PART I

Dear Friends:

The object of this study is simple... to get to know Jesus better. We’re not going to just talk about what He does, but about who he is. We want you to get to know your best friend, Jesus Christ. The teaching centers around getting to know Jesus as you would get to know anyone: by learning his names by understanding his life history by appreciating his personality and by respecting his values .

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

1. Knowing Jesus is life’s greatest PRIORITY.

“Everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Phil 3:8 LB)

2. Knowing Jesus is the believer’s continuing CHALLENGE!

“Do you want more and more of God’s kindness and peace?

Then learn to know him better and better. For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!” (II Peter 1:2-3 LB)

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO KNOW SOMEONE?

The 4 Levels of growth in relationships.

1. You learn their name.

RECOGNITION

2. You learn some of the details of their life.

ACQUAINTANCE

3. You begin to appreciate their personality

FRIENDSHIP

4. You understand and accept what’s important to them (their motivations and values)

INTIMACY

PART 1: THE NAMES OF JESUS

One of the first ways we get to know another person is by learning their name. That’s not such a simple task when it comes to Jesus - one study lists 184 different names for Christ in the Bible! This study will help you to learn a few of them.

Remember, a name helps you to identify someone. The names of Jesus Christ help you to identify who He is.

WHAT’S IN A NAME

In the Bible the idea of someone’s name had more significance than we sometimes give it today. A name was an indicator of 3 specifics about a person:

Their purpose

Their position

Their promise

JESUS HAD NAMES BEFORE HE WAS BORN!

Isaiah 9:6 mentions 4 of them:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government v be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

1. Wonderful counselor = GOD GUIDES US

2. Mighty God = GOD STRENGTHENS US

3. Everlasting Father = GOD LOVES US

4. Prince of Peace = GOD COMFORTS US

Isaiah 7:14 mentions a fifth

5. Immanuel = God is with us!

HIS “GIVEN NAMES” AT BIRTH

The angel told Mary: Jesus (Matthew 1:21) Jesus means “Salvation of God”

The angels told the shepherds: (Luke 2:11)

1. Savior Savior is Jesus’ PURPOSE

2. Christ (Christ is not Jesus Last Name!) Christ is Jesus’ PROMISE . There were many Jesus’ in that day, Christ identified this as the Jesus who was the messiah, Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew “Messiah”

3. Lord Lord is Jesus’ POSITION

Key Personal Perspectives

The Bible does more than just list Jesus’ names - it tells us of

THE POWER OF HIS NAME!

Certain names DO have power. List below some of the names in our world today that have certain power or authority or “clout” behind them.

1. Jesus’ name is above all names (Phil 2:9-11)

2. As believer’s we live in His name!

We are anointed (James 5:14), forgiven (I John 2:12), baptized (Acts 10:48), justified in His name (I Cor 6:11).

We assemble in his name (I Cor 5:4), we bear his name (I Peter

4:16), believe in His name (Jn 1:12), call on His name (I Cor 1:2).

In His name we give thanks (Eph 5:20), have life (Jn 20:31),

preach (Acts 8:12), speak (Acts 9:27) and suffer (Acts 21:13, I

Peter 4:14). WE DO EVERYTHING IN HIS NAME! (Col 3:17)

PART 2: THE DETAILS OF JESUS’ LIFE

Jesus’ life did not begin with his birth and it did not end with his death. We’re going to look at Jesus’ life before, during and after His time on this earth. If you did a time line of Jesus’ life his time on earth would be an exclamation point in the middle - we see it as the larger part, and it is the most significant part for us, but in terms of real time it is the shortest part.

WHAT DID JESUS DO BEFORE HE WAS BORN?

The Preexistent Christ.

He has always existed: He is eternal (Micah 5:2, Jn 8:38

He CREATED the universe (Col 1:16)

He MINISTERED to people

1. Hagar(Gen 16:7-14)

There are a number of times in the Old Testament when a figure called “the angel of the Lord” appears to people.

It is evident that this is more than an angel. He is spoken of in terms that relate more to God himself. There is no exact “reference” for this - but the great majority of Bible teachers see these as appearances of Christ on earth before his human birth. No, he did not look just like he did as Jesus of Nazareth - but he did take the form of a man.

