Category Archives: Jesus Christ

Christ’s divinity – acknowledged and denied

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Christ’s divinity was acknowledged by:-

  • Peter Mt 16:16
  • Demons Mk 5:7
  • the Centurion Mk 15:39
  • Nathanael Jn 1:49
  • The Samaritans Jn 4:42
  • Martha Jn 11:27
  • Thomas Jn 20:28

It was challenged by:-

  • Satan Mt 4:3,6
  • Scribes and Pharisees Lk 5:21
  • The Jewish People Jn 5:18 8:53 10:33
  • The Scribes and Elders Lk 20:1,2
  • On the Cross-By the Rabble Mt 27:39,40
  • The Rulers Lk 23:35
  • The Soldiers Lk 23:36,37
  • One of the Thieves Lk 23:39
  • The Chief Priests Mk 15:31,32

(Source unknown)…

Discussion Starters, Matt 12:1-21, Mk 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11

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The Sabbath controversy and the healing of a man with a shrivelled hand

(a) What does Matt 12:1-21 tell us about the greatness of Jesus?

(b) Why do you think the Pharisees were so angry with Jesus about his attitude towards the Sabbath?  In what ways might we be in danger of adopting an attitude more like the Pharisees than like Jesus?

(c) In Mark’s account of the healing of the man with a shrivelled hand we are told that Jesus ‘looked around at them in anger’ and was ‘deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts.’ …

The Pilate inscription

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In 1961 an Italian archaeologist, Antonio Frova, discovered an inscription at Caesarea Maritima on a stone slab which at the time of the discovery was being used as a section of steps leading into the Caesarea theatre.  The inscription in Latin contained four lines, three of which are partially readable.  Roughly translated they are as follows:-

Tiberium
Pontius Pilate
Prefect of Judea

The inscribed stone was probably used originally in the foundation for a Tiberium (a temple for the worship of the emperor Tiberius) and then reused later in the discovered location. …

Jesus’ innocency attested

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  1. By Judas, Mt 27:3f.
  2. By Pilate’s wife, Mt 27:19.
  3. By Pilate, Mt 27:24.
  4. By Herod, Lk 23:15.
  5. By Pilate, Jn 18:38.
  6. By the thief, Lk 23:41.
  7. By the centurian, Lk 23:47.

(Source unknown)…

Jesus’ anguish in Gethsemane

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  1. ‘He began to be sorrowful and troubled’, Mt 26:37.
  2. ‘He began to be deeply distressed and troubled’, Mk 14:33.
  3. His soul was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” Mk 14:34.
  4. He was ‘in anguish’, Lk 22:44.
  5. ‘His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground’, Lk 22:44.
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The doctrine of the ascension

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The ascension:-

  1. Marks the transition between Jesus’ earthly and heavenly existence, Jn 6:62; Eph 4:10. ‘The doctrine of bodily absence is balanced in the NT by the doctrine of spiritual presence.’ (NBD)
  2. Confirms our Lord’s exalted status and kingly triumph, 1 Tim 3:16; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Eph 4:8.
  3. Prepares the way for his return, Jn 14:1-14.

It establishes three facts:-

1. Christ’s personal ascendancy. Jesus went up to the place of power, pictured as a throne at the Father’s right hand.…

Jesus’ apologetic methods

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Jock McGregor has an excellent introductory lecture on apologetics which can be listened to or downloaded from Christian Heritage website. Near the beginning of this lecture, he outlines the apologetic method used by Jesus in Luke 24:36-45. This passage records one of the resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ. The disciples doubted, taking it to be an apparition.

As McGregor says, our Lord does not merely say to the disciples, ”Just believe.” Instead, he takes time to persuade them.…

How the risen Christ encounters people today

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Paul Beasley-Murray (The Message of the Resurrection, 67-75) suggests some ways in which Lk 24:13-35 points to how the risen Christ continues to encounter people even today:-

1. Jesus encounters us in the darkness of our lives. The Emmaus disciples must have begun their walk in the depths of despair. Their hopes were dashed, their faith in shreds, v21. Yet Jesus comes to them. Although at first they did not recognise him, he was there.…

Why it’s good that Jesus left

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Here are six reasons I’m glad Jesus returned to the Father:

1.We can go home, too. Jesus tells his disciples a little later that he’s going to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house. Because Jesus returned to the Father, I can say with Paul that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”—when I depart, I will be with Jesus.

2. Jesus mediates for us to God. It’s phenomenal: Jesus, the God-man, advocates for me before the holy and righteous God.

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The riches of Christ

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  1. relationship, Jn 1:18; 10:30; 17:11,24
  2. resources, Mt 26:53; 2 Cor 8:9; Rev 21:18 ff
  3. resplendance, Jn 17:5
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