Jesus is the “Word of God” incarnate in the man, Jesus. It is stated the Word of God in Jesus is the creator, God. Jesus becomes the bridge between God and man to allow man to regain his status with God in eternity as Adam experienced prior to his poor choice and subsequent fall.
John 1:1-14 1In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shined in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lights every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own people, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
An ambassador always precedes the Kings arrival or coming to a place. John the Baptist was the ambassador sent to proclaim the coming of the King of kings, the Son of God. God announced the coming of the ambassador by no less than an angel from God.
Luke 1:11-17 11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shall call his name John. 14And you shall have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
God, again, did not leave an important event as this to chance. God announced to Mary via the angel Gabriel about the coming miracle of the conception of the Christ.
Luke 1:26-35 26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. 31And, behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
As prophesied in the Old Testament, and announced by the angel Gabriel, the power of the Holy Ghost came to Mary and miraculously created the Son of God and Son of Man in Mary’s womb. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and announced to him this conception was of God. This is the third time angels announced this event prior to the birth of Christ through the Virgin Mary.
Matthew 1:18-25 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.
Here is another miraculous event. John the Baptist recognized the voice of the pregnant mother of Jesus, Mary, while still in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth. He leaped for Joy in Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth was immediately filled with the Holy Ghost. John was already filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb, so the Holy Ghost in John recognized he was in the presence of Jesus, even though Jesus was in the womb of Mary.
Luke 1:39-44 39And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; 40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elizabeth. 41And it came to pass, that, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42And she spoke out with a loud voice, and said, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
The same day that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a multitude of angels and a heavenly host appeared to shepherds at night in a field and announced the birth of the Savior, the Son of God. This is yet another announcement from God by his angels and a heavenly host.
Luke 2:8-15 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Eight days after his birth, Jesus was taken to the Temple for purification rights. There was a man named Simeon who was full of the Holy Ghost and promised by the Holy Ghost that he would not die until he had seen the Christ. The spirit of God led him to the Temple to see the Christ child. He testified of the deity of Jesus.
Luke 2:25-35 25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, and whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now let thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
There was also a prophetess who served God in the Temple day and night. She was led to the Christ child and identified Jesus as deity and the Savior. Here are two more Holy announcements from God about the deity of Jesus, Simeon and now Anna.
Luke 2:36-38 36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. 38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Wise men from the East had seen a miraculous sign identifying Jesus as deity. They saw his star in the East and came to worship him as God.
Matthew 2:1-2 1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, 2saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to “worship” him.
The wise men presented gifts chosen for a King, and then worshipped Jesus as God. God warned them to avoid telling Herod any more about the location of Jesus. Gold represents deity and frankincense the fragrance of a perfect life. Myrrh is a bitter herb representing both suffering for the sin of the world, and myrrh is used in burials.
Matthew 2:11-12 1And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Note: an angel from God appeared again to protect the young Son of God.
Matthew 2:13-15 13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Once again, an angel appears to Joseph, this time in a dream. Again, more prophecy is fulfilled from the Old Testament about the Messiah.
Matthew 2:19-23 19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. 21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
When Jesus was 12 years of age, his parents traveled to Jerusalem and returned without him, thinking he was among their kinsman. They discovered he was not among the caravan and returned to Jerusalem looking for him. His answers to the spiritual doctors in the Temple and his answer to his mother is revealing.
Luke 2:41-42, 46-47 41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast…. 46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48His mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49And he said unto them how is it that ye sought me? Don’t you understand that I must be about my Father’s business?
John the Baptist fulfills his ambassadorship in preparing the way and proclaiming the coming salvation of God.
Luke 3:3-6 3And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4as it is written in the Book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the Salvation of God.
The ambassador, John, sees Jesus coming and proclaims he is the Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of the world. John saw the spirit of God come from heaven and abide upon Jesus. John, the ambassador for the Christ, testified that Jesus is the Son of God.
John 1:29-36 29The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. 31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. 34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he says, Behold the Lamb of God!
There were two instances when God spoke aloud from heaven regarding Jesus and identified him as his Son. The scripture below is one instance and his transfiguration with Moses and Elias was the other instance.
Matthew 3:11-17 11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and why do you come to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 17:1-3, 5 1And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain apart, 2and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 5While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Since Satan knew Jesus before Satan’s fall, he knew the mission of Jesus and tried to keep Jesus, the Son of man, from fulfilling this mission. He failed in his attempt to persuade the Son of man to give up his mission on earth.
Matthew 4:1, 11 1Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Satan)…. 11 then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Fallen angels, with God in heaven prior to their fall, also recognized the deity of Jesus. Each time they were seen in humans or cast out of humans by Jesus, they immediately recognized and identified Jesus as the Son of God.
Matthew 5:2-9 2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7and cried with a loud voice, and said, what have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most-high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8For he said unto him, come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9And he asked him, what is thy name? And he answered, saying, my name is Legion: for we are many.
Mark 1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Since Jesus, the Son of God, was the creator of all, he provided miracles over all elements of life and the universe. These miracles were a sign to authenticate he was God and had power over all of creation.
He forgave sins, he healed the sick; he restored sight to the blind; he made the cripple whole again; he raised the dead back to life; he proved he was the resurrection; he walked on water; he calmed the boisterous seas; he turned water into wine; he fed 5000 with five loaves of bread and three fish and took up twelve baskets of bread left over; he healed the ten lepers; he made the deaf hear; cast out devils from those possessed; produced taxes from the mouth of a fish; caused disciples (fishermen) to catch a load of fish that sank the boat; and many more miracles.
