: II. Take a look at the Jesus of the Gospel age, as he presents himself to his fellow citizens.

THE PATTERN SHOWN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, IS THAT PEOPLE OBSERVED THE ACTION, BUT PERCEIVED THE GOD WHO IS BEHIND THE ACTION:

Mat 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.4 And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, then saith he to the sick of the palsy, Arise, takeup thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house.8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto MEN.

JESUS HIMSELF ESTABLESHES FOREVER THE PATTERN: Jon 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

THE PEOPLE OBSERVED MIRACLES: Mat 15:30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:

AND PERCEIVED THE GOD BEHIND THE MIRACLES: Mat 15:31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

MARK'S ACCOUNT: Mark 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

AND LUKE'S ACCOUNT: Luke 5:25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

SAW STRANGE THINGS; GLORIFIED GOD: Luke 5:26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

SAW THE MIRACLE, Luke 7:12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

RECOGNIZED THE PROPHET AS A MAN, GLORIFIED THE GOD BEHIND THE MIRACLE LUK 7:15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us and, That God hath visited his people.

DID NOT REQUIRE A CROWD TO AGREE UPON WHAT THEY SAW: Luke 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

WHAT WAS THE PERCEPTION? Luke 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

CENTURION SAW GOD BEHIND THE MAN: Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous MAN.

THE CASE OF LAZARUS: John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

WHY WAS LAZARUS SICK? John 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

WHAT WAS THE INTENT? John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

THOMAS WAS A WITNESS TO THE RAISING OF LAZARUS: John 11:16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

JESUS DID NOT RUSH TO THE STRICKEN LAZARUS: John 11:17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

MARTHA WENT TO MEET JESUS ON THE WAY: Jon 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

MARTHA KNOWS THE SOURCE OF THE MIRACLE, AND THAT IT IS NOT JESUS: John 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, GOD WILL GIVE IT THEE.

RESURRECTION PROCLAIMED: John 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

WHAT TO BELIEVE? John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

WHAT DID MARTHA BELIEVE? John 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

MARTHA GOES TO GET HER SISTER: John 11:28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come and calleth for thee.

MARY GOES TO JESUS: John 11:29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. 30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

THE CROWD FOLLOWS: John 11:31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

THE FAITH OF MARY: John 11:32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

COMPASSION: John 11:35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

THE JEWS SEE A MAN: John 11:37 And some of them said, Could not THIS MAN, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

WHAT IS THE GLORY OF GOD? John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE: John 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. 45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

LEADERS PERCEIVED MIRACLES DONE BY A MAN: John 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council and said, What do we? for this MAN doeth many miracles.

GLORIFICATION OF THE SON OF MAN: John 12:17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the SON OF MAN should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE: John 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.28 Father glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. 30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

JUDAS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SETTING UP THE SON OF GOD FOR DEATH: John 13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

JESUS WAS GLORIFIED BY HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, THEREBY GLORIFYING GOD John 13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the SON OF MAN glorified, and God is glorified in him.

THE GLORIFICATION OF ONE IS NOT THE GLORIFICATION OF THE OTHER: John 13:32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

THE FATHER IS GLORIFIED BY GIVING GIFTS TO THE SON: John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in THE SON.

AND IN THE VICTORIES OF HIS SAINTS: John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

GOD DID THE MIRACLE, THE SON RECEIVED GLORY, THE MAN WALKED: Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

AND THE PEOPLE SAW: Acts 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

AND GLORIFIED GOD: Acts 4:21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

GLORY FOR US: Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

GLORIFIED BY WEARING JESUS' NAME: Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

GOD WAS GLORIFIED IN THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS: Gal 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.24 And they glorified God in me.

AND IN THE SAINTS VICTORY: 2Thes 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

JESUS DID NOT CLAIM GLORY FOR HIMSELF, BUT RECEIVED IT: Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

AS WE OBEY JESUS, GOD IS GLORIFIED, BECAUSE IT WAS HIS WILL BEING DONE 1Pet 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

MEN OF THE WORLD SPEAK EVIL OF THAT IN WHICH THE SAINTS GLORY: 1Pet 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

DEVILS TESTIFIED AS TO HIS IDENTITY: Mat 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee Jesus, thou SON of GOD?

