LESSON:111 GOD THE SON

    LOGOS BIBLE STUDY

LESSON 111: GOD THE SON - JESUS CHRIST

I. JESUS, THE CHRIST

    A. Jesus: His name as - the man – Matthew 1:21

1. Jesus, in human form did not exist until he was born.

a. All that became Jesus was pre-existent with the Father from eternity.

i. He existed eternally with God as the Word – John 1:1 & 14.

2. Jesus is the name of the flesh and blood "man".

a. He is called the "son of man" because he (in flesh form) is born of a woman.

i. His humanity comes from Mary as traced back to Adam – Luke 3:23-38.

   b. He laid aside all His divine life to limit himself to mortal human life.

      3. Jesus (Jeshua) means savior, deliverer, healer and rescuer.

a.  He was named by God the Father – Luke 1:31.

i. His name describes all that He is and does.

     B. Christ (Messiah) His title.

1. Christ is His Title meaning the "Anointed of God" - Matthew 16:16, Luke 2:11.

a. He is called the "Son of God" because He (in spirit and soul form) is the offspring of God by the Holy Spirit.

2. He is the Word and Will part of God that was ever with God as part of God – John 1:1.

a. This part of God became man as He spoke it to the woman and she conceived.

3. His ministry among men was evident before he became human born as Jesus – Genesis 18:1.

a. This was not the Father, nor was it the Holy Spirit.

i. He is the part of God that manifested in human form later to be born as Jesus with all of man’s physical properties.

C. His position is KING (heavenly) – Matthew 27:11, 37.

1.  His earthly lineage as a descendant of King David – Luke 1:32-33 and Matthew 1:6.

a.  His earthly ancestry is from Joseph and traced back to Abraham – Matthew 1:1-17.

     D. His purpose – to be the savior of the world – Luke 2:11.

1. To the Jew first then to the gentile (non-Jew) – John 3:16 &

II. CHRIST IS THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE GOD

    A. He is the spoken word and will (the Word part) of God - John 1:1.

1. All things were made by Him, by His Word and Will - Colossians 1:15-18 and Hebrews 11:3.

          a. God spoke and His Word has the ability to create/make whatever He spoke –  Genesis 1:6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24.

                i. God spoke His Word that He would have a Son - that Word became Jesus.

2. As part of the Godhead He was present and involved with creation and the re-creation as Elohim or "Us" - Genesis 1:26.


III. HE IS THE SECOND PART OF THE TRINITY

A. He made Himself second in rank under the Father - Philippians 2:6-8.

1.  He called God "Father" and took a subservient position to Him – 1 Corinthians 11:3.

B. He did this order to identify with man absolutely.

1. And to provide a pattern for redeemed man to follow.

IV. JESUS IS GOD INCARNATE IN HUMAN FORM

A.  He laid down all His divine abilities of omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence, so that He would have the same limitations of man with all human feelings and emotions.

         1. So He could be tempted in the same way we are.

2. He even had to be born as a baby and grow to adulthood as any normal person with all human experiences.

B. Christ is divine, the Son of God, and the son of man.

1. He is the embodiment of God's nature, character and personality but without the divine powers of God – John 8:23.

a. All that can be said of God can be said of Christ - Colossians 2:9.

b. He is the very fullness of God; the person of God; called Emanuel – Colossians 1:19.

2. All that God is and wants man to be was manifested in Jesus - the perfect MAN.

a.  The man of and from God – John 6:38.

C. Jesus relationship with his Father was the closest that a Father and Son could have – John 7:28-29.

1. Jesus spoke what the Father spoke and did as the Father would do – John 8:26-28, 38; 9:3-4.

a. Jesus took all his directions from the Father as a perfect servant – John 8:29

i. Especially his teaching – John 7:16.

b. Their relationship of Father and Son was so intimate that all that Jesus    experienced, the Father also felt and experienced.

i. This is why the Father had to turn away from Jesus when he was on the cross becoming sin with the sins of everyone in the world sin –    Matthew 27:46.

                         aa. The Father is so Holy he cannot look upon.

D. He took on the human form of man forever.

1. However, He is in an immortal, glorified body now and forever.

a. As we shall have when we join Him after the resurrection - 1 John 3:2.

