TO BE CONTINUED
The HISTORICAL JESUS-149-3
*Our mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ absolutely free. We do not want donation. We only want you to know the truth.
*THE U.S.A. MANIFESTO
*Why I believe America cannot be saved:
1. Whereas American government is systematically and structurally corrupt, it is impossible to change or reform America.
2. Trillions of dollars are involved by vested interests who are self-serving and seek to preserve America status quo.
3. There is not one strong righteous leader backed up by righteous citizens. The sign of the times is that a convicted crook and criminal wants to be the American leader.
4. The once big and dependable organizations have now become centers of falsehood. The American TVs, movies, guns, games and toys companies can only produce products of evil because violence and vulgarity make BIG money.
5. As God is my witness, I stand alone; but I have done my duty to warn the American people and I have done what I have done.
Dated 11/28/23 Signed Willie Wong
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China's earthquake in Gansu-Qinghai demonstrates and proves what China has done for its people no superpower democratic or autocratic has ever done before. Some nations think and act as if they had done China a favor by declaring to keep One China policy.
China needs to use its hard-earned resources to help
China Poor first. The China Poor in rural areas deserve AID because they are industrious, productive, ethical and skilled. In comparison to many poor peoples in undeveloped nations who are lazy, useless, dancing and drinking, having sex and produce many children they cannot support!!!
IOWA and New Hampshire Republicans are sick and stupid to let a convicted crook and criminal win in the Republican primaries. The whole world will laugh at the Republican Party for one hundred years!!!
The true madness is the Ukraine war supported by US, EU, and NATO, it should be ended at once unconditionally. Ukraine should immediately surrender and renouce the former goal of joining NATO.
Netanyahu has no need to run; in fact he will go down in the history of Israel and earn him a firm place in the
pantheon of Jewish legends.
Isn’t it strange that ICJ does not condemn terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis? Palestinians and Arabs are unworthy people. Hamas, Hezebollah and Houthis are wicked terrorists who must be destroyed!!!
Isn’t it strange that UN, WHO, EU, and all Arab-Islamic nations support terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis? UN chief and high-paid officials must be replaced. The terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis are threats to global peace.
The terrorist Hamas also killed hostages. Families of Israeili hostages should demand Hamas to surrender and unconditionally release hostages. IDF must destroy Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis once and for all. Hamas must unconditionally surrender and release all hostages. No one objects Palestinians to build a Palestinian state in an Arab land, but
Palestinians cannot build a Palestinian state in the Jewish Land!!!
Isn’t it funny that UN Security Council demands Houthis to stop Red Sea attacks? Why doesn’t UNSC demand Hamas to surrender, Hezbollah and Houthis to disappear? You do not make demands on the terrorists, you ONLY destroy them!!! Palestinian authority, Lebanon and Yemen have no reasons to exist. They exist only to do evil. Iran supports evil through words; when Iran supports evil through deeds, it has to be destroyed too.
Is it not strange not one nation demands
Hamas to surrender??? Not one nation demands Hamas to free hostages???
The 3-H Terrorists are Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis -- Hamas rules Gaza, Hezbollah Lebanon, and Houthis Yemen. Since when wicked TERRORISTS become humanitarian? Nations that support terrorists are public enemies. No one is angry at the terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthis. Lebanon and Yemen have become legitimate targets also. Houthis are the terrorists of the Red Sea who cause world trade big losses. For peace, IDF must quickly destroy Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis. It is right for USA to annihilate Houthis for good. Incredible indeed, UN, WHO, EU, all Arab-Islamic Nations recognize the legitimacy of terrorists Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis in 2023. South Africa has officially supported terrorists Hamas. For that reason South Africa must be kicked out of BRICS for good.
By God’s grace I live to be an old age. For the first time I do not believe anyone or anything. I only believe in God and Jesus Christ my Lord and Redeemer.
When Hamas governed Gaza and West Bank, Palestinians had refugee camps, shortages of many kinds; but they did not scream for aid. When Hamas suddenly attacked Israel with rockets and missiles, killed 1,400 Israelis and took hundreds of hostages, Palestinians did not shout for peace. Now Hamas are on the brink of annihilation, Palestinians yelled for ceasefire and peace and cried out for International aid. What a perverse generation!!! Palestinians are Arabs, why don’t Arab countries take in Arabs -- something seems strange.
Strangest thing: UN, WHO, EU, NATO, ARAB-ISLAMIC nations all work for the terrorists Hamas -- the historical greatest distortion.
Hamas and Palestinians do not have homeland in Israel. The sooner they realize it the better. Who is stopping Palestinians to establish a Palestinian state in an Arab land? Arabs go to Arab’s land is most reasonable. Palestinians and Arabs are unworthy. Hamas, Hezebollah and Houthis are wicked terrorists deserved to be destroyed for good.
It is Hamas and Hezbollah who have to escape. Hamas thought a surprised attack of killing more than 140 Israelis and hundreds of hostages would be a military advantage. Little they realized the collateral damages become so unbearable. Hamas are cowards who hide themselves in hospitals and schools, they were found out and targeted.
TO BE CONTINUED
THE HISTORICAL JESUS 149-3
8). The death of Jesus.
Jesus died by crucifixion on the cross by the hands of godless men who put Him to death.
1Co 15:1-3, “Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the Gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand,
by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the Word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed down to you as of first importance
what I also received, that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures.”
Christianity has two cardinal doctrines of first importance. First is that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Secondly, Jesus Christ was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
(Mat 17:22, 23; Mar 9:30–32 )
Luk 9:43-45, “And they were all amazed at the
greatness of God. But while everyone was
astonished at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples, “As for you, let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of Man is going to be handed over
to men.” But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not comprehend it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.”
Mat 16:21-23, “From that time Jesus began to
point out to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem and to suffer many things
from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised up on the third day.
And yet Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke
Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never
happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s
purposes, but men’s.”
Mat 27:1,“Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death.”
Note: The chief priests and the elders represent the religious establishment. Why were they against Jesus and wanted to put Jesus to death?
Mar 15:10, “For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.”
Note: Pilate knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. Envy in Greek is phthonos which means displeasure at another’s good, a mean passion used only in evil significance; – it occurs only 9 times in the New Testament. The chief priests envied Jesus because they could not preach or teach as Jesus did with authority, and they had no power to perform miracles, and people followed Jesus not them. By the same token, some Western powers and Japan envy of China’s rise and spectacular successes, plot to “divide and destroy” China using Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong and under the pretexts of democracy, religious freedom, human rights, etc. White supremacists expressed their malice and ill will and hatred without cause overtly and covertly more against China since 1949.
Mat 27:26, “Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.”
Note: Roman injustice not only scourged the innocent but handed Him over to be crucified. The criminal justice systems of many nations serve the rich and powerful at the expense of justice. When the corrupt officials violated the laws, they were called mistakes. When people made mistakes not understanding the laws, they were considered violations.
