Jesus in the New Testament (Post Resurrection Testimonies)

• John 1:1-3
  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Godm and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
• Colossians 1:15-17
  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were create through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus, the Messiah (Greek - Christ), is not a created being, he is God.

Jesus in the Old Testament

• Thorphanies - appearances of God in human form prior to the incarnation
  Often called 'the Angel of Yahweh (the Lord)' - can be unclear whether it is an angel or God himself.
  • Abraham (Genesis 18-19) 'Three men' visited Abraham.
    One is Jahweh (the Lord), two are angels who travel onto Sodom in an attempt to rescue Lot and his family.
  • Jacob (Genesis 32) Jacob wrestled with a 'man' and then said he had seen God 'face to face'.
    The 'man' changed Jacob's name to Israel and said that he (Jacob) had wrestled with 'God'.
  • Gideon (Judges 6) 'Angel of Jahweh (the Lord)' met with Gideon and performed miracles (fire from rock, dry/wet fleece).
    In Judges 6:14,27 the angel is referred to as Jahweh (the Lord).
  • Samson's parents (Judges 13) 'Angel of Jahweh (the Lord)' prophecised Samson's birth and gave instructions for the child's upbringing.
    In Judges 13:9,13 'Angel of Jahweh (the Lord)' and 'Angel of God' are used interchangeably.
    Judges 13:10 The phrase 'the man who appeared' suggest that he looked like an ordinary bloke (i.e. like Jesus did), not some apparition / angelic figure.
  • Joshua bowed before a man called the 'Commander of the Armies of the Lord' Joshua 5:13-17
    Compare with John 22:8-9 where John is rebuked for worshipping an angel.
• Messianic Prophecies - accurate prophecies identifying numerous details about the identity and work of the Messiah.
  A number of times God throws out a challenge 'can the idols of other religions tell you the future?' See Isaiah 40-46.
  All these help us to identify Jesus as the Messiah. See John 7:28-31.
  • God promised that he would send someone who would deliver Israel from its enemies and the people from their sins.
  • This Messiah ('anointed one') would be or do the following.

Messianic Prophecies

• Virgin birth
  Isaiah 7:14 Therefore Jahweh (the Lord) himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shal conceive and bear a son, and shall call is name Immanuel.
  
• Born in Bethlehem
  Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler of Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
• The Messiah would be a descendant of:
  • Abraham (Genesis 12:3)
  • Isaac (Genesis 26:4)
  • Jacob (Genesis 28:14)
  • Judah (Genesis 49:8-12)
  • David (2 Samuel 7:16)
    Following the massacre of the royal bloodline by queen Athaliah the Messianic line was preserved  through a single baby.
• An obedient Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:18)
• A faithful Priest (1 Samuel 2:35)
• The eternal King (Isaiah 9:6)
• Immanuel - 'God with us' Isaiah 7:14
• Healer of the deaf and blind (Isaiah 35:5)
• Healer of the sick and diseased (Isaiah 53:4)
• Great light in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2)
• Parable teller (Psalm 78:2) - hiding Kingdom of God things from those who did not really want to know.
• Entered Jerusalem on a colt (Zechariah 9:9)
  Only time Jesus allowed people to proclaim him as Messiah - the date prophecised in Daniel 9.
• Be hailed as the Messiah (Psalm 118:26)
• Be rejected by His people (Psalm 118:22)
• Be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9) for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12)
• Severely beaten (Isaiah 52:14, 53:5)
• Mocked and ridiculed (Psalm 22:7)
• Pierced (Zechariah 12:10) in his hands and feet (Psalm 22:16).
  Describes crucifixion 300 years before it was invented and 1,000 years before it happened to Jesus.
• Lots cast for His clothing (Psalm 22:18)
• Be put to death (Daniel 9:26) among the wicked (Isaiah 53:9) as a sacrifice for our sins (Isaiah 53:8,10)
• Buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9)
• Resurrected after a short while (Psalm 16:10)
• Alive again after His death (Isaiah 53:10)
• Raised to the right hand of God to serve as a priest forever (Psalm 110:1,4) cf Hebrews 10:12

Jesus Birth Announcements

• Zechariah (Luke 1:5-25) Priest serving in the temple is visited by an angel who informs him that his aged and barren wife would have a son (John the Baptist) who would prepare the hearts of the people of Israel for the Messiah.
• Mary (Luke 1:26-38) A virgin betrothed to Joseph (a builder) is visited by the angel Gabriel with the news that she would conceive and bear a son who would be called 'Son of the Most High'. She responded with the words 'Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word'. She displayed humilty and knowledge of scripture.
• Jospeh (Matthew 1:18-21) on learning Mary was pregnant sought to send her away secretly (saving her the humiliating visit to the priest described in Numbers). An angel appeared to him in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife and that the Child was from the Holy Spirit. He was to be given the name 'Jesus'.
• Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) An angel informed shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem that the Saviour, 'Christ the Lord' had just been born. The shepherds found the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (symbolic of a lamb destined to be sacrificed for sin). Those who heard the story from the shepherds (the first evangelists) 'wondered' at their story.

Impossibilities

• Zechariah, he was literally left speechless.
• Elisabeth pregnant?
• Mary - a virgin conceive? The Son of God? The Messiah?
• Joseph finds out his wife is telling the truth, Jesus will save his people from their sins.
• Shepherds received the news of the arrival of the Saviour, Messiah and Lord.

The Incarnation

• The Son of God took on bodily form.
• Jesus fully God and fully man (and he still is).
  Jesus not cease to be man at the Ascension.
• Solution to our sin problem
  • We have sinned against and infinitelt holy God, and we desrve his wrath and judgement.
  • Jesus (the God-man) willingly took the judgement we deserve, paying the in finite penalty.
  • Jesus satisfied God's justice and wrath by taking it in our place.
• Never forget why the Son Of God became one of us.
  When we think of the baby in the manager...
  • Remember the cross and the empty tomb
  • Tell others the good news - eternal life and forgiveness of sins can only be found through faith in Jesus Christ.

 Contradictory Accounts?

Jesus was nearly 2 years old when the Magi visited.
The temple visit was when Jesus was 40 days old.
No contradiction, just giving different details.

Eye Witness Summary of Jesus's Life
John 1:14 The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.