Week 1: Seeking the Real Jesus

Week 1 – Seeking the Real Jesus

QUESTIONS WE WILL EXPLORE

Who is Jesus? Why is he a significant person in human history?

Is Jesus a man I can relate to and emulate?

Did Jesus demonstrate masculine qualities worth following?

 PERCEPTIONS OF JESUS

INTRODUCTION

 FOUNDATIONS FOR THE STUDY

 Interpreting Scripture

Normal, Plain Meaning

Context is King

Scripture interprets Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16

Acts 17:11

Main Theme

Central Figure

JESUS: THE GOD-MAN 

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DIVINITY OF JESUS

Jesus must be true God so that by the power of his divine nature he might bear in his the burden of , and might obtain for us and restore to us righteousness and life. (Heidelberg Catechism)

Isaiah 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Deuteronomy 4:24 – For the Lord your God is a , a jealous God.

Nahum 1:6 – Who can stand before his indignation? Who can the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

Psalm 130:3 – If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could?

Isaiah 53:5, 11 – But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the that brought us , and with his  we are . Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, many to be accounted , and he shall bear .

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:21 – For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

The divinity of Jesus enables him to  required.

The divinity of Jesus gives him the value to for the sins of the world.

The divinity of Jesus enables him to  of righteousness.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMANITY OF JESUS

Jesus must be a true man because the justice of God that the which has sinned should pay for sin. He must be a righteous man because one who himself is a sinner cannot pay for others. (Heidelberg Catechism)

Romans 5:12, 15 – Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one , and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned … But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one Jesus Christ abounded for many.

1 Corinthians 15:21 – For as by a came death, by a has come also the resurrection of the dead.

Hebrews 2:14-16 – Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

Hebrews 7:26-27 – For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this when he offered up himself.

1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the for the , that he might to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit

Christ’s humanity means that he is fallen humanity’s

Christ’s humanity means that he is fallen humanity’s

Christ’s humanity means that he is fallen humanity’s

THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE OF JESUS

He was  – Luke 2:7

He  and  – Luke 2:40; Luke 2:52

He experienced  of humanity

  – Matthew 4:2

 – John 4:7; John 19:28

 – John 4:6

 – Matthew 26:37; John 2:15; John 11:35

Limited  – Mark 5:30; Mark 13:32

From “Two Natures Doctrine of The Council of Chalcedon”

• In his divinity he is omniscient, possesses perfect knowledge of all facts: past, present, and future

• In his humanity he was sometimes limited in his knowledge according to the will and purposes of God

He was 

He never sinned – Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19

He was tempted – Matthew 4:1-11

He suffered in his temptation – Hebrews 2:18

He  ,  , and was  – Romans 8:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21

Next Week:

Read Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13

Make Observations – Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?

Ask Question – What would it be like to be in the place of Jesus in this situation?