Mat 27:38, “Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.”
Note: The Chinese character “come” 來 has prophetic and historic significance. 十 is the cross. There was a cross, a small man 人 who was a robber crucified on the left, and another small man 人 who was a robber crucified on the right. The big Man 人 was crucified in the center. So two robbers were crucified with Jesus, one on the right and another on the left, it forms the word 來. The Chinese have the character 來 a few thousands years B.C. – so it was prophetic. Jesus was crucified among two thieves as the character 來 says, so it was historic. Jesus died on the cross was an invitation of God to mankind:
Isa 1:18,“Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Note: Reason in Hebrew is yakach which means to prove, decide, judge; figuratively to be in the sunshine, to be clear; to dispute; – it occurs about 59 times in the Old Testament. The Christian faith is reasonable, not superstitious.
Isa 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David.”
Mat 11:28,“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Jhn 7:37,“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying: If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
The Crown of Thorns
Jhn 19:1-15, “So Pilate then took Jesus and had Him flogged. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and placed it on His head, and put a purple
cloak on Him; and they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapped Him in the face again and again. And then Pilate came
out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing Him out to you so that you will know that I find no
grounds at all for charges in His case.”
Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns
and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold, the Man!” So when the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves
and crucify Him; for I find no grounds for charges
in His case!” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die, because He made Himself out to be the Son of God!”
Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid; and he entered the
Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate
said to Him, “Are you not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered
him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this
reason the one who handed Me over to you has the
greater sin.” As a result of this, Pilate made efforts to release Him; but the Jews shouted, saying, “If you release this Man, you are not a friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king
opposes Caesar!” Therefore when Pilate heard
these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement—but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the day of
preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Look, your King!” So they shouted, “Away with Him, away
with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”
The Crucifixion
Jhn 19:16-30, “So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.
(Mat 27:32–56; Mar 15:21–41; Luk 23:26–49 )
They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out,
carrying His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called, Golgotha.
There they crucified Him, and with Him two other
men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.
Now Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written: “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin,
and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; rather, write that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” Then the soldiers, when they had crucified
Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts: a part to each soldier, and the tunic also; but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they
said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots
for it, to decide whose it shall be.” This happened
so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “THEY DIVIDED MY GARMENTS AMONG
THEMSELVES, AND THEY CAST LOTS FOR MY CLOTHING.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.
Now beside the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene. So when Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He
said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own
household. After this, Jesus, knowing that all things
had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”
A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore
when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Mar 15:34, “At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice: ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI? which is translated: MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
Note: Bearing the sins of the world, Jesus cried out as if God had forsaken Him.
Luk 23:34,“Then Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. And they divided His garments and cast lots.”
Note: The most compassionate words ever spoken: Father, forgive them!
Jhn 19:30,,“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said: It is finished! And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
Note: The most important words Jesus uttered on the cross: It is finished. The redemptive work of Jesus was finished.
Care of the Body of Jesus
Jhn 19:31-37, “Now then, since it was the day of
preparation, to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews requested of Pilate that their legs be broken, and the bodies be taken away.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other who was crucified with Him; but after they came to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. Yet one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony
is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
For these things took place so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.”
And again another Scripture says, “THEY WILL LOOK AT HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.”
Jesus Is Buried
(Mar 15:42–47; Luk 23:50–56; Jhn 19:38–42 )
Mat 27:57-66, “Now when it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea came, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.
And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
Now on the next day, that is, the day which is after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and they said, “Sir, we remember that when that deceiver
was still alive, He said, ‘After three days I am rising.’
Therefore, give orders for the tomb to be made
secure until the third day; otherwise, His disciples
may come and steal Him, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the tomb secure with the guard, sealing the stone.”
Mat 27:58, “This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.”
Mar 15:43, “Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the Kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.”
Note: Jesus died a physical death, not a spiritual death. Joseph of Arimathea asked for the dead body of Jesus.
Mar 15:33-39, “At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!” Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing Him saw how He had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
(Mat 27:57–61; Mar 15:42–47; Luk 23:50–56 )
Jhn 19:38-42, “Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, requested of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took
Away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred litras weight.
So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial
custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”
To know Jesus Christ is to know God. To receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is to receive eternal life.
9). The resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Empty Tomb
(Mat 28:1–10; Mar 16:1–8; Luk 24:1–12 )
Jhn 20:1-18, “Now on the first day of the week Mary
Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already removed from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.” So Peter
and the other disciple left, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other
disciple ran ahead, faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first; and he stooped to look in, and saw the linen wrappings lying there; however he did not go in.
So Simon Peter also came, following him, and he entered the tomb; and he looked at the linen
wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings
but folded up in a place by itself. So the other
disciple who had first come to the tomb also entered
then, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet
understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping; so as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body
of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him.” When she had said
this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing
there, and yet she did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Thinking that He was the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried
Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers
and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene came and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.”
Jesus among His Disciples
(Luk 24:36–43; 1Co 15:5 )
Jhn 20:19-29,
“Now when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were
shut where the disciples were together due to fear
of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins
have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said
to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors
having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” Then He said to Thomas,
“Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
Co 15:4-58, “and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
After that He appeared to more than five hundred
brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored
even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
(cf. 1Th 4:13–18 )
1Co 15:12-19,
“Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised
from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is
no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false
witnesses of God, because we testified against God
that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact
the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ
has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then also those who have fallen
asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are of all people most to
be pitied.”
The Order of Resurrection
1Co 15:20-49,
“But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by
a man death came, by a Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in
his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those
who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end,
when He hands over the Kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all
authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy
that will be abolished is death.
For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION
UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is clear that this excludes the
Father who put all things in subjection to Him.
When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. For otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? Why are we
also in danger every hour? I affirm, brothers and
sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily. If from human
motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what
good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, LET’S EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Sober up morally and stop sinning, for some have
no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a
body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of mankind, another flesh of animals, another flesh of birds, and another of fish.
There are also Heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the Heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another.There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is
the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;
it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown
a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also
it is written: “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING PERSON.” The last Adam was the Life-giving Spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second Man is from Heaven.
As is the earthy one, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the Heavenly One, so also are those who are Heavenly.Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the Image of the Heavenly.”
The Mystery of Resurrection
1Co 15:50-58,
“Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does
the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I am
telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP in victory.
“WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR VICTORY? WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters,
be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Resurrection
Every time Jesus spoke about His death invariably He also stressed His resurrection on the third day. Empty tomb is the proof that differentiates Christianity from all other religions.
Mat 16:21,“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Mat 17:23,“And they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up. And they were exceedingly sorrowful.”
Note: The disciples were exceedingly sorrowful because they did not expect the Messiah to be killed.
