Who is Jesus?

1. He Existed
Evidence outside the New Testament about Jesus include;

Tacitus & Suedonius, Roman historians
Josephus, Jewish historian

Josephus was a non Christian historian who wrote;
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man -if it is lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works. A teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure; he drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate at the suggestion of the principle men a among us had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again on the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold. These and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him and the tribe of Christians so named after him are not extinct to this day.”

3.Textual criticism
The sheer number of early Greek and Latin texts available for the voracity of the Gospels and NT writings is unprecadented in comparison with any other ancient manuscript. They are earlier and more numerous by far.

4.He was fully Human
*Human body – Tired (John4:6). Hungry (Matthew 4:2)
*Human emotions – Anger (Mark 11:15-17). Love (Mark 11:15-17)
Sadness (John 11:32-36)
*Human experiences – Temptation (Mark 1:13). Learning(Luke 2:46-
52). Work(Mark 6:3)

5. What did he say about himself?
His teaching centred on himself

“I am the bread of Life” (John 6:35)
“I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
“I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25-26)
“I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6)

“My kingdom” (Luke 22:30)
“Come to me” (Mtth 10:40)
“Follow me” (Mark 1:7)
“Receive me, receive God” (Mtth10:40)
“Welcome me – welcome God” (Mark 9:37)
“To have seen me is to see God” (John 14:9)

His indirect claims
To forgive sins ( Mark 2:5)
To Judge the world ( Mtth 25:31-32)

His Direct claims
MESSIAH ( Mark 14:61-62)
SON OF GOD ( Mark 14:61)
GOD THE SON
-“Before Abraham was born
I am!” (John 20:28)
-“My Lord and my God”
- “claim to be God”

6. What evidence is there to support what he said?
His teaching – e.g Sermon on the Mount(Matthew 5, 6, 7)
His works (John 10:37-38)
His character
His fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy

More evidence
His conquest of death
His absence from the tomb.
Explanations:
- Jesus did not die? (John19:34)
- Disciples stole the body?
- Authorities stole the body?
- Robbers stole the body? (John 20:1-9)
His presence with the disciples.
Hallucination?
Number of appearances
- at least 10 different occasions
- 500+ people
- Period of six weeks
- Nature of appearances (Luke 24:37-43)

Yet more evidence…
The Immediate effect;
Birth and growth of the Christian Church
Effect down the ages; Experiences of Christians down the ages

Conclusion
C.S.Lewis wrote;
“We are faced then with a frightening Alternative. The man we are talking about was (and is) just what he said, or else a lunatic or something worse. Now it seems to me that he was neither a lunatic or a fiend; and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that he was and is God. God has landed on this enemy occupied world in human form”