V. THE NATURE OF HIS COMING – His birth.

A. His coming was, and still is, represented by God’s ordained Holy Days (holidays).    (The following shows significance and importance of recognizing and observing God’s Ordained Feasts (Leviticus 23), His Holy Days and how they related to Jesus and their prophetic fulfillment.)

1. Each of the Feasts and Festivals represent events concerning Jesus, the coming Son of God and His Kingdom.

a. Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread – represents Jesus becoming the sacrifice for sins – detailed in
Exodus 4, symbolized in 1 Corinthians 5:7.

i. We are to commemorate this event with the Lord’s Supper, communion – 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

b. Feast of Pentecost, also known as the Feast of First Fruits (fifty days after Passover), is a harvest celebration that focuses on the very first fruits of beginning of harvest season – Leviticus 23:15-21.

i. This was also the giving of the Holy Spirit under the New Testament to guide God’s people who have accepted Jesus as Savoir and Lord – Acts 2:1-4. (More on the Holy Spirit in Lesson 112).

  aa. His Holy Spirit is the first fruit we receive as a result of accepting Jesus as savior.

bb. The Holy Spirit is like an earnest deposit we get awaiting the final spiritual harvest, being
gathered unto Him.

(Note: there are three special Feasts observed during the period referred to as time or Feast of Tabernacles.)

c. Trumpets are used to call an assembly, sound a warning or herald the coming of royalty –
Numbers 10:1-10.

i. This trumpet is the prophetic announcement of the coming of King Jesus.

aa. His first coming at his birth in Bethlehem.

bb. His second coming as he returns as King and the ushering in of His Kingdom – Revelation 11:15.

ii. The last trumpet sounding that all true believers are waiting for – 1 Corinthians 15:52 and
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

(Note: it was during this period of special Holy Days that the actual of the birth of Jesus took place, as will be explained later. His birth was NOT on December 25th which was a contrivance of the Roman Catholic Church to “Christianize” established pagan festivals that occurred at that time of year.)

d. Day of Atonement, the sacrifice for the sins of all the people – Leviticus 23:27-32.

i. A day for people to acknowledge their sins and acknowledge the sacrifice that pays the penalty for
  their sins.

ii. This was a prophetic representation of Jesus’ atonement on the cross fulfilled two thousand years ago.

iii. This is also prophetic of the future pronouncement of acquittal that Jesus will make for each believer when he presents each of us before the Father – Colossians 1:21-22,1 John 1:9-2:1, Jude 24.

e. Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Ingathering or the Feast of Harvest –
Leviticus 23:34-41.

i. This served as a memorial to God bringing Israel out of Egypt and maintaining them in temporary housing while in the wilderness – Leviticus 23:42-43.

                          aa. It is a time of great rejoicing and praise for what God has done – Deuteronomy 16:13-15.

                          bb. It is a prophetic representation of the “end time harvest” when believers are brought into God’s storehouse; as time of great rejoicing – Matthew 13:37-43, Revelation 14:14-16.

(Note that God commanded the observance of all of these Holy Days to be Sabbath Days, days in which no work was to be done– thus they became holidays, from holi-days.)

B. Foretold by the prophets – Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 53.

C. Annunciation to Mary and Joseph – Luke 1:26-38.

1. Miracle birth from a virgin – Matthew 1:18-23.

2. Named by God – Luke 2:21.

D. Time of year – Autumn, (not Winter), during the last three God ordained feasts.

1.  The shepherds were outside the city with their flocks which means they still had fields to graze in –
  Luke 2:8.

(Note: sheep left in one field to graze with destroy the grass since they pull it up from the roots. Thus shepherds have to lead them from field to field in order to feed them and still preserved the field for further grazing. Shepherd take their sheep out of the winter storage fold in the spring time to travel a circular route out from the city and back again in the fall to graze their sheep. The shepherds were just outside the city at the time of Jesus’s birth showing it was autumn and they were returning from their feeding circuit.)

E. Location in Bethlehem (City of David) – Luke 2:11-12.

1. Jesus was not born in a barn as depicted in typical manger scene.

a. There were absolutely no animals present - why?

i. God placed strict requirements on Israel regarding cleanliness which excluded them from giving birth in a barn environmen.

b. What is a manger? – Luke 2:12.

i. It is a feeding trough for the animals to eat from.

