******* WHO IS JESUS? ******* (Article #4) Today virtually all modern scholars of ancient history (Christian and non-Christian) agree that Jesus lived on earth. Most of these scholars agree that Jesus was a Jewish teacher or rabbi from Galilee who preached his message orally, was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified in Jerusalem on orders from Pontius Pilate. According to Josephus, a first-century Romano-Jewish (non-Christian) scholar and historian, in his book Antiquities of the Jews (written in approximately 93–94 AD), “Jesus” was “a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.” Jesus has influenced society more than anyone who has ever lived. Even the years of history are based on His birth; BC (before Christ) and AD (abbreviation for the Latin phrase “in the year of our Lord”). The number of His followers has grown from 12 to over 2 billion. The writings of the Old Testament completed in 450 BC, still followed by Jews today, contain numerous predictions about Jesus. These include the year and location of His birth, the manner of His birth, His family lineage, His rejection by His own people, the year of His death, the manner of His death (hands and feet pierced), His betrayal by a friend, His burial in a rich man’s tomb, His resurrection and His ascension. Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me”, “I and the Father are one”, “I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” [Jesus was speaking about spiritual hunger and thirst.] He also said: “Before Abraham was, I am”, meaning that He existed before Abraham was born. Jesus claimed to have come down from Heaven, to have equality with the Father, to have the power to forgive sins and the power to give eternal life to those who were/are willing to fully follow Him and His teachings. According to the Bible Jesus had power over nature, disease and death. Jesus said if anyone had seen Him they had seen the Father. The Bible calls Jesus “Emmanuel” which means God with us. The Apostle John wrote: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John also wrote: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (saved from eternal death) and “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door (of our hearts), I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20, NKJV). Will you trust Jesus and invite Him into your heart and life today? David Ogram, Swan River, MB david.ogram@gmail
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:53:29 +0000