Fellowship of the Crossroads
The Road To Easter: Who do you say Jesus is?
The world has many opinions on who Jesus was. Some skeptics say he was just a “Legend”, a figment of someone’s imagination told in story form that took on a life of its own. Some say Jesus was a “Lunatic”, a crazy person who in the first century who claimed he was God’s son. Some say Jesus was a “Liar” who tried to overthrow the Roman government by telling his followers that he was the Messiah. Or, was Jesus exactly who He said He was and did the things His disciples said He did. The real question is “Who do you say Jesus is?” What do you believe about Him? Because the answer to that question can change your entire life. This Easter Sunday we are going to take of look at the Jesus of the bible and see if we can determine if Jesus was a Legend, a Lunatic, a Liar, or if He was who the Bible claims He is, Lord of all.
Locations & Times
Fellowship of the Crossroads
3706 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX 77901, USA
Sunday 10:15 AM
Mark 8:27-29
….On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"… (NKJ)
….On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"… (NKJ)
The question everyone has to answer: "Who do you says Jesus is?”
You have four choices and we are going to look at each one today.
You have four choices and we are going to look at each one today.
“L________________”
legend
1. a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.
What is the difference between a legend and a historical figure?
legend
1. a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.
What is the difference between a legend and a historical figure?
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
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 over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal 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 at this day.
Josephus (c.37 – 100)
Josephus (c.37 – 100)
Skeptics say: Jesus was a ___________ ____________, but he never claimed to be __________.
What is "Proof Reading" the text?
Jesus called Himself Son of Man over seventy times in the New Testament Gospels. What is the significance of that term?
Daniel 7:13-14
"I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then 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 the one Which shall not be destroyed (NKJ)
Daniel 7:13-14
"I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then 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 the one Which shall not be destroyed (NKJ)
John 10:30
"I and My Father are one." (NKJ)
"I and My Father are one." (NKJ)
I Am
Exodus 3:13-14
Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them,`The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me,`What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel,`I AM has sent me to you.'" (NKJ)
Mark 14:61-63
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? (NKJ)
Exodus 3:13-14
Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them,`The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me,`What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel,`I AM has sent me to you.'" (NKJ)
Mark 14:61-63
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? (NKJ)
So we have established two Facts,
1st that Jesus was a real ____________ __________.
2nd that Jesus did claim to be ___________.
1st that Jesus was a real ____________ __________.
2nd that Jesus did claim to be ___________.
L_______________
Mark 3:21
But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." (NKJ)
Who were Jesus "own people''?
Mark 6:3
"Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" (NKJ)
But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind." (NKJ)
Who were Jesus "own people''?
Mark 6:3
"Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" (NKJ)
John 7:5
For even His brothers did not believe in Him. (NKJ)
Mark 3:21
…lay hold of him …
For even His brothers did not believe in Him. (NKJ)
Mark 3:21
…lay hold of him …
L_____.
Cannot say: Jesus was not God, just a _________ ________ person.
Matthew 5:37
But let your `Yes' be`Yes,' and your `No,'`No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (NKJ)
Matthew 5:37
But let your `Yes' be`Yes,' and your `No,'`No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (NKJ)
Mark 10:19
You know the commandments:`Do not commit adultery,'`Do not murder,'`Do not steal,'`Do not bear false witness,'`Do not defraud,'`Honor your father and your mother.'" (NKJ)
You know the commandments:`Do not commit adultery,'`Do not murder,'`Do not steal,'`Do not bear false witness,'`Do not defraud,'`Honor your father and your mother.'" (NKJ)
Cannot Say: Jesus was not God, just a good ____________.
John 14:6-7
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." (NKJ)
John 14:6-7
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." (NKJ)
How do the lives of the disciples prove Jesus was not a liar?
L__________.
"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. ... Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God.”
C.S. Lewis.
C.S. Lewis.
Crossroads Challenge