(Note: Cleanliness required the animals that were in the fold (barn) for the winter to eat hay from a feeding trough (a manger) that kept the fodder up off the floor where the animals excreted their waste. Since the animals were not in their winter fold, but still outside the city, then there were mangers (feed troughs) available to use as a crib for the baby Jesus.)

F. The wise men that came from the East actually came from Babylon – Matthew 2:1.

1.  These were descendants of Daniel and the other Hebrew children that Nebuchadnezzar formed into his personal class of wise men – Daniel 1:1-6.

a. They were educated and trained as Magai (wise men) in addition to the special knowledge that God equipped them with – Daniel 1:17-21.

i. The "magicians and astrologers” in verse 20 were known as “magi” and “Chaldeans”, or wise men – Daniel 2:18.

2. After the 70 years of Babylonian captivity, not all Hebrews returned to their former land of Israel.

a. Two generations of Hebrews were born in Babylon and never knew the Land of Israel.

b. They established homes, families and businesses in Babylon and so remained since they had no physical ties to the land they never knew.

c.  Daniel remained in the service of the succeeding empire under Darius and Cyrus – Daniel 1:21 and Daniel 6:1-3.

i. Most likely so did his Hebrew fellow magi.

Note: The story of Ester, who was queen to the son of one of the Persian Kings is proof that a mulstitude of Isralies remained in the area. This story took place about 150 years after the 70 year captivity ended.

d.  These learned Hebrews studied the prophets, the stars and other sciences and were able to recognize God’s sign in the heavens concerning the long awaited Messiah - Matthew 2:2.

i. They knew of the prophesies of the coming of the Messiah.

3. This caravan from the East arrived up to two years after the birth of Jesus.

a. Determined by the age of children Herod ordered killed – Matthew 2:7 & 16.

4. These wise men did not show up as depicted in the typical manger scene.

a. Instead of following the directions of the priests and scribes, they followed the star which led them to the place where the “young child” was – Matthew 2:4-9

b. They arrived at a house to see a young child, not a new born baby – Matthew 2:11.

G.  As a result of Herod’s jealousy and rage, God had Joseph flee the area and hide out in Egypt until the danger was past – Matthew 2:13-15.

1. Herold’s death order shows the approximate age of Jesus when the wise men showed up – Matthew 16-18.
H. The Word of God is as a seed sown - Matthew 13:18-23.

1. It was sown in a specific woman of virtue - Luke 1:26-38.

2. That Word produced the IMAGE (character and nature) of God - John 5:19, 26, and 30.

a. Just as Adam had it before the fall - Genesis 1:26.

i. The same seed sown in us, when as fertile ground, will produce the    image of Christ in every believer who is obedient - some 30%, some 60% and some 100%.

aa. That seed is the Word of God which we receive by faith and allow to grow and produce in
us by faithfulness (obedience to the faith).

I. Born as a natural man and raised as a child until ready to do the Work He planned.

1. One difference between Jesus and us; No carnal nature was in Him because He was born of the seed of woman and not of the seed of man, Genesis 3:15.

a. Carnal nature is the inherent tendency to sin, as passed on from Adam in his fallen state by his seed.

i. All descendants of Adam were now born with his carnal image with the     fallen nature he now acquired by submitting to Satan – Genesis 5:3.

aa. Man no longer had the image of God, His character and nature.

2. The Holy Spirit placed that seed in Mary - Luke 1:30-35.

a. Normally the seed comes from the man (earthly father) and since the fall, that seed has the carnal nature (the bent to sin) within it - Genesis 5:3.

i. Adam's changed and corrupt nature is now reproduced in all his descendants.

b. Jesus could not come from such seed or He would have inherited the sin nature and would be in need of a redeemer too.

VI. WHY JESUS CAME - John 10:10

A. To represent His Father to man and bring man back into the Father's Kingdom.

1. To restore what was lost through the fall – Luke 19:10.

a. What was lost? ZOE, the life of God that was originally in man when God formed him.

i. The righteous character and nature that God had originally placed in Adam, His own likeness and image.

B. He brought the benefits and manifestations of the good things of the kingdom - Matthew 10:7-8.

1. His Words and Words were those of His Father to show to the people God's love and the benefits of the Kingdom - John 14:10-11, 5:36 and 9:4.

