The
work of Christ
“the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow”
Introduction
1.
It is interesting to
note that the ancient creeds of the Christian faith say nothing about the
teaching and miracles of Jesus but rather focus attention on three things.
a.
The Incarnation
b.
The Passion and Death
c.
The Resurrection
2.
The church fathers
believed that this threefold emphasis corresponds to man’s threefold alienation
from God.
a.
Man is alien to God by
reason of creation. He is a creature
with a body and not just a spirit. Jn.1:14; Col.2:9
b.
Man is alien to God by
reason of sin. Rom.5:10,19;
Matt.26:28; Mk.14:24; Heb.9:22; Eph.1:7; I Pet.2:24
c.
Man is alien to God by
reason of death. Rom.4:25;
5:12,14,17,21; 6:21,23; 2,6,38; I Cor.15:26
A. His humiliation (“the
suffering of Christ” I Pet.1:11) - His Incarnation (suffering the wrath
of man) Being “numbered with the transgressors”
Isa.53:11
1. The historical integrity of the life of
Christ
a. Documentary evidence
1. The Christian testimony
a. The
Gospels are accurate descriptions of selected portions of Jesus’ life and work
(Lk.1:1-4; Jn.21:25).
b.
The Epistles related in more detail the implications of Jesus' teaching
and life (Jn.14:25-26).
c.
The pseudepigrapha (Christian writings that were not included in the
canon or Scripture) bear witness to Christ. (See notes on Inspiration (Text) #209)
1. THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS (collection of 114
sayings attributed to Jesus) It has a strong Gnostic flavor and was written to
justify a sect. Didymus JudasThomas (the twin) may have been Jesus’ half
brother (Mk.6:3).
2. THE INFANCY GOSPEL OF THOMAS (stories of
Jesus youth beginning at age five)
3. THE GOSPEL OF PETER (Jesus felt no pain
when crucified and Mary remained a virgin)
4. PROTEVANGELIUM OF JAMES (devotion to
Mary)
5. THE GOSPEL OF THE HEBREWS (gnostic
reference to the Holy Spirit as our mother)
6. THE GOSPEL OF THE EGYPTIANS (gnostic)
7. THE GOSPEL OF THE NAZARAEANS (like the
synoptics)
8. THE GOSPEL OF PHILIP (gnostic) It
suggests that Jesus and Mary had a romantic relationship.
9. THE BOOK OF THOMAS THE ATHLETE (gnostic)
10. THE
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATHIAS (gnostic)
11. THE
GOSPEL OF JUDAS (gnostic)
12. EPISTLE
OF AN APOSTLE (dialogue between Christ and the disciples after the
resurrection)
13. APOCRYPHON
OF JOHN (dialogue between the disciples and the Revealor)
14.
THE GOSPEL OF TRUTH (gnostic)
15. THE
GOSPEL OF THE EDIONITES (Jesus was not God until His baptism)
2. The
Jewish testimony
a. The Babylonian
Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a)
“On the eve of the Passover, Jesus of
Nazareth was hung. During forty days a
herald went before him crying aloud: ‘He
ought to be stoned because he has practiced magic, has led Israel astray and
caused them to rise in rebellion. Let
him who has something to say in his defense come forward and declare it.’ But
no one came forward, and he was hung on the eve of the Passover.”
b. Josephus
(Antiquities, xviii, 3, 3)
“And there arose about this time Jesus, a
wise man, if indeed we should call him a man.
For he was a doer of marvelous deeds (miracles), a teacher of men who
receive the truth with pleasure. He led
away many Jews, and also many of the Greeks.
This man was the Christ. And when
Pilate had condemned him to the cross on his impeachment by the chief men among
us, those who loved him at first did not cease; for he appeared to them on the
third day alive again, the divine prophets having spoken these and thousands of
other wonderful things about him; and even now the tribe of Christians, so
named after him, has not yet died out.”
c. The Old Testament prophecies concerning
Jesus. (See chart on “Messianic
Prophecies Fulfilled” under “The Hypostatic Union of Christ” #508.)
