Famous Last Words: About God

Series: Famous Last Words
About God by John Burke, March 2, 2008

In this message, John talked about what might be the most important “Last Words” ever spoken: “ Who do you say I am?” This message is about Jesus’ claim that He and God are One. Is it true? In this discussion you’ll have a chance to explore this question more. Some of these questions are “out there”, but give them a try.

1. Before Jesus asked “Who do you say I am?”, He asked the disciples “Who do people say I am?” (If you have a Bible handy, you can read about that in Mark 8:27-29). That’s a good questions to start with. Who DO people say Jesus is? Spend a few minutes talking about different ideas about Jesus’ identity. Try to consider both the direct descriptions, as well as what might be “between the lines” in the way people talk about Jesus. (10 minutes)

2. John referred to the Jain parable of the blind men touching an elephant and then describing what it was (a hose, a wall, a tree, a snake). Because they were blind, they couldn’t see the whole picture. Let’s try a similar exercise. There is probably a chair somewhere close at hand. If you can, pick one that has different characteristics (metal, wood, cloth, etc), then have different people touch one part of the chair and describe what they feel (you can even try it with eyes closed if you want). (10 minutes)

3. In the exercise above, no one had the whole picture of the chair by just touching one part, but unlike the blind men and the elephant, we can see the way all the parts fit together to create something bigger. Now, suppose for a minute that you could talk to the person who designed and built the chair. What more could you learn? Take some time to suggest different types of information you might get from someone with “inside information”. Based on that discussion, would there be any of the new pieces of information you might not understand or be able to relate to? (i.e., I sure would not understand how the metal was fabricated!) If you were not there when the chair was made, how would you know what you were told about it was true? (20 minutes)

4. As John said in the message, Jesus claimed to have “inside information” about God… in fact Jesus said He and God were the same person. Did He really say that? And if he did, was he lying or deluded? John addressed those questions in the message, and this is not the right format to repeat what John said (For that information you can listen to John’s message and/or check out some books… see below for links). But, try speculating about the following: What tests could someone use to decide whether Jesus DID claim to be God and whether it was true or not? Discuss any “tests” that might be relevant to deciding whether Jesus really IS God. (10 minutes)

5. So, what about Jesus? Did you ever have any impression of him that changed as you got more information? Who DID you say He is - and in what ways is that different now? Why? Discuss any “changed” impressions about Jesus that people in the group have had. (10 minutes)

6. Close by taking some time for some individual thought about your personal response to the question “Who do you say I am?” If you believe Jesus is God, think about why (According to Peter, we are to be “always ready to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you – 1 Peter 3:15). If you don’t entirely believe the idea that Jesus is God and His claim His is the way have a relationship with God, reflect on why not? Do you have a test? If so, try to grasp what it is. (If your faith has recently passed the test – be sure to share that with others in the group. (5 minutes)

Bible verses, and other quotes from the message:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. My Father's house has plenty of room; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" John 14:1-5

"You are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence." John 8:37-38

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. John 14:8-11

Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.” John 8:46-47

Prophesies about Jesus:
His Birth: “O Bethlehem, you are but a small Judean village, yet you will be the birthplace of my King who is alive from everlasting ages past.” Micah 5:2, 700 B.C.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod….” Matthew 2:1
(Non-Biblical history confirms this: Justin Martyr was debating a Skeptical opponent in Jerusalem in 130 A.D. and says: “Now there is a village in the land of the Jews, thirty-five stadia from Jerusalem, in which Jesus Christ was born, as you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing made under Cyrenius, your first procurator in Judaea." First Apology, 34, 130 A.D.)

The time of His coming: “Now listen! It will be seven ‘sevens’ [49 years] plus sixty-two ‘sevens’ [434 years] from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One comes…after this period [of 483 years], the Anointed One will be killed, his kingdom still unrealized…and a king will arise whose armies will destroy [Jerusalem] and the Temple.” Daniel 9:25-26, 535 B.C.
“Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey…. Zechariah 9:9, 480 B.C.
(From Sanhedrin records 43a: “On the eve of Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, ‘He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy.’”)

His death and resurrection: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way… After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many.” Isaiah 53:5-6, 11 680 B.C.

Get more background and information:

• You can download or listen to John's message about Jesus' Last Words at Gateway's Sunday Message Archive (and other messages too)
• For more information about Jesus and who He claimed to be you can read
  
• The Case for Christ by Lee Stroebels
• Letters from a Skeptic by Gregory A. Boyd
• Evidence for Christianity by Josh McDowell

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