WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

1. WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

2. JESUS: HIS EFFECT ON THE WORLD • Impact of Jesus’ life and works has lasted over 2000 years • Differing beliefs about who he was and what he stood for has divided countries and societies • Many wars have been fought as a result of these differing beliefs, not only between opposing nations but also between opposing religions

3. WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE? • The idea of Jesus’ physical appearance has “fired” the imagination of many • There are many sceptics and we cannot truly be certain of Jesus physical appearance • Helena, mother of Constantine the first “Christian” emperor of Rome, asked Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia this question • Two historical records may be the most likely to be accurate

4. WHAT DID JESUS LOOK LIKE? A letter from Governor of Judea, Publius Lentulus read: “A man of stature somewhat tall … his hair of the chestnut…curling and wavering about his shoulders. … His face without spot or wrinkle … His beard thickish, in colour like his hair, not very long, but forked; His look innocent and mature; His eyes grey, clear and quick.”

5. WHAT DID JESUS LOOK LIKE? “Jesus of the Emerald” Reports say that Tiberius Caesar had commissioned a of portrait of Jesus to be engraved onto an emerald

6. WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW • His family and background • When he lived • What he did and achieved • Why he is important to us

7. HIS FAMILY AND GENEALOGY • A Jewish woman called Mary who was of the tribe of Judah found favour with God • Mary was chosen to bare the Son of God and conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit • Most people agree Jesus was born in 4 or 5 BC • Born in Bethlehem of humble origins • Record of birth in Luke 1

8. HIS EARLY LIFE Luke 1:30-35: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: ... Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

9. HIS EARLY LIFE • A special child • Lived with Mary, his stepfather Joseph and his younger brothers and sisters • We know very little of Jesus’ childhood • As a young child he and his family went to Egypt to live for a short time and then returned to Israel and lived in a town called Nazareth

10. HIS EARLY LIFE • “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.” (Luke 2:41-42) • After the feast Mary and Joseph could not find Jesus anywhere and began to search for him • “… after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” (Luke 2:46-47) • Mary and Joseph were amazed, but Jesus simply answered them: “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” (Luke 2:49)

11. HIS EARLY LIFE • We are told no more about his youth, simply that he “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” • We do know that he followed the trade of Joseph and became a carpenter • It is not recorded when Joseph died however it is likely that it was in Jesus’ teens or early twenties, thus Jesus was to become the breadwinner for his family • Jesus stayed at home until he was about 30 years old

12. WHAT DID HE ACHIEVE? • Jesus baptism was the first step in commencing the work God had given him, which was to preach the Gospel (“Good news”) to Israel • Luke 3:21-22: “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about 30 years of age…”

13. WHAT DID HE ACHIEVE? Luke 4:14-21: “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and … he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. and when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. ... And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

14. WHAT DID HE ACHIEVE? • Jesus travelled throughout all Israel • He preached the Gospel message (Good news) • He performed many miracles including healing sickness, disease and disability as well as others like turning water into wine and feeding thousands with just a few loaves of bread • But even in Jesus’ day there was contention about who he really was

15. WHAT DID HE ACHIEVE? • Most of the people knewJesus was a man of God who should be respected, but they did not understand that he was come to be their Saviour • Luke 9:18-20: “And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.”

16. WHAT DID HE ACHIEVE? • Jesus brought hope and a warning for the future • Mark 16:16: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” • Mark 1:14-15: “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

17. END OF HIS WORK • Jesus was killed by crucifixion by Jews and Romans at about the age of 33 • After three days in the tomb he was raised from the dead • Jesus “through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion [death] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:2-3) • He was then “taken up” to Heaven where he now sits at God’s right hand • His position now is as High Priest and mediator between us and God • He is waiting to return to the earth as Judge and King

18. WHAT DID HIS DEATH ACHIEVE? • Destroyed the power of sin nature in himself • Hebrews 2:9-10: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” • Romans 6:9-10: “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”

19. WHAT HIS DEATH ACHIEVED • Jesus being of our mortal nature died, having not transgressed was raised to life, given immortality and ascended to Heaven • Now Jesus is our High Priest, able to approach God on our behalf to obtain forgiveness for our sins

20. WHAT HIS DEATH ACHIEVED Hebrews 2:16-18: “For verily he [Jesus] took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”

21. WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU • Jesus is the only one who can save us • The only way of reconciliation for our sins • Jesus has promised eternal life to all who believe in God and obey His commands • Jesus is our High Priest and mediator with God -he takes our prayers to God because he understands and can relate to our temptations

22. WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU • Hebrews 4:14-15: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” • If we are baptised we become Christ’s, and then have a responsibility to follow his example

23. WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU • We too can then become “heirs” of the promises made to Abraham – that includes life eternal life and a place in God’s Kingdom to come • Galatians 3:22-29: “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. … For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

24. WHO IS JESUS CHRIST? • Son of God • Died and was raised to eternal life (the first one) • Has offered the same hope to us • Earth’s future King