Part 1: “Establishing the Identity of Jesus”
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
“Jesus
with His
disciples,
the villages of
• 1).
Hewent
said out,
thatalong
He came
down
from to
heaven:
Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples,
saying to them, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ They told Him,
“For
I have
downand
from
heaven,
not but
to do
My own
saying,
‘Johncome
the Baptist;
others
say Elijah;
others,
one
will,
the willAnd
of He
Him
who sent
– Johnthem…
6:38
of
thebut
prophets.’
continued
byMe.”
questioning
BUT WHO
DO
YOUbecause
SAY THAT
I AM?
He is saying
that He
is eternal
heaven
is the
dwelling place of God.
Mark 8:27-29a
WAS JESUS….
1). A Liar
2). A Lunatic
3). Or LORD?
THIS is YOUR case
Everyone must make a decision
about who Jesus really is.
Once we have made that decision,
we are obligated to take that
decision and tell others about it.
WHY IS THIS INVESTIGATION
SO IMPORTANT?
• Jesus is the most famous person to have ever lived.
– Books
– Paintings
– Songs
– Movies and TV shows
– History
• THERE ARE COUNTLESS OPINIONS OF WHO JESUS
IS…BUT IN THIS SERIES WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE
TRUTH
John Douglas
• John Douglas has an uncanny ability to look into
the minds of people he has never met...
• As the original “psychological profiler” of the FBI,
Douglas would gather information at a crime
scene and then use his insights to peer inside the
personality of the criminal at large.
• His most famous saying is, “”Behavior reflects
personality.”
Establishing the Identity of Jesus
• Using the same methods as John Douglas, tonight
we are going to establish the identity of Jesus
Christ by answering the following questions…
– What do other religions believe about Jesus?
(Witness Testimony).
– What did Jesus’ actions and teachings reveal about
Himself? (Psychological Profiling)
– Did Jesus really believe He was the Son of God?
(Establishing Identity)
WITNESS
TESTIMONY:
WHAT DO
OTHER
RELIGIONS
HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT
JESUS ?
POP CULTURE VIEW OF JESUS
• Jesus is written about in many songs that have been sung
by Carrie Underwood, U2, the Killers, even Kanye West.
• Jesus also appears on tv shows like the Simpsons and
South Park
• Basically, in pop culture, Jesus is simply an icon, or a
marketing tool to make money.
• BUT WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?
OTHER RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF JESUS
The Jehovah’s Witnesses consider Jesus to be a very
powerful messenger sent from God.
The Mormons believe that Jesus is the half-brother of
Lucifer, or Satan. They believe that Jesus achieved
divinity, but that He is not God.
• Scientology, the religion of Tom Cruise, believes that
Jesus was an implant forced upon a theton about a
million years ago.
OTHER RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF JESUS
The Jehovah’s Witnesses consider Jesus to be a very
powerful messenger sent from God.
The Mormons believe that Jesus is the half-brother of
Lucifer, or Satan. They believe that Jesus achieved
divinity, but that He is not God.
• Scientology, the religion of Tom Cruise, believes that
Jesus was an implant forced upon a theton about a
million years ago.
OTHER RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF JESUS
Buddha says that Jesus is an enlightened man, but
He’s not God
Hinduism says that Jesus is a wise man, but He is not
God.
• Islam says that Jesus is a powerful prophet. He is not
God, and He is even inferior to their main prophet,
Muhammad.
Psychological
Profiling
What did
Jesus’
actions and
teachings
reveal about
Himself?
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
WHAT DOES JESUS SAY
ABOUT HIMSELF?
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
• 1). He said that He came down from heaven:
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
• 1). He said that He came down from heaven:
“For I have come down from heaven,
“For
I have
down
fromwill,
heaven,
to do
Myof
own
not
to come
do My
own
butnotthe
will
will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” – John 6:38
Him who sent Me.”
He is saying that He is eternal because heaven is the
dwelling place of God.