Mat 20:19,“And deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
Jesus Is Risen!
(Mar 16:1–8; Luk 24:1–12; Jhn 20:1–10 )
Mat 28:1-15,
“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward
the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and came and rolled
away the stone, and sat upon it. And his appearance
was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook from fear of him and became like
dead men. And the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus
who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” And they left the tomb
quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to report to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and
said, “Rejoice!” And they came up and took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go, bring Word to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Now while they were on their way, some of the men from the guard came into the city and
reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s
ears, we will appease him and keep you out of
trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely
spread among the Jews and is to this day.”
Do you notice that Jesus called His Apostles as His brothers? Do you also notice the guard were given a large sum of money to tell lies? Do you know for the soldiers to sleep on the job would be death penalty? That is why the chief priests must appease to the governor and keep the guards out of trouble.
The Resurrection
(Mat 28:1–8; Luk 24:1–12; Jhn 20:1–10 )
Mar 16:1-13,
“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought
spices so that they might come and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying
to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?” And looking up, they noticed that the stone had been rolled away;
for it was extremely large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. But he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for
Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where
they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see
Him, just as He told you.’”
And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
(Mat 28:9, 10; Jhn 20:11–18 )
Mar 16:9-11,
“Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. And when they heard
that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.”
(Luk 24:13–35 )
Mar 16:12-13,
“Now after that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. And they went away and reported it to the rest, but they did not believe them, either.”
Mar 9:31,“For He taught His disciples and said to them: The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”
Mar 10:34,“And they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
Luk 9:22, “Saying: The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
Luk 13:32, “And He said to them: Go, tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.”
Note: The redemptive work of Jesus was perfected when He rose from death.
Luk 24:7, “Saying: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”
Luk 24:46-48, “Then He said to them: Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.”
Note: The work of disciples is to testify the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ so that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in Jesus’ name to all nations.”
Act 10:40, “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly.”
1Cr 15:4, “And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Luk 24:1-8,
“Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them: Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words.”
Mat 28:9, “And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.”
Jhn 20:27-29, “Then He said to Thomas: Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him: “My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him: Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Note: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is based on the death of Jesus on the cross for sinners and the resurrection to perfect the redemption. The early disciples had seen the resurrected Lord; we the latter believers have not seen and yet have believed. I know my Redeemer lives, and I will live because He lives forever.
The Great Commission
(Mar 16:14–18; Luk 24:36–49; Jhn 20:19–23; Act 1:6–8 )
Mat 28:16-20,
“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated to them.
And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him;
but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in Heaven and
on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I
commanded you; and behold, I AM with you always, to the end of the world.”
1Pe 1:3-25,
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who according to His great mercy has
caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the
proof of your faith, being more precious than gold
which perishes though tested by fire, may be found
to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice
with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as
the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful
searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person
or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ
and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these
things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven—things into which angels long to look. Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, set your hope
completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One
who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your
behavior; because it is written:
“YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
If you address as Father the One who impartially
judges according to each one’s work, conduct
yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished
and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was
foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
who through Him are believers in God, who raised
Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified
your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere
love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one
another from the heart, for you have been born again
not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable,
that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.
For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS
GLORY IS LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE
GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES
FOREVER.” And this is the Word which was
preached to you.”
- 10) . The ascension of Jesus Christ.
Luk 9:51-56,
“When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to
make arrangements for Him. And they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward
Jerusalem. When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from Heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them.
And they went on to another village.”
The Bible history of the Ascension of Jesus, found in the first chapter of Acts, describes the ascent of Jesus Christ from the Earth to the Heavenly realm. According to Acts, the Ascension of Jesus takes place 40 days after the Resurrection in the presence of His disciples. Christ is risen after advising them to stay in Jerusalem until the arrival of the Holy Spirit. As He rose, a cloud obscured Him from their view, and two men in white arrived to tell them that He will return "in the same way you have seen him go into Heaven."
Act 1:1-8,
“The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,
until the day when He was taken up to Heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of things regarding the Kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave
Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?” But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
The Ascension
(Mar 16:19, 20; Luk 24:50–53 )
Act 1:9-11,
“And after He had said these things, He was lifted
up while they were watching, and a cloud took
Him up, out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood
beside them, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven.”
The Ascension of Jesus
Luk 24:50-53,
“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up his hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”
Mar 16:19-20,
“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into Heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it. ”
In Christian doctrine, the Ascension is correlated with the deification of Jesus, meaning that through His Ascension, Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God: "He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty."
Acts 1:6-17,
“Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into Heaven.” Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
Luke 24:1-53,
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered His words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but
they were kept from recognizing Him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”They stood still, their faces downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” He asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a Prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him;
but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive.
Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread. While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of broiled fish,
and He took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I AM going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up his hands and blessed them.
While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into Heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
“until the day when He was taken up to Heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the
apostles whom He had chosen.
11). The sending of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit
Jhn 14:16-31,
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another
Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot
receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. After a little while, the world no
longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see
Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you. The one who has My commandments
and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the
one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. The one who does not love Me does not follow My Words; and the Word
which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while remaining with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit
Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that
I said to you. Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in
regard to Me, but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father
commanded Me. Get up, let’s go from here.”
Act 1:1-5,
“The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until
the day when He was taken up to Heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles
whom He had chosen. To these He also presented
Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing
proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days
and speaking of things regarding the Kingdom of
God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the
Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard
of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from
now.”
Act 1:6-11,
“So, when they had come together, they began
asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?” But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or
appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
The Ascension
(Mar 16:19, 20; Luk 24:50–53 )
Act 1:9-11,
“And after He had said these things, He was lifted
up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. And as they were gazing
intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking
into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up
from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven.”
12). TEACHING
Jesus has taught many doctrines unknown and unrevealed before.
“Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every
sickness among the people.”
Mat 7:1-6,
“Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let
me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye!
Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw
your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”
Mat 7:7-8,
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Once I told my students: the Scripture cited above is the greatest secret of success. It is up to you to ASK, SEEK and KNOCK if you want success.
Mat 22:15-22,
“Then the Pharisees went and plotted together
how they might trap Him in what He said. And
they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and do not care what anyone thinks; for You are not partial to anyone. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it
permissible to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”
But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” And hearing this, they were amazed; and they left Him and went away.”
Mar 1:27-28,
“And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new doctrine
with authority! He commands even the unclean
spirits, and they obey Him.”
Note: New in Greek is kainos which means as respects substance of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of; – it occurs about 44 times in the New Testament. New should be viewed under the aspects of time and quality. Doctrine in Greek is didachē which means teaching, that which is taught, instruction; – it occurs about 30 times in the New Testament.
“Immediately the news about Him spread
everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee.”
