Alpha Session 2- Who Is Jesus?

Here is Session 2 Outline of Alpha entitled:

Who Is Jesus?

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galations 5:1

Did Jesus exist?

A. Non-Christian sources support His existence.
      * Roman Historians---Tacitus and Suetonius.
      * Jewish Historian--- Josephus

B.  Evidence in the New Testament supports His existence.

Who was Jesus?

A.  He was fully HUMAN.  (John 4:6, Matthew 4:2).
B.  He had human EMOTIONS.  (Mark 11:15-17, Mark 10:21, John 11:32-36)
C.  He had human EXPERIENCES.  (Mark 1:13, Mark 6:3)

What did Jesus say about Himself? (How do we know that Jesus is God? [jerry's note])

A. Through His Teachings.
     Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty." John 6:35

     Jesus said, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  John 8:12

    Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies."  John 11:25

Jerry's notes: Another scripture to look up is Matthew 11:28.  Also, Jesus pointed to Himself when he pointed to God.

B.  Through His Indirect claims:

     When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in Heavenly glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  Matthew 25:31-32

Jerry's Note:  Jesus can forgive sins.

Take Away Point #1:

A life without Jesus is a hopeless end.  But a life with Jesus is endless hope!


C. Through His Direct claims:

     1.  He claimed to be the Messiah.
      The high priest asked Him, "Are you  the Christ, The Son of the Blessed One?"  "I am," said Jesus.  " And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of Heaven."  Mark 14:61-62

     2.  He claimed to be God the Son.      "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was bron, I am!". John 8:58
       Jerry's note: "I am" is the way God refers to Himself in the Old Testament.

     3. He claimed to be God.
      "I and the Father are one."  Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father.  For which of these do you stone me?"  "We are not stoning you for any of these, " replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."  John 10:30-33

What evidence is there to support what Jesus said?

A. His teachings.

     For the Word of God is living and active.  Hebrews 4:12

     Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.  Romans 10:17

B. His miracles.

     Take Away Point # 2:

     It was not the miracles that made His work so impressive.  It was His love, especially for the unlovely .

C. His character.

     Jerry's notes: Jesus' character has impressed millions of peole (nonbelievers and believers alike). Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".  Jesus forgave them even on the cross!

D.  His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

     Jerry's notes:  Jesus was prophesied in the Old Testament.  Jesus fulfilled over 300 Old Testament Prophecies.  Some say that J esus could have read the Word of God and decide to fulfill all the prophesies Himself without being the Messiah.  Btu this isn't possible, because there were some prophesies that was out of Christ's control.  such as: the place of His birth, His death, and His place of burial.

E.  His Resurrection.

     Jerry's notes: Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 are prophecies about Jesus' death and resurrection. 

What is the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus?

A.  His absence from the tomb.

     False Theories:

      * Jesus did not die?

       One of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.  John 19.34

       Jerry's notes:  The  Bible proves that Jesus was dead.  Also John 19:34 tells that there was a separation of clot and serum (sudden flow of blood and water). These are medical terms and this can only happen when a person is dead.).

     * The disciples stole His body?

     "Take a guard," Pilate answered.  "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."  So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting  the guard.   Matthew 27:65-66

     Jerry's notes:  Would you die for a lie?  The disciples wouldn't.  Most of the disciples were put to death for their belief in Jesus and the resurrection.  The disciples would not have died for Jesus if the resurrection was a lie and if they had stolen the body. 

     *  The authorities stole His body?

     Jerry's notes: The authorities didn't have Jesus' body.  Otherwise they would have showed the people Jesus' body once they had started maknig claims of the resurrections.  The authorities would have said: " Jesus didn't rise from the dead.  And here is His body to prove it.".  However, the authorities did NOT do this!  Proving that the authorities didn't have Jesus'  body. 

B.  His appearance to the disciples.

     Jerry's note: The appearance of the disciples was documented by the Bible and by Jewish historian: Josephus.

C.  His immediate effect on society/the world.

      Jerry's notes:   The world went into a division of time:  B.C. = "before Christ" and A.D. = "Anto Domini"- In the years of our Lord.  The church also began to grow.

D.  The undeniable experience of Christians through the ages.

      Take Away Point #3:

       No one is so good that they can save themselves.

       No one is so bad that God cannot save them.

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1