WHO IS JESUS?

1. The Eternal and Sovereign God (John 1:1-5, 10-14, 18; Matthew 28:17-18) 

2. Proclaimer of His Kingdom (Matthew 4:12-17; 13:1-9, 18-23; Luke 11:14-20) 

3. The Only Way to Salvation (John 3:1-8; 14:6; 1 Corinthians 15:14-19) 

Central Truth: Jesus is our Lord and our God. 

Focus: Affirm and accept Christ as the Creator and supreme authority. 

Evangelism Emphasis: Forgiveness and eternal life are received only through Jesus Christ. 

Text: “Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). 

INTRODUCTION 

The previous lesson stated three important questions about God that must be answered: “Who is God, what is He doing, and how are we involved?” This lesson delves further into those questions by examining our belief in Jesus Christ. 

Jesus is of great interest even to people outside the Christian faith. Some consider Him to be a great teacher and a moral exemplar. He is recognized as significant to one degree or another in many religions in the world. In Islam, Jesus is considered a prophet, a wise teacher, and a miracle-worker. In the Hindu faith, Jesus is a holy man, a wise teacher, and even “a god” among many gods in their pantheon. In Buddhism, Jesus is a holy, wise, enlightened man. These are only a few examples. 

In the Christian faith, Jesus is seen as God in flesh. Paul wrote, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Col. 2:9 NASB). The writer of Hebrews said, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; [He is] the brightness of [God’s] glory and the express image of His person” (1:1-3 NKJV). Scripture is clear on this point: Jesus is God in the flesh. 

Whatever questions we may have about God can be answered by looking to Jesus. In Jesus, we see the most complete revelation of who God is. In Jesus, we can see what God is doing. By looking to Jesus as our Savior, Sanctifier, Spirit-baptizer, Healer, and soon-coming King, we can learn how we are involved in God’s mission. The purpose of this lesson is to give us a closer look at Jesus through the lens of Scriptural revelation. The goal of this exercise is not merely growth in intellectual knowledge; rather, it is to affirm and accept Christ as the Creator and supreme authority. As did the disciple Thomas, may each of us know Jesus as “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28). 

1. THE ETERNAL AND SOVEREIGN GOD 

A. Jesus Existed From Eternity Before Creation (John 1:1-3) 

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

The coming of the Christ child by way of the virgin’s womb was not the beginning of the Son of God. It was only the beginning of His incarnate existence. Christians hold to the truth that Jesus is of one essence with the Father, meaning Jesus is fully God. This means when we speak of God’s existence outside of time and creation for all eternity, the same must be true about Jesus, the Son of God. This belief is foundational to the Christian faith. 

In this passage, John tells us the Word (referring to Jesus Christ, the Son of God) participated in the act of Creation. But John doesn’t stop there; he continues by emphasizing “the Word was God” (v. 1) and “all things were made by him” (v. 3). Those who would dispute a belief in the divinity of Christ might suggest He was created prior to Genesis 1 and exists as some kind of higher order being. But that belief goes against the Scriptural witness. The Word is eternal; He is not a created being. He is God. 

• Describe Jesus’ involvement with the creation of the world. 

B. Jesus Became Fully Human While Remaining Fully Divine (John 1:4-5, 10-14, 18) 

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

The belief in the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus Christ is a great mystery to us. John writes that even though He made the world, “the world did not know Him” when “He came to His own” (vv. 10-11 NKJV). When Jesus came into the world as the God-man, it was a dark place—a world enveloped by sin. But as Jesus shined as “the light of men” (v. 4), the minority who did receive Him were given “the right to become children of God” (v. 12 NKJV). 

The idea of God becoming human is unimaginable—even scandalous! But Scripture is clear that is exactly what happened. For centuries, the Church has spoken carefully of the idea that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. But how can this be? It is not possible to logically explain the Incarnation. That is what it means to be a mystery. In this context, mystery means it is a truth we accept and seek to live by its light. It does not mean we have to solve it before we believe it.   

It must be stressed that Jesus is one person. Incarnation does not mean He is split into two persons, acting as human in one moment but as divine in another. He is one person with two natures—God and human. At all times, in all things that Jesus says and does in Scripture, He is acting as God incarnate. It is incorrect to say these two natures mix together to form a third kind of nature. If that were true, Jesus would no longer be truly God and truly human. He would be something entirely different. 

Jesus came to earth “full of grace and truth” (v. 14), but only those with eyes of faith saw in Him the full embodiment of saving truth. He disclosed the truth of God’s will, purpose, and plan for our salvation. The flow of grace He opened up continues to be poured out, transforming everyone who receives Him as “the truth” (14:6). 

One of Us 

In the mid-1990s, a song was released which asked the question: “What if God was one of us?” It has been recorded and re-released many times since then. For the Christian, this question reflects the heart of the Gospel. Indeed, God did become one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. God became fully human in order to save us and restore us to a right relationship with Him. Christians know the answer to the question “What if God was one of us?”, because our lives have been changed by His loving mercy and transforming grace. 