C. He was born as Lord and King over man and the earth - Luke 2:11.

1.  All power and authority was given to Him for this purpose - Matthew 28:18 and John 17:2.

a. The true and pure representative of the Kingdom of God.

D. He was born to be God’s sacrificial Lamb.

1. To destroy what the enemy accomplished - 1 John 3:5 & 8.

2. All the oppression that comes on mankind is the result of the work of Satan – Acts 10:38.

a. Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons and brought release from torment and mental/emotional anguish - Luke 4:18.

b. On the cross He purchased our redemption from the penalty of sin and provided forgiveness and
eternal life for all that call on Him and believe in Him - John 3:16 and Matthew 9:6.

                     i. He did away with the sin that separated man from God - John 1:29.

                         aa. NOTE: the word "world" is KOMOS and means social system or social order and refers
  to all mankind.

                         bb. Jesus paid the price for "EVERY" humans being's sin, not an exclusive few as some teach.

VII. HIS MINISTRY ON EARTH

A. Jesus came to show God’s Love for the world – John 3:16.

1.  There is no greater love – John 15:13.

NOTE:   a scriptural definition of love based on John 15:13 is to desire the best for one near you even at your own expense; it means to cherish another, thus we have the word “charity”.

B. The supernatural and divine ability displayed in Jesus' ministry was the result of the endowment of ability by the Holy Spirit - Matthew 3:15-16, Luke 4:1-2 & 14, 18.

1. He did no miracles until after the Holy Spirit baptized Him and equipped Him with the ability - John 2:11.

a. This was for our example because the same equipping and ability is given to us by the same means; the same Holy Spirit - Mark 16:15-16 and Acts 1:8.

C. God the Father acknowledged Jesus as His Son at this same time - Matthew 3:17.

1. Now Jesus ministry can begin in boldness and confidence because God the Father has just endorsed Him.

          2. Jesus is called the Son of God and the son of man.

a. Son of God because He is Divine; coming from God, His offspring.

b. Son of man because He was born as a human man-child

D. He fulfilled the Law, that no other man could, thus He overcame sin, and the tempter - Luke 4:1-13.

1. Having met the conditions of the Law, He was now qualified to make the atonement of all men's sins.

a. He proved Himself to be righteous, the only one to do so, having withstood temptation.

2. He glorified God by attesting to and demonstrating the provisions of His kingdom to man - John 17:4.

a. He did this by healing, casting demons, raising the dead, demonstrating love, righteousness and forgiveness.

3. At this time He finished the work His Father gave Him to do - John 17:4.

a. Now it is time for Him to do His own work which He chose to take upon Himself when He made agreement with the Father before the foundation of the earth and shared that covenant with Abraham - Hebrews 6:13 & 10:5-10, also Genesis 15:17.

E. He maintained dependence on the Father through intimate fellowship by prayer.

1. This allowed Him to walk in the spirit and be in-tune with the spirit realm.

a. His consciousness was on God in the spirit realm, not on the material, physical realm.

2. He did nothing for himself as he came to serve others by revealing God and His kingdom to mankind.

a. He showed God’s loving care for mankind.

i. He revealed God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness.

F. His ministry prior to the cross was to prepare a following to carry on the work by teaching and showing others how - Matthew 28:19-20.

1. By revealing the kingdom of God which genders hope by getting their attention on God's ability and provision.

a. Doing supernatural works which glorify God by demonstrating His power to help man.

           2. Destroying the works of the enemy which includes: sin, sickness, disease, evil and oppression -
1 John 3:8 and Acts 10:38.

a. Forgiving sins - Luke 7:48 and Matthew 9:6.

b. Was the only access to God - John 14:6.

3. Proving Himself a worthy sacrifice for man's sin by defeating the tempting of the devil.

4. By laying the foundation for building the church - Matthew 16:18.

G. His own work was fulfilled on the cross where He suffered and was crucified.

1. To do away with sin and its consequences - Colossians 2:11-15.

2. To bruise Satan's head and strip him of his authority to hold people in bondage – Hebrews 2:14.

3. To deliver the captives held in paradise and taken them to heaven – Ephesians 4:8, also
  ref. Luke 16:19-23; 23:43.

4. To prepare the way for the resurrection of the just by His bodily resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, and Romans 8:11.

