(August 9, 2005)

Jesus is the theme of the entire Bible: 

-God will provide himself a lamb...Gen. 22:8

-There shall come a star out of Jacob...Num. 24:17

-The serpent on brass pole pictured Jesus...Jn. 3:14

-Behold the Lamb of God...Jn. 1:19

I.  The Names of Christ

     A.  Christ (Greek)= Messiah (Hebrew) means anointed

          1.  Anointed as prophet, Lk. 24:19; priest, Heb. 4:14

          2.  Will be anointed as King of kings, Rev. 19:16

     B.  Son of God, Mt. 16:16

          1.  Because Jesus claimed to be the son of God, many Jews wanted to kill him, Lk. 22:70,71

          2.  John's gospel promotes Jesus' diety

     C.  Son of Man, Jn. 5:26,27

          1.  Used about 80 times in the gospels

          2.  Luke's gospel emphasizes humanity of Jesus

     D.  God

          1.  Thy throne, O god, is forever and ever, Heb. 1:8

          2.  Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus...Titus 2:13

     E.  Lord, Lk. 6:46

          1.  My Lord and my God!  Jn. 20:28

          2.  Why call me Lord and do not what I say?

     F.  Jesus (Greek) = Joshua (Hebrew) "one who saves"

     G.  Immanuel + God with us, Is. 7:14; Mt. 1:23

II.  The Nature of Christ

     A.  His humanity

          1.  Had a human mother, Mary, Mt. 1:18; 2:11; 13:55

          2.  Had human names:  Jesus, son of man, Jesus of Nazareth

          3.  Human attributes:  hunger, Mt. 4:2; thirst, Jn. 19:28; fatigue, Mt. 8:44; weariness, Jn. 4:6; agony, Lk. 22:44; socially, Lk. 2:40,52

          4.  He developed physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially, Lk. 2:40, 52

          5.  Humility:  washed feet of disciples, Jn. 13:14, 15

          6.  Showed love when laid down hi life, Jn. 15:13

          7.  Meekness:  suffer rather than take revenge:  He was oppressed and afflicted but opened not his mouth, Is. 53:7

          8.  Balance of love and justice

     B.  Jesus performed human activities

          1.  He prayed, Mk. 1:35

          2.  He worked, Jn. 5:17, 36; Mt. 13:54, 55; Mk. 6:3

          3.  He learned obedience, Heb. 5:8; Phil. 2:8

          4.  He slept, ate, attended weddings & funerals

     C.  The diety of Christ

          1.  He performed divine activities

               a.  He created, Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1,2

               b.  He forgave sin, Mt. 9:1-8

               c.  He exercised judgment, Jn. 5:22; 2 Tim. 4:1

               d.  He accepted worship, Jn. 5:23; Acts 10:25,26; Phil. 2:9-11; Rev. 22:8,9

               e.  He accepted prayers:  Jn. 14:6, 13,14; I Tim. 2:5

               f.  He had a divine conception; Mt. 1:20; Jn. 8:42

          2.  Divine characteristics

              a.  Eternal:  Jn. 1:1; Heb. 1:8, 13:8; Rev. 1:8

              b.  Omnipresent:  Mt. 18:20, 28:20; Jn. 6:21

              c.  Omniscient:  Lk. 6:8; Jn. 1:48

              d.  Omnipotent:  to show His diety, Jn. 20:30, 31