~ An Overview of His Life ~
Eternity Past
~ “The
next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world! This is
He of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was
before me.” I did not know Him; but that
He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water’” (John 1:29-31). “Jesus said to them,
‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I AM’” (John 8:58).
Jesus said, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the
world was” (John 17:5).
Given to the World ~ Jesus
said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the
flesh, God did by sending His own Son
in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the
flesh” (Romans 8:3).
Born of a Virgin
~ “And
the angel answered and said to her [Mary], ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy
One who is to be born will be called the Son
of God’” (Luke 1:35).
“In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ],
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). “And the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Loved by God the Father
~ “And
suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:17). “And a voice came out of
the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved
Son. Hear Him!’” (Luke 9:35).
Confessed by Men
~ “Simon
Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:16). “Immediately he [Saul who
became Paul] preached the Christ in the synagogues, that
He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20).
Betrayed in Gethsemane
~ “Then
Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, ‘Sit here while I go and pray over there.’ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons
of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly
sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me’ … Then He came to His disciples and said to
them, ‘Are you still sleeping and
resting? Behold, the hour is at
hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand’” (Matthew 26:36-46, see also Mark 14:32-42).
“And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve,
with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and
elders of the people. Now His betrayer
had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize
Him.’ Immediately he went up to Jesus
and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him” (Matthew
26:47-49).
Sentenced at Gabbatha ~ “Immediately,
in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and
scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and
delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate
asked Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’” (Mark 15:1-2a).
“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he
brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called
The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of
the Passover, and about the sixth hour.
And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’ But they cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with
Him! Crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your
King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We
have no king but Caesar!’ Then he
delivered Him to them to be crucified.
Then they took Jesus and led Him away” (John 19:13-16).
Crucified on Golgatha
~ “And
He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which
is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with
Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center” (John 19:17-18). “Then they crucified
Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: ‘They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots’” (Matthew 27:35).
Raised from the Dead
~ “But
he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You
seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him’” (Mark 16:6).
Presently Sits at the Right of God
the Father ~ “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image
of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had
by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).
Soon He Will Return for His Children
~ “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet
been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall
be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure” (1 John 3:2-3).
Eternity Future
~ “Then
we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we
shall always be with the Lord. Therefore
comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians
4:17-18).
the key question:
“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important
question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it
incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE
NOW
