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Christianity for Dummies - 2 - Jesus

by Michael Russell
November 2002

Based upon a sermon series by Pastor Jim Henry, senior pastor of First Baptist Orlando, and enhanced with my personal commentary. Apologies to the book publisher for the title.

1. Introduction

For 2000 years, people have been asking, 'Who is this Jesus?' There is just something unique about this guy. There have been more books, articles, and poems written about Jesus than any other person in history. There have been more songs written about Jesus than any other person or event. People have been willing to die the most terrible torture and death just for publically saying that they believe in Jesus.

Most people and all other religions have various views of Jesus. Many, such as Jews and Muslums, believe Jesus was a great prophet and sent from God or Allah to minister to people at that time. Many, such as Buddists, believe Jesus had reached a high level of enlightment and can be a role model of enlightened living. Many think he was a good man with a nice philosophy of life to live by. Today, many think he is just a fabled character and didn't even exist (despite the large amount of evidence from the Church, Roman archives, Jewish historians, and more that prove Jesus did exist historically). I can understand many wanting to disbelieve what Jesus did and claims, but there is more recorded history about the existence of Jesus than there is evidence for Aristotle or Plato.

2. The critical question

Matt 16:13-17 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."

Eventually, everyone will be asked this ... "Who do you say Jesus is?" What will be your answer.

3. The distinctions

Most religions are based upon philosophical ideas. The four major religions are based upon personalities. Judiasm is based on Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets. Islam is based on Abraham and Mohammad. Buddism is based on Buddah. Christianity is based on Jesus Christ.

However, Jesus stands apart from these other personalities in many ways.

3.1. Fulfilled prophecies

There are 456 prophecies in the Old Testament, which was completed about 450 years before Jesus' birth, that were fulfilled in Jesus' first appearance. The probability of this happening is for all practical purposes impossible; yet we have that fulfillment.

3.2. Unique birth

Jesus was born of a virgin. This is critical because in order for Jesus to be the sinless Son of God yet fully human it was necessary that He be born of woman but not affected by the sinful nature of Adam. While Jesus had an earthly mother, He had a heavenly (God) father. However, since Jesus has existed with God even before the beginning, the virgin birth was just the transition from His heavenly state to earthly state. Jesus was not brought into existence at this point.

3.3. Unique miracles

Some of the personalities of various religions performed miracles; but the miracles of Jesus are unique and show a different characteristic.

The miracles could not be duplicated (walking on water, calming a storm, feeding 5000+ with a handful of bread and fishes, casting demons out of people into pigs, and so forth).

The miracles were complete and instantaneous. When he healed a person, that person was fully healed -- the disease did not return in a few days. Also, the healing was immediate -- it was not a gradual process, but finished in just a second or less.

The miracles were meaningful and educational. The miracles not only showed the nature of Jesus, but they also were used to educate the people involved about some attribute of God and God's kingdom.

The miracles would result in people praising God.

3.4. Unique claim

Jesus is the only religious personality to claim He is God.

John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

John 10:30 "I and the Father are one."

Abraham never claimed to be God. Moses never claimed to be God. Mohammad never claimed to be God. Buddah never claimed to be God. But, Jesus, on several occassions said that he was God's Son.

This causes us a problem. Either Jesus was a crazy fool and guilty of blasphemy OR he is who he says he is.

3.5. Sinless life

In Matthew 27, the Roman governor, Pilate, could find no crime that Jesus had committed.

Hebrews 2:18 Because he himself [Jesus] suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

In Matthew 4, it is recorded the intense temptation that Satan put on Jesus; which involved the three appetities -- physical, emotional, and intellectual. Jesus did not fall to any of them.

Every other religious leader has a life of sin. Abraham often lied about his wife. Moses lost his temper and disbelieved God when finding water for the Israelites.

3.6. Unique death

Abraham, Moses, Mohammad, and Buddah have returned to the dust. Moses' grave is hidden, but all of them were buried somewhere and are still there.

Jesus also died and was buried. But, He is unique because He did not stay there. On the third day, He arose from the stone tomb and spent the next 40 days with His disciples before ascending into the heavens right before His believers. There were over 500 eye witness accounts. He was not a ghost. He could be touched. He ate. He walked and talked. He could materialize where needed and travel long distances instantly.

Christianity is the only religion that celebrates an empty tomb.

3.7. Unique character

Col 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

This is a powerful summary of Jesus' character.

I've noticed confusion with the phrase, "firstborn over all creation". This does not mean Jesus is the firstborn OF creation. Jesus was not created. How could Jesus, who created be the first to be created? Instead, this is a reference that creation is Jesus' inheritance. In the traditions where the first son gets the bulk of the inheritance. Well, Jesus is the Only Son, so all of creation is His inheritance.

4. The conclusion

Phil 2:5-11 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In summary, one of the strongest claims about Jesus is that regardless of what you think of Him at the moment, there is coming a time -- whether you like it or not -- that you will bow before Him and acknowledge Him as Lord.

Then the question is, at this time will you be rejecting Him or accepting Him? Have you accepted His love and His free gift of salvation or have you turned away. Those who accept, He will accept into His kingdom. Those who reject, He will reject and send away to suffer the consequences due their sins.

So, who do you say Jesus is?