Jesus often says, Mat 5:27-28,“You have heard that it was said to those of old: You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The crux of new doctrine is Jesus’ authority “I say to you” as no other prophets could or would dare to say. The new doctrine of Jesus puts all men and women under the condemnation of committing adultery in the heart. No one can escape the guilt and condemnation.
Mat 7:28,“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching.”
Mar 1:22,“And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.”
Note: Let me make a poor comparison. You can clearly see the difference between a preaching empowered by the Holy Spirit with those occupational preachers who put their congregations to sleep Sunday after Sunday. Even the Spirit-filled preachers are no comparison with Jesus who taught with authority. I have not known and I do not know any preacher who teaches with authority.
Just a few new doctrines are mentioned here:
(1). Render to God the things that are God’s.
Mar 12:17,“And Jesus said to them: Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they were amazed at Him.”
Note: Western nations and Japan and other nations had robbed and looted China’s national treasures in the last 200 years or so. It is time they return China’s national treasures belonging to China worth market value of US$100,000 trillion dollars not counting the interest.. Corrupt preachers render church offerings as their own. I have known the head of a mission who used offerings to the mission to pay for higher education of all his children in America while the children of his missionaries in the field did not get one penny and lived in abject poverty. I have known preachers who used offerings to build universities in their names as inheritance for their descendants. Some evangelists built spiritual empire or cathedral for their children. A world-famous evangelist left $10 million dollars for his children at his death.
(2). You are mistaken because you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God.
Mar 12:24, “Jesus said to them: Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?”
Note: All false doctrines and heresies were born due to ignorance of the Scriptures or the power of God.
(3). You must be born again.
Jhn 3:5, “Jesus answered: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”
Note: Water symbolizes the Word of God. Eph 5:26,“That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word.” A person is born again by believing in the Word of God and through the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus speaks, God speaks. Jesus is the Word of God.
A former American president was so mistaken to say. When he got to the Pearly Gate he would tell Peter that he was a good man. Little does he know that NO ONE is good enough to enter Heaven. And he does not know that Peter is not the person who guards the gate. It is written, Rev 21:12, “It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve
angels; and names were written on the gates, which
are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. It is not Peter who guards the gate of Heaven. The twelve angels guard at the twelve gates. What do the angels do? It is written, Mat 13:39-42, “and the
enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest
is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.
So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned
with fire, so shall it be at the end of the world.
The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and they will throw them into the Furnace of Fire; in that place
there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The angels recognize those who do not have the Spirit of the Lord. It is written, Rom 8:9-17,
“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”
Rom 8:10-19,
“If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because
of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters
by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit
Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him
so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation
waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead
because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.”
(4). God is working.
Jhn 5:17, “But Jesus answered them: My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
Note: This Scripture rejects the idea propounded by unbelieving scholars that God created the universe like winding a clock and then let it go; and God is not doing anything ever since. Our heavenly Father is working according to His plan and will, although no one is wise enough to know the detail.
Some of the works God had done are written in the Scriptures, such as the creation, the calling of Abraham, the leading of Jewish nation, the redemption of sinners, etc. There is one thing that no one knows what God is actually working.
Rom 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Note: According to this Scripture, we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. How difficult just to cause two things to work together. God causes all things to work together. No one knows how many are children of God alive today. Say one billion. God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, and to those who are called according to His purpose. No one knows how marvelous and wonderful the way God causes all things to work together it is due to His Omnipotence and Omniscience. Man is so helpless and powerless, cannot even make a few things to work together. No one can control time and events. My journey of life is not finished yet, so I do not know what and how God causes all things to work together for my good. Of course I also do not know at all how and what God causes all things to work together for my dear ones. But Jesus tells us that God has been working. It is wonderful to know that my Heavenly Father is working to cause all things work for my good.
As William Cowper said,
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.
God rules the universe and history is marching as God is directing. The end of the world is near. Jesus Christ is coming again soon.
(5). Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Jhn 14:6, “Jesus said to him: I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me.”
Note: Truth is exclusive, not inclusive. Christianity is the only revealed religion, all others are man-made religions. Truth is not narrow-mindedness. This is exactly what Jesus Christ claims to be. There is only one way to God, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is up to you whether you believe or not, but do not fool yourself in believing there are many ways to God.
(6). Wise man building his house on the rock.
Mat 7:24-29,“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
Note: Wall Street, Washington, and Hollywood represent the love of money, power and sex – they are building on the sand. They are falling. The American way of life is falling. Those who believe in faith, hope and love are building on the Rock.
1Co 10:4, “and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a Spiritual Rrock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.”
Building on Christ is building on the Rock.
(7). You will die in your sins.
Jhn 8:23-24,”And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I AM from above; you are of this world, I AM not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
Note: Jesus was from above who came down to be the Savior of the world. Unless you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you will die in your sins. Sinners cannot save themselves, only Jesus Christ can save sinners.
Mar 4:1-20, “Again He began to teach by the sea. And such a very large crowd gathered to Him that He got into a boat on the sea and sat down; and the whole crowd was by the sea on the land.
And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching,
“Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;
as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no
depth of soil. And when the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered
away. Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.
Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much.”
And He was saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
(Mat 13:10–17; Luk 8:9, 10 )
“As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve disciples, began asking Him about the parables. And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but for those who are outside, everything comes in parables, so that WHILE SEEING THEY MAY SEE,
AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE
THEY MIGHT RETURN AND IT WOULD BE FORGIVEN THEM.”
“And He said to them, “Do you not understand this
parable? How will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the Word. These are the ones who are beside the road where the Word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
And in a similar way these are the ones sown with seed on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and yet they
have no firm root in themselves, but are only
temporary; then, when affliction or persecution
occurs because of the word, immediately they fall
away. And others are the ones sown with seed
among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter and choke the word, and it
becomes unfruitful. And those are the ones sown with seed on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much.”
Mat 13:24-30, “Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed
weeds among the wheat, and left. And when the
wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’
“But he said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.
Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
The enemy who is the devil has sown much weeds to fool the people, among falsehoods and lies are the erronious articles about the historical Jesus. As long as the world exists there will be false religions, false doctrines and errors will deceive the world.
Mat 16:6, “And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Leaven in Greek is zymē which means metaph. of inveterate mental and moral corruption, viewed in its tendency to infect others (Strong’s Concordance); an element that produces an altering or transforming
influence (Collins’s dictionary); which occurs 13 times in the New Testament.
(8). If anyone wants to come after Me.
Mat 16:24, “Then Jesus said to His disciples,
“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Mar 8:34, “And He summoned the crowd together
with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone
wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever
wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it. For what does it benefit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what could a person give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My Words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
- 12. The second coming of Jesus.
