Cornerstone Curriculum, Official Certification Edition

LESSON 3 | GOD THE SON: JESUS, THE MESSIAH AND LORD OF ALL – HE DIED / 235

CONNECTION

This lesson focuses upon the humiliation of Jesus Christ in the Incarnation and ministry, and in the meaning of the death of Jesus Christ as it relates to our salvation and redemption. In some ways, the truths associated with these topics constitute both warp and woof of God’s loom of the Kingdom of God. All threads of God’s revelation of himself as Maker and Redeemer are connected to the person of Jesus of Nazareth, his perfect life and substitutionary death on the cross. Our obligation as Christian leaders on these matters is crystal clear: we must not only understand these truths from a biblical and historical perspective, we must also reflect and embody them in our lives and ministries. We are to die, even as he did, and we are to suffer, even as our Lord suffered for us. Carefully consider these implications as you review the key concepts below. • The humiliation of Jesus Christ, to use the theologian Oden’s language, deals with his descent from the heavenly realms in his divine glory to come to earth and die on behalf of the world. • The lowliness of Jesus was reflected in every dimension of his Incarnation and earthly life, from his birth to his life and ministry. The culmination of this lowliness and humility is revealed in his passion and death at Calvary. • Jesus’ death may be understood through various dimensions which enable us to understand better the nature of our salvation in him: his death was a ransom for us, the propitiation for our sins, a substitutionary sacrifice in our place, a victory over the devil and death itself, and a reconciliation between God and humankind. Now is the time for you to discuss with your fellow students your questions about the humiliation of Jesus and the culmination of that humility and lowliness through his death on the cross. As mentioned above, it is arguably one of the most important topics that we as Christian leaders can pursue. Understanding the meaning of the death of Jesus is the heart of our Christian confession and the pulse of our Christian service. Undoubtedly, certain questions have come to mind as you have discussed and studied these ideas. What particular issues have come to the light as you have studied the death of Christ so far? The questions below are given to provoke your own, more contextualized questions about Jesus’ death.

Summary of Key Concepts

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T heology and E th i c s

Student Application and Implications page 122 & 5