Jesus proclaimed he was deity and God.
Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shall not tempt the Lord the God. (Satan was tempting Jesus)
Matthew 5:11-12 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Jesus is able to reward us in heaven)
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. (Jesus declares he can fulfill the law)
Matthew 7:21-23 21Not every one that says unto “me”, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Jesus claims to be the Lord that will judge all men)
Matthew 11:25-27 25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knows the Son, but the Father; neither knows any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Jesus claims he is the only one who knows the Father and can reveal him to mankind (proving his deity)
Matthew 12:6-8 6But I say unto you that in this place is one greater than the Temple. 7But if ye had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath Day. (Son of man & Son of God = Jesus)(God set aside the Sabbath Day, thus he is the Lord of the Sabbath)
Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the Wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. (Jesus speaking of himself)
Matthew 13:37-43 37He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Anyone, who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Jesus is the Son of man/Son of God and has charge of the angels)
Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. (Jesus has charge of the angels to bind the tares and cast them into the Lake of Fire after the judgment)
Matthew 16:16-17 16And Simon Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (faith in Christ) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Jesus is the rock of salvation and has power over the universe, heaven, and hell)
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Matthew 18:19-20 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Jesus claims equality with God and he is in the midst of his children)
Matthew 18:10-11 10Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Jesus calls himself the Son of man, yet says he came to save the lost. He is also God and came from heaven to redeem the lost)
Matthew 19:28-30 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Jesus has claimed that those who follow him will be rewarded by him with eternal life. Only God has this power, so Jesus is God.
Matthew 20:18-19 18Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Jesus foreknows his death and resurrection. Only God foreknows the future)
Matthew 20:23 And he said unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. (Jesus will reign in power in heaven)
Matthew 23:37-39 37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kills the prophets, and stones them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39For I say unto you, ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Jesus foretells his second coming at the end time)
Matthew 24:4-5 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceives you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Jesus verifies he is the Christ and the only Christ)
Matthew 26:1-2 1And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, 2ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. (Jesus foreknows his crucifixion)
Matthew 26:26-29 26And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, take, eat; this is my body. 27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. (Jesus foretells of his deity in the kingdom of God)
Matthew 26:31-32 31Then said Jesus unto them, all ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. (Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection)
Matthew 26:52-54 52Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53Don’t you know that I could now pray to my Father, and he would presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Jesus is in command of the angels. All he has to do is speak the word and it is done)
Matthew 26:63-65 63And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. (The high priests understood Jesus had said he was equal to God)
Matthew 27:11 11And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, “it is as thou hast said”.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and earth. (Jesus holds all power. Jesus would have to also be God)
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Again, Jesus has the power and authority over all)
Mark 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, is it not written, “my house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves. (Jesus calls God’s house his house, meaning he is God)
Mark 14:61-63 61Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 62And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 63Then the high priest rent his clothes, and said what need have we of any further witnesses? 64Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? (Jesus has just called himself the Messiah, the Son of God and equal to God. This is the claim that brought death to Jesus. He is the one and only sacrifice for our sin)
Luke 22:67-71 67Are you the Christ? Tell us. And he said unto them, if I tell you, ye will not believe: 68And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. 69Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. 70Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, ye say that I am. 71And they said, what need we any further witness? We have heard from his words. (Jesus again verifies that he is the Christ, the Son of God)
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shall thou be with me in paradise. (Jesus just confirmed to all that he has the power over death, life, and eternity)
Luke 24:25 25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? (After Jesus had risen, he walked incognito with two of his disciples on the way to Emmaus. They did not recognize him until he explained why he had to die and rise again. Then they recognized him as Jesus and the resurrection)
Jesus was betrayed by Judas, taken to the authorities, and proven innocent of any wrongdoing. He was finally crucified because he claimed to be God. On the cross God withdrew the spirit (Word of God) from the flesh and left the Son of man to die alone on the cross for the sin of the world. Jesus, the Son of man, cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me”? Only the Son of man could die, God cannot die and had to depart from the flesh.
As Jesus, the Son of man, gasped his last breath, he said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. Then he said, “It is finished”, which means the plan of salvation for all mankind was completed. There was nothing else man could do to regain eternal life than to accept Jesus as Savior by faith.
The story does not end here. Immediately upon his death, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. This signified the old law of the Temple was gone and Jesus would become the door of salvation to the Father. Also darkness appeared on the earth for three hours in the middle of the day, as God withdrew the light of righteousness from the earth as the sin debt was paid for all of mankind by the death of Jesus. Darkness ruled the earth for three hours due to the death of God’s only begotten Son of man.
Three days later the Word of God raised Jesus back from the dead into a glorified body that would forever be the Temple of God. Jesus body had previously been placed in a cave with a huge rock over its entrance and it was sealed by the Roman’s and guarded by Roman guards. However, angels came and rolled back the stone and Jesus walked out of the tomb as God in the Temple of Jesus.
The angel did not have to roll away the stone to let Jesus out of the cave. The angel rolled away the stone to show the world that Jesus had risen and this fact was open to the inspection of the world. The angels were present to show everyone the tomb was empty. They proclaimed to the world, “He is risen”.
Jesus appeared to many people for forty days, including his disciples. He appeared to over 500 at one gathering. Finally, with his disciples and others watching, Jesus ascended into heaven. Angels appeared to those watching and told them Jesus would again come in like manner as he ascended. He would again come in the air as he left.
Jesus promised to send his Holy Ghost back to be with us and to start his church on the earth. The apostles were told to remain in Jerusalem to await the appearance of the power of the Holy Ghost to equip them for preaching the Gospel of Christ throughout the world.
Father Time
