Jesus is the Son of God – True or False
Matthew 26:57-68
March 21, 2004
This message is based on material provided by Outreach Marketing.
Introduction
If you have seen the movie for yourself you know that Dobson’s statement hits it dead on. There was no way to leave the theater without being touched and moved by the reality of the intense suffering that Jesus endured. There was no way that anyone could have left the theater without a deeper understanding of what Jesus has done for us.
On my way home from seeing the movie, I had a great difficulty describing what I felt but now that I have had a chance to reflect on it, I believe that I was overwhelmed.
I was overwhelmed with the depth of the shear brutality poured out on Jesus, the determined efforts of the Jewish leadership to have Jesus executed and the delight on the faces of the Roman soldiers beating Jesus with the scourge. I was overwhelmed with the disregard of the soldiers as they beat Jesus again and again as He carried His cross, the blatant disrespect of the Jewish leaders at the cross as they ridiculed Jesus as He was dying and I was overwhelmed with disgust for what Jesus suffered for a world that just doesn’t seem to care.
I was also overwhelmed in a good way. I was overwhelmed by the depth of love Jesus showed to others as He was dying, even those who were His enemies. I was overwhelmed by the decision of Jesus to accept the cross willingly to die for me and I was overwhelmed at the power of His concern for the criminal on the cross. For just one moment when Jesus turns His head, it made me feel that Jesus was looking at me and showing me the same mercy and grace.
The Passion of the Christ is without a doubt the most realistic and most powerful movie ever made about the life of Jesus. However, there are still those who would make false claims about who Jesus is and what He has done for us. This is one of the main reasons that I chose to do this series of messages True and False: Searching for the Truth about Jesus. Over the next four weeks I am going to be exploring some key questions that reveal the nature of who Jesus is and why it is reasonable to believe in Him as your savior.
This morning, we are examining the question: Is Jesus the Son of God?
Jesus is a myth – True or False?
The four gospels (Matthew, mark, Luke and John) give us a biography for the life of Jesus and they provide us with a wealth of information. One statement that I heard just recently is that the gospels were written as a way to communicate faith and have very little to do with actual history. This deeply disturbs me, because the life of Jesus is an historical event and our faith cannot be separated from that history. In essence, we have a faith that is based on historical facts.
Here are a few proofs of the historical nature of our faith
Jesus of Nazareth was a real person: There is more than enough historical information outside of the gospel records to prove that Jesus was a real person. Both Jewish and Roman historians claim that Jesus was an actual person. There is no way that He was a mythical figure or that the church made Him up.
Jesus was a great teacher: The gospels record the life and the teachings of Jesus. Additional historians also tell us that Jesus was a great teacher who created great controversy in Israel during the first century AD. The truth is that Jesus is still causing controversy today.
Jesus worked miracles: Many of the ancient historians had a negative view of the early church, specifically the Jewish leadership. The Jew viewed the church as a dangerous sect that was a perversion of Judaism. However, Jewish records in the Mishnah and the Talmud recognize the power that Jesus had to heal and cast out demons.
Jesus was crucified: Again sources outside of the gospels report that Jesus was crucified during the reign of Pontius Pilate. This is one of the primary facts of the gospels that cannot be truly questioned.
Jesus was raised from the dead: The gospels show without any doubt that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day.
Jesus was just a man – True or False?
No other person in all of time has had a greater impact on history than Jesus of Nazareth. The reality is that His birth is the factor that divides time and changes the course of history for this world.
Some evidence that Jesus was more than just a man:
· The existence of the church
The church has been persecuted for centuries and still it proclaims the simple message that Jesus died and is risen again. If Jesus had been just a man people in His time would have never been willing to doe for Him.
· The reality of changed lives
There is solid evidence that many of the Pharisees, a group that strongly opposed Jesus began to be converted into a personal faith in Christ. James the half brother of Jesus was also opposed to Jesus and His ministry but he too became a believer. The apostle Paul was one of the most aggressive and successful Pharisees who hunted down Christians and he became one of the greatest members of the early church.
How can this be explained? These people all had an experience with Jesus that changed their lives. I firmly believe that the best evidence for the work and existence of Jesus is the examination of lives that have been radically changed because of the transforming power of Jesus.
Jesus is the Son of God – True or False?
One of the charges that I have been hearing lately is that Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God and that others applied this term to Him. This is a false teaching.
CS Lewis Quote
Read Matthew 26:27-68
If you have seen the movie you will remember the Jewish trial that Jesus goes through where he was brought before the high priest for questioning. There was a great deal of concern over the situation by Mary and some of the others.
The reason is that the trial was illegal for several reasons.
· It was held at night
· It was held at the house of the high priest
· It was held during the Passover week
· It was clear that charges were being created
Throughout the series of false testimony and questions Jesus remains silent. He doesn’t say a word. Have you ever wondered why Jesus says nothing against these false charges?
· No matter what else was happening, Jesus was in the will of the Father
· Jesus refused to speak and enter a pointless argument
· Jesus chose to speak when He could reveal the Truth
The high priest makes Jesus swear under oath and takes away His right to remain silent. The position of the high priest could force a person to answer any question during a trial and so the high priest uses his office to gain more information from Jesus. Jesus has no choice but to answer the question
The high priest is really asking two questions:
· Are you the Christ?
· Are you the Son of God?
If Jesus answers no to this question, than there would be no further basis for the movement that He created and it would be stopped. The sentence would be death for lying about who He was
If Jesus answers yes, than He was guilty of blasphemy and they could use this charge to execute Him. This would create a need for no more witnesses and the grounds to execute Jesus would be made by the council.
Jesus answers yes to these questions and makes two different claims to divinity.
· The Son of Man: Many liberal scholars claim that this is a reference to the humanity of Jesus and means nothing more. However, it is a term used by Daniel to describe the power of the coming Messiah and is clearly a statement of divinity.
· The Son of God: In Matthew Jesus merely answers yes to the question of the high priest. However, there is more going on than what meets the eye. Look at Mark 14:62: "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Notice that Jesus responds here with the words I am. I know what some of you are thinking, big deal. It is a big deal. Remember when God speaks to Moses at the burning bush and Moses asks for God’s name. What does God tell him? I am. Jesus is clearly making the statement that He is without a doubt the Son of God
Can we prove it?
· Jesus performed many miracles
· Jesus fulfilled prophecy
· Jesus rose from the dead
Jesus is the Son of God. He is exactly who He claimed to be, so what do we do now?
You really have some choices to make
· You can believe that Jesus was a liar: Many say that Jesus made these claims and created a false picture of Himself to make Him look like the messiah. He created an elaborate hoax with the resurrection and fooled His followers. Jesus was dead when He entered that tomb, a spear through the side proved it.
· You can believe that Jesus was a lunatic: Many have said that Jesus was insane when He made these claims and it was His insanity that drove Him to the cross. The gospel records and historical records give us no such basis
· You can believe that He is Lord: Peter who fled from Jesus the night He was arrested claimed in his first sermon. "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Peter was a changed man after the resurrection because Jesus was the Son of God.
So what do you believe this morning? Jesus is not a myth and He is more than just a man. Who do you believe that He is? Do you say He is a liar, a lunatic or the Lord, you have a choice to make today.
If you want make Jesus the Lord of your life it is as simple as ABC
A – Admit: Admit the fact that you have sinned. This is simply saying that you make mistakes
B- Believe: Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for you and that He was raised from the dead
C – Commit: Commit to follow Him to the best of your ability and then you will be saved.