The Second Coming
Mat 26:64,“Jesus said to him: You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
Mar 14:62, “And Jesus said: I AM; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
Note: The most important event to take place in the universe is the second coming of Jesus Christ. The return of Jesus Christ will be a universally visible and glorious event. It will be the largest parade in the universe when the King of kings and Lord of lords leads the apostles and holy angels and countless saints descend from the space to the earth. Just as the ascension of Jesus Christ was bodily and visible, so the coming again of Jesus Christ will be bodily and visible. It will be with great power and glory. You do not know what power and glory until you see the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Here are some awesome scenes will feature the second coming of Christ:
Rev 6:13-17,“And the stars of Heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks: Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Note: The arrogant supremacists, warmongers, dictators, corrupt leaders, Wall Street executives, terrorists, and monopolists, corrupt doctors and greedy hospital owners, etc., you will not be able to stand the wrath of God!
2Th 1:6-10,“Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”
Note: Let the wicked tremble, and the righteous rejoice, for the Lord is coming again soon. The Lord Jesus is coming to judge the living and the dead.
(1). Judgment.
Jhn 12:48,“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the Word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”
Note: Judge in Greek is krinō which means to pass judgment on the deeds and words of others, condemn; – it occurs about 114 times in the New Testament. The judgment of Jesus the Messiah will decide between the righteousness and unrighteousness of men. Sinners and evildoers will not be able to stand. The last day is the day Jesus returns. Those who reject Jesus will be judged in the last day.
Act 10:42,“And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.”
2Ti 4:1,“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom.”
1Pe 4:5,“They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”
Note: Jesus was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. The living means those who are alive when Jesus returns. The dead means those who are already dead waiting to be raised for the final judgment. Corrupt politicians and officials do not give an account of what they have done to the people even among so-called democratic governments, they will have to give an account to Jesus who is the Judge. Western and Japanese leaders will not escape the wrath of God.
Act 17:31,“Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Note: God has appointed the Day of Judgment on which Jesus will judge the world in righteousness. No one will escape the judgment of God, especially the wicked and evildoers and unbelievers, the greedy and warmongers. Jesus rose from the dead is the assurance God has given to the world.
Rom 2:16,“In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my Gospel.”
Note: Secrets in Greek is kryptos which means the hidden things which are concealed; – it occurs about 19 times in the New Testament. The word “cryptic” is derived from the Greek word. So many intelligence operations are cryptic. Some classified secrets of some nations committed by dictators, warmongers, corrupt leaders, brutal agents, etc. have been leaked. God knows the secret bank accounts of so-and-so dictators or leaders that defrauded the people. God knows all about them. God knows how many innocent people were killed by abusive and cruel officials. Not only God knows your secret deeds, God also know your secret thoughts, feelings and desires. The Lord will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. The Lord knows how many millions of children all over the world were sexually abused and raped by Catholic priests and nuns, and rapists. God knows how many millions of people were killed by white supremacists and recently terrorists. God knows how many trillions were defrauded by Wall Street executives and doctors and hospital owners and drug and insurance companies. God knows how many unnecessary surgeries and tests and treatments were performed by immoral doctors to maximize profits. God knows all the secrets of American leaders and politicians and all the evil deeds committed by the U.S. government and Japan no matter how the Japanese prime minister and his gang deny them. Mercy is available even for the wicked who want to repent now, but there will be no mercy in the Day of Judgment. God will judge the secrets of all men by Jesus Christ, except the forgiven believers who will not be condemned.
1Cr 6:2-3, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?”
Note: Not only there is no condemnation for the saved souls, the saints will judge the world with the Lord. The saints are those who have been saved and washed by the blood of Jesus. Saints are not dead people canonized by the Catholic church.
Jam 5:9,“Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”
Note: Let the wicked tremble, the Judge is standing at the door! The Lord will reign forever ever!
(2). Reign.
1Cr 15:25, “For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.”
Note: Enemies in Greek is echthros which means men as at enmity with God by their sin; it occurs about 32 times in the New Testament. All evildoers including fraudulent Wall Street executives, supremacists, hegemonists, warmongers, dictators, terrorists, monopolists, capitalists, imperialists, predatory doctors, hospital owners, lawyers, oppressors, corrupt and abusive officials, etc. are enemies of Christ. When Jesus Christ reigns, all enemies will be under His feet.
2 Ti 2:12, “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
Note: If we suffer for Christ, we shall also reign with Him.
Rev 5:10, “And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
Note: Believers in Christ are children of God. God has made Christians kings and priests to our God. Saints shall reign with Christ for a thousand years on earth.
Rev 20:6,“ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
Rev 11:15,“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying: “ The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Rev 22:5,“There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.”
In my opinion Martin Luther was the greatest man ever lived in history outside the Holy Bible. I recently came across the fine statement made by Martin Luther. I paraphrase it and make small changes as follows to sum up the Incomparable Jesus:
In a Christian life on earth, Jesus Christ is our Example, showing us how to live in His Death, by His obedience and sacrifice, justifying for our sins in His Resurrection, the Conqueror of the universe in His Ascension to the highest Heavens, and as the High Priest and Mediator, in His intercession at the right hand of God.
The historical Jesus is what the New Testament presents, no more no less. Outside the Holy Scrptures, all the opinions and guessworks of mankind whether pretending scolars and scientists are hogwash or gibberish. We do not read the Holy Bible between the lines. We study the Holy Scriptures diligently.
Jhn 5:39, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me.”
To study diligently means to seek to know the truth.
2Pe 2:18, “For uttering arrogant words of vanity
[pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.”
Many so-called academics believe in error and live in error. There is no error in the Word of God. Why waste your time and efforts on the errors of men? Jesus of history and Jesus of the Faith are one and the same. Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today and Foever.
Heb 13:7-8, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today, and fore
Note: Jesus has power over nature, illness, demons and unclean spirits.
14. The Transfiguration
Mat 17:1-13,
“Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high
mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured
before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good
that we are here. If You want, I will make three
tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright
cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples
heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched
them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.”
And raising their eyes, they saw no one except
Jesus Himself alone. When they were coming down
from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” And His disciples
asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things;
but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer
at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.”
The Transfiguration speaks strongly of Jesus’ dual nature, being Human and Divine at the same time.
Jesus’ Dual Nature.
Jesus had dual nature because He was human and divine. Jesus was sinless Man and true God.
Eyewitnesses
(Mat 17:5; Mar 9:7; Luk 9:35 )
2Pe 1:16-21,
“For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such a declaration as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”—
and we ourselves heard this declaration made from Heaven when we were with Him on the Holy Mountain.
And so we have the Prophetic Word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp
shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star arises in your hearts.
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own
interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit
spoke from God.”
(A). Jesus’ humanity.
Luk 1:31,“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.”
Note: The only difference was the fact the virgin Mary conceived of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luk 2:21,“And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.”
Luk 2:27,“And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law.”