3. The
Roman testimony
a. Pliny
the Younger (Governor of Bithynia)
He wrote to Emperor Trojan seeking
guidance in the matter of dealing with Christians, whom he describes as coming
together at fixed seasons and singing a hymn to Christ as God.
b. Tacitus
(Annals, xv, 44)
“Christus . . . had undergone the death
penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the Procurator Pontius Pilate,
and the pernicious superstition was checked for a moment, only to break out
once more, not merely in Judaea, the home of the disease, but in the capital
itself, where all things horrible or shameful in the world collect and find a
vogue.”
c. Suetonius
(Life of Claudius, xxv, 4)
He stated that the Emperor Claudius
expelled the Jews from Rome because of their tumults at the instigation of Christus.
b. The
Institutional Evidence of the life of Christ.
The fact that the Christian Church exists
is a witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
c. Christian
Experience
1. Christians throughout history have given
testimony to the personal indwelling presence of the living Christ.
2. The work and lives of Christians are sighted
as evidence of Christ’s presence.
2. The
relationship of Jesus to the Old Covenant
a. Jn.1:29-34
1. “The lamb of God who takes away the sin of
the world.” (He related to the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant - Isaiah
53:7; I Cor.5:7).
2. “This is the one who baptizes in the Holy
Spirit.” (He brought the “promise of the Father” - Ezekiel 36:26-27; Luke
24:49).
b. Matt.5:17-20
1. “I did not come to abolish the law . . . but
to fulfill”
a. In His sinless life (Heb.4:15; 7:26)
b. In His exposition of the Law (Matt.5-7)
c. In His atoning death (Col.2:14; Eph.2:15)
2. “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of
the scribes and Pharisees . . .”
c. Matt.27:50-54
- “The curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
d. Gal.4:4-5
1. “But when the fullness of the time came, God
sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might
redeem those who were under the Law,”
2. Jesus lived his life as a Jew under the
prescriptions of the Old Covenant.
3. The
relationship of Jesus to the New Covenant
• Lk.22:20
- “his cup . . . is the new covenant in my blood”
• I
Cor.5:7 - “Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed . . .”
• Heb.8:6-7
- “He is also the Mediator of a better covenant . . .”
• Gal.3:23-29
- “We are no longer under a tutor . . .”
4. The
teaching of Jesus
a. “Never man spake like this man”
1. The Father’s testimony - Matt. 17:5 - “This is my Son . . . hear Him.”
2. Jesus’ testimony concerning His own teaching.
3. Matt.
24:35 - “My words shall not pass away.”
4. John
14:10 (5:19) - “I do not speak on my own initiative . . .”
5. The testimony of those who heard Jesus -
Matt. 7:28; Mark 10:24; 12:37; Luke 4:22; 5:1,15; 6:17; 15:1; 21:38; 24:19;
John 3:2; 7:46
b. His public work falls into four categories:
1. Preaching
- proclamation of the Gospel
2. Teaching
- exposition of the Gospel
3. Miracles
- authentication of the Gospel
4. Healing
- illustration of the Gospel
c. The nature of Jesus’ teaching
1. His
teaching seemed to be occasional (not systematic or structured) and
characterized by WISDOM, AUTHORITY, SIMPLICITY, PRACTICALITY.
2. Jesus’ most popular methods seem to include
QUESTIONS, PARABLES, EPIGRAMS, and DISCOURSES.
d. The purpose of Jesus’ miracles
1. Revelation
a. To show divine credentials for Jesus, and
thus authenticate His message (Jn.5:36.
See also Jn.20:30-31).
b. To symbolize His spiritual and saving work
(Lk.5:23).
c. To attract a listening audience (Jn.12:9).
2. Edification
a. To
pour out upon people a measure of the divine fullness (Lk.8:46).
b. To help people in their physical and mental
needs (Mk.1:41).
5. The official offices of the nation Israel
under the Old Covenant revealed man’s deepest longings.
|
Prophet |
Priest |
King |
|
To teach |
To sacrifice |
To empower |
|
Christ preaches |
Christ atones |
Christ governs |
|
Pedagogy |
Expiation |
Guidance and protection |
|
Earthly ministry |
Dying ministry |
Glorified ministry |
|
Messianic beginning |
Messianic act par excellence |
Messianic consummation |
|
Mosaic type |
Aaronic type |
Davidic type |
|
The Rabbi |
The Lamb |
The end-time Governor |
|
God revealed |
Humanity redeemed |
Redemption applied |
a. PROPHET
- someone to REVEAL truth to creatures lost and confused by the darkness of a
world under sin.
