The Real Jesus (Lesson 1)

Opinions of who Jesus is vary.  This was true in ancient times and it is still true today. 

This lesson explores the person of Jesus. 

Luke 9:18-19 NASB  And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, "Who do the people say that I am?"  (19)  They answered and said, "John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again."

Ancient identities of Jesus include John the Baptist, Elijah and one of the prophets.  Some believed the spirit of John the Baptist had passed on to Jesus.  Others thought Jesus was Elijah in fulfillment of Malachi 4:5.  Still others argued that Jesus was one of the resurrected Old Testament Prophets.

If any of these views had been true then Jesus would have been only one in a long line of equals.  Jesus, as evidenced through His death, burial and RESURRECTION has no equal. 

Even today, others still will not accept the true identity of Jesus. 

Islam rejects Him as being the son of God.  They say He is one of Allah’s prophets.  They deny that Jesus is God incarnate.  The Koran teaches that Jesus was only a man. 

Mormonism views Jesus as a created being.  They say He was the first of many through the sexual intercourse of male and female earth gods.  They believe that Jesus is a saved being and He came to earth to earn His salvation.  They also believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers.  

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe, Jesus was created and had to be born again.  They say He received immortality for his faithful ministry on earth.  Take a look at what their Bible “New World Translation” says in John 1:1 In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God.  

Jesus asked the disciples “Who do men say that I am?”  

Jesus is fully GOD.  He is not a god.  He is not a prophet; he is not just a good man.  The prophets spoke of Him.  He fulfilled every prophesy.  He told us himself and He proved it on the third and appointed day.  

Come back next week and we will see what the disciples had to say.