John 6:38
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
1). He said that He came down from heaven
2). He said that He performed many miracles
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
“I and the Father are one. The Jews picked up
stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘I
• 1).
He said
that
He came
down from
showed
you
many
good works
from heaven:
the Father, for
which of them are you stoning Me?’ The Jews
Him,down
‘For afrom
good
work we
“Foranswered
I have come
heaven,
notdotonot
do stone
My own
You,but
butthe
forwill
blasphemy;
andsent
because
being
will,
of Him who
Me.”You,
– John
6:38a
man, make Yourself out to be God.’”
He is saying that He is eternal because heaven is the
dwelling place of God.
John 10:30-33
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
1). Jesus said that He came down from heaven
2). Jesus said that He performed many miracles
3). Jesus said He was sinless.
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
“Which of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak the
• 1). He said that He came down from heaven:
truth why do you not believe Me?”
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own
will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” – John 6:38
He is saying that He is eternal because heaven is the
dwelling place of God.
John 8:46
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
1). Jesus said that He came down from heaven
2). Jesus said that He performed many miracles
3). Jesus said He was sinless
4). Jesus said He could forgive sin
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
“Seeing their faith, He said, ‘Friend your sins are
• 1). He said that He came down from heaven:
forgiven you.’ The scribes and Pharisees began to
reason, saying, ‘Who is this man who speaks
“For Iblasphemies?
have come down
from
heaven,
not
to
do
My
own
Who can forgive sins, but God
will, but the will of Him
who sent Me.” – John 6:38
alone?’”
He is saying that He is eternal because heaven is the
dwelling place of God.
Luke 5:20-21
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
1). Jesus said that He came down from heaven
2). Jesus said that He performed many miracles
3). Jesus said He was sinless.
4). Jesus said He could forgive sin
5). Jesus said that He had all authority
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
• 1).earth.
He said
He came
heaven:
Gothat
therefore
anddown
makefrom
disciples
of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and
the Son
and
the Holy
teaching
them
“For
I have
come
down
from Spirit,
heaven,
not to do
My to
own
observe
commanded
you;Me.”
and–lo,
I am6:38
with
will,
but all
thethat
will Iof
Him who sent
John
you always even to the end of the age.’”
He is saying that He is eternal because heaven is the
dwelling place of God.
Matthew 28:18-20
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
1). Jesus said that He came down from heaven
2). Jesus said that He performed many miracles
3). Jesus said He was sinless.
4). Jesus said He could forgive sin
5). Jesus said that He had all authority
6). Jesus said that He was the ONLY way to heaven
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and
the life; no one comes to the Father but through
• 1). He said that He came
down from heaven:
Me.’”
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own
will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” – John 6:38
He is saying that He is eternal because heaven is the
dwelling place of God.
John 14:6
Establishing
Identity:
Did Jesus
really believe
He was the
Son of God?
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
“But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the
high priest was questioning Him, and saying to
• 1). Him,
He said
down
‘Arethat
youHe
thecame
Christ,
the from
son ofheaven:
the Blessed
One?’ And Jesus said, ‘I AM; and you shall see the
Son
of Man
sitting
atfrom
the right
handnot
of to
power,
“For
I have
come
down
heaven,
do Myand
own
thewho
clouds
heaven.’”
will, butcoming
the will with
of Him
sentofMe.”
– John 6:38
He is saying that He is eternal because heaven is the
dwelling place of God.
Mark 16:61-62
LET THE DEFENDANT TAKE THE STAND
• 1). He said that He came down from heaven:
“I and the Father are one.”
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own
will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” – John 6:38
He is saying that He is eternal because heaven is the
dwelling place of God.
John 10:30
From examining the eye-witness
testimonies and conducting our own
psycological profiling, we have
clearly established that Jesus Christ
and His followers believe Him to be
the Son of God.
BUT WHO DO YOU SAY HE IS?