Prov.29:18
“Where
there is no vision (revelation) the people perish”
MOSES was
a typical prophetic figure.
b. PRIEST
- someone to REPRESENT or REDEEM man in his moral guilt and shame.
Isa.59:2
“Your
sins have been a barrier between you and your God.”
AARON was
a typical priestly figure.
c. POTENTATE
(king) - someone to RULE or guide mankind through life.
Mk.6:34
“they
were like sheep without a shepherd”
DAVID was
a typical kingly figure.
Note:
We are used to viewing leaders as public servants who exist at the bidding of
our self-interests. Jesus as a Servant King which means that we exist for Him
not He for us even though His love for us leads to the ultimate gift of His
grace.
6. Jesus’
ministry can be viewed under these three headings.
a. IMMANUEL
(God with us) - PROPHET (REVEALING) -
1. Christ was the Spirit of the Old Testament
prophets.
I
Pet.1:10-11 “the prophets ... seeking to know what person or time the
Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of
Christ and the glories to follow.”
2. Christ functioned as a prophet during His
earthly ministry.
• Heb.1:1-3a “God, after He spoke
long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in
these last days has spoken to us in His Son,”
• Acts 3:22 “The
Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up”
• Lk.2:32 “a light to the Gentiles
and the glory of ... Israel”
• Matt.21:11
“This is the prophet Jesus of Nazareth of Galilee”
• Lk.24:19 “a prophet mighty in
deed and word”
• Jn.6:14 The people spoke of
Jesus as "the prophet”
• Jn.1:18 “No one has ever seen
God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known”
• Jn.14:9 “he who has seen Me has
seen the Father”
3. Christ continued to function as a prophet
through His Spirit in the church.
Jn.16:13
“But
when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;”
4. Christ will, at His second coming
(revelation) reveal everything fully -
I Cor.13:12, I Jn.3:2
b. JESUS
(Yahweh is salvation) - PRIEST
(RECONCILING) - Heb.1:3b “When He
had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on
high...”
1. INTERCESSION
-
Jn.17
(during
his earthly ministry)
Rom.8:34
(presently
at the right hand of God) - Heb.7:25,
9:24
2. Empathy -
Heb.
2:9,18 “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has
suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”
3. RECONCILIATION
- (see notes on ATONEMENT)
Heb.2:9,14,15
“He
might taste death for every one”
Mk.10:45 “The
Son of man came to give His life a ransom for many”
Gal.4:4-5 “when
the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His son, ... in order that He
might redeem those who were under the law”
c. CHRIST
(the anointed) - POTENTATE (RULING)
-
1. Heb.1:8
“But of the Son He says, 'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the
righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.”
2. THE
MYSTERY FORM OF HIS KINGDOM -
a. Christ is ruling in the present.
b. Col.1:18
“He is also head of the body, the church;”
3. THE
MILLENIAL FORM OF HIS KINGDOM -
a. Christ will rule in the future.
b.
Matt.19:28 “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in
the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also
shall sit upon twelve thrones,”
7. Jesus
was the model of the new Adam or the perfect human.
a.
His character, values,
view of life, and style of relating set a standard for all humans.
b.
His unique calling as
redeemer, Lord overlays his basic person, the prototype for every person living
in a fallen world. His resurrected body shows us what we can expect in the next
life.
B. His humiliation (“the suffering of Christ” I Pet.1:11) - His
Death (suffering the wrath of God)
1. The major events in the life of Jesus -
PREPARATION
1. Birth
2. Flight to Egypt
3. Visit to the Temple
OPENING EVENTS
4. John the Baptist
5. Jesus’ baptism
6. Tempted by Satan
EARLY PEREAN
7. Changes water to wine
EARLY JUDEAN
8. Nicodemus
EARLY
SAMARITAN
9. The woman at the
well
GALILEAN
10. Chooses the 12
11. Sermon on the Mount
12. His power is ascribed to Satan
13. Feeds 5000
14. Jesus walks on water
15.
