Jesus

Jesus is Lord!

My message today is inspired by the scripture;

John 12:32 (NKJV) And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."

This was a direct reference to the cross where He was lifted up but today I believe we need to continue to lift Him up to show Him to the people of this world.

Jesus is the centre of our faith, the head of the church, the author and finisher of our faith and the hope of our salvation.

Peter once said

1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

And that is just what we are going to do today.

We are living in a time when the world is moving away from God and becoming hostile towards Christianity.

There are and will be attacks on the very basis of Christianity even from within the church itself so as Peter says we will need to ‘be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us’.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthinans 15. that the gospel is that Christ died for our sins, He rose again and was seen by many people. And now we are saved by believing this gospel and putting our faith in Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (NKJV) says; 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

That’s the gospel. Jesus is central to that gospel.

It was Jesus who was tortured and crucified as a sacrifice for our sins.

It was Jesus who was buried and who rose again from the dead after three days.

Jesus warned us in

Matthew 24:4-5 (NKJV) 4 ….: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

How will be able to recognise the deceivers when they come if we don’t know the real Jesus?

After all, the Jews waited thousands of years for their messiah but failed to recognise Him when He came.

So who is this person we call Jesus?

John tells us that Jesus was the Word, that He was God and that He was the creator;

John 1:1-4 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And John 1.14 identifies that Word as being Jesus;

John 1:14 (NKJV) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” That’s Jesus

Paul says in Colossians 1. 15-20 that Jesus;

Colossians 1:15-20 (NKJV) 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Isaiah tells us that the creator is God;

Isaiah 45:18 (NKJV) For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

So, from these scriptures we can gather that Jesus

· Is the image of the invisible God

· By Him all things were created that are in heaven and earth.

· And In Him dwells the fullness of God

· Yes, He is God!

Jesus the Man

That Jesus was a man is not disputed by most historians whether Christian or otherwise.

His life and activities are referred to by Roman and Jewish historians of the time as well as reported in the Bible.

Flavious Josephus (AD 37-100) said; “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew many over to him both of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principle men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.”

Although He was born of the virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit, he was as much a human as anyone else.

He was born a baby and had to be fed, to grow, to be educated and trained as any other child would.

Like any other person at that time, He got from place to place by walking or riding a donkey.

Jesus had a normal upbringing as a child although he obviously knew what his future held when He was 12 years old as demonstrated when he visited Jerusalem with his parents.

Luke 2:49 (NKJV) 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

Right from the beginning of his life, his parents must have realised that he was going to be someone special, a king at His conception and birth He was heralded by angels, and after he was born, wise men from the east following his star, came to visit him and bring him gifts.

Jesus - God

That Jesus is God is fundamental to the Christian faith. This is based on four main witnesses;

1. The prophecies He fulfilled

2. What Jesus said about himself,

3. What Jesus did, and

4. What others said about Him.

1. The Prophecies Jesus Fulfilled

There are more than 300 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament that were fulfilled through Jesus' life, death and resurrection.

When Apollos arrived in Achaia, Acts 18:27-28 (ESV) …., he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

He proved just by the scriptures – the old testament was all the scriptures he had to go by, he proved Jesus was the Christ.

It is said that the chances of one person fulfilling just eight of the old testament prophecies concerning the messiah, are one in a hundred quadrillion that’s 1 followed by 16 zeros.

The odds of someone fulfilling 300 are just too much to comprehend.

Both Mary and Joseph (his step-father) were of the line of David and the tribe of Judah, fulfilling prophecies from: Psalm 132:11, Jeremiah 23:5, and Isaiah 11:10, Micah 5:2, Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Genesis 49:10,

Here are some examples of the messianic prophecies that Jesus fulfilled;

· The Messiah would be the “Seed of a Woman”

· He would be the promised seed of Shem, of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, of Judah and of David.

· He would be born of a Virgin

· He would be born in Bethlehem

· He would come forth from Egypt as a child

· He would be called a “Nazarene”

· He would be a prophet

· He would be a teacher

· He Would be Rejected by His people

· He would be praised while riding the colt of a donkey

· He would be sold for thirty pieces of silver

· He would be forsaken by His disciples

· He would be smitten across the face

· He would be spat upon

· He would be whipped on the back

· He Would be Pierced in His Hands, Feet and His body

· But His bones would not be broken

· He would be killed alongside the guilty

· His Garments would be gambled for

· He would be deserted by God

· He would agonize with thirst

· He would be buried with the rich

· He would not be bound to the power of death

· He would destroy the power of death for others

· He would be raised on the third day

· He would ascend to heaven

· He would have a forerunner (John the Baptist) go before Him

· He would begin His ministry in Galilee

· He would pray for His persecutors

· He would be the object of ridicule

· His friends would stand far off

· He would bring salvation for both Jews and Gentiles

· The Holy Spirit would rest upon Him

· He would teach in parables

· He would be a miracle-worker

· He would suffer greatly

· He would be betrayed by a friend

· He would be accused by false witnesses

· He would be silent before his accusers

· His body would be disfigured

These were just some of the prophecies that were fulfilled by Jesus.

