LIfe of Christ: Our Response

A study of the person and life of Jesus Christ

Lesson Three: Responding to Jesus as the Christ

Over the last two weeks we have looked at Jesus as the Son of God and as the Messiah and fulfillment of OT prophecy. Today we are still pre-birth in our study of Christ and we will look at how Mary, the one God chose to be the mother of Jesus, and her relative Elizabeth, the mother of John who is the forerunner of Christ, responded to God and to the coming of Jesus.

I did not get this lesson until my sophomore year in college. Once I realized that God wanted to use me in His story and the outworking of His plan on earth I was humbled and amazed. As Ro. 12:1-2 says, I desired to live as a living sacrifice of praise to God. I am still fumbling through that today, but the desire is there. Before this I lived almost 2 years as a Christian in selfishness and apathy in response to God sending Jesus. I lived for comfort and pleasure rather than realizing the joy of sacrificing the flesh to live out God’s truly fulfilling plan for my life.

Last lesson we read the angel Gabriel announce to Mary that she would be the mother of God’s Son…Luke 1:34-35 (notice the divine nature and human nature)…the angel also told her about Elizabeth…vs. 1:36-38 and John as the forerunner…vs. 1:13-17.

We see Mary’s first response in Luke 1:38

·      She accepted God’s plan and chose to willingly participate.

This is where it all begins. We have to be willing to participate. We can get there like Mary or like Jonah but God will work to get us on board.

 

Luke 1:39-40

Mary went to see about the work God had done in the life of her cousin Elizabeth. This was no light task… the travel would be hard and would have taken several days.  Mary was in Nazareth in the region of Galilee, which is in northern part of Israel. Elizabeth was down south in Judah probably in the west hills of Jerusalem. The trip would have been a sacrifice for Mary, but that was her response.

Mary- Vs. 41-45

We see in verse 45 what moved Mary to respond…she believed what had been spoken to her.  Her faith in God’s word and God’s plan moved her to act. I find it challenging to really believe that God’s plan for my life is really real but knowing that it is, how could I do anything else?

We must believe God and trust His will for our life, participating in the way He wants to use us in His story.

 

Elizabeth- Vs. 41

Elizabeth knew that her son was the forerunner to prepare the way of the Messiah and this “leap” in her womb apparently signaled to her that Mary was with this child. They both were “filled with the Holy Spirit” which is to say she was in step with God’s revelation. This was God’s way of confirming the prophecy for Mary and Elizabeth.

Vs. 42

Elizabeth spoke blessing upon Mary and Jesus. “Blessed” literally means “well spoken of.” She proclaimed the blessing it would be to carry Jesus and how they both would be well spoken of by others.

We should celebrate the way God uses others in the outworking of His plan. Not only must I trust God’s plan for my life I should trust and celebrate God’s plan in other people’s lives as well. We are all working together to participate in what God is doing. It’s a community effort and I should better view myself, and my role, within the community of believers.

Vs. 43

Can you hear the sound of amazement and humility in her voice? She is humbled just to be in the presence of Jesus in the womb of his mother. She is amazed that she is a person that gets to participate in God’s story as bearing the forerunner.

Vs. 44

We see her confirmation. To be in the presence of Mary and Jesus who was in her womb led her to respond with joy, blessing, humility, amazement, and confirmation. How 

Vs. 46-50

Mary praised God for the outworking of His plan and her participation. The praise is filled with amazement. She called God my Savior showing an intimate acquaintance with Him. She spoke of His faithfulness (v. 48), power (v. 49), holiness (v. 49), and mercy (v. 50). Realize this would also bring persecution, she didn’t know how Joseph would react, she didn’t know what this meant for her life but she was excited to be a part of God’s work.

Vs. 50-56

Mary praised God for His special favor on Israel (v. 51-55). Through the Child that she was to bear, God was being merciful to Abraham and his descendants. Mary was aware that the birth of her Child was a fulfillment of the covenant promises to Abraham and his people. Israel and all the nations of the world will be blessed with the promised Savior of Israel.

Vs. 56

Mary probably stayed for the birth of John before returning to Nazareth.

