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Chapter 12  Part II

Ministry, Death and Resurrection

The life Jesus Christ lived has been unparalleled in word and deed. It culminated in his sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection by God. How we respond to the NT’s testimony to these events and their significance, will determine our eternal destiny.

Jesus Christ’s Miracles

Jesus performed miraculous deeds that greatly amazed people

People were completely astounded and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.   Mark 7:37 NET

Jesus delivered people from disease and disorders

People brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, paralytics, and those possessed by demons, and he healed them.   Matthew 4:24b NET

Jesus even raised the dead

And they began making fun of him, because they knew that she was dead. 54But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, “Child, get up.” 55Her spirit returned, and she got up immediately.   Luke 8:53-55a NET

Jesus exercised control over nature, in helping people

Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. … 39So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm.   Mark 4:37, 39 NET

[Andrew, to Jesus:] Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?” 10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” … So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted.   John 6:9-11 NET

Jesus Christ’s Teaching

Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom of God

Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people.   Matthew 4:23 NET

The kingdom of God (or the kingdom of heaven) was the most prominent theme in Jesus’ teaching.

Jesus’ teaching was from God

[Jesus:] This teaching that you hear is not really mine; it is from my Father, who sent me.   John 14:24b NCV™

Jesus’ teaching was amazing – leading people to believe in him

When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.   Matthew 22:33 NET

And many more believed because of the things he said. 42They said to the woman, “First we believed in Jesus because of your speech, but now we believe because we heard him ourselves. We know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”   John 4:41-42 NCV™

Jesus Christ’s Rejection and Death

Jesus faced intense opposition, with efforts to kill him

Now because Jesus was doing these things [miracles] on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him. 17So he told them, “My Father is working until now, and I too am working.” 18For this reason the Jewish leaders were trying even harder to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.   John 5:16-18 NET

The unjust condemnation of Jesus – who was innocent

Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” … 20Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted to release Jesus. 21But they kept on shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty of no crime deserving death. I will therefore flog him and release him.” 23But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. 24So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.   Luke 23:4, 20-24 NET

The horrific suffering and death of Jesus

Then he [Pilate] released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified. 27Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole cohort around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe around him, 29and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30They spat on him and took the staff and struck him repeatedly on the head. 31When they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. … 35When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice. … 39Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God’s Son, come down from the cross!” … 45Now from noon until three, darkness came over all the land. 46At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” … 50Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.   Matthew 27:26-31, 35, 39-40, 45-46, 50 NET

In v. 46, Jesus’ cry (cf. Psalms 22:1) suggests that the intimate relationship between himself and God had in some way or sense been impaired.

It was God’s will that Jesus die – for everyone

[Peter, to a crowd of largely Jews:] In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him.   Acts 2:23 GNT

God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over to death for all of us.   Romans 8:32a GW

Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension

God raised Jesus from the dead

But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power.   Acts 2:24 NET

Jesus’ body was not found in his tomb

[An early believer:] Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.   Luke 24:22-24 NET

Jesus appeared to people after his resurrection

To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.   Acts 1:3 NET

[Peter, to a crowd of largely Jews:] This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.   Acts 2:32 NET

Jesus was taken up to God in heaven

After he [Jesus] had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them 11and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.”   Acts 1:9-11 NET

Because he suffered death, God gave Jesus Christ great glory

We see him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered.   Hebrews 2:9b GNT

Pray for persecuted Christians