In Genesis 16 the “angel” whom Hagar saw said that would increase her descendants - only God would say that. And Hagar recognizes this “angel” as “the God who sees me.” The Bible itself refers to him as “The Lord who spoke to her.

2. Moses (Ex 3:2-14)

“The angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.... God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses” (Ex. 3:2 & 4)

3. Abraham (Gen 18:1, 22:11-12) .“ (Gen 18:1-2)

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre... Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby

JESUS’ LIFE ON EARTH.

A Short History of His Life.

Many people know a lot of stories about Jesus, but have never had an opportunity to sit down and think about how those stories fit into the history of His life. One part of making friends with someone is getting to know the facts about them in a better way: where they were born, important relationships, memorable events, etc. This study will give you the opportunity to get to know Jesus a little bit better.

LOOK AT JESUS’ LIFE IN 6 MAJOR PERIODS:

1. Jesus’ BOYHOOD

Beginning with: His Birth (Matthew 1-2, Luke 1:1-2:38)

Ending with: Jesus in the Temple (Lk. 2:39-52)

Significant Events:

Jesus’ Dedication at the temple (Luke 2:22ff)

Fleeing to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23)

2. Beginning His MINISTRY

3 significant events mark the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry at 30 years old:

1. The ministry of John the Baptist (Mk. I :1-8, Luke 3:1-17)

2. Jesus’ Baptism (Matt 3:13-17, Mk 1:9-11)

3. Jesus’ Temptation (Luke 4:1-13, Matt4:1-11)

Key Personal Perspectives

What does that say to us about how we begin a ministry?

1. OTHERS have always prepared the way.

2. The initial declaration is important

3. Jesus’ Ministry in JUDEA

Beginning: Turning the Water to Wine (John 2:1-11)

Ending: The woman at the well (John 4:1-45)

Significant Events:

Cleansing the Temple (John 2:13ff)

Conversation with Nichodemus (John 3)

4. Ministry in GALILEE

Beginning: Healing the son at Capemaum (John 4:46-53)

Ending:

Peter’s Confession (Matt 16:13ff)

Jesus’ Transfiguration (Matt 17:lff, Luke 9:28ff)

Significant Events:

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

Calling the Disciples (Luke 5:1-11, Mark 2:13-17,

Luke 6:12-16)

Feeding the 5,000 (Matt 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44

5. Jesus’ Journey to JERUSALEM

Beginning: He “set His face” to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)

Ending: Mary Anoints His body for Burial (John 12:1)

Significant Events:

Clashes with the Pharisees (Luke 14, Luke 16:14ff)

The resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:l)

Meeting Zacchaeus in Jerico (Matt 20:29)

6. Jesus’ Death, Burial and Resurrection

Beginning: The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1-9, John 12:1 2ff)

Ending: The bodily ascension into heaven (Luke 24:50-51)

Significant Events:

Cleansing the temple

The garden of Gethsemane

Trials and sentencing

Jesus Dies on the Cross (Matt 27:31-34, Luke 23:26-32)

Jesus is Alive! (Matthew 28:2-15, Mark 16:1-11, Luke 23:50-56, John 20:1-1 8)

Jesus Is A Part Of History !

In Encyclopedia Britannica, following a discussion of the writings about Jesus outside of the New Testament... “These independent accounts prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the historicity of Jesus, which was disputed for the first time and on inadequate grounds by several authors at the end of the 18th, during the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th centuries.”

THE ETERNALLY EXISTENT CHRIST

WHAT DOES JESUS DO RIGHT NOW?

1. What does He look like?

All the evidence points to Jesus still existing in His RESURRECTED BODY in heaven:

He ascended to heaven in bodily form (Acts 1:9)

He will return in bodily form (Acts 1:11)

Stephen saw Him in bodily form in heaven (Acts 1:55-56)

It’s important to note that Acts says Stephen saw the “glory of God” - a term that refers to a representation of His glory rather than actually seeing God himself. The Bible tells us that no one has ever seen God the Father (John 1:18). But here in Acts the scripture does say that Stephen “saw Jesus” - indicating He still has the resurrected body that is visible to man.