 

Are you still amazed and living in response to who Jesus is?

My prayer is that we would be refreshed to the reality that as believers we can live in the presence of God, that He wants to use us in His story, and that our lives would be marked by amazement and faithfulness as we participate in the outworking of His plan.

 

Amazed with who He is, humbled to participate in His story,

 my life as a living sacrifice to Him.

 

 

Israel Day Five- Jesus and the Pagans

We began our day at Gamla. The Zealots were stationed here during the time of Jesus. It was a beautiful mountain range and a great hike. The first things we noticed were the Eagles. In Hebrew the eagle is called, Nesherim, and we saw “the shadow of his wings” as the Griffen Voucher flew overhead. It was a beautiful picture of the protection of God.

The Zealots were religious Jews who were extreme in the practice of devotion to God. They could be 

considered terrorists as they used a curved knife to kill off their Roman enemies. Although Jesus was the most zealous person in all of history He was not a Zealot. He used love and personal sacrifice rather than a knife and torture to combat His enemies.  It was a great place to learn of the love of Christ and to be inspired to live extreme lives for God.

This was also a place we saw the remains of a first century ritual bath and synagogue. We are 99% sure Jesusread and taught in what remains today. We stood in the bath, the place one washed before reading from the day’s assigned text. We saw the Moses Seat, the place the reader of the day sat. We stood on the Bema Stone, the place where Jesus would have stood as He read the assigned reading from the text. 

It was incredible to be there, to stand where Jesus stood, the read what He possibly read in the same exact place He did. It was an experience you can only have in that spot in the world and God blessed us with the experience. It was incredible! 

We spent the rest of the day at incredibly sad sites. Places of Paganism and rebellion of God. Places of sin and torture. Places of sexual immorality of the worst kind. Places of sinful and unnecessary murder sacrifices. It was a sick feeling to be there, to see the place where these things took place. However, even this evil enhances the beauty of God, the truth of Christ, and the justice of our Father.

Caesarea Philippi was in the northern part of Israel and borders Syria and Lebanon. The Paganism practiced here is called Pan worship and this was the most pagan place in all of Israel. In was in the midst of this sin referred to as the “gates of Hades” by Christ that Jesus visited this city, stood with His disciples, as asked, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-20).

We are all faced with this question as we stand in the place of sin. As we live in the world we must continually ask ourselves, “Who do you say Jesus is?” Who He is to you will determine how you live your life. If it doesn’t I ask you the question, “Who do you say Jesus is?” My friends, He must be more than a good thought, He must be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. This should impact our lives because it us upon this confession that Christ is building His Church. Be a builder for Christ!Our last stop was Dan, practically speaking this is the northern most city in Israel. This city was also full of Paganism. Here is where the Tribe of Dan was not satisfied with their land and compromised by setting up altars of worship to others Gods (Judges 18). To be honest, after Caesarea Philippi it was hard to take more teaching on paganism.  It made me wonder how numb I am to subtle compromises to pagan thought in our culture, it’s probably more than I realize. It made me want to study the text more practically and examine my life. I love to study for doctrine and theology but never want to compromise the practical. We have to believe right to live right but sometimes I focus more on the former. I want the practice of my life to reflect the text.

It was a heavy day in northern Galilee. 

As I stand on the text in the face of secular pagan culture and say to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God and I will live as a builder of Your Church.” Amen?

Colossians: Pleasing God

Colossians- The Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Lesson Three: Three Truths about Pleasing God- Vs. 1:9-14

Pleasing God is knowing His will (1:9)

Vs. 9a

“For this reason”

Paul was thankful for their clear understanding of the gospel and them living out their faith in love. Since the gospel was bearing these fruits Paul always prayed for them.

We too should pray and be thankful for other believers, especially those who are living out their faith in love.

Vs. 9b

Paul asked that they would be “filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”

This is important because the false teachers were spreading all kinds of false information about spiritual growth. He wanted them to grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding according to the will of God, not the will of man. We will see this more in chapter 2.

Knowledge of God’s will is simply knowing God’s truth.

