JESUS... Who is he? iGrow Session 1

Jesus... who was he? Who is he? Who do they/we/I say he is?
Who do you say he is?...

Matthew 16:13-20
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus was MORE than just: a man, a great human, and teacher.

He was fully human. He grew tired (John 4:6)6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. He got hungry (Matt 4:2)2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Jesus had human emotions like you and I.

Anger: 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[a]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.

Love: 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Sadness: 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

You see, this man was the Men of Men... Filled with the Holy Spirit...and had the Father of the Universe yet felt the very human experiences and emotions you and I face and feel daily. He experienced the same Temptation (Mark 1:13), Learning (2:46-52), Work (Mark 6:3) and Obedience (Luke 2:51). 

What I love and admire most about Jesus is that he was a STRONG & HUMBLE MAN. Though he was HUMBLE... He knew who he was. He owned up to his calling, his gift, his destiny and never quit! 

What did Jesus say about himself? 

John 14:6 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matt 10:40 40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

Matt 10:37 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Bold Statements... yes???

Teachings: Indirect Claims

To forgive sins: Mark 2:5 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

To Judge The World: Matt 31-45 

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

His Direct Claims

Claim to be God- John 10:30-33 30 I and the Father are one.”

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them,“I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Any Evidence to support what Jesus said? 

Yes... his teachings (Matt 5:7), his works (John 10:37-38), his character, his fulfillment of the Testament prophecy and his conquest of death!

Any Evidence for the resurrection: 

He was absent from the tomb! He was present with the 12 Disciples, he made a number of appearances and appeared to the masses. Luke 24:36-43.

Jesus' immediate effect

 The Birth and Growth of the Christian Church along with the continued experiences of Christians down the ages...even TODAY!

There is a lot of evidence to support Jesus' existence. Christians believe He is the Son of God! 

I do too! :)

Recommended Reading: Alpha-Questions of life by Nicky Gumbel

(inspired by iGrow Class @ Trinity Church www.trinitychurch.tv )