Transfiguration
LATER
SAMARITAN
16. Peter wants fire
to consume those who reject Jesus.
LATER JUDEAN
17. The adulterous
woman
18. Feast of
Tabernacles - "light of the world"
19. The 70 sent out
LATER PEREAN
20. Lazarus
21. Rich Young Ruler
22. Zaccheus
CLOSING EVENTS
23. Triumphal Entry
24. The Olivet Discourse
25. The Last Supper
26. The Farewell Discourses
27. Crucifixion
28. Resurrection
CONFIRMATION
29. Appeared to witnesses
30. Ascended to the
Father
2. The Crucifixion -
a. The Romans perfected crucifixion as a means
of torture. They copied it from the Greeks who learned it from the Persians.
b. While there have been other creative methods
of torture like “drawing and quartering” there has been nothing known to man
that combined social humiliation, prolonged physical pain, and emotional
spiritual anguish like crucifixion.
1. After being sentenced, the condemned person
was flogged with a leather whip loaded with metal or bone.
2. He was then required to shoulder the cross
beam (about 30 lbs.) and carry it to the place of execution.
3. This beam was affixed to the upright stake,
which was already in place at the execution site.
4. Nails about seven inches long with a head (to
keep the body from sliding off) were driven through the hands and feet of the
victim. Sometimes ropes were also used to keep the body on the cross.
5. The Romans had learned to push the feet
upward when they nailed them to the cross so that the victim could lean on the
nail and push himself upward momentarily in order to breathe easier.
6. Death rarely came in less than three days.
Insatiable thirst, pain from scourging, cramps, dizziness, public shame, and
the horror of knowing what lay ahead before the release of death, all combined
to make crucifixion special.
c. A calendar of the events of the last days of
Jesus’ life.
Fri. pm
Jesus
arrives at Bethany (Jn.11:55-12:11)
Sun.
Triumphal
entry (Matt.21:1-17)
Mon.
The fig
tree cursed, the temple cleansed (Matt.21:18-19)
Jesus’
discourse on life and death (Jn.12:20-50)
Tues. am
The fig
tree found dead (Mtt.21:19-22)
(N THE TEMPLE COURT)
The Rulers
vs. Jesus (Mtt.21:23-22:14)
The
Pharisees & Herodians vs. Jesus (Matt.22:15-22)
The
Sadducees vs. Jesus (Matt.22:23-33)
A Lawyer
vs. Jesus (Matt.22:34-40)
Jesus silences
His enemies (Matt.22:41-46)
Jesus
exposes His enemies (Matt.23:1-39
Tues. pm
JESUS’
DISCOURSE ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES (Matt.24-25)
(IN BETHANY)
Jesus
predicts His crucifixion (Matt.26:1-5)
Mary
anoints Jesus for His crucifixion (Matt.26:6-13)
Judas
bargains with the rulers (Matt.26:14-16)
Thur. pm
(IN THE UPPER ROOM)
JESUS PREPARES FOR THE
CROSS
Preparation
for the paschal meal (Mat.26:17-19)
The Last
Supper (Matt.26:20
Jesus washes the disciples feet (Jn.13:1-20)
Judas is exposed (Matt.26:21-25)
Peter is warned (Jn.13:31-38
Jesus institutes the ordinance (Matt.26:26-29)
Jesus’ upper room discourse (Jn.14)
(IN THE GARDEN)
Jesus’
discourse on the way to Gethsemane (Jn.15-16)
Jesus’
intercessory prayer (Jn.17)
Jesus in
the garden to pray (Matt.26:30-46)
Jesus’
arrest (Matt.26:47-56)
Fri. am
(AT THE TRIAL)
Jesus
before Annas (Jn.18:12-23)
Jesus
before Caiaphas (Matt.26:57-68)
Peter’s
denial (Matt.26:69-75)
Jesus
before the Sanhedrin (Matt.27:1)
Judas takes
his own life (Matt.27:3-10)
Jesus
before Pilate #1 (Jn.18:28-38)
Jesus
before Herod Antipas (Lk.23:6-12)
Jesus
before Pilate #2 (Matt.27:15-26,
Jn.18:39-19:16)
Soldiers
mock Jesus (Matt.27:27-30)
Jesus goes
to the cross (Matt.27:31-34)
Fri. pm
JESUS GIVES HIS LIFE A
RANSOM FOR MANY
The first 3
hours on the cross (Matt.27:35-44,
Jn.19:18-27)
The
phenomena at His death (Matt.27:51-56)
Jesus is
buried (Matt.27:57-60),
Jn.19:31-42)
The women
are at the tomb (Matt.27:61-66)
JESUS IS RAISED FOR OUR
JUSTIFICATION
(THE ANNOUNCEMENT)
Sat. pm
The women
visit the tomb (Matt.28:1)
Sun. am
The stone
is rolled away (Matt.28:2-4)
The angelic
explanation (Matt.28:5-8)
The report
to the Apostles (Jn.20:2-10)
(THE APPEARANCES)
Sun. pm
To Mary (Jn.20:11-18)
To the
other women (Matt.28:9-10)
The
announcement to the Jewish rulers (Matt.28:11-15)
To two
disciples on the Emmaus road (Lk.24:13-35)
To all the
disciples but Thomas (Jn.20:19-25)
The next Sun.
