____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ August 8, 1993 ____________________________________________________ Is Jesus The Messiah? (conclusion) by Tom Edwards Last week, we began considering Jesus as the prophesied Messiah who was to come and to whom the Scriptures bore witness--both in prophecy and in fulfillment. Today, let us conclude by hearing some of the other witnesses Jesus had. John the Baptist Not just the word of God, but also John the baptist was a witness toward the Deity of Jesus (Jn. 5:33). God had given John a sign that the one whom he would see the Spirit descending and remaining upon would be the one who would baptize in the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:33). When John saw that it was Jesus that this happened to, John concluded by saying, ``this is the Son of God'' (v. 34). Undoubtedly, this action was used exclusively for Jesus and for the sake of John that he would be able to know assuredly that Jesus was Deity. God the Father God the Father also bore witness to His Son (Jn. 5:32,37). Again, at the baptism of Jesus, God had said, ``This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased'' (Matt. 3:17); and He also made a similar declaration on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus was with Moses and Elijah in the presence of Peter, James, and John; but here He added the phrase, in referring to His Son, ``Hear ye Him'' (Matt. 17). Though the Jew had greatly esteemed Moses, that great lawgiver, and Elijah who is epitomizing Israel's true prophets, now it is to Jesus whom God wants these people to give their utmost attention. The implication exalts Christ above Moses and Elijah--and above Judaism itself. The Lord's Miracles Jesus said in John 10:25 that ``the works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me.'' (cf. John 5:36) Nicodemus, who came to Jesus one night, said in John 3:2, ``Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.'' In the same chapter in which Jesus claimed to be the ``resurrection and the life,'' He raised Lazarus from the dead, thus proving His claim by the miracle (Jn. 11:25,43,44). In Matthew 8:1-8, the Lord showed His ability to forgive sins by manifesting His power. The text says, ''...For which is easier, to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Rise, and walk'? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...Rise, take up your bed, and go home.'' When John the baptist had been cast into prison and appears to have had some doubts setting in as to the Messiahship of Christ, he sent word to Jesus asking Him, ``Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?'' Jesus responded by saying, ``Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them'' (Matt. 11:2-5). In other words, the miracles of Jesus bore witness toward His Messiahship and Deity. The Apostles' Miracles Furthermore, without the reality of Jesus, the apostles would have never been able to accomplish the things they did for the Lord. Jesus told them that He had to ``go away'' [ascend back to the Father] in order to send down to the apostles the Holy Spirit who would lead them into all the truth, bring to their remembrance things they had heard from Jesus, reveal to them things which were to come, and empower them to perform miracles which would confirm the message they were to proclaim (Jn. 14:26; 16:7, 12,13; 2 Cor. 12:12; Mark 16:17-20). After His resurrection, He, therefore, told them to wait in Jerusalem for this power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,5,8). They waited, and it came! (Acts 2:1-5). The miracles the apostles performed also bear witness to the authenticity and Deity of Christ. If Christ had been an impostor, the apostles would not have been able to work the wondrous signs which they did. The Lord's Resurrection On top of all these other witnesses, the Lord's resurrection was definitely one that was equally--if not more so--difficult to overlook. Speaking of this, Paul states: ``concerning His Son...who was declared the Son of God with power by resurrection from the dead...Jesus Christ our Lord'' (Rom. 1:3,4). Among all the other religions in the world, Jesus is the only religious leader who ever arose from the dead and ascended back to the right hand of God. His resurrection testified toward His Deity! The Apostles The apostles had walked and talked with Jesus during His earthly life, yet they still were unaware of all which the Lord was telling them. For a while, they continued with the misconception that Christ was going to restore the physical kingdom of Israel to them; and when He was crucified, they were not only devastated--by thinking their dreams had been shattered--but they were also fearful and went into hiding from the authorities. Even after hearing the testimony of faithful Mary who had claimed to have seen the resurrected Lord, they still did not believe until they saw Him for themselves. Thomas, who wasn't present when the Lord first appeared to His apostles, also did not believe even after hearing the testimony of the other apostles. But then on the following first day of the week, Jesus appeared to Thomas; and Thomas said, ``My Lord and My God!'' (John 20:28). As we saw in the above thought, it was by the power of the Lord's resurrection that Jesus was declared to truly being the Son of God (Rom. 1:3,4). What a great transformation we see in the lives of the Lord's apostles as we consider them shortly prior to the death of Christ and up to the time they saw for themselves that Jesus had arose. These timid men who had previously gone into hiding became the Lord's brave witnesses to His resurrection as they went into all the world and preached the gospel to every creature--at the risk of their own lives! Surely, if Christ had not arose from the dead, these apostles would not have put their lives in such jeopardy for His cause; and as we know, according to tradition, every one of the apostles suffered martyrdom--except the apostle John--for preaching that message of Jesus Christ. And even John, as tradition tells us, they tried to execute in a boiling pot of oil, but the Lord miraculously spared him. Not only did Jesus appear to the apostles after His death, but he also appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time (1 Cor. 15:3-8). Between His resurrection and His ascension, the Lord ''...presented Himself alive...by many convincing proofs, appearing to them [the apostles] over a period of forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God'' (Acts 1:2,3). It is no wonder that the apostles were able to sacrifice their lives for the cause of the Lord; they spent time with Him in His resurrected state. Paul speaks of himself in 1 Corinthians 15:8 (in connection with the Lord's appearances after His resurrection) in the following way: ``last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.'' Yes, Jesus appeared to Paul, too. He revealed Himself to him while Paul was on the road to Damascus in order to arrest Christians because of their faith (Acts 9). If Jesus were not the Messiah and Deity, would we be reading today about the great transformation that came about in Paul's life in which he gave up an honored and preeminent life in Judaism in order to humbly suffer for the cause of Christ? What made Paul leave Judaism for Christianity? What made Paul cease persecuting and murdering Christians in order to love them and become one of them? What caused Paul to leave a life of Jewish fame in order to become one of the ``scum of the earth''? It was when He saw Jesus and recognized Him to be the Messiah of the world. The Importance of Faith in Jesus Jesus Himself said, ``unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins'' (Jn. 8:24). Jesus is the Word of God who was with God in the beginning and through whom all things have been made (Jn. 1:1-3). He is as much God as God the Father is God (Heb. 1:3; Col. 2:9). To believe in Jesus for whom He is, is to believe in His Deity and act in obedience toward Him because of that belief, for He is the author of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). If one doesn't recognize Jesus as being truly Deity, one is lacking faith. Is Jesus truly the Messiah who was to come? Certainly, yes! And it is upon Him that the church is established, for He is its very foundation and cornerstone (1 Cor. 3:11; 1 Pet. 2:6-8); and He is the builder of it (Matt. 16:18). All of these factors we considered today are a testimony to the truth that Jesus is the Messiah who was to come; and because He did come the first time, He will also come again to receive His redeemed unto Himself when all who are living and deceased shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:13-18; Jn. 5:28,29). Will you be ready for that day? You can be if you believe in Jesus and truly obey Him. ___________________________________________ SELECTED SENTENCE SERMONS It is the shallow brook that babbles. A mule makes no headway when he is kicking; neither does a man. An Egotist is a person who is always ME-DEEP in conversation. Gossip is sharing private information with those who are not part of the problem or part of the solution. "Sustain me according to Thy word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. The unfolding of Thy words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. Establish my footsteps in Thy word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. Seven times a day I praise Thee, Because of Thy righteous ordinances" (Psalm 119:116,130,133,164). ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________