Luk 2:52,“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Note: The Child Jesus kept growing indicates His humanity. This is a model of child development: grow in wisdom (intellectual and moral) and stature (physical), and in favor with God (spiritual) and men (social).
Luk 20:34, “Jesus answered and said to them: The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.”
Note: Jesus never married and never had a woman. It is a sin against the Holy Spirit for those who lied that Jesus had a bunch of women.
Luk 8:22-25,“Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them: Let us cross over to the other side of the lake. And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying: Master, Master, we are perishing! Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them: Where is your faith? And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another: Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”
Note: There is nothing that more fully illustrates the dual nature of Jesus than the Scriptures cited above. The fact that Jesus fell asleep in a boat tells of His humanity. The fact that Jesus could sleep in the midst of the windstorm speaks clearly of His divinity. The fact the winds and waves obeyed the commands of Jesus tells His divinity.
Jhn 4:6,“Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.”
Note: The fact that Jesus was thirsty, hungry and tired, etc. prove He was human. The big difference is the fact Jesus was both human and divine.
Mat 27:54,“Now the centurion, and those who were with Him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said: Truly this was the Son of God!”
Note: The death of Jesus was so different because of the earthquake and the things that were happening that convinced the centurion that Jesus was truly the Son of God.
Luk 23:46,“And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said: Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. Having said this, He breathed His last.”
Note: Jesus died a physical death for the sins of the world. He rose from the dead was a bodily resurrection.
(B). Jesus’ Divinity.
Mat 16:15-18,
“He said to them: But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him: Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
Note: Rock in Greek is Petra which means a large stone; – it occurs about 16 times in the New Testament.
1Cr 10:4,“And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
Note: The Rock was Christ, upon the Rock revealed by the Father that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God – Jesus builds His Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. This Scripture is often misquoted and misunderstood by Roman Catholics to refer to Peter; Peter was only a stone, not the Rock. The church of Jesus Christ could not be built on a man who denied Jesus three times. Jesus builds His Church on the Rock solid revelation of God that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God. The divinity of Jesus is the foundation of the Church.
Mar 1:1,“The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Note: Jesus, the Son of God, is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no Gospel outside of Jesus.
Luk 3:21-22,“When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the Heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven which said: You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
Note: God and the Holy Spirit testified for Jesus the Son of God.
Mar 9:2-7,“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus: Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah—because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a Voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
Note: Jesus transfigured to show His glory before He became Man. God called Jesus His beloved Son, we must hear Him.
Jhn 2:24,“But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men .”
Note: You may not even know your friend only after you have known him for 30 years. You may not know your spouse only after you have lived with him/her a lifetime. How many marriages broke up after 30 years! Jesus knew all men from the beginning because He was God.
Jhn 4:28-30,“The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men: Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ? Then they went out of the city and came to Him.”
Note: Jesus knew all things that you and I ever did because He is omniscient. Jesus knew the end from the beginning of everything.
Mar 5:25-34, “Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said: If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well. Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said: Who touched My clothes? But His disciples said to Him: You see the multitude thronging You, and You say: Who touched Me? And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her: Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Note: Only Jesus who is the power of God can heal people simply by touching His clothes.
Mar 10:32, “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.”
Note: The smartest people do not know what is going to happen to them.
Luk 23:34,“Then Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. And they divided His garments and cast lots.”
Note: Here comes the famous saying, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him, for they did not know what they did. As a human, I probably would ask to send the angel of death to slaughter them all.
Jesus’ power is displayed over nature（wind and sea), over demons，over sickness and illness, over the devil, over difficulties，etc.
After 40 days with the disciples, Jesus was taken up to Heaven where He was before.
XII． Ascension
Jhn 16:28,“I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
Note: Jesus came forth from the Father and came into the world, that is Incarnation, God became Man. Jesus left the world and went to the Father, that is ascension.
Jhn 20:17,“Jesus said to her: Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”
Note: By ascension Jesus also elevated the position of His believers to ‘My God and your God.’
Mat 28:16-20, “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying: All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I AM with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.”
Note: The resurrected Jesus is glorified and received all authority in Heaven and on earth. The disciples worshiped Jesus as the Old Testament saints worshiped Jehovah.
I am disgusted with famous pastors and preachers who make church members their disciples. If a man wants to make disciples not through the pulpit, I could not care less. By the same token I despise the men and women who get rich by merchandising the Gospel. You may get rich through other ways.
Mar 16:19, “So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”
Note: Jesus was received up into heaven means Jesus ascended into heaven. Sit down at the right hand of God means Jesus has been given all power and authority in Heaven and on earth.
Luk 24:50-53, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into Heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.”
Note: Jesus was carried up into Heaven means Jesus ascended into Heaven.
Act 1:9-11, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward Heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said: Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”
Note: Jesus was taken up means Jesus ascended; He went up to Heaven. The angels also proclaimed the prophecy of Jesus second coming, This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven. Just as Jesus bodily rose from the dead, and bodily ascended into Heaven, He will bodily come again.
Jhn 14:2-3, “In My Father’s home are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I AM, there you may be also.”
Note: Jesus went to Heaven to prepare a place for His followers, that is Heaven or Paradise of God, the new Heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem. I believe all have been prepared. Jesus may come imminently anytime. Heaven is not a state of mind, it is the real place of many mansions, the Paradise of God.
Eph 4:10, “He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the Heavens, that He might fill all things.”
13. WHAT FAMOUS PEOPLE SAY
Timothy Keller said, “Jesus didn't come to tell us the answers to the questions of life, he came to be the answer.”
John Ortberg said, “Peace doesn't come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat.”
Oswald Chambers said, “Trust yourself in God's hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.'”
Charles Spurgeon said, “Thus there will be three effects of nearness to Jesus humility, happiness, and holiness.”
Charles Stanley said, “The blood that poured from Christ's wounds bought your salvation. If you want to truly value what He did, think of Him hanging on that cross just for you. With that thought in your mind, consider how you should live. He gave Himself freely for you; are you giving yourself fully to Him?”
Oswald Chambers said, “The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.”
Horatius Bonarsaid, “It is not opinions that man needs: it is TRUTH. It is not theology; it is God. It is not religion: it is Christ. It is not literature and science; but the knowledge of the free love of God in the gift of His only-begotten Son.”
Matt Chandler said, “The single most loving act we can do is share the good news of Jesus Christ, that God saves sinners.”
Frederick Buechner said, “The birth of Jesus made possible not just a new way of understanding life but a new way of living it.”
Oswald Chamberssaid, “The center of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God so much.”
Albert Einstein said, “I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene….No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not an effort of once a week or once a day. It is an effort of once and for all.”
Ambrose said, “When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about peace, we are speaking about Christ. When we speak about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking about Christ.”
Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments." This is the essence of what it means to be a true disciple: those who receive Christ Jesus walk with him.”
