Is Jesus God?
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
First Things First
First Things First
To a skeptic or non-believer, we need to first show that Jesus actually existed as a human.
Sound Familiar?
Sound Familiar?
Jesus was born and lived in Palestine. He was born, supposedly, to a virgin and had an earthly father who was a carpenter. He was a teacher who taught that through repentance and belief, all followers would become brothers and sisters.
He led the Jews away from their beliefs. He was a wise man who claimed to be God and the Messiah. He had unusual magical powers and performed miraculous deeds. He healed the lame. He accurately predicted the future. He was persecuted by the Jews for what He said, betrayed by Judah Iskarioto.
He was beaten with rods, forced to drink vinegar and wear a crown of thorns. He was crucified on the eve of the Passover and this crucifixion occurred under the direction of Pontius Pilate, during the time of Tiberius. On the day of His crucifixion, the sky grew dark and there was an earthquake. Afterward, He was buried in a tomb and the tomb was later found to be empty.
He appeared to His disciples resurrected from the grave and showed them His wounds. These disciples then told others Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven. Jesus’ disciples and followers upheld a high moral code. One of them was named Matthai. The disciples were also persecuted for their faith but were martyred without changing their claims. They met regularly to worship Jesus, even after His death.
The above is a summary of writings from NON-BIBLICAL and sometimes HOSTILE writers found in history from dates of 37AD to 175AD:
The above is a summary of writings from NON-BIBLICAL and sometimes HOSTILE writers found in history from dates of 37AD to 175AD:
Josephus (37AD), Thallus (52AD), Tacitus (56-120AD), Mara Bar-Serapion (70AD), Phlegon (80-140AD), Suetonius (69-140AD), Lucian of Samosata: (115-200 A.D.), Celsus (175AD)
Our primary sources for Jesus ’ life all come from the first century AD, most of them within 60 years of Jesus ’ crucifixion.
In comparison, biographies of Alexander the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than four hundred years after Alexander’s death, and yet classical historians still consider them to be trustworthy
In Paul recounts what biblical scholars recognize as an early Christian creed dating to within 3-5 years of the crucifixion.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
No time for a Legend to be born
No time for a Legend to be born
The early date of this creed rules out the possibility of myth or legendary development as a plausible explanation and demonstrates that the disciples began proclaiming Jesus’ death, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances very early.
There was simply not enough time for a great deal of myth and legend to accrue and distort the historical facts in any significant way.
The witnesses would still be alive to dispute these writings, yet nothing in recorded history exists of such declarations.
But Can We Trust the NT Writers?
But Can We Trust the NT Writers?
When historians examine the New Testament, they’re not treating the Bible as a holy, inspired book and trying to prove it’s true by quoting it.
Rather they’re treating the New Testament just like any other collection of ancient documents and investigating whether these documents are historically reliable.
It’s important to understand that originally there wasn’t any such book called “The New Testament.” There were just these separate documents handed down from the first century.
Did Jesus Claim to be God?
Did Jesus Claim to be God?
Some who deny that Jesus is God make the claim that Jesus never said that He is God. It is correct that the Bible never records Jesus saying the precise words, “I am God.”
This does not mean, however, that Jesus never claimed to be God.
Look at .
30 I and the Father are one.”
31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Shema Yisrael (“Hear, O Israel”) are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is the centerpiece of the morning and evening prayer services, encapsulating the monotheistic essence of Judaism:
Shema Yisrael (“Hear, O Israel”) are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is the centerpiece of the morning and evening prayer services, encapsulating the monotheistic essence of Judaism:
We need only to look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement to know He was claiming to be God. They tried to stone Him for this very reason: “You, a mere man, claim to be God” (, emphasis added). The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming—deity. When Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one,” He was saying that He and the Father are of one nature and essence. is another example. Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth … before Abraham was born, I am!” This is a reference back to when God revealed Himself as the “I AM.” The Jews who heard this statement responded by taking up stones to kill Him for blasphemy, as the Mosaic Law commanded ().
We need only to look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement to know He was claiming to be God. They tried to stone Him for this very reason:
Compare to . What is He saying here?
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
This is a reference back to when God revealed Himself as the “I AM.”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
The Jews who heard this statement responded by taking up stones to kill Him for blasphemy, as the Mosaic Law commanded ().
The Jews who heard this statement responded by taking up stones to kill Him for blasphemy, as the Mosaic Law commanded ().
16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
Look at . What’s going on here?
10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Compare this to ; ; , ; ; .
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Notice He never rebukes people for worshiping Him. If Jesus were not God, He would have told people to not worship Him, just as the angel in Revelation did.
Several times in Scripture Jesus receives worship. He never rebukes people for worshiping Him. If Jesus were not God, He would have told people to not worship Him, just as the angel in Revelation did. Beyond these, there are many other passages of Scripture that argue for Jesus being God.
Now look at
61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
13 “I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
In this reference to Daniel's vision, Jesus is identifying Himself as the Son of Man, a person who was given “dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him.”
Here, Jesus is referring to the Old Testament book of Daniel where the prophet Daniel states, “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed" ().
In this reference to Daniel's vision, Jesus is identifying Himself as the Son of Man, a person who was given “dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him.” The Son of Man has a dominion that is everlasting and will not pass away. One immediately wonders what kind of person has a dominion that is everlasting. What kind of a person is given a kingdom and will have all men serve Him? The High Priest, who immediately recognized Jesus’ claim to divinity, tore his robe and declared Jesus guilty of blasphemy.
The Son of Man has a dominion that is everlasting and will not pass away. One immediately wonders what kind of person has a dominion that is everlasting.
Look at the high priest’s reaction to these claims in
63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death.
What kind of a person is given a kingdom and will have all men serve Him? The High Priest, who immediately recognized Jesus’ claim to divinity, tore his robe and declared Jesus guilty of blasphemy.
Death on the Cross
Death on the Cross
History tells us that there was a tremendous penalty to be paid by Roman soldiers if they allowed a capital criminal to either escape or avoid the penalty for which they were sentenced.
Jesus disappeared from the historical record following His reported resurrection and ascension and was never sighted again
The Burial
The Burial
All four gospel narratives attest to the burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea and place women as the primary witnesses to the empty tomb. Both of these are highly unlikely to be Christian inventions.With regard to Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, he would have been easy to dismiss as a made up figure given the early dating of the NT writers.With regard to the women first reporting the tomb empty, why use women considering the low social status of women in both Jewish and Roman cultures and their inability to testify as for legal witnesses.
Finally, there is no competing burial story in existence.
The Resurrection
The Resurrection
The only early opposing theory recorded by the enemies of Christianity is that the disciples stole the body. Ironically, this presupposes the empty tomb.
The Jewish authorities had plenty of motivation to produce a body and silence these men who “turned the world upside down,” effectively ending the Christian religion for good. But no one could.
Conclusion
Conclusion
No scholar denies the fact that the Christian religion exploded out of the first century Israel. Where exactly did the Christian faith come from and what best explains its origin?
The most obvious answer to this question is that the disciples truly saw the resurrected Christ. Only an event of this magnitude could turn scared, scattered, and skeptical disciples, with no prior concept and expectation of a crucified and risen Messiah, into courageous proclaimers of the gospel willing to suffer and die for their belief that Jesus rose bodily from the grave.
Many people will die for what they believe to be true but no one willingly suffers and dies for what they know to be false.
Liars make poor martyrs.