What did Jesus say about himself ?

So just what did Jesus say about Himself that leads us to belief He is God?

John 8:12 (NKJV) 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

John 11:25-26 (KJV) 25 …… I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. ….

John 14:6 (NKJV) 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Matthew 10:40 (NKJV) 40 "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

In John 14.9-11, Jesus told Philip (the other Philip not me) that if you have seen Him you have seen the Father and that He was in the Father and the Father was in Him.

How clear can you get?

John 6:38 (NKJV) says He came down from Heaven And John 6:40 (NKJV) He said that it is God the Fathers will that we believe in Him so that we may have everlasting life and that Jesus will raise us up at the last day."

John 6:51 (KJV) 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 10:9 (KJV) 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 10:10 (KJV) 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

John 10:30 (NKJV) I and My Father are one."

John 10:36-38 (KJV) 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

John 13:13 (KJV) 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

Does Jesus ever claim to be God?

One of the main criticisms opponents of Christs deity claim are that He never actually claimed to be God.

Is this true?

Well, if you were a Jew you would have no doubt that He did in fact claim to be God.

Of course we have the famous statement by Jesus in John 8 where Jesus undoubtedly claims He is God and that He is eternal.

John 8:58-59 (NKJV) Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

This is a direct reference to Exodus 3:14 (NKJV) where God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." …., "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

The response of the people shows they understood that He was claiming to be God.

Then we have His statements in the book of Mark.

Mark 2:28 (NKJV) Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

He says He is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is part of the 10 commandments so He is actually saying He is Lord of the 10 Commandments. He is God.

Mark 14:61-64 (NKJV) But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

The High priest understood exactly what Jesus was saying. He was saying He would sit on the throne at the right hand of the Father. In other words, He was sitting on God’s throne. He was God.

Again in John 10.33 the Jews realised that Jesus was claiming to be God when He said ‘I and my Father are one’, so they tried to stone Him;

John 10:33 (NKJV) The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God."

These are just some of the claims of Jesus.

Clearly He believed He was sent by God

Clearly He believed That He was the Son of God

Clearly He believed That He and the Father were one.

Clearly He believed That He was God.

And yes, He did claim to be God.

2. What did Jesus do?

So what did Jesus do to prove He was God?

Jesus is God because He did the works of God;

In John 9:4 (NKJV) Jesus said “I must work the works of Him who sent Me”

In other words, the works He did were the works of the Father.

John 14:10-13 (NKJV) says …; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. and … believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

So, Jesus said that the works He did proves who He was and John 9.4 says they are the works of God;

John 10:37-38 (NKJV) 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."

What were these works that Jesus did?

· Jesus healed the sick. Psalm 103 tells us it is the Lord who heals all our diseases.

· He performed miracles. He turned water into wine, raised the dead.

· He miraculously fed the thousands as God fed Israel in the wilderness.

· He cast out demons.

· He forgave sins something only God can do. Psalm 103 says it is God who forgives our iniquities.

· He taught as only God would teach such as in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7)

· He calmed the sea. Psalm 107 25-30 tell us that it is God who calms the sea

· He walked on water and Job tells us that God alone ‘treads the waves of the sea’.(Job 9.8)

Consider His response to John the Baptist when John sent his disciples to Jesus asking if he was their messiah.

Luke 7. 22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard:

· that the blind see,

· the lame walk,

· the lepers are cleansed,

· the deaf hear,

· the dead are raised,

· the poor have the gospel preached to them.

· And blessed is he who is not offended because of me.”

Acts 10:38 (KJV) says; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Jesus gave His life for us (Gal 1.4)

1. From the moment Adam sinned, Christ has given Himself for us.

2. Everything He said or did was so that at some stage He would be able to redeem us and bring us back into relationship with God.

3. He lived for us in heaven before He was born

4. When He became man He devoted His life to us.

5. He was crucified rose again and was seen by over 500 people before He went to be with the Father.

6. He defeated Satan for us

7. He lives today for us – even now He is making intercession for us.

3. What did others say about Jesus?

In addition to the many prophecies in the Bible, there are also some other important messages about Jesus.

We have already seen that John said that He was the Word, that He was God and that He made everything. (John 1).

We have already seen that Paul said He was the image of the invisible God and that He created all things. (Col 1:15-16).

In Matthew, the Bible says He was God with us.

Matthew 1. 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

In John 3:16 and 18 the Bible says that He is the only Son of God;

In Revelation chapter 5 verse 8 it says “

…. and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Crucifixion

Christian, Jewish and Roman reports of Christ’s crucifixion were circulated very shortly after the event and long before any of the new testament was written.