5. Formation of a new temple, a dwelling place for God, the church - Mark 15:58, 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 6:19.

a. As His body was a temple of God, so is ours.

       H. Each of the Gospels presents a different representation of Jesus.

1. Mathew portrays Jesus as the King who represented and testified of the Kingdom of God.

2. Mark portrays Jesus as the Servant who came to serve God doing His bidding and also to serve man with His own life and meeting their needs.

3. Luke portrays Jesus as the Man who identifies with all of us on earth.

4. John portrays Jesus as the Son of God and all the divine virtue He has.

I. His teachings and warnings.

1. Repentance, forgiveness and righteousness.

a. The first message of the Kingdom is REPENTENCE – Matthew 4:17 and Luke 13-2-5.

i. Repent means change – 2 Corinthians 5:17.

2. Jesus’ second most important message of the Kingdom is FORGIVENESS – Matthew 6:14-15 and 18:35.

a. Asking forgiveness and also giving forgiveness to others.

3. Righteousness – Matthew 5:10 and 20.

a. Walking in His righteousness, not self-righteousness.

4. The blessing of God as listed in beatitudes – Matthew 5-7

a.  A listing of behaviors and actions that are oriented in His kingdom.

i. Living a life under His dominion, in His domain.

5. Fellowship and communion with God and Christ – intimacy through prayer and faithfulness to His Word – John 15:1-17.

a. John 14:23-24.

6. The woes upon the pompous pious religious leadership, Pharisee-ism – Matthew 23:1-28.

a. False religious pretense for appearances without inward qualities of true holiness.

VIII. WHAT JESUS PROVIDED TO US

      A. His BLOOD shed for our sins and unrighteousness - Hebrews 9:22, 24, and 28

          1. His atoning sacrifice - Isaiah 53.

              a. The blood of an innocent life must be offered for the sinner who rightfully deserves the second death (eternal separation from God) - Hebrews 9:6-7,  and 11-15.

          2. God shed the first blood for sin covering for Adam and Eve - Genesis 3:21.

a. The goat (scape-goat) was sacrificed by God for a blood atonement for Adam and Eve.

i. This was before the establishment of the Old Blood Covenant was established as a law of God
  for His people.

                   ii. This is where Adam learned of how to sacrifice to God and taught his
                          children how to do it - Genesis 4:3-5.

          3. Abrahamic Covenant - promised the ultimate blood sacrifice as a result of a personal covenant (agreement/contract) between God and Abraham – Genesis 17:4-7, Genesis 22:1-12.

(NOTE: This covenant says what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine. God asked Abraham to give him his son Isaac, which he did. The God was obligated to give to Abraham His Son.)

              a. That contract was fulfilled in Jesus who became the sacrificial lamb and fulfilled the terms of the covenant.

i. Jesus died on the cross on the day of preparation, the day the Jews killed the Passover lamb; He became our Passover Lamb.

          4. The blood of Jesus has power over all evil, sin and unrighteousness – Colossians 1:12-14, 1 Peter 1:18-23 and 1 John 1:7-9.

B. The WAY, the one and the only way to God the Father - John 14:6.

1. Jesus provided the only access to the Father - John 10:1-11.

a. All other efforts are vain and based on man's own works - Ephesians 2:9 and Titus 3:5.

i. If we could work for and earn salvation then God would be indebted to us – that cannot happen.

C. The TRUTH, pure, Holy and Righteous.

1. Jesus, as the Word is truth and all truth is in Him and reveals Him.

a. His character and nature - Titus 1:2 and Hebrews 6:18.

D. The LIFE, the zoe of God brought to man, (covered in Lesson 106).

1. Divine life, or life as God has it – holy, righteous and eternal.

2. Jesus became the righteous standard of living: godly, righteous, with loving care.

a. By example and teaching.

E. HIS NAME - Philippians 2:9-10

1. This name is significant, given by God - Luke 1:31.

a. Jesus in Hebrew is Jehoshua (Joshua) which means: Save our people; Savior; to make safe; to deliver; defender; helper; rescuer.

b. Savior in Greek means: Deliverer; healer (health and healing); preserver; to make whole; to make sound; to save and protect.

NOTE: The Greek word SOZO for Salvation means basically the same thing as His name.

