Jesus Christ: Mission and Person

Mt. 16:15 – 16

“And you” he said to them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!”

Jn 20:28

Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!”

Context

Context:• Largest Christian nation in Asia•We view Jesus Christ as:•Son of God•Son of Man•Eucharist•Suffering Servant•King•Miracle worker

3 popular images of Jesus Christ

•Santo Nino•Hesus Nazareno•Sacred Heart

•Two realities:•Growth of “Born Again” and “Fundamentalist groups”•Continuing violence and armed conflicts

Jesus as Prophet

3 typical tasks of a Biblical prophet:

•To proclaim the Word of God (Mk 6:15)•To accompany this word with signs and wonders, Deeds (Mk 8:11)•To suffer a martyr’s fate, Death (Mk14:65)

Word •Kingdom of God – God’s active presence among His people•OT Hope of YHWH’s presence (Ps 91:1, 96:10, 97:1, 99:, etc)•Something already present but not yet fully (Mk 1:14f, Mt 4:17)•God’s active presence in daily life, liberating from the enslaving power of evil and for loving service of their fellowmen

Deeds – faith and discipleship

•Acts 2:22 – Peter’s Pentecost discourse• Faith and healing works•Mk 2: 1-12 – paralytic •Mk 5:25-34 – bleeding woman•Mt. 8:5-13 – centurion’s boy•Mt. 15:21-28 – daughter of the Canaanite woman

• Table fellowship•Mk 2: 15-17•Mk 2:17 – “I came for the sinners”

• Importance of table fellowship•Breaking of bread (Lk 24:35, Acts 2:46)•Lord’s prayer: Abba, Kingdom, bread, forgiveness and final test

Fate • Lk 13: 33-34• Mk 3:22 – accused of blasphemy• Mk 2:28, Lk 6:5 – challenged the

religious authorities and claimed authority over the Sabbath• Lk 13: 10-17; 14:1-6 – challenged the

legalistic approach to observance of the Sabbath• Jn 2:13-22 – symbolic cleansing of the

Temple

Jesus as Savior/Redeemer

Mt. 1:21

“You are to name him “Jesus” because he will save his people from their sins”

“Jesus” means “God is salvation”

3 basic dimension of Christian salvation1. From the cosmic demonic

powers of evil2. From enslaving, oppressive

forces in the economic, socio-political areas

3. From the absurdity and meaninglessness of personal life

Saving from Cosmic Evil

•Casting out evil spirits”•“What do you want of us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (Mk 1:24)

•Col. 2: 14-15•1Pt 5:8-10

Saving from Socio-political oppression• He teaches a new hierarchy of values that

undermined the oppressive social structures of his day (Lk 16: 14-15)

• How?a. He exposed the enslaving, corrupting power of

riches (Lk 6:29-30; 14:13-14; Acts 20:35)i. To free human hearts from greed and self-

seekingii. To inspire them with respect for others,

sensitive and compassion for the needy and generosity

b. “Who ever wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all” (Mk 10:42-45) – any power rooted in mutual service is enslaving and opprerssive

c. Liberated his followers from the common social prejudices.

Honoring the wise and the richvs.

discriminating foreigners, women, sinners and outcasts