To Thomas (Jn.20:26-31)
To 7
disciples by the Sea of Galilee (Jn.21:1-25)
To 500 (Matt.28:16-20)
After 32 days
THE ASCENSION (Acts 1:9-12
d. The
Atonement - (See the notes on CHRIST’S Atonement #511)
3. His
descent into hades
a. The
APOSTLES’ CREED states - “He descended into hell (hades)”
b. Some
of the early church fathers affirm this doctrine as did Luther and Calvin but
the lack of clear Biblical evidence has led many to treat the doctrine as
secondary.
c.
This questionable notion is based upon four obscure texts.
1. Ps.16:10 “For thou dost not give me up to
Sheol, or let thy godly one see the pit”
This text seems to be saying only that death would not have any
permanent power over Jesus.
2. Eph.4:8-10 “When he ascended on high he
led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. In dying, ‘He ascended,’ what
does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the
earth?” The “lower parts of the earth”
may be a reference simply to the incarnation “the lower parts, that is to say,
the earth”.
3. I Pet.3:18-20 “Christ also died for sins
... being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he
went and preached to the spirits in prison who formerly did not obey, when
God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in
which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.” This text
probably refers to the fact that Christ spoke through Noah (in Noah's day) to
people who are now in the grave. This is
the spirit that Christ is presently working through in the church of our day.
4. I Pet.4:4-6 “For this is why the gospel
was preached even to the dead, that though judged in the flesh like men, they
might live in the spirit like God.” This
is probably a reference to the proclamation of the gospel message either to
persons who had since died or to people who were spiritually dead.
C. His exaltation (“the glories to follow” I Pet.1:11)
1. His
Resurrection (See the notes on CHRIST’S
RESURRECTION #510)
2. His Ascension and session at the Father’s
right hand.
a. Reasons for the ascension: To set up the
operation of the church in this age. An important part of our understanding of
Acts and the church age has to do with the significance of the ascension where
Christ initiates key elements in the operation of the church.
1. Jn.14:2-3
– He prepares our new place or hope.
2. Jn.16:7
– He releases the Spirit to come – comfort, teach, enable, etc.
3. Heb.7:25
– He continues His intercession with the Father on our behalf.
4. Eph.4:7-11
- He distributes spiritual gifts to the church.
5.
Jn.16:7 –
He sends the power of the Holy Spirit to the church.
6.
Acts
1:9-11 – He expresses the love of God for the disciples and the
world.
b. Christ’s session:
1. Rom.8:34
“Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the
right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”
2. Heb.7:25
- “He always lives to make intercession for them (those who draw near to
God).” Heb.9:24
3. His Second Coming (See the notes on CHRIST’S RETURN #903)
Questions that you should be able to answer.
1. Specific facts you should know.
a. What
evidence outside Scripture bears witness to Jesus’ existence?
b. How did
the OT offices of Messiah relate to human needs?
c. How do
Christ’s names relate to His offices?
d. What
part of Jesus’ ministry receives the most attention in the gospels?
2. Issues that you should be able to discuss.
a. What is
the most important work of Christ and why?
b. How does
Jesus relate to us from each of the three offices that He occupies?
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