Discovering Christ's Identity

November 23

Think About It …

• Tell us an unpleasant school experience involving tattletale classmates?

• How did the accusation make you feel?• What did you learn from the experience?

Think About It …

• Jesus was accused of lying– He truthfully declared who He was– The religious leaders refused to believe him

… even accused him of blasphemy

Today we look at sources of testimony which

declared that Jesus is God and Savior

Jesus is God, Creator, and Savior

• If someone asked you who Jesus Christ is, how would you respond?

• Others describe Him as …– a great moral teacher– a prophet

How you see and understand Jesus is the

most important decision in life.

Listen for words and phrases which speak to the identity of Jesus.

John 1:1-5 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. [4] In him was life, and that life was the light of men

Jesus is God, Creator, and Savior

[5] The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. … 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is God, Creator, and Savior

• John uses the Greek word logos which is translated “the Word” to refer to Jesus. What statements does he make about “The Word”?

• C.S. Lewis points out three possibilities about Jesus’ claims– He was a God as He said He was– He was a liar– He was a lunatic

Why could he make that statement? Why could Jesus not be merely a good teacher or prophet?

Why could he make that statement? Why could Jesus not be merely a good teacher or prophet?

Jesus is God, Creator, and Savior

• In vs. 14, John declared “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

• Why is the incarnation (Jesus is God in human form) important to our faith?

Jesus is God, Creator, and Savior

• What were some things that occupied a large portion of your time and efforts in the past week?

• John was writing about the physical “dwelling” of Christ living among us. In Col. 1:27 (NIV) “ … Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Paul spoke of Christ dwelling in believers by His Spirit.

• How might intentional surrender to the indwelling Christ have changed the events we listed above?

Jesus is God, Creator, and Savior

• What are some ways we can be more intentional in our surrender to the Spirit of Christ who lives within us?

Listen for the escalation of a confrontation Jesus has with religious leaders.

John 5:8-18 (NIV) Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." [9] At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, [10] and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." [11] But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'"

Listen for the escalation of a confrontation Jesus has with religious leaders.

[12] So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" [13] The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. [14] Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

Listen for the escalation of a confrontation Jesus has with religious leaders.

[15] The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. [16] So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. [17] Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."

Listen for the escalation of a confrontation Jesus has with religious leaders.

[18] For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Jesus in Confrontation

• What increasingly significant offenses got the attention of religious leaders in this story?

• Why do you think they were more excited about the man carrying the bedroll on the Sabbath than his healing?

• Note that Jesus was killed (crucified) for being exactly who He claimed to be– Jesus is God … Jesus is Savior

Jesus in Confrontation

• Why do some people care more about keeping certain “religious” rules than they do about developing a meaningful relationship with Jesus?

• If Christ clearly loved people more than things – even holy things – how should that affect the way we function as a church?

John emphasized the nature of who Christ was prior to His birth as Jesus. Listen for Paul’s description of Jesus – for how his descriptions compare to John’s.

Col. 1:15-19 (NIV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [16] For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

John emphasized the nature of who Christ was prior to His birth as Jesus. Listen for Paul’s description of Jesus – for how his descriptions compare to John’s.

[17] He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. [18] And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. [19] For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

Paul’s Beliefs in Comparison

• What words and phrases do you see in this passage which describe Jesus?

• Why do you think Paul took the time to describe the qualities of Jesus Christ, who lived and participated in life as a man.

• What difference should true understanding about Christ make in our daily lives?

Application

• Jesus was a real man who dwelt on earth. He also is a real being who dwells within the life of each believer– He is Lord of the universe– He wants to be Lord of your life– Surrender daily, moment by moment to His rule in

your life

Application

• Jesus demonstrated His love and His power in the lives of the people He touched– He has demonstrated His love and power in each

of our lives– As we surrender to His rule in our lives, He will

love others through us– Allow Him to make us channels of blessing this

week

Application

• Be in awe of who Jesus is– The creator of all things– The sustainer of life– The source of light and life– Tell Him this week of your awe, your reverence,

your fear of His greatness, power, authority, and love

Discovering Christ's Identity

November 23