THE CLAIMS OF JESUS

INTRODUCTION:

The things a man claims for himself tell much about the man. They either are true statements, or false. Men today are either considered deliberate liars for making false claims about their abilities, or are put in mental institutions because of things they claim for themselves.

1. Ali – claimed to be ‘the greatest’ --

2. old man in Alpine rest home – in his mind, dressed, went to work, home for lunch… never left rest home!

1. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God - Mark 14:61-62

61 But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”62 Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

A. peculiar relationship to God -

B. Includes virgin birth -

2. Jesus claimed to be the fulfillment of the OT prophecies -

A. Mtt. 5:17

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

B. Luke 4:16

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

C. Luke 24:25-27, 44

25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!26 “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Luke 24:44

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

3. Jesus claimed to be able to forgive sins - Mark 2:1-10

A. sick of palsey healed --

B. Note, this before new covenant in effect -- Heb 9:15-17,

Sick of palsey - Mk 2

Woman anointed Jesus - Lk. 7

Thief on cross -

Mk. 16:15-16

Acts 2:38

Acts 10:38

Acts 22:16 etc.

4. Jesus claimed to be FROM Above - from heaven

Jn. 3:13 “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

John 6:33-35

33 “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

John 16:28 “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

5. Jesus Claimed to be the Christ - John 4:24-26

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

6. Jesus Claimed to be the ONLY WAY to God -

John 8:24 “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

7. Jesus claimed to be able to raise people from the dead -

A. Himself - John 2:18-21

18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

B. Others - John 5:28-29

28 “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice29 “and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

8. Jesus claimed to be equal to God - John 5:16ff

A. What father does --

B. Raise dead (21) - judge (22) - same honor (23) life in self (26) execute judgment (27)

WHAT ARE WE TO DO WITH THESE CLAIMS ????

JESUS MADE SOME CLAIMS (2 ALTERNATITIVES GIVE TO US)
WERE FALSE		WERE TRUE
HE KNEW WERE	DID NOT KNOW		He IS Lord
Deliberate misrepresentation			He IS God
A Liar	Sincerely Deluded		He IS our Savior
A HYPOCRITE			He CAN forgive sins
A FOOL for dying for a known lie	A lunatic		He will raise you
		(2 alternatives)
		REJECT	ACCEPT
		Damned	Saved - forgiven