• Paul indicated he now has a glorious body (Phil 3:21)

2. What is He doing?

• He is RULING at God’s right hand (Eph 1:20-22, I Peter 3:22)

• He is PRAYING for us (Rom 8:34)

• He is holding the UNIVERSE together (Col 1:16-1 7)

• He is anxiously WAITING for us to be with Him! (John 14:1-3, John 17:24)

Get To Know Jesus - Part II

What does it take to get to know someone?

4 Levels Of Growth In Relationships

1. You learn their name RECOGNITION

2. You learn some of the details of their lives ACQUAINTANCE

3. You begin to appreciate their personality. FRIENDSHIP

4. You understand and accept what's important INTIMACY

to them (their motivation and values)

Part 3: Jesus' Personality

What's your most obvious personality trait? The trait that impacts your life the most often and most clearly? Circle 1 or 2 possibilities from the list below:

Outgoing Shy

Gentle Detailed

Friendly Happy

Task-Oriented Witty

Purposeful Caring

Balanced Hopeful

Careful

The Most Significant Personality Trait of Jesus Christ Is His Deity

Three truths to remember:

1. Jesus always was God ( John 1:2)

2. Jesus became God and Man (John1:14)

3. Jesus always will be God and Man (Acts 1: 9-11)

A Fresh Word

Hypostatic Union: the union of undiminished deity and perfect humanity forever in one Person. That means that Jesus not only became God and man, but that he will always Be God and man.

But what does this mean personally? It means I'll be able to look at, to touch and to embrace, the Jesus who died for me when I get to heaven!

How Do We Know Jesus Is God? Jesus' God Nature

First: He said So

He claimed EQUALITY with God

" he was calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." (Jn 5: 18)

" I and the Father are one" (John 10: 30)

"he who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14: 9)

He claimed deity

Jesus called Himself "I AM"

"I tell you the truth", Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!" (Jn. 8: 58)

"I am" is the name that God gave to Moses in the Old Testament in Exodus 3: 13-14. It was what the Jews considered to be the most holy name for God....... and Jesus used it to refer to Himself! Some say that He really didn't know or mean what He was saying. In John 8: 59- Jesus understood, and his enemies understood, that He was claiming to be God.

In John 18: 5-6 when He declared "I am" they fell to the ground.

Second: OTHERS said so!

The PROPHETS said so

"His name shall be mighty God (Isaiah 9: 6)

"God says, 'They shall look upon ME whom they have pierced. ' " (Zechariah 12: 10)

".....his goings forth from everlasting. " (Micah 5: 2)

His DISCIPLES said so

1. Paul ( Rom 9: 5, Phil 2: 6, Titus 2: 13)

Just compare!

" I am God and there is no other..... Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear." (Is. 45:22-23)

AND

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.....and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." (Phil 2:6)

2. Writer of Hebrews

" The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the EXACT REPRESENTATION of his being." (Hebrews 1:3)

"About the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever....'" (Heb 1:8)

3. John

"The word was God..." (John 1:1-2)

Third: He is WORSHIPPED as God (Matt. 14:43, Phil 2:10, Heb. 1:6)

Many worshipped Him

A healed leper (Matt 8:2), women (Matt 15: 25), the mother of James and John (Matt 20:20), Geresene demonic

(Matt 5:6) blind man ( John 9: 38)

He accepted such worship

(John 20:28, Acts 7: 59-60, Heb 1: 6)

His own disciples prayed to Him (Acts 7: 59)

Fourth: He does what ONLY GOD can do

1. He has the power to forgive sins (Mk. 2:1-12)

2. All JUDGMENT in His hands (JN 5:27, Acts 17: 31)

3. He sends the Spirit (Jn 15:26)

4. He will raise the dead (Jn 5:25)

5. He is the CREATOR (Jn 1:3, Col 1:16)

6. He is the Sustained - Upholding all (Col 1:17, Heb 1: 3)

Fifth: He has characteristics that GOD ALONE possesses!

