THE MESSIAH WOULD BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM
Micah 5:2 (NRSV) “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.”
JESUS’ DISCIPLES KNEW HE WAS THE MESSIAH
Mark 8:27-29 (NRSV) 27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 29 He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."
THE MESSIAH WILL COME AGAIN
Mark 14:61-62 (NRSV) 61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62 Jesus said, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'"
JESUS CLAIMED TO BE THE MESSIAH
John 4:25-26 (NRSV) 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." 26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you."
THE MESSIAH BRINGS SALVATION
Hebrews 2:10 (NRSV) It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
C. S. Lewis: “Jesus Christ was either a liar, a lunatic, or He was who He said He was.”
Dale Moody: "The belief that Jesus is the Christ, the one uniquely anointed by God for the fulfillment of his promise to Israel and through Israel to the world, is the central doctrine of the Christian faith."
If Jesus of Nazareth was not the Christ, the fulfillment of Old Testament promise and prophecy, the Son of God, and the Savior of the world and he knew it, He is a liar of the worst sort; and we should scorn him and ignore him. On the other hand, if he was not who he thought he was, given his tragically deluded self-understanding, we should pity him and dismiss him for a lunatic. It is rather difficult, however, on this position, to explain the remarkable teaching that flowed from his mouth. If he is simply a legend, something of a heroic make-believe character along the lines of the ancient Hercules or Santa Claus, we might admire the biblical stories for their wonderful charm, but we would certainly not view this person as the most significant individual to walk the earth, much less worship him. But if he is Lord, the Son of God, the Messiah, the risen and ascended and exalted King of kings, we are confronted with a completely different decision altogether. A Theology for the Church.
Source of Scripture and Headings: NLTse Bible Verse Finder, Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Database © 2005 WORDsearch Corp.