Even Christianity’s most vehement critics say there can be no doubt that Jesus died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate[1].

His resurrection was witnessed by over 500 people, some of whom were not his friends. James his brother for instance, did not believe in Jesus before He was killed but after the resurrection He was so convinced Jesus had come alive again that he became one of the leaders of the church. Paul was hostile towards Christians until he met Jesus. The disciples including Paul and James were so convinced he had come alive again that they served the rest of their lives suffering persecution and in the end horrific deaths proclaiming the resurrection.

Satan

Satan himself in Matthew 4:1-11 called Him the Son of God.

Demons said in Luke 4:33 said;

“…I know who You are— the Holy One of God!”

The Jews

In John 10, The Jews accused Him of making Himself out to be God:

Angels Proclaiming His birth said;

Luke 2.8-11 ….. “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

The Father called Him His Beloved Son.

At the transfiguration, where the disciples saw Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah, God’s voice declared him to be His son;

Matthew 17:5 (NKJV) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

John the Baptist said;

Luke 3:16 (KJV) …… I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Elizabeth called Him her Lord;

When the mother of John the Baptist saw Mary she called her the mother of her Lord.

Martha said;

John 11:27 (KJV) …. Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Peter said;

Matthew 16:16 (NKJV) … "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Pilate wrote over the cross;

John 19:19 (NKJV) 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The Centurian at the Cross said;

Mark 15:39 (NKJV) "Truly this Man was the Son of God!"

Thomas said;

In John 20.28 Thomas who had previously said he would not believe Christ had risen until he had felt Christ’s scars said

John 20:28-29 (NKJV) … Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

People often criticise Thomas for doubting but thank God for him because he has provided us with documented evidence that not only is Christ risen from the dead, not only is Jesus Lord and God but that Jesus also accepted that description.

Paul said;

1 Corinthians 15:47 (KJV) 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

Carmen Christi

In Philippians 2, Paul quotes from what is believed to be a hymn written in the late 30’s AD which clearly shows that the early church compared Him with Yahweh.

Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This hymn called Carmen Christi or the Song of Christ says Jesus was in the form of God, equal with God, who came in the form of man and says every knee shall bow and every tongue confess which is what God says in

Isaiah 45:22-23 (NKJV) … For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.

The Three Synoptic Gospels

The three synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell the story of John the Baptist declaring him to be the voice in the wilderness proclaiming “prepare the way of the Lord, make His path straight” which is a reference to the prophecy in Isaiah 40.3 and Malachi 3.1.

Isaiah 40:3 (NKJV) The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.

The word Lord is yhwh, in other words it is saying ‘prepare the way for Yahweh or Jehovah, in other words, God’.

Basically they are saying that Jesus is the Lord in the prophecy. In other words, Jesus is God.

The Writer of Hebrews said;

Hebrews 1:8-10 (NKJV) 8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your Kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." 10 And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

The Church Fathers;

In AD 381, the early church fathers got together to develop one creed or statement of belief that all the different lines of Christianity could accept. This was known as the Nicene Creed.

The first part of the Nicene Creed reads as follows:

“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father. By him were all things made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was made flesh from the Holy Spirit and Mary the virgin, became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. He rose again on the third day, according to the scriptures, and ascended into the heavens. He sits on the right hand of the Father and will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will not end. ……

C.S. Lewis said;

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Other evidences

There are other evidences too.

· There’s the effect he had on his disciples many of whom died a horrific death proclaiming his name.

· There’s the fact that the church has survived 2000 years.

· There’s the effect on people today where prayers in His name are answered, people healed, set free, lives changed and circumstances turned around.

· There’s the fulfilment of His prophecies that He made about the end times that we are seeing for ourselves now.

· There’s the testimony of those who have overcome by the blood of the lamb.

· There’s your testimony. The story of how Jesus has changed your life. Write it down and constantly remind yourself.

The Bible also contains a number of names or titles for Jesus.

In the Bible, names were not just what people were called but they had a special meaning. Sometimes they described the person’s character, what they were or what it were to become for instance, God gave Abram the name Abraham which meant father of many nations because that was what he was to become.

