A Passion for JesusSample

For the past nine days, we’ve sought to hear Jesus in his own words. We’ve seen that no one else in history ever made such lofty claims. So far, we’ve considered these nine claims:

• Jesus claimed he was sinless.
• Jesus claimed his words would outlast heaven and earth.
• Jesus claimed he could forgive sin.
• Jesus claimed that he came from heaven.
• Jesus claimed to be the Messiah.
• Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.
• Jesus claimed to be the Savior of the world.
• Jesus claimed to be the King of heaven.
• Jesus claimed to be the only way to heaven.

Today, we’ll conclude our study with this: Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus did not say he was “like God” or the God of this world or even one of many gods. Jesus of Nazareth unapologetically claimed to be God.This is why the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus. They said, “We are stoning you… because you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33 ESV).

Jesus claimed divinity in many ways, but none greater than his prophecy and fulfilment of his own resurrection. In the final year of Jesus’ life, he repeatedly told his disciples he would suffer, die, and rise again. He said to them:

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him, and kill him. And after three days he will rise” (Mark 10:33 ESV).

No man has ever predicted his resurrection from death and the exact timing of it and then was able to fulfill it. But on the third day after Jesus was pronounced dead by a professional executioner, a few women went to his tomb to say goodbye and found it empty.

Shocked, the women ran back and told the disciples what they had seen. Their leader, Peter, ran to the tomb to verify the news. When Peter looked in, he saw an empty tomb with Jesus’ burial cloths folded up and lying there. Later that evening, while the disciples were gathered, Jesus appeared to them. He was alive, just as he said.

During the next forty days, Jesus appeared to his followers in groups as big as 500. He ate and drank with them. They touched his wounds from crucifixion. They went around saying, “We have seen the Lord” (John 20:25 ESV). Jesus’ disciples who had cowered in fear during his arrest and crucifixion became as bold as lions. They went on fulfilling Jesus’ mission until most were killed for their beliefs.

More proofs could be brought forth, but the jury is already unanimous. Jesus is who he claimed to be. Our generation needs to know his love, his life, his words, his deeds, his death, his resurrection, and his power. We need the glory of who Jesus is and what he’s done to awaken our slumbering hearts and dawn on our darkened world. The great Gospel Patrons of history saw Jesus for who he really is and were gripped with him. Jesus was their supreme passion.

We too are invited to passionately worship Jesus now and forever. One day, when this life is over, those who believe in Jesus will see him face to face. On that day, he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and mourning, crying, and pain will be no more. Even death will die. Heaven and earth will erupt in worship and quake with praise. The crowd will be a diverse multitude that no one can number from every tribe, nation, people, and language. Together they will sing and shout:

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! (Revelation 7:10 ESV).

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12 and 13 ESV).

If this is true, what will you do?