Napoleon Bonaparte said, “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him.”
H. G. Wells said, “I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
Helmut Thielicke said, “When the drama of history is over, Jesus Christ will stand alone on the stage. All the great figures of history ... will realize that they have been but actors in a drama produced by another.”
Alistair Begg said, “The Bible is one book, written by one Author, with one subject: Jesus Christ and the salvation God...provides through Him.”
William Barclay said, “Jesus is the yes to every promise of God.”
Thomas a Kempis said, “We must imitate Christ's life and his ways if we are to be truly enlightened and set free from the darkness of our own hearts. Let it be the most important thing we do, then, to reflect on the life of Jesus Christ.”
Blaise Pascal said, “Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.”
John Bunyan said, “Grace can pardon our ungodliness and justify us with Christ's righteousness; it can put the Spirit of Jesus Christ within us; it can help us when we are down; it can heal us when we are wounded; it can multiply pardons, as we through frailty multiply transgressions.”
Louie Giglio said, “Humility is not a character trait to develop, it's the natural by-product of being with Jesus.”
Kathy Troccoli said, “Jesus Christ is not a security from storms. He is the perfect security in storms.”
Oswald Chambers said, “Some of us are like the Dead Sea, always taking in but never giving out, because we are not rightly related to the Lord Jesus.”
Alexander MacLaren said, “The tears of Christ are the pity of God. The gentleness of Jesus is the long-suffering of God. The tenderness of Jesus is the love of God. He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”
George Washington said, “Almighty and eternal Lord God, the great Creator of heaven and earth, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; look down from heaven in pity and compassion upon me thy servant, who humbly prostrate myself before thee.”
Charles Spurgeon said, “Whatever subject I preach, I do not stop until I reach the Savior, the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things.”
Oswald Chambers said, “Christianity is not consistency to conscience or to convictions; Christianity is being true to Jesus Christ.”
J. C. Ryle said, “What you think now about the cross of Christ, I cannot tell; but I can wish you nothing better than this - that you may be able to say with the apostle Paul, before you die or meet the Lord, 'God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.'”
Dallin H. Oaks said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. “Repent” is its most frequent message, and repenting means giving up all of our practices-perso nal, family, ethnic, and national-that are contrary to the commandments of God. The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “There are only two places where the powerful and great in this world lose their courage, tremble in the depths of their souls, and become truly afraid. These are the manger and the cross of Jesus Christ....No priest, no theologian stood at the cradle of Bethlehem. And yet, all Christian theology finds its beginnings in the miracle of miracles, that God became human.”
J. C. Ryle said, “O Christian, look up and take comfort. Jesus has prepared a place for you, and those who follow Him shall never perish, neither shall anyone pluck them out of His hands.”
T. B. Joshua said, “The evidence of Jesus Christ is lives changed.”
T. B. Joshua said, “If you have truly been born again, it was the Holy Spirit who convicted you of sin and drew you into a relationship with Jesus.”
Pinchas Lapide said, “I accept the resurrection of Easter Sunday not as an invention of the community of disciples, but as a historical event. If the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on that Easter Sunday were a public event which had been made known...not only to the 530 Jewish witnesses but to the entire population, all Jews would have become followers of Jesus.”
Sinclair B. Ferguson said, “My security as a Christian does not reside in the strength of my faith but in the indestructibility of my Savior.”
Aiden Wilson Tozer said, “We are saved to worship God. All that Christ has done in the past and all that He is doing now leads to this one end.”
Mother Teresa said, “Perfect prayer does not consist in many words, but in the fervor of the desire which raises the heart to Jesus.”
Robert Farrar Capon said, “We are not saved by what Jesus taught, and we are certainly not saved by what we understand Jesus to have taught. We are saved by Jesus Himself.”
Charles Spurgeon said, “I shall never understand, even in heaven, why the Lord Jesus should ever have loved me.”
Dallin H. Oaks said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is the brightest light and the only hope for this darkened world.”
Wolfhart Pannenberg said, “The evidence for Jesus' resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: First, it is a very unusual event. And second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Jesus is the only significance. Beside Jesus nothing has any significance. He alone matters.”
Charles Spurgeon said, “If I am not today all that I hope to be, yet I see Jesus, and that assures me that I shall one day be like Him.”
Paul Washer said, “The true gospel is radically exclusive. Jesus is not a way; He is the way, and all other ways are no way at all. If Christianity would only move one small step toward a more tolerant ecumenicalism and exchange the definite article the for the indefinite article a, the scandal would be over, and the world and Christianity could become friends. However, whenever this occurs, Christianity ceases to be Christianity, Christ is denied, and the world is without a Savior.”
N. T. Wright said, “God is the one who satisfies the passion for justice, the longing for spirituality, the hunger for relationship, the yearning for beauty. And God, the true God, is the God we see in Jesus of Nazareth, Israel's Messiah, the world's true Lord.”
R. C. Sproul said, “True faith always produces real conformity to Christ.”
Alistair Begg said, “The death of Jesus is the pivotal event of human history and everything needs to be understood in light of that.”
Martin Luther said, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent,' he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”
Adrian Rogers said, “Christianity is a love relationship between a child of God and his Maker through the Son Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
William Lyon Phelps said, “In the whole story of Jesus Christ, the most important event is the resurrection.”
Joseph Alleine said, “For a soul to come to Jesus, is the grandest event in its history.”
Blaise Pascal said, “Not only do we know God by Jesus Christ alone, but we know ourselves only by Jesus Christ. We know life and death only through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know what is our life, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves.”
Charles Spurgeon said, “Jesus Christ does not save the worthy, but the unworthy. Your plea must not be righteousness but guilt”
John Newton said, “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”
Aiden Wilson Tozer said, “Any faith that must be supported by the evidence of the senses is not real faith.”
Horatius Bonarsaid, “Thy way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be; lead me by thine own hand; choose out the path for me.”
R. A. Torrey said, “We must always bear in mind that the primary purpose of our work is not to get people to join a church, to give up their bad habits, or to do anything other than to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.”
Martin Luther said, “Lord Jesus, You are my righteousness, I am your sin. You took on you what was mine; yet set on me what was yours. You became what you were not, that I might become what I was not.”
Martin Luther said, “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!”
Curtis Hutson said, “No one will ever go to Hell who has put his trust in Jesus Christ, but many will end up in torment who have trusted their own righteousness and reformation.”
Charles Spurgeon said, “It is not the strength of your faith that saves you, but the strength of Him upon whom you rely! Christ is able to save you if you come to Him-be your faith weak or be it strong.”
Oswald Chambers said, “Sin is not wrong doing, it is wrong BEING, deliberate and emphatic independence of God.”
John Stott said, “Because in no other person but the historic Jesus of Nazareth has God become man and lived a human life on earth, died to bear the penalty of our sins, and been raised from death and exalted to glory, there is no other Savior, for there is no other person who is qualified to save.”
