The New Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Student Workbook, SW13

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T H E N E W T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

* How does the announcement of Jesus as Messiah reveal his calling to engage the powers of the enemy as Lord and Savior? * What does the lowliness and humility of the life of Jesus of Nazareth reveal to us about the nature of God, of Messiah, and of all true spirituality? Explain your answer carefully. * What kind of images do the stories of Jesus’ birth, infancy, and childhood, give us about the person and work of Jesus? What do we learn about his parents, and the place where he lived and grew up. * The call of Jesus to the disciples provides a clear snapshot into the nature of his claim to lordship. What lessons do we learn about following Jesus from the encounters Jesus had with his disciples early in his public ministry. * Keeping the first miracle at Cana in mind, what do you think about the role that miracles will play in announcing the identity of Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah? Explain. Many today believe that although Jesus is described as a human being, one who experienced in the full the same condition that all human beings endure, he cannot really feel what we do. After all, Jesus never knewwhat it meant to fail, to feel guilty over sins committed, to have to reconcile with others because of wrong, or overcome the power of condemnation and remorse for wrongs done. How would you counsel an individual who asserted that Jesus could not understand where they were at because he simply didn’t experience the “dark side” of human life. Is it possible for Jesus to sympathize with our weaknesses, even though he never sinned against God in thought, word, or deed? Can Jesus Really Understand Where I’m At?

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A Confusing Doctrine

In discussing the identity of Jesus of Nazareth with a Muslim friend at work, you are struck by their inability to comprehend the doctrine that Jesus of Nazareth was both a human being and the Son of God. In expressing their difficulty in grasping the truth of this, the Muslim colleague says, “I find this to be one of the most troubling and confusing concepts in all of Christian theology. I know that it makes much sense to you and other Christians, but, as a Muslim, I simply cannot