C. Jesus Has Divine Authority (Matthew 28:17-18) 

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Matthew records the final words of Jesus to His disciples in a post-Resurrection appearance just prior to His ascension. This passage powerfully reveals by this time in history, the disciples had come to understand that Jesus was more than just a great teacher; they had come to believe in Him and worship Him as God. 

In verse 17, there were those who doubted. This word might also be translated as “hesitated.” Biblical scholars suggest the possibility that, in addition to the eleven disciples who had seen the resurrected Lord several times prior to this, there were others present who may have been seeing Him for the first time. They saw the worship being offered to Him by others present but, as monotheistic Jews, they were hesitant. This is an important idea, because it points to the fact that they understood He was being worshiped as God. As N. T. Wright points out in Matthew for Everyone, “It is clear that Matthew wants us to see that in Jesus the promise of the very first chapter has been fulfilled. Jesus is the ‘Emmanuel,’ the one in whom ‘God is with us’ (Matt. 1:23).” 

In 28:18, Jesus makes this statement about Himself in the present tense, not the future tense. From this we can see that right now, not some time in the future, “all authority has been given to [Him]” (NKJV). This means Jesus is already ruling the world! That is not to say everything is as it should be, or as it will be one day. But it is comforting to the Christian to know Jesus has “overcome the world” (John 16:33; see also Rev. 11:15, which is also written in the present tense). We have nothing to fear. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)! 

• Can a doubter be a worshiper? Why or why not? 

2. PROCLAIMER OF HIS KINGDOM 

A. The Mandate of the Proclamation (Matthew 4:12-17) 

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

At this point in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus relocates from Nazareth to Capernaum after hearing that His forerunner, John the Baptist, has been imprisoned (vv. 12-13). From this busy intersection of commerce, and in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (see Isa. 9:1-2), Jesus began to proclaim the message, “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!” (Matt. 4:17 GNT). The proclamation of Jesus was a call to repentance, turning from darkness to light (v. 16). 

Repentance is not the same as confession. Confession is admitting that one has been wrong, while repentance goes beyond that by committing to turning away from wrong. First-century Jews would have heard in Jesus’ message a warning of the imminent day of God’s judgment. The implications for them and for us are the same. If we are to participate in the coming kingdom of God in all its fullness, it will require repentance. In short, we must turn away from a reliance upon ourselves and our attempts to live life apart from God’s grace. At the same time, we turn toward a life of following God which begins by accepting His forgiveness and receiving His indwelling presence in our lives to guide us and teach us His ways. 

• Compare Jesus’ basic message (v. 17) with John the Baptist’s message (3:1-2). 

B. Reception of the Proclamation (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23) 

Jesus told what we refer to as “the Parable of the Sower” in Matthew 13:1-9, and it speaks to the reception of the message He came to deliver. In the parable, a sower sows seed, but not all seed takes root and grows. The seed that falls on the hard path is consumed by the birds. The seed that falls on stony places is not able to put down deep-enough roots to survive the scorching sun. The seed that falls among thorns is eventually choked out. Only the seed that falls on good ground yields a crop, and even then the outcome is varied. Some of the good ground yields “a hundredfold, some sixty, [and] some thirty” (v. 8 NKJV). 

Jesus offers an explanation of this parable to His disciples in verses 18-23. The seed that falls by the wayside represents those who hear the message of the Kingdom but do not understand it, and it is quickly snatched away by the Wicked One. The seed that falls on stony places represents those who hear the message of the Kingdom and initially receive it with joy. But when trouble arises, their roots are too shallow to be able to endure. The seed that falls among thorns represents those who allow the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches to choke the message and its power out of their lives. And the seed sown on good ground represents the ones who hear and understand the message and bear fruit as a result. 

It is not hard to imagine why a proclamation of God’s judgment calling for repentance would have a mixed reception. Properly understood, repentance is a significant challenge to one’s way of life. It results in a complete reorientation around a new set of values and beliefs which inevitably results in behavioral changes as well. Under the right conditions, a life change of this kind can lead to social, relational, and economic difficulties. A person who seeks to live their life yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit can often find themselves at odds with prevailing cultural norms. 

Prayer of Repentance 

Father, accept my imperfect repentance, be compassionate toward my infirmities, purify my uncleanness, strengthen my weakness, fix my unstableness, and let thy good Spirit watch over me forever, and thy love ever rule my heart.—John Wesley 

C. Demonstration of the Proclamation (Luke 11:14-20) 

14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 

Not only did Jesus proclaim the message of the Kingdom with His words, He proclaimed it by demonstrations of His power. In the passage at hand, we see Jesus confronting a demon that was causing muteness. The sign that the demon had been cast out was the sudden ability of the mute person to speak. This caused a stir among the onlookers. 

There were those in the crowd who opposed Jesus’ ministry, but they had to deal with the matter at hand. How was He able to cast out this demon? The only explanation they could offer was that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. In Matthew’s account of this incident (12:22-28), we see it was a group of Pharisees who were challenging Him in this fashion. Jesus immediately pointed out the fatal flaw in their logic. If a kingdom is divided against itself, it will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, then how will his kingdom stand? 