APOSTLES WORSHIPPED JESUS, BUT, AS THE "SON" OF GOD: Mat 14:33 Then they that were in the ship cameand worshipped him, saying "Of a truth, thou art the SON of GOD."

FOCAL POINT OF HIGH PRIESTS INQUIRY: Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priestanswered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

PASSERS-BY, DERISION AT THE CRUCIFIXION: Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

CHIEF PRIESTS, SCRIBES AND ELDERS: Mat 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I AM THE SON OF GOD.

MARK'S TESTIMONY: Mar 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

CENTURION AND WATCHERS: Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Mar 15:39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

UNCLEAN SPIRITS TESTIFY: Mar 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

GABRIEL ANNOUNCES BIRTH OF CHRIST TO MARY: Luk 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

DEVILS TESTIFIED: Luk 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

LEGION OF DEVILS TESTIFY: Luk 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

IN THE HIGH PRIEST'S HOUSE: Luk 22:70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.

JOHN THE BAPTIST TESTIFIES: John 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

NATHANIEL: John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD: John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

THEY THAT HEAR....: Jon 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

A MAN, BORN BLIND: John 9:35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and whenhehad found him he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

THE JEWS IN SOLOMON'S PORCH: John 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

THE SON OF GOD RECEIVES GLORY BY GLORIFYING GOD: John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

MARTHA: Jon 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

THE JEWS BEFORE PILATE: Jon 19:7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

THE EUNICH CONFESSES CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD: Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart,thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

FOCUS OF PAUL'S PREACHING: Act 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

WHAT DID THE RESURRECTION PROVE? Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

PAUL, TO THE CHRISTIANS AT CORINTH: 2Cor 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

THE FAITH OF CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, IS OUR EXAMPLE: Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

KNOWING THE SON OF GOD LEADS TO PERFECTION; MATURITY: Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

HIGH PRIEST: Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

CRUCIFY THE SON OF GOD ALL OVER AGAIN: Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

SINNERS: Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

PURPOSE OF MAKING KNOWN THE SON OF GOD: 1Jo 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

FOCUS OF CONFESSION: 1John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

PREREQUISITE TO OVERCOMING THE WORLD: 1John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

LIARS DISBELIEVE THE TESTIMONY OF GOD HIMSELF: 1John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

LIFE TIED DIRECTLY TO IDENTIFYING SON OF GOD: 1John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

PURPOSE OF WRITINGS; KNOW AND BELIEVE: 1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

UNDERSTANDING TRUE GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE: 1John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

TESTIMONY, OF THE SON OF GOD, TO THYATIRA: Rev 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS WERE NOT WRITTEN TO PROVE THAT JESUS IS GOD. THIS IS THE VERY THING WHICH THE AUTHORS THEMSELVES DENY, AND GO TO GREAT EXPLANATION TO CLEAR UP:

"MY LORD AND MY GOD:" Jon 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

DOES NOT PROVE JESUS IS GOD; PROVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD: John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presenceof his disciples, which are not written in this book:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

RESURRECTION PROVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD: Rom 1:2 Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

TRINITY CLAIM: THOMAS IS AKNOWLEDGING JESUS AS GOD.

REBUTTAL: Thomas is aknowledging that in the resurrected Christ he sees both his resurrected Lord, and the God who is behind it.

JESUS NEVER CLAIMED TO BE GOD. THE APOSTLES NEVER CLAIMED THAT JESUS IS GOD. BOTH JESUS AND THE APOSTLES CLAIMED HE WAS THE SON OF GOD.

: I have privately published a book on the subject of the pre-existant deity of Christ, fact or fiction? I will be glad to study this theme with any serious bible student.

Go to PART III - JESUS: THE DOCTRINES OF MEN

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