Who Art Thou, Lord?
A. THE PERTINENT QUESTION: “WHO ART THOU, LORD?”
1. Who is Jesus? Where did he come from, what was expected of him?
2. These are primary questions.
B WAS JESUS REAL?
1. Misconceptions of Bible characters (Matt. 16:13-14; Mark 6:14).
2. There were those who denied his existence in the first century (1 John 4:2).
3. Some skeptics today deny that he ever lived.
4. Some would so alter his character and mission that he might well have never existed.
C. TWO QUESTIONS:
1. Did Jesus exist?
2. Why did he come?
A. AMONG PAGAN SOURCES.
1. Thallus (a Samaritan historian, 52 A.D.)wrote attempting to give a natural explanation
for the darkness which occurred at the crucifixion of Jesus. He did not deny the
existence of Jesus, but only tried to explain away the strange circumstances
surrounding His death
2. Letter of Mara-Serapion(written to his son, 73 A.D.)tells of the deaths of
Socrates, Pythagoras, and of Jesus. "What advantage did the Jews gain from
executing their wise king?...Nor did the wise king die for good; he lived on in the
teaching which he had given."
3. Cornelius Tacitus(Roman historian, 112 A.D.)writes of Jesus in his Annals,
"Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator
of Judea in the reign of Tiberias."
4. Pliny the Younger(Governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor, 112 A.D.)wrote to
the emperor Trajan about Christians and their devotion to Christ.
5. SEUTONIUS (Court official and annalist under Hadrian, 120 A.D.)"As the Jews
were making constant disturbance at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them
from Rome." Luke makes reference to this same expulsion in Acts 18:1-2.
B. JEWISH SOURCES.
1. The Talmud, two separate books dealing with Jewish law, written during the period
from 100 A.D. to 500 A.D. speaking often of Jesus , in unfriendly terms, of course,
but never disputing his status as a historical figure.
2. Flavius Josephus(Jewish general turned Roman historian, born 37 A.D.) makes
several references to Jesus in his History Of The Jews, "...and brought before it
the brother of Jesus, the so-called Christ, whose name was James."
C. THE BIBLE ITSELF. Eyewitness testimony, rejected solely because of its power.
A. THOU ART THE CHRIST (John 5:39-40, 45-47).
1. The Promise (Gen. 3:15; 12:1-3). The unfolding of this promis comes in the form of
Prophecies.
a. The blessing promised would come through the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10),
specifically, the family of David (2 Sam. 7:12-13). Fulfilled (Matt. 1:1,2,17).
b. The sign would be that of a virgin conceiving and bringing forth a son
( Isa. 7:14 ). Fulfilled ( Matt. 1:18-25 ).
c. Born in Bethlehem ( Micah 5:2 ). Fulfilled( Matt. 2:1 ).
d. Preceded by a great prophet ( Mal.3:1 ). Fulfilled( Matt. 3:1-3 ).
e. He would be a great prophet ( Deut. 18:15-19 ). ( Acts 3:22-23 ).
f. A priest & king ( Zech. 6:12-13 ). ( Acts 2:36; Heb. 4:14 ).
g. His sacrifice (Isa. 53:5-6)(John 8:46; Mat. 27:4; 19:4-6; 1 Pet. 2:21-24).
2. As Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophecies, he is also the fulfillment of the
Promises made to Abraham and Eve.
a. His victory over sin and death (Acts 2:22-24; 1 Cor. 15:54-57).
b. There is no spiritual blessing outside Christ (Eph. 1:3). All things are summed
up in him (vs. 10).
c. Acts 2:36. Both Lord and Christ.
B. THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.
1. Obvious thoughts of his origin and divinity (Luke 1:30-35; Col. 2:9).
2. Has to do with the fellowship of God and Jesus (John 14:8-10).
3. Has to do with his position of authority and glory.
a. A prophecied position (Heb. 1:5; Acts 12:33).
b. When Jesus was raised, where did he go? (Eph. 1:20-23).
c. Rom. 1:3-4.
C. I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.
1. Death wouldn’t stop him (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28). His death made it possible.
2. The church is not the invention of men (Eph. 3:10-11). Part of the eternal purpose.
3. It is his church, he is the head (Col. 1:18; 3:17).
A. GOD MADE JESUS LORD AND CHRIST. FOR WHOM? (Matt. 28:18).
B. HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (Eph. 1:22-23).
C. ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSING ARE IN HIM (Eph. 1:3)
D. ARE YOU IN CHRIST? (Gal. 3:26-27)