Wisdom is the application of this knowledge. This is the spiritual understanding we need. Finding God’s will comes through the knowledge of God but to “be filled” with God’s will refers to the application of that knowledge.

Paul’s prayer, as well as God’s will, is that we would live out the truths of scripture. God’s will is not some elusive hidden thing.  God’s will refers to people’s salvation and sanctification. If you are a believer living out the truths of scripture you have found the will of God and have “spiritual wisdom and understanding.” As Prof. Hendricks used to say, “God’s will is found in God’s word!”

Pleasing God is walking in His will (1:10-11)

Vs. 10-11

“walk worthy of the Lord”

This refers to us living our lives as a representative of Jesus Christ.  Remember that Paul thanked them for living as people of faith in Christ. Now he is praying that they would continue. He wanted them to…

“please Him in all respects”

This should be our goal, to fully please God with our lives. That God would look at our lives and be fully pleased with what He sees and how He is reflected to the world through us.

But how do we do this exactly? How do we live lives pleasing to God?

1.    Be fruitful in every good work.

God is pleased when the fruit of good works characterizes our lives because this is why we were saved (created in Christ- Ephesians 2:10).

2.    Increase in the knowledge of God

The knowledge that God wants us to know about Him has been revealed in the scripture. We need to know the scripture to obtain the knowledge of God. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

3.    Be strengthened by the glorious power of God

We cannot fully please God in our own strength. We must rely on the strength He provides. (Gal. 5:16)

4.    Being patient and enduring with joy

Life is often difficult. We often have no idea of God’s direction for our future. We must trust God and endure this time with patience.

In Romans 8:28 Paul writes, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God...” 

God desires what is good for us and our spiritual maturity. Whatever it is that we are going through, whatever decision you are trying to make, whatever concern you are holding onto…you must trust God and patently endure. It’s not easy and Paul doesn’t infer that it is. That’s why he says to “endure.” 

The blessing is that if we will rely on the “glorious power” of God we can live content and with patience experiencing the joy God intends for us. This is when we are being “fully pleasing” to God.

Pleasing God is being grateful for salvation (1:12-14)

Vs. 12

“giving thanks”

Paul prays that the believers here in Colossae are thankful to God for their salvation. He says that these believers have been…

·      Qualified to be partakers of the inheritance (eternal life and rewards)

·      Will eternally be with other saints in the Light (presence of God or the sphere of where God is – cf. 1 Jn. 1)

·      Delivered from the power of darkness

·      Transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son

·      Received redemption, the forgiveness of sins 

If you cant show thankfulness for all of this than you just cannot show thankfulness. These are some of the greatest truths and promises found in scripture!

How do we show this thankfulness to God?

Keep the context:

1.    Know God’s will by studying and learning the scripture

2.    Walk in God’s will by living out these truths

3.    Be fruitful in every good work

4.    Increase in the knowledge of God

5.    Be strengthened by the glorious power of God

6.    Be patient and endure with joy

7.    Live your life as a response of thankfulness to God for everything you have in Christ!

 

Life of Christ: Jesus is the Messiah

A study of the person and life of Jesus Christ 

Lesson Two: Jesus is the Messiah

Discover: Jesus is the fulfillment of OT prophecy concerning the coming Messiah.

Why should we look to prophecy to identify the Messiah?

Jesus used OT to show He was the Messiah

·      Lk 24:27; 24:44

·      Jn 5:46; 8:56

NT authors used OT to show that Jesus was the Messiah

·      Acts 3:18

·      Acts 17:2-3

·      1 Co. 15:3-4

In the OT there are over 60 major prophecies about the coming Messiah and over 270 variables that were fulfilled in one person, Jesus Christ.

Lineage to His birth

God began to show us who the Messiah would be, and through history, progressively narrowed it down to Jesus Christ.

It starts in Gen 3:15. We learn the Messiah will be the seed of woman. This is significant because all other people are born seed of man.