Pagan exorcists at this point in history would attempt to remove demons through the use of magical incantations which would be considered a form of sorcery, punishable by death according to the Law (Ex. 22:18). It appears the Pharisees were attempting to levy this charge against Jesus for what they had just witnessed. But Jesus turns the tables on them, cleverly asking them about the members of their own group who were also casting demons out of people (Luke 11:19), probably using methods that looked magical compared to Jesus’ simple approach. Jesus was not casting out demons by relying on Satan’s power; He was casting them out “with the finger of God” (v. 20). And if that is the case, the message is clear—“the kingdom of God is come upon you.” 

• What truths about demons are revealed in this account? 

3. THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION 

A. You Must Be Born Again to Enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:1-8) 

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, which may be why he came to Jesus under the cover of darkness to have this conversation. Regardless, Nicodemus had heard the teaching of Jesus and seen the signs He had performed. Because of these things, Nicodemus could not deny Jesus was “a teacher come [to them] from God” (v. 2). This conversation was an opportunity for him to inquire further into what Jesus was saying. 

Jesus’ response to Nicodemus’ estimation of Him is direct and to the point: “Most assuredly . . . unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (v. 3 NKJV). Jesus is saying to the devout Jew that being a part of the kingdom of God is no longer based on physical descent from Abraham. God was doing something new and, in order for him or anyone else to participate, they would have to be “born again,” which could also be translated as “born from above.” 

The idea of being born of “water and of the Spirit” (v. 5) might be a reference to a combination of repentance (as symbolized by baptism in water) and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. One truth is clear: Participation in the kingdom of God requires a spiritual rebirth in which the Holy Spirit purifies the new believer and renews them in the likeness of Christ. 

B. Jesus Is the Way (John 14:6) 

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

In contemporary culture, born again has been overused to the point of being misunderstood. It is a term often used to describe a conversion experience, religious or otherwise. But speaking of being “born again” only in terms of one’s beliefs is incomplete. Religious belief systems do not save us; the way of salvation is through the person of Jesus Christ. 

Being born again is not simply believing something to be true and trying to be a better person as a result. It is the beginning of a transformation of one’s entire life as it becomes reoriented around Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is the only way to be made right with God. The Bible allows us no other option. In John 14:6, Jesus says He is the way. He is not a way, or one among many others. Clearly, He says to His disciples, “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (NKJV). 

In our pluralistic culture, it is fashionable to be “spiritual.” It is even acceptable to express belief in “God,” so long as that god is more or less undefined and impersonal. But the critical issue is the belief that God has revealed Himself to us in the person of the Son, Jesus Christ. In so doing, He has made it clear that Jesus is the only way for us to be reconciled to Him. This creates a challenge in a postmodern, pluralistic culture that wants to accept any and all truth claims as valid. 

• Could Jesus be “the way” if He was not “the truth”? Could He be “the truth” if He was not “the life”? Why or why not? 

C. Resurrection Is the Key to Salvation (1 Corinthians 15:14-19) 

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

A defining point of the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a historic fact, not religious fiction. Much effort has been expended by apologists defining the truth of Christ’s resurrection. That is not our purpose here. What is in view in this passage is the necessity of His rising from the dead for our salvation. Simply put, if Jesus was not resurrected from the dead, the Christian faith is in vain. 

There is an abundance of religious and political movements in our world in which the adherents regularly pay homage to their beloved founder who has died. But Christianity is markedly different in that the founder and centerpiece of our faith, Jesus Christ, rose from the dead. 

His resurrection is key to our salvation. Forgiveness is made possible by Jesus’ death, but a transformed life is not just a result of forgiveness. It is a result of the work of the Spirit in our salvation. The same Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in us right now, giving us new life which will be culminated when we receive our glorified bodies in our own resurrection (Rom. 6:10-11). From the moment of our justification to the moment of our glorification, the Holy Spirit is actualizing in us the righteousness, joy, and peace of the kingdom of God. And one day, that process will be fully realized when we receive our glorified bodies in the resurrection of the righteous (John 5:28-29). 

• Describe the hope offered in these verses concerning people who have “fallen asleep in Christ” (1 Cor. 15:18). 

JESUS-CENTERED LIVING 

In the current cultural climate, Christians are challenged to become tolerant of “other pathways to salvation.” It is suggested that all paths lead to God and we should learn to coexist with one another in peace. Although the Bible does call us to “live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18), even among those with whom we have significant differences in belief, we must not compromise our own convictions to do so. It is vital that we, as Christians, hold to the belief in Jesus Christ as the only way to God. 

However, if we are to be convincing witnesses, the truth of what we believe must be reflected in lives that are centered on Christ instead of self. While we may need to be bold at times in expressing our faith, we must always allow the love of God to flow through us. That love was demonstrated by the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ, so that all who believe in Him “should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

Daily Devotions  

M.  God Is My Salvation (Psalm 62:1-8) 

T.  God’s Everlasting Mercy (Psalm 103:11-17) 

W.  Everlasting King (Isaiah 9:2-7) 

T.  Preach the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:1-7) 

F.  Salvation by No Other Name (Acts 4:8-12) 

S.  Jesus Is the True God (1 John 5:19-21) 

Adopted from the Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary 2020-2021.