1. All POWERFUL ( Omnipotent) - (Matt 28:18 and Rev 1:8, 2:3)

2. All knowing (Omniscient)- (Mk 2:8, John 1:48, 1Cor 4:5, Col 2:3)

3. All Present (Omnipresent)- (Mt 18:30, 28: 20)

4. He is PERFECT (Holy) - (Heb 4:15, 1 John 3:5)

5. He doesn't change (immutability) - (Heb 13: 8)

6. He is ETERNAL (Col 1:7, Heb 1:11)

If those are the facts..... where's the evidence?

WHAT EVIDENCE SUPPORTS JESUS' CLAIM TO BE GOD?

Our faith is not based upon evidence....but it is backed by evidence. Obviously anyone could "claim" to be God.The difference with Jesus is that His life completely backed those claims.

Evidence #1: FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY

"Jesus 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." Lk 24: 44

The Old Testament verses are the prophecy, the New Testament verses proclaim the fulfillment.

1. Born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1: 21)

2. A descendant of Abraham ( Gen 12: 1-3; 22: 18; Matt. 1:1; Gal. 3:16)

3. Of the Tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33; Heb 7:14)

4. Of the house of David (2 Sam. 7:12; Matt. 1:1)

5. Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matt. 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)

6. Taken To Egypt (Hos 11:1 and Matt. 2:14)

7. Herod's killing of the infants (Jer 31:15 and Matt 2:16-18)

8. Anointed by the Holy Spirit ( Isa. 11:2; Matt. 3:16-17)

9. Heralded by the messenger of the Lord ( Lord the Baptist ) (Isa. 40: 3; Mal. 3:1; Matt. 3:1-2)

10. Would perform miracles (Isa. 35: 5-6; Matt. 9:35)

11. Would preach good news (Is 61:1 and Lk 4: 14-21)

12. Would minister in Galilee (Is. 9:1 and Matt 4: 12-16)

13. Would cleanse the temple ( Mal. 3:1; Matt. 21: 12)

14. Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey ( Zech 9:9 and Matt 21:4-9)

15. Would be Rejected by Jews (Ps. 118:22; I Peter 2:7)

16. Die a humiliating death (Ps. 22; Isa. 53) involving:

a. rejection (Isa. 53:3: John 1:10-11; 7:5, 48)

b. betrayal by a friend (Ps. 41:9, Lk. 22:3-4 and Jn 13:18)

c. sold for 30 pieces of silver ( Zech 11:12 and Matt 26:14-15)

d. being mocked (Ps. 22: 7-8; Matt. 27:31)

e. praying for His persecutors (Isa. 53:12; Luke 23:43)

f. buried in a rich man's tomb (Isa. 53:9; Matt 27: 57-60)

g. given gall and vinegar to drink (Ps. 69:21 and Matt 27:34 and Lk 23:36)

17. Would rise from the DEAD!!! (Ps. 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)

18. Ascend into heaven (Ps. 68:18; Acts 1:9)

19. Would sit down at the right hand of God (Ps. 110:1; Heb. 1:3)

Evidence #2: His MIRACLES

When asked for proof - Jesus pointed to the miracles ( John 11: 4-5, Luke 7:20-22, Acts 2:22)

"The blind receive sight...." (Matt 9:27-31, Lk 18:35-43, Mk 8:22-26, John 9)

"the lame walk...." (Matt 9:2-7)

"those who have leprosy are cured..." (Matt 8:2-3, Lk 17: 11-19)

"the deaf hear...." (Mk 7:31-37)

" the dead are raised..." (Matt 9:18-19 and 23-25, Lk. 7:11-15, John 1:1-14)

" good news is preached..."

Evidence #3: His RESURRECTION

Jesus not only predicted it - but told how many days! (John 2:19 and Matt 12:40 and Mark 8:31)

He claimed the authority behind the resurrection ( John 10:18)

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT JESUS IS MAN?

JESUS' HUMAN NATURE

Imagine for a moment that they were a classmate of Jesus in school. What do you think that would have been like?

JESUS LIMITED HIMSELF - He became fully man

BUT.....