2. His name, is higher (in authority) than any other. This means that His name rules over the name of any sickness, disease, malady, pestilence, plague, calamity, phenomena or anything else that has a name or title.

a. His name is delegated authority for use by those who bear His name - Mark 16:17-18.

i. Jesus gave this authority to His disciples - Matthew 10:5-8.

b. This power (authority) was not just for the 12 disciples - (Luke 9:1-2), also see Luke 10:1, 9 & 17.

i. This was before the Holy Spirit was given - John 7:39.

  c.. The name of Jesus is the key to prayers of request and making demand on His promises.

i.  His name is the means to obtain what He promised is ours by invoking his name in a prayer of demand – John 14:13-14 and John 15:7-14.

ii.  His name is the means to obtain requests from the Father that are not specific promises given us; prayers of petition and intercession – John 16:23-24.

F. Jesus brought the Love of God to man and the means to have intimate fellowship with Him.

1. His love is made available to all of mankind - John 3:16-18.

2. God desires fellowship with those who truly know Him - John 4:23-24.

3. Jesus and the Father seek intimacy with believers - John 17:20-26.

G. He brought the Truth that sets the captive free – John 8:30-36.

1. Free from lies and deception of the enemy that brings people into bondage.

2. Free from the bondage of sin and false religions and false worship – John 17:17-19.

IX. DID JESUS DIE SPIRITUALLY – yes in form, but not in reality as man did, or as others have taught. (This will take some deep explaining).

A. Death means separation.

1.  In physical death, the spirit separates from the body and the body dies since it no longer has the life
  force in it – James 2:26.

2. Spiritual death is to be separated from God, removed from His presence.

a. Called the second death – Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14; and 21:8.

i. The second death or eternal separation for God is due to sin – Isaiah 59:2.

3. Jesus experienced both separations while on the cross.

a. However, Jesus did not separate himself from God but God separated from Jesus when he took our sins upon him and became cursed to death with all our darkness and evil.

B. Man's sin separates man from God so man is dead spiritually.

1. Mankind (in the person of Eve) committed an act of her own will in violation and rebellion against God which resulted in her spiritual death; (Adam followed after her for a different reason as covered in a previous lesson).

a. Jesus did not commit an act of His will against God.

i.Jesus committed an act of self-sacrificing love, (as did Adam for Eve).

2. Jesus allowed himself to be clothed with the sin of mankind.

a. He allowed our sin to be put on him as though it were a garment.

b. His heart was still pure before God.

c. This cloak of sin obscured the righteousness that was in Him.

i. This cloak of sin covered his flesh (the outer man) which was crucified, paid the penalty for sin.

NOTE: In the same way, we are to take on his righteousness as a garment so we are clothed in His righteousness which covers our nakedness or fleshly lack of personal righteousness - Ephesians 4:24.

3. God turned away from Jesus when He became clothed in our sin - Matthew 27:45-46.

a. This is when the separation occurred, and Jesus despaired of it and cried out.

4. Jesus never turned from God, His heart remained pure and righteous toward Him.

a. As a result, death and the grave had no legal claim on Him and could not hold Him.

5. Jesus' spiritual death was brief, only as long as His body endured the cloak of sin on it, till it expired.

a. His righteous soul and spirit were then freed of the flesh and its cloak of sin, then He became a power to be reckoned with in hell (grave).

i. He proclaimed His identity and fulfillment of the Law and the scriptures to the departed souls that were in paradise the holding place – 1 Peter 3:18-19.

aa. As described in Luke 16:19-26; 23:43.

bb. This is why He was able to liberate "paradise" and take all those souls with Him -
Ephesians 4:8-10.

X. THE GOSPEL MESSAGE – JESUS’ DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION; the What, Why, Where, When and How of what Jesus accomplished for mankind.

A. What - his death by crucifixion – the Roman style of execution of criminals.

1. Affixing the condemned to a stake or poll by means of metal spikes through the wrists and feet which causes the victim to slowly expire by exhaustion and suffocation.

a. The Roman Catholic Church modified the Roman stake to a cross to suit their religious symbolism.

b. The early church used the Icthos, the sign of the fish, to symbolize their faith, they did not use the sign of the cross.

