Jesus the Messiah
1.1 Jesus was, and still is, God's only begotten Son. That means Jesus is just exactly the same as God - because He is God. The Bible says that God is love. So God sent His only begotten Son to be the Messiah, and Savior of all mankind. (God so loved the world that He sent Jesus!)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 and
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17
1.2 Imagine a world where there are no hospitals, and no doctors (except for the very rich): A world where the average life expectancy is only 35 years. Half the people die before they are eighteen. Many of the people are slaves. Women are despised. Gentiles (people who are not Jews) are intensely disliked. Tax collectors are hated. And all the government officials are corrupt. Such was the world of Roman occupied Palestine that Jesus was born into at Bethlehem. Jesus would change that world completely.
1.3 Now imagine a temple system (religious system) more corrupt and guilty of tyranny than the Roman government itself. For it was ruled that the deaf, the blind, and the lame could not enter the temple at all: The deaf because they could not hear the proper interpretation of the Torah; the blind because they could not see if they had touched a dead body, and the lame because it was feared they would scare the angels away. Although none of these laws were written in the Old Testament, they were what the Sadducees and the Pharisees believed - teaching for doctrines the traditions of men, (their "hedge" around the law) in place of the actual law itself, the commandments of God. Jesus would change all of that also.
note: The Pharisees, along with most of the people of Israel believed that their nation had once been carried away captive to Babylon because of their failure to keep God's laws. They also believed that if all the people of Israel could keep the law perfectly for just one Sabbath day, the Messiah would come. That's why the Pharisees built a "fence around the law." Their hope was that this fence would stop people from breaking the law - even accidentally. There were Old Testament laws that prevented blind or lame priests (descendants of Aaron) from performing their duties in the temple, but as priests they were still allowed to enter the Holy Place and they were required to eat the "bread of the face" every week. (See Leviticus 21:17-23) Evidently the Pharisees had made a fence around this law by saying that anyone who was blind or lame could not even enter the temple at all. As the Son of God, Jesus totally hated this "fence around the law." He forcefully told the Pharisees that they were teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, thus making the law of God of no effect. (Mark 7:13)
1.4 It had been prophesied of the Messiah that He would heal the sick, open the ears of the deaf, give sight to the blind, and cause the lame to leap like deer. In other words He would have mercy on those who had no hope. He would make it possible for the deaf, the blind, and the lame to enter the temple.
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice. Isaiah 29:18-19a
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. Isaiah 35:5-6
1.5 As the Messiah, Jesus did all of these things, and many more. The Bible says that the people rejoiced greatly when they saw such things being done, and they glorified God, and the fame of Jesus spread very quickly, so that tremendous crowds followed Him wherever He went. The religious leaders back in Jerusalem began to be concerned.
1.6 When the disciples of John the Baptist came to ask Jesus if He was the Messiah or not, Jesus' answer was plain and clear.
Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Matt. 11:4-5
note: In other words, Jesus was saying, "Most emphatically YES, I am the Messiah."
1.7 But Jesus did more than just heal people. He talked with women, blessed the children and became the friend of prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners! He even talked with a Samaritan woman! Worse than that - in the Pharisees eyes - He forgave these people and accepted them into the kingdom of God - including Gentiles! Their whole temple system was under direct attack!
1.8 Is it any surprise that huge crowds began to follow Jesus wherever He went? Where would you go if you couldn't see a doctor or find a hospital? Remember that the blind, deaf, and lame could not enter the temple. And if they could not enter the temple, they could not find forgivenss of sins, for the temple is where the sacrifices for sin took place. Besides all of this, anyone who had an open sore could not enter the temple either because they were ritually unclean by temple law. (That's why people who had leprosy could not enter the temple. Their sores were always open and oozing. They were known as the "living dead." Touching a dead body would make a person ritually unclean. Touching any bodily fluid that could issue from a dead body would also make a person ritually unclean. That's why a woman who had just given birth to a child was considered to be unclean; and the woman who had an issue of blood was unclean, etc.) Where would you go if you needed to have your sins forgiven, but could not enter the temple? Would you go to see a doctor? Chances are that with his primitive medicine, the doctor would be unable to heal you. Remember this also; tax collectors could not enter the temple, and neither could Samaritans. Gentiles were allowed only in the outer court. By these laws, more than half the people in the land of Israel were excluded from temple worship. They were excluded from the kingdom of God as the Pharisees saw it. But Jesus included them with every act He performed, and every word He spoke. So....is it any wonder that by the end of Jesus' second year of ministry the crowds following Him had become vast multitudes - that could not be counted!
In the meantime, ...an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another. Luke 12:1 (italics added)
note: The people didn't just come for healing. They came to hear the Word of God that Jesus was preaching...
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the lake of Gennesaret. Luke 5:1
1.9 The people of Israel were looking for a Messiah, whom they also called "The Coming One." And it was said of this "Coming One" that He would know and understand God's law perfectly, and interpret it correctly because...He would have the law of God written upon His heart. The Messianic prophesy concerning this "Coming One" was this...
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire: My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said; "Behold I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do your will; O my God. And your law is written within my heart." Psalm 40:6-9
1.10 Jesus was the Messiah, the "Coming One" and He taught the people the truth of God's Word. After Jesus had taught the Sermon on the Mount the people were totally dumbfounded, and stupefied. for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:29
1.11 The kindness and gentleness of Jesus also became legendary. He touched the leper! And He had time - for women, children, and even - gasp -Gentiles, prostitutes, and tax collectors! In fact, He took the children in His arms and blessed them! The gospel of Mark tells us that after healing Peter's mother in law, Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up. Compare the accounts of that healing in Matthew and Luke, and you will see that she was already healed. Jesus did not have to take her by the hand and lift her up - but He did, because He knew how to treat a lady. Jesus elevated the status of women. All the false religious systems of mankind were under assault!
1.12 When Jesus claimed that He Himself was the resurrection and the life, and then proved it by raising Lazarus from the dead, it was too much. The Pharisees and the Sadducees could take no more. A council was convened to find a way to put Jesus to death. (see John chapter 11)
note: The Pharisees had a tradition that only the Messiah would be able to raise someone from the dead after four days, only the Messiah could cleanse a leper, and only the Messiah could heal someone who was both deaf and unable to speak. Jesus did all of these things.
1.13 Perhaps you know the rest of the story... How Jesus was taken by wicked hands and crucified and slain upon the cross. But the Bible declares that it was for your sins He died.
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5
1.14 Yes, Jesus was the Messiah, who not only interpreted the law of God correctly, but also lived it perfectly, so that He would become the perfect sacrifice for sin; the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world. He was Himself without sin, so that He could bear our sins away on the cross. And then He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and gave us His Spirit, so that we can have eternal life and LIVE as God wants us to live. These are the historic facts of the New Testament, and the faith that Jesus taught.
1.15 Jesus is not a legend. He was, and is the Son of God. If you have not already believed in Him, and trusted Him for your salvation, you need to do that now. Here is a prayer you can pray. He will save you, and keep you safe in His arms, and come to live right inside of you.
"Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. I believe Your Word. I believe that You died for me and rose again to save me from the guilt and power of sin. You shed Your blood on the cross at Calvary to wash away all my sins. I repent of my sinful ways. Save me now, and come to live in me. Create in me a new and clean heart, and lead me into Your paths of righteousness, peace, and joy. I believe you for salvation. Fill me now with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You! Amen."
note: There is nothing at all that you can do to save yourself from your sins, but God has promised to save all those who call upon Him.