JESUS DID NOT LESSEN HIMSELF - He remained fully God

He Limited Himself......

1. By taking a position in which the Father was "greater" (John 14:28)

2. By taking the form of a man (Phil 2:6-8)

The idea of Jesus being limited and yet also being God is difficult to grasp - at best! This is one of those times

when it's good to realize that God is so much greater than we are that some of the truths about Him are a

bit difficult for us to grasp.

What did it mean for Jesus to be limited? He obviously couldn't be everywhere at once any longer - He experienced

human needs - He prayed to God.

Even while on earth, He limited Himself by choice : he could have turned the stones to bread

when Satan tempted Him (Luke 4:3).... he could have called 10,000 angels to save Him from the cross (Matt. 26:53)

but he chose not to.

HOW COULD HE BE BOTH GOD AND MAN?

The council of Calcedon explained it this way: Jesus exists "in tow natures which exist without confusion, without

change, without division, without separation, the difference of the natures having been in no wise take away by reason

of the union, but rather the properties of each being preserved, and both concurring into one person.

" Oh..... THAT makes it clear!

A few things to make this clear:

Jesus was 100% God and 100% man (that's not good math, but it's excellent theology.)

Jesus was not God indwelling a man. He was not a man who became a God. He was not God appearing to be a man.

He combined in one personality the two natures: He was fully God and He was fully man.

Jesus As A Man - The Basics

1. He had a human BIRTH (Isaiah 7:14-16 and Matthew 1:23, Gal. 4:4)

2. He showed human GROWTH ( Luke 2:52)

Notice the 4 "human" ways that Jesus grew:

3. He experienced human EMOTIONS

Jesus felt......

GRIEF ( John 11:35)

Sorrow (Matt. 26:38)

Amazement ( Matt. 8:10)

Love ( For an unbeliever: Mark 10:21, For his friends: Jn 11:5, or his disciples: Jn 13:1, For his mother: Jn 19:26-27)

Wonder ( Mark 6:6)

ANGER (Mark 3:5)

Distress ( Mark 14:33)

Compassion ( Mark 1:41)

4. He had human EXPERIENCE AND NEEDS

He was TIRED ( John 4:6, John 4:38)

He was hungry ( Matt. 4:2)

He was THIRSTY ( John 19:28)

He was in agony (Luke 22:44)

He was TEMPTED (Matt 4:1-11)

He died (Lk. 23:46)

Why God Became Man

(Reasons for the incarnation)

1. To reveal God to man (Matt 11:27, John 1:18, 14:9, Rom 5:8 1 John 3:16)

2. To reveal man to man (1 Peter 2:21)

3. To provide a sacrifice for sin ( Heb 10:1-10)

4. To destroy the works of the devil (John 12:31, 16:11, Col 2:13-15, Heb 2:14, 1 John 3:8)

5. To become our high priest ( Heb. 2:16-17, 8:1, 9:11-12, 24)

KEY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES

Philippians 2:5-11 is one of the most exciting passages in the Bible about Jesus' willingness to become a man.

As you read it, note that it says at the beginning, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus..." What is

he talking about? What attitude is revealed in Jesus' willingness to become a man?

Verses 3-4 share several specifics concerning this attitude:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition

Don't act out of vain conceit

Consider others more important than yourself

Don't just look out for yourself

Look out for the interests of others

WHO IS JESUS? HE IS FULLY MAN AND FULLY GOD

Jesus was tired ( John 4:6) , yet called the WEARY to Him for rest (Matt 11:28)

He was hungry (Matt 4:2), yet is the BREAD of Life ( John 6:35)

He was thirsty (John 19:28), yet HE is the WATER of Life (John 7:37)

He was in agony (Luke 22:44), yet he heals all manner of diseases (Luke 7:22)

He grew older (Luke 2:40), yet never CHANGES (Heb 13, John 8:58)

He was tempted ( Matt 4:1-11), yet did not sin (Heb 2:18, 4:15, II Cor 5:21)

He prayed (Luke 6:12), yet he answered prayer ( Act 10:31)

He died (John 19:30), yet he is life (John 14:6, John 11:35)