Mikhail Gorbachev was so wrong to say, “Jesus was the first socialist, the first to seek a better life for mankind.”
Socialists want to claim Jesus, capitalists want to claim Jesus. They are all wrong, for Jesus says,
“Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm.”
Jhn 10:10-11, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
Jhn 17:1-4, “Jesus spoke these things; and raising
His eyes to Heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, so that the Son may glorify You, just as You gave Him authority over all mankind, so that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do.”
A Western demogog is often quoted, “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”
Let me tell you the truth, capitalism as practiced by America has no blessings; socialism as practiced by Scandinavia has some virtues. The socialism practiced by Scandinavia has only application to White race with small population. The vast majority of Scandinavians cannot change their government policies. For example, Sweden wants to join NATO. The socialism practiced by many other nations has only dictatorship and miseries. Even the early Church failed in practicing socialism because of the sinful human nature and selfishness.
Fate of Ananias and Sapphira
Act 5:1-11, “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept
back some of the proceeds for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have
conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” And as he heard these
words, Ananias collapsed and died; and great fear came over all who heard about it.
The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now an interval of about three hours elapsed, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded
to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for this
price?” And she said, “Yes, for that price.”
Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the
test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” And immediately she collapsed at his feet and died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear
came over the whole church, and over all who heard about these things.”
1Ti 1:15-16, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving
full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost sinner Jesus Christ might demonstrate
His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
I appreciate what famous people say about Jesus. Even if people do not say anything good, it is written, Jhn 1:14-18, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
14). TRANSFIGUATION
Transfiguation of Jesus Christ explains His dual nature, His humanity and His Divinity. There is no transfiguation of any famous historical Biblical figures including Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Nathan or Samuel.
Transfiguration also explains the Pre-existence of Jesus Christ. It is written, The Deity of Jesus Christ
(Gen 1:1—2:3 )
Jhn 1:1-4, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. All things came
into being through Him, and apart from Him not even
one thing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind.”
Jhn 6:62, “What then if you see the Son of Man
ascending to where He was before?”
Jhn 8:56-59, “Your father Abraham was overjoyed
that he would see My day, and he saw it and rejoiced.” So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM.”
Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and left the temple grounds.”
Jhn 17:3-5, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ
whom You have sent. I glorified You on the earth by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do. And now You, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before
the world existed.”
Rom 11:36, “For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
1Co 8:6, “yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”
Phl 2:5-8, “Have this attitude in yourselves which
was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed
in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself
by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born
in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.”
The Incomparable Christ
Col 1:13-17, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of all creation: for by Him all
things were created, both in the Heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or
dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before
all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
God’s Final Word in His Son
(cf. Jhn 1:1–4 )
Heb 1:1-3, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed Heir of all things, through whom He also made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the Word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
Heb 1:8-12, “But regarding the Son He says,
“YOUR THRONE, GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER,
AND THE SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM. YOU HAVE LOVED
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS;
THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU
WITH THE OIL OF JOY ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.” And, YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH,
AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN;
AND THEY ALL WILL WEAR OUT LIKE A GARMENT,
AND LIKE A ROBE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP;
LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED.
BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL
NOT COME TO AN END.”
Jesus Briefly Humbled
Heb 2:9, “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”
Heb 2:14-16, “Therefore, since the children share
in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook
of the same, so that through death He might
destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who through fear of
feath were subject to slavery all their lives. For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives
help to the descendants of Abraham.”
Rev 4:8-11, “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE
LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, who was and who is and who is to come.” And when the living creatures
give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they will worship Him who lives forever
and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created
all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Many confuse and misunderstand because they do not know about the dual nature of Jesus Christ -- His humanity and His divinity. Jesus is both the Sinless Man and the True God. Jesus is human for the fact He was hungry, He is God because He is the Bread of God, Jhn 6:33, “For the Bread of God is that which comes down out of Heaven and gives life to the world.”
Jesus was human so He needed sleep. Yet He could sleep in a violent storm when the boat was being covered by the waves, Mat 8:24, “And behold, a violent storm developed on the sea, so that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus
Himself was asleep.” And because Jesus was God so He could calm the winds and the sea, Mat 8:25-27,
“And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He said to
them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?”
Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed,
and said, “What kind of a Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
The Transfiguration
Mat 17:1-13, “Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still
speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell face
down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus
came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” And raising their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.
When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”
And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; but I say to you that Elijah already
came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. So also the Son of Man is
going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples
understood that He had spoken to them about John
the Baptist.”
The Transfiguration
(Mat 16:28—17:13; Luk 9:27–36; 2Pe 1:16–18 )
Mar 9:1-13, “And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God when it has come with power.” And six days later Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was
transfigured before them; and His garments became
radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.
Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here; let’s make three tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
For he did not know how to reply; for they became
terrified. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!”
And suddenly they looked around and saw no one
with them anymore, except Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.
They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.
And they asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
And He said to them, “Elijah does come first and he restores all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written of him.”
Eyewitnesses
(Mat 17:5; Mar 9:7; Luk 9:35 )
2Pe 1:16-21, “For we did not follow cleverly devised
tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received
honor and glory from God the Father, such a
declaration as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”— and we ourselves heard this
declaration made from Heaven when we were with Him on the Holy Mountain. And so we have the prophetic Word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star
arises in your hearts. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of
someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved
by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
I accept the records of the Gospels and the New Testament as historical events of Jesus Christ.
John testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming
after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has revealed Him.”
The Word became flesh means Incarnation. Jesus is the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God is Spirit and Invisible, only Jesus reveals God.
There are millions of Christians who are willing to die for Jesus Christ. The thing matters most is for Christians to be a living and holy sacrifice,
Rom 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Phl 1:29, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s
sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf.”
The greatest glory for Christians is not martyrdom, but to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ daily.
CONCLUSION
Rom 16:26, “but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in
accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.”
The historical Jesus has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of prophets, in accoardance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith. The duty and responsibility of all Christians of all generations is to obey the Faith as it is written in the Word of God.
You do not need to know anybody or anything, but you need to know Jesus Christ who is your Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ is the wonderful Savior, you will know Him if only you believe in Him. No one is like Jesus, the Son of God, the coming King of kings and Lord of lords. Would you now accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Today is the day of salvation, would you do it now?
You have learned a lot about the true historical Jesus, there was and there is and there will be no one like Him. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
To receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is to receive the eternal life.
WILLIE WONG THOUGHT
WILLIE WONG
FEBRUARY 5, 2024
https://williewongthought.hpage.com/
Copyright © 2018 - 2024 by Willie Wong
The following beautiful pictures are provided by FREEIMAGES, photographer Roxana ANGHEL.
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