Gen. 9-10 – Noah had three sons, Messiah comes through the Line of Shem

·      Gen. 12:3 – As a descendant of Abraham we learn He would be Jewish (Mat. 1:1)

·      Gen. 17:19; 21-22 – Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael and God chose Isaac (Lk. 3:34)

·      Gen. 28; 35:10-12 – Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau and God chose Jacob (Mat. 1:1; 2:2)

·      Gen. 49 – Jacob had 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel, God chose the tribe of Judah (Lk. 3:33)

·      Out of all of Judah’s family lines, God chose Jesse

·      2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Jer. 23:5 – Jesse had eight children, God chose the house of David (Lk. 1:32-33)

Through the OT we learn that the Messiah will be the seed of a woman, the lineage of Sham, the race of the Jews in the line of Abraham, the line of Isaac, the line of Jacob, of the tribe of Judah, and be of the house of David. God progressively narrowed the identity of the Messiah.

His Birth

As the OT ends we have 400 years of silence but then God continues to speak prophecy through an angle in gospel of Luke 1:26-35 where we learn of the Messiah’s divine birth, its time, and who His earthly parents will be. This is more narrowing as God gives us signs and directions to the Messiah.

Then we see the circumstances surrounding the Messiah’s birth fulfilled by Jesus:

Prophecy	Old Testament Prediction	New Testament Fulfillment
The Savior would come as a child.	Isaiah 9:6	Luke 2:11
The Savior would be born in Bethlehem of Judea.	Micah 5:2-5	Matthew 2:1-6
The Savior would be born of a virgin.	Isaiah 7:13-14	Matthew 1:18-25
Kings would bring the Savior gifts and bow at His feet.	Psalm 72:10-11	Matthew 2:7-11
The Savior’s birth would trigger a king to slaughter children.	Jeremiah 31:15	Matthew 2:16-18

 

Do you realize how much this narrows Jesus of the NT to be the one and only possible fulfillment of the Messiah prophesied of in the OT?

Illustration – silver coins in Texas

Using the science of probability scholars of prophecy give the chance that even 8 of these prophecies being fulfilled from the beginning of time to the present age in only one man is 1 in 10^17.  

To help us comprehend this number Peter W. Stoner gives an illustration.

·      Take 10¹⁷ number of silver dollars – this would cover the state of TX two feet deep in silver dollars

·      Mark one and mix it up with all the others, all over the state

·      Blindfold a man and let him travel as far and deep as he wishes

·      Let him chose any silver dollar and give it to you as the one of his choice

· What chance would he have of getting the silver dollar you marked?

·      10¹⁷ – the same chance 8 of these OT prophecies could be fulfilled in one man. Remember that Jesus filled over 60 prophecies including over 270 variables necessary to do so.

This clearly shows not only the divine inspiration of the OT and its prophecies, but also the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and Savior sent by God.

His Death

This is one of my favorites and almost gives me the chills every time I study these passages. One of the most compelling prophecies concerning the coming Messiah fulfilled by Jesus is found in His death.

Psalm 22

Take a minute and read Matt. 27:33-46 and John 19:23-37, two passages that speak to the events surrounding the death and crucifixion of Jesus.

Compare this to Psalm 22

Ps. 22:1 – Matt. 27:46 – My God, My God

Ps. 22:2 – Matt. 27:45 – darkness

Ps. 22:6 – Matt. 27:39-44 – despised by people

Ps. 22:7-8, 13 – Matt. 27:39-44 - surrounded by enemies

Ps. 22:14, 16 – John 19:34, 37 – pierced hands and feet

Ps. 22:15 - Matt. 27:28-30 - thirsty

Ps. 22:17a – John 19:36 – no broken bones

Ps. 22:17b – Matt. 27:36 – look at Him

Ps. 22:18 – Matt. 27:35 – cast lots

Ps. 22:18 – John 19:23-24 – did not tear garment

Ps. 22: 21; 31:5 – John 19:30 – gave up His spirit

If you have taken the time to read through these passages you can probably relate to the chills I mentioned earlier. It validates our faith in Christ as Messiah and Savior. It reinforces the fact that Jesus fulfilled everything prophesied about the Messiah, and many outside of His control. It testifies to the magnificent timing and sovereignty of God working together with the freewill of man. It is an amazing blessing to have this revelation and confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior.

I hope you have been blessed.