BS5A - CHRIST'S ACTIONS
People get pretty suspicious of any man who goes about boasting about his heredity and achievements. Jesus didn’t do that. Yet somehow Jesus let us into his main claim that he was actually God himself. He had come to earth from heaven so that we could find out for ourselves what God is like. How did he do this?
Well – for starters, He acted different from everyone else. He had a life untainted by the greed and selfishness of those around him and this was apparent right from the start of his ministry. People were astounded by the things that Jesus taught. They had never heard anything like what he was teaching and yet it was striking a chord of truth – at least for anyone that had an open mind and heart.
Jesus had a contagious love for God and it showed ---- men and women hung on his every word. They were seeing in Jesus something of God and they wanted to see more. Four strands of evidence come together to support his main claim that he was God and more than just a great teacher. Let’s look at those one by one.
THE FIRST STRAND OF EVIDENCE THAT JESUS WAS GOD: HIS ACTIONS
Isaiah the prophet made a prophesy. As you read it make a list of what He said God would do.
Isaiah 35:4-6
What Isaiah had predicted were the exact things that Jesus was doing amongst the people. People were watching and experiencing these very miracles for themselves.
A. The eyes of the blind were being opened.
Matthew 9:27-31 / Mark 8:22-26 / Luke 18:35-43 / John 9:1-7
- The ears of the deaf were being opened.
Mark 7:31-37 - The lame (whether hands or feet) were leaping for joy!
Luke 6:6-10 / 13:10-13 / 14:2-6 - Those who couldn’t speak could now talk or sing!
Matthew 9:32-33 - People were being saved from demonic spirits (enemies) that were controlling
their lives.
Mark 1:21-28 / Luke 8:26-39 / Luke 9:37-43 - Lepers were being cleansed
Matthew 8:1-4 / Luke 17:11-14 - And even some who had died were raised.
Luke 7:11-17 / Luke 8:49-56 / John 11: 38-44
Then came that startling event – mentioned in an earlier study. A paralyzed man was lowered down through a ceiling by his friends so that he could get close to Jesus for healing. Instead of saying “Be healed of your paralysis and walk”, what did Jesus say to him?
Matthew 9:2
Some of the teachers of the law who were in the crowd reacted immediately. What did they say?
Matthew 9:3
Blasphemy is the crime of insulting or showing contempt for God.
Jesus knew what they were murmuring amongst themselves and said to them out right….
Matthew 9:6A
How did Jesus back up His claim that He was God?
Matthew 9:6B-7
The title Jesus calls Himself is “the Son of Man”. He is calling the teachers of the law to remember Daniel’s prophesy which they knew but probably little understood.
Daniel 7:13-14
“Son of Man” was Jesus’ favorite title for Himself. It had a double meaning. First, he was human just like all of us. But in using that title he was claiming to be the same “Son of Man” which Daniel predicted would have authority over all people and a kingdom that would never end. No doubt this made the Jewish leaders even more angry and sure that Jesus was a blasphemer!
Next Study: BS5B- Jesus Accepted Worship