Projecting Jesus

Introduction

Recap:

Week 1 - Restoration of Courage

We see that, even if you make mistakes, God can still use you.

Do you have the courage to represent Jesus in a culture that may not accept you for it?

Courage is, NEEDED, GIVEN & APPLIED

Week 2 - Compassion Goggles

Compassion allows us to view stressful situations from Jesus’ point of view.

Compassion comes from a place of REST

Compassion is already inside of us

Compassion will bring chaos to order

Week 3, we’ll be talking about, Projecting Jesus

Who do others say Jesus is?

Matthew 16:13

Matthew 16:13 ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

The area of Caesarea Philippi was associated with idols and rival deities. Imagine Jesus sitting in this city with his disciples and everywhere you look, there’s a representation of other world religions…

The world was already talking about what it thought about the idea of “god”, then Jesus asks the question, “what are people saying about me?”

What are some things you have heard other people say about Jesus?

Students Respond

Now, Jesus asked this question, to really allow a follow up question to be asked, we’ll get to that in a minute.

Disciple’s Responses:

Matthew 16:14

Matthew 16:14 ESV

And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

John the Baptist: the people that would’ve said this, clearly didn’t understand what they were talking about, because Jesus and John ministered at the same time.

Elijah, Jeremiah & Prophets: were all guys that helped turn nations away from corruption and evil rulers in their day.

All of these answers are respectful and honoring to Jesus, but fall short of who He actually is.

How many times do we box Jesus into just one view?

He lived a long time ago

He only heals physical pain

He only goes to people that are hurting

Sometimes we only focus on one aspect of Jesus, when we need to whole perspective of who He is.

Honor

great respect or esttem

a clear sense of what is morally right

Do our lives REPRESENT Jesus in a way that others would give Him honor?

Who do You say Jesus is?

Matthew 16:16–17 ESV

16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

It’s good to know what other’s think about Jesus, regardless if it is good or bad sayings.

The more important thing is, who do YOU say that Jesus is?

Your relationship with Jesus is a personal one and therefore what you personally think about Him, matters a ton.

Who do you say that Jesus is?

You Are the Christ, Son of the Living God

This claim by Peter is one that is still debated to this day, especially in Jewish communities.

Was Jesus a really great guy who God moved through incredibly

OR

Was Jesus the Messiah that was prophesied about all throughout the Bible?

What are the odds?

Professor of mathematics Peter Stoner gave 600 students a math probability problem that would determine the odds for one person fulfilling eight specific prophecies. (This is not the same as flipping a coin eight times in a row and getting heads each time.) First the students calculated the odds of one person fulfilling all the conditions of one specific prophecy, such as being betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. Then the students did their best to estimate the odds for all of the eight prophecies combined.

Professor of mathematics Peter Stoner gave 600 students a math probability problem that would determine the odds for one person fulfilling eight specific prophecies. (This is not the same as flipping a coin eight times in a row and getting heads each time.) First the students calculated the odds of one person fulfilling all the conditions of one specific prophecy, such as being betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. Then the students did their best to estimate the odds for all of the eight prophecies combined.

The students calculated that the odds against one person fulfilling all eight prophecies are astronomical-one in ten to the 21st power (1021). To illustrate that number, Stoner gave the following example: “First, blanket the entire Earth land mass with silver dollars 120 feet high. Second, specially mark one of those dollars and randomly bury it. Third, ask a person to travel the Earth and select the marked dollar, while blindfolded, from the trillions of other dollars.”

The students calculated that the odds against one person fulfilling all eight prophecies are astronomical-one in ten to the 21st power (1021). To illustrate that number, Stoner gave the following example: “First, blanket the entire Earth land mass with silver dollars 120 feet high. Second, specially mark one of those dollars and randomly bury it. Third, ask a person to travel the Earth and select the marked dollar, while blindfolded, from the trillions of other dollars.”¹

Bible scholars tell us that nearly 300 references to 61 specific prophecies of the Messiah were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The odds against one person fulfilling that many prophecies would be beyond all mathematical possibility. It could never happen, no matter how much time was allotted. One mathematician’s estimate of those impossible odds is “one chance in a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion.”

Bible scholars tell us that nearly 300 references to 61 specific prophecies of the Messiah were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The odds against one person fulfilling that many prophecies would be beyond all mathematical possibility. It could never happen, no matter how much time was allotted. One mathematician’s estimate of those impossible odds is “one chance in a trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion, trillion.”

When we REPRESENT Jesus, we are making a huge statement.

This is not something that should be taken lightly, or as just something to cross off our list each week.

We are REPRESENTING the living son of God, and our lives should be reflecting this in everything that we do:

communication with siblings

communication with parents

our thoughts

our actions