was saying that Jesus, His Son, is deity because He is of the same essence as the Father.

The apostle John affirms that the term “Son of God” is a declaration of His deity in 1 John 5:20.

1 John 5:20

20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true — even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

NIV

Napoleon Bonaparte, the French general, said of Jesus, “I know men, and Jesus Christ is more than a man.”

Jesus is the promised Messiah (Matt. 16:16).

The title Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew title Messiah.

The Greek term Christos means “anointed” or “anointed one.”

Notice that Peter says, “You are the Christ.” He puts the definite article in front of Christos, which is profound.

He says to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the anointed One. You are the one prophesied in the Old Testament who would come to the nation Israel.

Can I get a witness?

So the claim is that Jesus is fully God and fully man, the Messiah.

Warren Wiersbe says “The blind religious leaders could not see what Jesus was doing, because they did not know the Father or the Son.”

Are there any witnesses? In a debate with the Pharisees about who He was, Jesus called forth several witnesses that He is fully God, fully man, the Messiah!

The Witness of Himself (John 5:19–31)

Jesus gives a powerful witness about Himself in these verses.

The Witness of People (John 5:33–35)

The other person in this passage is John the Baptist. But the list of people who serve as witnesses doesn’t stop with him.

The apostles gave the ultimate witness by giving their lives based on their belief about Christ.

The early church fathers, such as Ignatius of Antioch (50–117),

Clement of Alexandria (150–215),

Tertullian (160–225),

and Origen (185–254) all gave witness that Jesus is fully man, fully God, the Messiah.

The early councils, such as the Council of Nicaea (AD 325),

the Council of Constantinople (AD 381),

the Council of Ephesus (AD 431),

and the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451) all in some way affirmed His humanity and deity.

Even unbelievers, such as the centurion at the foot of the Cross, gave a witness to His humanity and deity (Mark 15:39).

The Witness of His Work (John 5:36)

Jesus speaks here of the body of His work, which includes miracles of healing and deliverance, preaching and teaching, and the great consummation of His work, His death, burial and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3–7).

The Witness of the Scripture (John 5:39, 40)

The prophecies of Scripture give witness to His humanity, deity, and messiahship.

The teaching of Scripture gives witness to His humanity, deity, and messiahship.

The Witness of the Father (John 5:37)

The Father’s spoken witness (Matt. 3:17; 17:5; John 12:28)

The Father’s affirming witness (John 3:2)

The Father’s inner witness (John 6:45; 1 John 5:9–12)

Conclusion:

Controversy?

Benjamin Rush (1746–1813), American physician and political leader, member of the Continental Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, said:

“Controversy is only dreaded by the advocates of error.”

Based on that definition we have nothing to dread in the Jesus controversy, because Jesus truly is the Son of Man, the Son of God, the promised Messiah.”

Excerpt From

Nelson's Preacher's Source book

Thomas Nelson

https://books.apple.com/us/book/nelsons-preachers-sourcebook/id6443651804

This material may be protected by copyright.

By Dr. Kent Spann