(1 Corinthians 2:1 MSG) 'You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s sheer genius, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified. '

They lost status.

They lost power.

They lost control.

(John 5:10 NLT) ... Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, "You can't work on the Sabbath! The law doesn't allow you to carry that sleeping mat!"

(Mark 12:13 NLT) .... leaders sent some Pharisees ... to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.

(Matthew 27:41 NLT) The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus.

• Jesus claimed to be God.

(Matthew 26:59 NLT) ... leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus, so they could put him to death.

(Matthew 26:63-64 NLT) ... the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God--tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus replied, "You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God's right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven."

• Jesus claimed to be the only way.

(Acts 4:12 NLT) There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

(John 14:6 NLT) Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

(John 14:9 NLT) Jesus replied, "... Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?

• Jesus is either a liar, lunatic, or Lord.

(John 10:20 NLT) Some said, "He's demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?"

(Hebrews 6:18 NLT) ... it is impossible for God to lie. ...

• Experience His power.

(John 9:17 NIV) Then they turned again to the blind man, "What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened." The man replied, "He is a prophet."

(John 9:25 NLT) "I don't know whether he is a sinner," the man replied. "But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!"

• Experience His presence.

(Hebrews 10:22 NLT) let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him....

(Jude 1:24 NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.

• Experience His peace.

(John 14:27 NLT) "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

• Experience His salvation.

(Romans 10:9 NLT) If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.