Introduction: Who is Jesus? This is the most important question in
life. Recall our discussion last week about Thomas worrying because
he did not know the directions to the place Jesus was preparing for
him in heaven? Jesus explained to Thomas that He was not talking
about a map, He was talking about theology. In John 14:5-6 Jesus
explains that He is the only way to heaven. Like Thomas, this is
something we want to be sure we get right! Let’s jump into our study
of the Bible and learn more about Jesus!
- Roof Rats
- Read Luke 5:17. What does this suggest that the
established religious teachers thought of Jesus? (It was
worth the effort to travel to listen to Jesus. He was
someone whose teachings were worth considering.) - What do we learn about Jesus’ power to heal? (It
seems that the power to heal was not present at all
times. Jesus healed through the power of God who
determined when that power would be present.) - What does this suggest about our attempts to
heal sick friends and family? (The power comes
from the Holy Spirit, and it is not always
present. God is sovereign in all things.) - Read Luke 5:18-19. Pretend that you were one of the
friends who was carrying your quadriplegic friend to be
healed. A big crowd has gotten there before you. What
would you do? (Come back another day and get there
earlier.) - What kind of person thinks of climbing on the roof,
ripping off the tiles to create a hole, and lowering
a friend in front of Jesus? - If you were speaking, would you appreciate these
characters creating such a great distraction? Didn’t
anyone teach them manners? What about having respect
for the property of others? - Read Luke 5:20. What did Jesus see? (Their faith.)
- Contemplate this just a moment. I don’t know the
customs of the day, but I’ve got to believe that
these guys were violating all sorts of rules of
personal conduct and respect for private property.
What does it teach us that of all the bad things
Jesus could have noticed about them, what He sees is
their faith? - By the way, whose faith is Jesus referring to?
- Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven.” What do you
think: is this what the friends were hoping to hear?
(My guess is that they were hoping to have their
friend healed of his disability.) - Read Luke 5:21. Turns out that this is not a popular
response at all. What troubles the established religious
teachers? (They believe that only God can forgive sin.) - Do you agree?
- Jesus is obviously not stupid. Why do you think He
gave this unpopular answer? (Jesus wants the
established religious leaders to consider whether He
is the Messiah.) - Read Luke 5:22-25. What should the religious leaders think
about Jesus knowing their thoughts? - What is the answer to Jesus’ question about which is
easier? (It is easy to say either one (although
saying one would subject you to the death penalty,
see Leviticus 24:13-16), but proving you had healed
someone was a lot harder.) - What point is Jesus making to the group? (He is the
Messiah. He has authority on earth to forgive sins.
As they know, only God has that authority.) - Read Luke 5:26. What do you think the people concluded
from this? Did they think Jesus was the Messiah? - There are many Biblically illiterate people running
around saying, “I think Jesus was a good man and a
great teacher, but I don’t believe He is God.” After
reading this story, what is your response to this
kind of statement? (Jesus claimed to be God. Do good
people lie? Do they make false claims? Generally,
people who think they are god are lunatics. Jesus was
either right or He was a fraud.) - Son of Man
- Read Matthew 20:25-28. Who is Jesus calling the “Son of
Man?” (Himself.) - If Jesus wants His followers to believe He is the
Messiah, why would He call Himself “Son of Man” as
opposed to “Son of God?” (Read John 8:58-59. Recall
the blasphemy law I referenced earlier? When Jesus
clearly makes the claim to be God (“I Am”), the
people decide to enforce the blasphemy law by stoning
Him. Jesus had a strategic problem. He needed to
tell the people He was the Messiah, yet that could
get Him killed prematurely.) - Read Daniel 7:13-14. What is being pictured in Daniel’s
vision? (The Second Coming. The Messiah coming in power to
take His followers to heaven.) - What name is the Messiah given here? (“Son of Man.”
Daniel says, “like a son of man.”) - Why do you think Jesus calls Himself the “Son of Man”
all of the time? (This is His cunning way of saying,
“I’m the Messiah” without having the crowd pick up
stones and start throwing them His way.) - Satan’s Testimony
- Most Americans know the judicial rule about hearsay
testimony. To be valid, statements have to be made in
court so that they can be cross-examined to test their
truth. Admissions against interest are an exception to the
hearsay rule. These are statements that harm you. “Yes, I
committed the murder” is an example. They are considered
to be true statements because you normally do not admit
something that would harm you. Let’s read Matthew 4:1-4.
Is Satan admitting that Jesus is the Son of God? (No. But,
it is very interesting that Satan asks Him to prove that
He is the Son of God. It sets the stage for the next
temptations.) - Read Matthew 4:8-10. Would Satan make this offer to you?
Would he make it to anyone you know? Would he make this
offer to a carpenter or a Bible teacher? (Why would Satan
give away all of his assets? You would logically make this
offer only if you were getting some great value in trade.) - What was Satan hoping to get from this deal? (The
fact that Satan makes this offer is an admission that
Jesus is not just an ordinary person. If Jesus were
God, it would make sense to offer this trade because
Satan would then be “higher” than God. I think this
is an admission by Satan that Jesus is God.) - Read Matthew 8:28-29. What do these two demon-possessed
men admit? (That Jesus is the Son of God, and that He will
defeat them in the future!) - Read Matthew 8:30-31. Who is speaking in this story, the
men or the demons? (This makes clear that it is the demons
who admit that Jesus is the Messiah and that He will
triumph.) - The Father’s Testimony.
- Read Matthew 17:1-3. Who are Moses and Elijah? (We know
these are prominent figures from the Old Testament who
have gone to heaven. See 2 Kings 2:11 and Jude 9.) - What does this suggest about the nature of Jesus?
- Read Matthew 17:5-6. Who is speaking? (God the Father in
Heaven. He says that He is pleased with “My Son.”) - Your Testimony
- Read Matthew 16:13-14. What do you think about these
answers? (They show that the people thought Jesus was
special.) - Read Matthew 16:15-16. How do you answer this question?
- Friend, the question Jesus put to His disciples is the
question for you today. Do you believe that Jesus is the
Son of the Living God? As Thomas was told, this is the key
to heaven. Will you accept that key today? - Next week: The Holy Spirit.
