Having the Faith to Believe in Jesus Part II

Introduction: Revelation

Last week we began a study entitled “Having the Faith to believe in Jesus.” We shared with you a video from a rabbi who made two claims:

The nation of Israel was in no position to receive a Messiah during the times of Jesus, because there was no need for a Messiah.

We demonstrated the nation of Israel was definitely in need of a Messiah, due to the ongoing exile that was prophesied of by Daniel the prophet.

The prophets never suggested the Messiah would be God or divine. Therefore, the Messiah of Christianity is a human invention motivated by Greek philosophy and a play on Jewish stories.

The evidence we provided last year is without criticism. The narrative is irrefutable and demonstrates a definite need. Simple knowledge of the biblical narrative will discredit this first argument. However, the second argument requires a bit more attention.

Before we go into our study, lets take a look at Matthew 16:13-20. But before we go there, lets recall what we read in John 5:39. Jesus criticized the Jewish leaders for searching the Scriptures and not seeing Him. He claimed the Scriptures testify of Him. This is a way of saying it provides information about him; it authenticates in a favorable and affirming manner.

However, when we read Matthew 16:13-20 and Jesus is asking His disciples who He is, Peter’s response warrants an explanation from Jesus on how he came to the conclusion that Jesus is the, Messiah, Son of the living God. Matthew wrote in Matthew 16:17, “17 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.”

Here’s the point: The Scriptures will point you to Jesus, but it will not make you see Him. This is a gift from the Father.

The key word in this verse is revelation.

Revelation means to make known information that was previously known only a a few people or that was hidden or meant to be kept secret.

Revelation is the disclosure of divine secrets, knowledge, or other information from the divine realm to humans.

Revelation requires that something be hid. It means there’s something beneath that which is seen at the surface. So then, the Old Testament Scriptures point to Jesus, but it doesn’t reveal Jesus. Revelation is the work of the Father.

In our current day, we are afraid to use this word revelation. However, I am convinced it still happens today. Furthermore, I am convinced that without revelation one cannot truly have faith. Revelation is the source of true faith and just as needed today as it was during the times of Jesus.

Question: Do you believe in revelation?

If we do not accept the reality of revelation, we simply become philosophers of a particular school of thought. We are not believers, we are simply thinkers. The difference between a thinker and believer; a smart person and a spiritual person is their encounter with the divine.

Now, since revelation has been used in such an abusive way, we must set some parameters:

Revelation does not contradict Scripture.

Revelation points to what the Father wants to unveil.

Revelation is not subjective, but is objective.

If it only applies to you or a select group, it’s not revelation.

Revelation is about revealing Jesus Christ.

So, since faith requires revelation, true faith is about seeing what is not generally seen. And when one sees what has been revealed, faith is the responsibility. Tonight’s study is about understanding why some people could see Jesus and have faith and why others could not. Essentially, my argument is that individuals who receive revelation will belief while others who simply hear the testimony will not.

Isaiah 6:9–10 NLT

9 And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ 10 Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”

Luke 8:4–15 NLT

4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’ 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

So in the first century there were some whose hearts were not right and though they received the testimony they could not believe, because they did not receive the revelation of Jesus. Now, let’s look at, from a logical standpoint, why revelation is so important.

The Jewish Argument: No Divine Messiah

Opening Question/ Activity: I am going to give you 3 minutes to find as many old testament passages you can that demonstrates the Messiah would be divine.

The Jewish argument we must not address is the idea that the Jewish Messiah was not expected to be God or divine. It is argued that there’s no evidence in the prophets that allude or imply the Messiah would be divine. The reality is this is true. However, do we conclude the prophets knew all there was to know? If so, what would be the need for revelation. Rather, the prophets were witnesses to the things to come, not revealers. And this is the distinguishing difference between the Jewish faith and the Christian faith.

Jewish faith holds the prophets were the revealers. We hold they were witnesses to the thing to come. Their words testified of that which would come. However, they, too, were awaiting the coming of the Messiah with their share of unanswered questions that would be revealed at the appointed time (see Matthew 13:16-17).

However, I push back on the idea the Hebrews Scriptures do not allude to a divine Messiah. In Isaiah 9:6, there seems to be a clear allusion to a divine Messiah who is given all the attributes of God. Though it is the only and most direct reference, it means something and should be considered.

Isaiah 9:6 NLT

6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 is the only passage in the Old Testament that will give us the direct understanding that the Messiah would be God/ divine. In all of the other Old Testament references that we have to support the idea of a divine Messiah are testimonies that are used to support the revelation given to the apostles.

As Christians we are believers of the message that was revealed to the earliest followers of Jesus Christ.

Now, we must understand why the apostles believed and whether their message is believable.

Reasons to Believe in Jesus

The records we are reading were recorded after the single most important event in Christian history—the resurrection. After the resurrection, the apostles and the belief of the apostles and the first Christians were validated. Here we find, faith in the revelation of Christ will may be considered nonsense. However, the biblical narrative demonstrates all that believe will one day be proven in the right, as God reveals Himself to the world. The key is to believe before the public manifestation—this is real faith. The compelling invitation the New Testament offers is to believe before it’s too late.

Let’s look at the biblical accounts. First, we must answer the question of whether Jesus claimed to be God?

John 8:48-49.

John 5:16-18.

John 14:7-11.

So, here are the three reasons we believe in Jesus Christ:

The teachings of Jesus (John 14:10)

The miracles of Jesus (John 14:10)

The resurrection of Jesus (John 11:25; Romans 1:3-4)

Upon the testimony of Jesus and the ultimate sign of His truthfulness, the apostles began writing and declaring this testimony throughout the entire world. Their way of sharing this testimony was reinterpreting the Old Testament passages as a means revealing Jesus. They learned this practice from Jesus, because He saw Himself as the fulfillment of that which is written.

Matthew 1:23.

John 1:1, 14.

John 20:24-29.

Colossians 1:15-18.

1 John 5:20.