Jesus Christ: the Son of God John 1:1-5

If all we had was sources from outside of the Bible, what would we know about Jesus?

Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of

one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular.

Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts,

they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Tacitus, Annals,

"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did

not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.“ Josephus, Annals, 18.3.

Possessed of such a character, Ananus thought that he had a favourable opportunity because Festus was dead and Albinus was still on the way. And so he convened the judges of the Sanhedrin and brought before them a man named James,

the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ, and certain others. Josephus, Annals.

The Athenians experienced famine and judgment for putting Socrates to death. The people of Samos were overwhelmed by the sea for burning Pythagoras. The Jews in executing their wise King were ruined and driven from their land and now live in complete

dispersion. Mara bar Serapion

“On the eve of the Passover Yeshua was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, ‘He is going forth to be stoned because he has practised sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on

his behalf.’ But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!” Talmud: Sanhedrin

“In our broad places: may we produce no son or pupil who disgraces himself in public like the Nazarene.” Talmud: Berakot

People and Sources that refer to Jesus Tacitus Suetonius Josephus Thallus Pliny Trajan Hadrian Talmud Toledoth Jesu Lucian Mara Bar- Scrapion Phlegon

Jesus was from Nazareth. Jesus lived a wise and virtuous life. Jesus was crucified in Judea under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius Caesar at Passover time, being considered the Jewish king. Jesus was believed by his disciples to have died and risen from the dead three days later.

Jesus’ enemies acknowledged that he performed unusual feats they called “sorcery.” Jesus’ small band of disciples multiplied rapidly, spreading as far as Rome. Jesus’ disciples denied polytheism, lived moral lives, and worshiped Christ as God.

”Jesus was truly a historical person.”

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31

And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. John 19:35 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. John 21:24

His preeminence in time

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:13

“Thus says the L ORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the L ORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. Isaiah 44:6

“Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. Isaiah 48:12

His preeminence in position

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond- servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in

appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL

BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

His preeminence in nature

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the

exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high… Hebrews 1:1-3

His preeminence in relationship with God

His preeminence in creation

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. John 1:10

…yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. 1 Corinthians 8:6

His preeminence in life

For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; John 5:26

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12

…“Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” Mark 9:18

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. John 8:3-4

I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. John 5:43