C. Jesus – The Words of God

We believe that God has spoken to our world through Jesus, because of who Jesus claimed to be and what Jesus claimed about the origin of His own words. And what Jesus spoke, the things that He taught, are the cornerstone of our faith.

JESUS PURPOSE: TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH

Many of the Jews opposed Jesus because of the claims He was making about Himself. On one occasion the people were appealing to their heritage as children of Abraham and children of God, but Jesus challenged this because they did not receive His teaching.

They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” (John 8:39-47)

After Jesus was arrested and questioned by the Jewish leaders He was sent by them to Pilate in the hopes of having Him condemned to death. This is what Jesus said to Pilate at that time:

Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” {34} Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” {35} Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You up to me; what have You done?” {36} Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” {37} Pilate therefore said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” {38} Pilate said^ to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said^ to them, “I find no guilt in Him. (John 18:33-38)

JESUS TEACHING: HE SPOKE FROM GOD

The Gospel of John records a number of times that Jesus went to the Temple in Jerusalem for religious observances. During those visits, we learn more about the things Jesus claimed about His own teaching.

But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. {15} The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” {16} Jesus therefore answered them, and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. {17} “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself. (John 7:14-17)

“I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” {27} They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. {28} Jesus therefore said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. {29} “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” {30} As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. (John 8:26-30)

And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me. {45} “And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. {46} “I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. {47} “And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. {48} “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. {49} “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. {50} “And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” (John 12:44-50)

So far, we have learned about Jesus claims to be the Son of God, sent by God to speak the words of God, and bear witness to the truth. These are some truly amazing claims! However, anyone can claim anything they want to about themselves, but this does not make the claims true! In the case of Jesus, He told others that His claims should be believed based on the miracles which He performed by the power of God.

Please continue to the next page where the miracles of which Jesus spoke, and the statements He made about them being the proof of who He was will presented for consideration.