Some of these other names for Jesus or Yeshua are;

· Advocate 1 John 2.1

· Almighty Rev 1.8

· Alpha & Omega Rev 1.8

· Amen Rev 3.14

· Apostle & High Priest Heb 3.1

· Author & Finisher of our faith Heb 12.2

· Author of Eternal Salvation Heb 5.9

· Beloved Son Matt 3.17

· Bishop of our souls 1 Pet 2.25

· Blessed, only Potentate 1 Tim 6.15

· Branch Zech 3.8

· Branch of Righteousness Jer 33.15

· Bread from Heaven John 6.32

· Bread of God John 6.33

· Bread of Life John 6.35

· Captain of our Salvation Heb 2.10

· Carpenters Son Matt 13.55

· Chief Cornerstone 1 Pet 2.6

· Chief Shepherd 1 Pet 5.4

· Chosen of God Matt 12.18

· Christ Jesus Heb 3.1

· Christ of God Luke 9.20

· Consolation of Israel Luke 2.25

· Counsellor Isaiah 9.6

· Creator John 1.3

· Day Spring Luke 1.78

· Day Star 2 Pet 1.19

· Deliverer Rom 11.26

· Desire of all Nations Hag 2.7

· Door John 10.7

· Emmanuel Matt 1.23

· Everlasting Father Isaiah 9.6

· Faithful & True Rev 19.11

· Faithful Witness Rev 1.5

· First & Last Rev 1.17

· Fore Runner Heb 6.20

· Foundation 1 Cor 3.11

· Friend of Sinners Matt 11.19

· Gift of God John 4.10

· Glory of the Lord Isaiah 40.5

· GOD Heb 1.8 Phil 2.5-6, Luke 4.12, John 1.1-14

· God in the Flesh 1 Tim 3.16

· God with Us Matt 1.23, 19.16 Col 2.8-9,

· Good Master Matt 19.16

· Good Shepherd John 10.11

· Governor Matt 2.6

· Great High Priest Heb 4.14

· Head of Every Man 1 Cor 11.3

· Head of the Church Col 1.18

· Heir of All Things Heb 1.2

· High Priest Heb 3.1

· Holy Child Acts 4.27

· Holy One & Just Acts 3.14

· Holy One of God Mark 1.24

· Holy One of Israel Isaiah 41.14

· Horn of Salvation Luke 1.69

· I am John 8.58 which is how God identifies Himself.(Ex 3:14)

· Image of God 2 Cor 4.4

· Jesus Matt 1.21

· Jesus Christ the Righteous 1 John 2.1

· Jesus of Nazareth Mark 1.24

· Judge of the Quick and Dead Acts 10.42

· Just Man Matt 27.19

· Just One Acts 7.52

· King Matt 21.5

· King of Ages 1 Tim 1.17

· King of Israel John 1.49

· King of Kings 1 Tim 6.15

· King of Saints Rev 15.3

· King of the Jews Matt 2.2

· Lamb of God John 1.29

· Last Adam 1 Cor 15.45

· Law Giver James 4.12

· Light of the World John 8.12

· Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev 5.5

· Lord of Glory 1 Cor 2.8

· Lord of Lords Rev 19.16

· Lord of Our Righteousness Jer 23.6

· Man of Sorrows Isaiah 53.3

· Master Matt 23.16

· Mediator 1 Tim 2.5

· Messiah Dan 9.25 John 1.41

· Mighty God Isaiah 9.6

· Morning Star Rev 2.28

· Nazarene Matt 2.23

· Only Begotten Son John 3.16

· Only Begotten of the Father John 1.14

· Passover 1 Cor 5.17

· Power of God 1 Cor 1.24

· Priest Forever Heb 5.6

· Prince of Life Acts 3.15

· Prince of Peace Isaiah 9.6

· Prophet John 7.40

· Rabbi John 1.38

· Rabboni John 20.16

· Redeemer Isaiah 49.26

· Resurrection & Life John 11.25

· Rock 1 Cor 10.4

· Root of David Rev 22.16

· Rose of Sharon Song of Sol 2.1

· Saviour Luke 2.11

· Seed of David 2 Tim 2.8

· Servant Matt 12.18

· Shiloh Gen 49.10

· Son of David Matt 9.27

· Son of God Matt 8.29

· Son of Man Matt 16.28

· Son of Righteousness Mal 4.2

· Son of the Blessed Mark 14.61

· Son of the Father 2 John 1.3

· Son of the Highest Luke 1.32

· Teacher of God John 3.2

· True Light John 1.9

· True Vine John 15.1

· The Way, Truth & Life John 14.6

· Witness Isaiah 55.4

· The Word John 1.1, 1.14

· The Word of God Rev 19.13

These are titles you would give to God not man.

Jesus is Unique

He is the Son of God

Matthew 17:5 (NKJV) ….. suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"

He is the only way to the Father

John 14:6 (NKJV) 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

He is the Creator;

Colossians 1:16 (NKJV) 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

He is God

John 1:1 (NKJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) …… God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

As Peter said;

Acts 4:12 (NKJV) 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

· Not Budda, Not Krishna, Not Mohammad, not good works

· Jesus is the only way to the Father, He is the only way to salvation.

Finally, as Paul says in

Romans 10:13 (NKJV) … "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

That name is Jesus

Jesus is Lord!

Jesus is God!

He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!

Amen

[1] For example, John Dominic Crossan, Paula Fredriksen, Gary Ludemann, Reza Aslan