B. Why – Pilot, the Roman governor, had to compromise to keep peace with the rulers of the Jews who demanded Jesus death for alleged blasphemy of their perceived and self-made religious laws.

1.  Pilot wanted no part of this - John 18:31; John 19:12.

a. Pilot even mocked the Jews for religious bias – John 19:19-22.

C. Where: Mt. Calvary, also called Golgotha (the skull) – Luke 23: 33 and Matthew 27:33.

1. A hill outside the city of Jerusalem - John 19:16-18

D. When: (this is most significant), on the Day of Preparation – John 19:14-15.

1. The Day of Preparation was the day the Jews selected the Passover lamb and had it killed and prepared it for the Passover diner on the day of Passover.

a. Thus Jesus became our “Passover Lamb” – 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

i.  These verses refer to the Feast of Unleavened Bread which was eaten as part of the Passover celebration.

Note: It is important to understand that the Hebrew day begins and ends at sunset following the premise that God set up as recorded in Genesis 1:5 – “And the evening and the morning were the first day”; also listed in Genesis 1:8, 13, 19, 23 and 33. This understanding is necessary to know the proper chain of events as they occurred.

b. Jesus was actually crucified on Wednesday which was the Day of Preparation of the Jews that year.

i. Thursday was the Passover, the special Sabbath which began at sunset on our Wednesday – Leviticus 23:5.

  aa. Jesus had to be off the cross by sunset when Passover was to begin, the “high” Sabbath –
  John 19:31.

Note: Passover is a Sabbath, in fact it is the most high or holy of the Sabbaths for the Jews. This was not the weekly seventh day Sabbath, but the special “holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein” – Leviticus 23-7.

c.  Jesus was in the grave for three days and three nights to fulfill the prophecy he spoke of –
  Matthew 12:40.

Note: You don’t get three days and three nights from Friday sunset to Sunday sunrise as is typically observed by the modern church. This was an error generated by the Roman Catholic Church that has never been corrected by the Protestant Church. The Roman Catholic “Good Friday” is a farce and perversion of truth.

D. How: Jesus’ crucifixion began at about 9AM and concluded at 3PM (the ninth hour); This followed a period of sadistic torture by the Roman soldiers – Matthew 27:27-31.

1. Creation reacted to the death of the Creator, Jesus – Luke 23:44.

a. This began around noon, the sixth hour and lasted for three hours when the earthquake hit –
Matthew 27:45

2. His death is to be remembered and memorialized by communion until His return – 1 Corinthians 11:26.

E. His burial which occurred just prior to the twelfth hour, our 6PM, the end of Wednesday, the Day of Preparation – Luke 23:50-56 and Matthew 27:57-60.

1. It was the following day that guards were assigned to guard the tomb – Matthew 27:62-66.

F. His Resurrection came after sunset on Saturday which began Sunday, the first day of the week following the weekly Sabbath – Matthew 28:1-6.

Note: We know that Jesus arose from the grave on the first day of the week which was Sunday. However, Sunday began at sunset on what we know as Saturday. So Jesus rose after sunset on Saturday but his resurrection was not discovered until sunrise when the women arrived.

1. Jesus was seen several times following his resurrection – Mark 16:12-14 and John 21:1.

XI. JESUS IS NOW IN HEAVEN

A. He is seated next to God, our Heavenly Father - Acts 7:55.

1. By His Spirit He is directing the affairs of His saints - Ephesians 1:19-21.

a. To those who trust and obey His leading.

i. His Spirit is not “pushy” or compelling; but gently leads those who have ears to here and obey – Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.

B. He baptizes His followers in the Holy Spirit to equip them to carry on His ministry - Luke 3:16.

1. He gives us the same ability and equipping He received by the Holy Spirit – John 14:12.

2. Gifting certain persons to provide functions on ministry - Ephesians 4:8-16.

a. To bring believers to maturity, forming the image of Christ in each.

b. Preparing believers to rule reign with Him in His Kingdom – Revelation 1:5-6; 5:10.

3. To prepare us to be Sons - brought to full perfect stature just like Jesus.

C. He is head (ruler) of the church (His people) and directs its building by the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:22-23.

1. He directs our paths, our relationships, our education, and our labors to produce the fruit the Father desires.

D. He is the Chief Shepherd overseeing His flock - 1 Peter 5:4

1. He deals with His people with the protecting strength and commitment of a shepherd.

a. He speaks and deals with us in the gentleness of a shepherd.

