What is the Debate about Jesus Christ?
The name of Jesus Christ is divisive. People tend to have very strong opinions about Him. Unfortunately, many of them don’t really seem to know much about Him other than what they have been told by other people.
For those who would like to do some research about Jesus, the scriptures have a lot to say about Him. Answers can be found in both the Torah and the Holy Bible. The truth about Jesus can be known.
Did Jesus Actually Exist?
There are many reliable historical documents to provide evidence that Jesus walked this earth, was crucified, and was seen by witnesses after His death. The most famous of which is the Holy Bible (the single most widely documented and historically accurate book ever written).
Even the Koran acknowledges that Jesus existed. It describes Jesus as a prophet but it denies that Jesus was the Son of God, that he was crucified, and that he was resurrected.
Was Jesus Jewish?
According to the lineage provided in the Holy Bible, Jesus was Jewish by birth. He was from the lineage of King David. (Matthew 1) (Luke 1)
Did Jesus follow Jewish Laws?
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” (Luke 24: 44)
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Matthew 5: 17)
Jesus kept the Jewish law and he came to fulfill the law. When the Jewish Sadducees and Pharisees sometimes challenged Jesus about not observing certain Jewish laws, Jesus responded based on honoring the intention of God’s laws versus the Jewish interpretation of those laws. At that time, the Jewish leaders had taken God’s laws and made hundreds of laws from them. In the process, they had become so focused on the laws they had made that they lost the intent behind the laws that God made.
The wages of sin is death. Jesus paid the price for sin (death). Although he himself had never sinned, Jesus voluntarily took the sin of the world onto himself. Through his death Jesus paid the price for sin so that anyone who believes in him can be saved from the eternal consequence of their sins.
Was a New Covenant established with Jesus?
31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. (Jeremiah 31: 31)
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said:“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors… (Hebrews 8: 7-9)
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9: 15)
27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9: 27-28)
In fulfilling the law, God established a new covenant through Jesus. Because of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross, people can be forgiven. No additional blood offering is needed because the ultimate sacrifice has already been made.
Did Jesus Love the Jews?
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. (Matthew 23: 37)
Jesus Christ longed to gather and protect the Jews but they did not recognize him. Still, Jesus continued to offer himself to God’s chosen people. Even though they rejected him, Jesus never stopped loving them.
Jesus Christ loves both the Jews and the Gentiles. He would never promote the indiscriminate killing of either Jew or Gentile. Jesus sacrificially gave his life so that others could live.
Did Jesus Forgive the Jews?
33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23: 33-34)
Even while hanging on the cross in excruciating pain, Jesus chose to forgive everyone who took part in his execution: including the Jews. Jesus also asked his heavenly Father, the Almighty God, to forgive them. Jesus Christ showed compassion and forgiveness toward those who tortured and killed him. That is the example that Jesus provided for his followers: we are to forgive and pray for our enemies.
Why Was the Curtain Torn in Two?
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23: 44-46)
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Matthew 27: 51)
In the Jewish temple was a room called the “holy of holies.” The ark of the covenant was kept in that place. It was so holy that only one human was allowed to enter it and if they did not purify themselves properly, they would die upon entering that room.
There was a curtain that separated the holy of holies from the rest of the people. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world, he paid the sin debt for all humanity. At the moment of his death on the cross, the curtain of the holy of holies was torn so that it would no longer separate man from God. The curtain was torn from top to bottom so that people would know that God was the One who tore it.
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, people’s sins can be forgiven. Jesus makes it possible to approach the throne of God without having to go through a priest or to offer endless sacrifices. Jesus is forever the high priest in the order of Melchizedek. No other priest is needed.
What is the Greatest Commandment?
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12: 28-31) (Deut. 6:4,5) (Lev. 19:18)
32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. (Mark 12: 32-34)
Some people realized that Jesus Christ was a teacher of teachers. His answers and teachings were always true. Jesus spoke with authority and wisdom.
Those who despised Jesus tried to trick him but his answers were always irrefutable. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to trick Him. While they may have disagreed with what He said, they could never find any solid evidence with which to rebuke Him.
Was Jesus a Good Teacher?
27 … Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6: 27-28)
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6: 31)
Some people believe that Jesus was simply a good teacher. They approve of His message of love. If people would love one another as Jesus taught, the world would be a much better place. But the type of love that Jesus showed goes against human nature. It is not natural. It is beyond what humans can do by themselves. That type of love (agape love) comes from God and is only possible with the help of God.
Did Jesus Claim to Be More than a Teacher?
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14: 6)
If Jesus was a good teacher and nothing more, then why would He have claimed to be something more? A good teacher would only teach truth. The truth that Jesus taught included truth about who He is.
Whose Son is the Messiah?
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’[Psalm 110:1] 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22: 41-46)
The Pharisees understood that Psalm 110 was about the Messiah but could not understand David’s words “the LORD said to my Lord.” They understood that the Messiah would come into the world in the lineage of David but they did not understand that the Messiah is literally the Son of God. The Messiah is both the Lord of David (because He is the Son of God) and the son of David (because He came in the flesh to the world through the lineage of David).
Psalm 110 describes how the Messiah will sit at the right hand of the Lord God Almighty. The Lord God Almighty will put the enemies of the Messiah under His feet. The Lord God Almighty declares the Messiah to be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. The Messiah who delivers God’s people will live and reign as Lord forever.
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