E. He apportions ministry gifts to different people - Ephesians 4:20-22.

1. All gifts of ministry were resident in Him.

F. HE is the "SEAL OF THE SPIRIT" - the identifier that is in each of His people showing to the Father that we are His - Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30.

1. A seal is an identification as used in a signet ring to seal a letter identifying its authenticity.

a. A seal is not a "lock" or confinement as most evangelicals teach it to justify their doctrine.

2. As we abide in Him and he abides in us - John 17:20-23, John 15:4-5.

a. He in us is that spirit SEAL of Ephesians 1:13.

b. He is the power that "worketh in us" - Ephesians 3:14-21.

G. His absence – what he is doing in the meantime till his return – Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 Peter 3:12.

1. His intercession on our behalf is for:

a. Our personal growth and spiritual development.

b. Building His church – (not man’s church) - Matthew 16:18.

i. This “rock” does not refer to Peter as the Roman Catholic Church teaches, but to the testimony of Peter as he stated in verse 16, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”; (the gospel message).

c. Distribution and administration of ministry gifts – Ephesians 4:12.
XII.  JESUS IS THE VINE OF LIFE – John 15:1-8

A. The life of the vine (Jesus) is to flow to and through His believers.

1. His quality of life in us produces the Fruit that God is looking for.

a. The fruit is the Fruit of the Spirit which is the character and nature of God restored in those who walk
  in fellowship and obedience with Him.

i. This fruit is not man’s works as this fruit cannot be produced apart from Him – verse 4.

  aa. Man is capable of producing all manner of works apart from Him.

ii.  This is man’s fruit, not His – Matthew 7:21-23.

2. Fruit is the identifier of God’s true servants – Matthew 7:15-20.

a. Even some of those in “so-called” ministry operate outside of the directives of Christ who said He will build is church.

i. They are doing ministry man’s way and not His way.

  aa. Doing your thing is called “iniquity” and results from not being intimate with the Vine or
  obeying His directives.

b. The end result is they build the house (their church) in sand and it (the people) will not hold up against the storms of life – Matthew 7:24-27.

B. This requires intimacy with Christ, being tightly attached to him so His life can   flow into the branches (believers).

1. Realize that the seed to reproduce is in the Fruit and awaits harvest.

2. The Fruit God wants to harvest is the mature believer who has attained to the image and likeness of Christ – Matthew 13

a. Some may attain only 30%, some 60% and some 100% of His image.

b. Harvest comes when the fruit is ripe – When Christ is seen in his people and they can be recognized as the “sons of God” – Romans 8:17-19.

i. Then the harvest comes to bring them in – Revelation 14:14-19.

aa. There are two distinct harvests, one for the believers (verses 14-16), and one for the
unbelievers (verses 17-19).

3. The seed that brings this all about begins with the Word of God – Matthew 13:38.

XIII. HIS RETURN TO EARTH

      A. Will be literal and physical - Acts 1:9-11.

          1. He returns to the same place He left - Zechariah 14:4-6.

     B. He returns in mighty power to set up His kingdom - Revelation 19:11-16.

          1. He sets up a divine government where He rules with His saints – Revelation 20:4-6, also Isaiah 9:6.

a. Giving believers the Kingdom means to share in His dominion – Luke 12:32.

i. The saints are to rule with Him on earth – Revelation 5:10. JESUS CHRIST IS CALLED:

Son of God – Matthew 27:54
Son of David and Abraham – Matthew 1:1
Son of Man – Luke 9:22
The Way – John 14:6
The Truth -   “
The Life -      “
King – Matthew 2:2 & 25:31-34, Revelation 19:16
Lord – Luke 2:11
Savior – “
Light - John 8:12
Emmanuel – Isaiah 53
Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6
Counselor – Isaiah 9:6
Wonderful – Isaiah 9:6
Everlasting Father – Isaiah 9:6
Advocate – 1 John 2:1
Intercessor - Hebrews 8:6, 9:15 and 12:24
Mediator – 1 Timothy 2:5
Bread of Life – John 6:48
Lamb of God – John 1:29; and listed 27 Times in the Book of Revelation
Our Passover – 1 Corinthians 5:7