Studies

Jesus

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Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter[Or the founder and completer, or the source and perfecter] of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)

Seven “I am” statements combine to provide a portrait of the Lord Jesus:

  • “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
  • “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5)
  • “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7, 9)
  • “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14)
  • “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25)
  • “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)
  • “I am the true vine” (John 15:1–5)

Jesus listed four witnesses that bear witness to His authority and deity:

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony he gives about me is true.

John 5:31-32 CSB

1. Witness of John (The Baptist)

33 You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth. 34 I don’t receive human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 John[Lit That man] was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

John 5:33-35

2. Witness of Works

36 “But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me.

John 5:36

3. Witness of the Father

37 The Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You have not heard his voice at any time, and you haven’t seen his form. 38 You don’t have his word residing in you, because you don’t believe the one he sent.

John 5:37

4. Witness of the Scripture

39 You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me. 40 But you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.

John 5:39-40 CSB

 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words?”

John 5:45-47

Jesus’ Nature

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe[Lit ages] through him. 3 The Son is the radiance[Or reflection] of God’s glory and the exact expression[Or representation, or copy, or reproduction] of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins,[Other mss read for our sins by himself] he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[Or he sat down on high at the right hand of the Majesty]4 So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 1:1-4 CSB

Jesus superior to angels

5 For to which of the angels did he ever say,

You are my Son;
today I have become your Father,[Or have begotten you][Ps 2:7]

or again,

I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son?[2Sm 7:14; 1Ch 17:13]

6 Again, when he[Or When he again] brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

And let all God’s angels worship him.[Dt 32:43 LXX; Ps 97:7]

7 And about the angels he says:

He makes his angels winds,[Or spirits]
and his servants[Or ministers] a fiery flame,[Ps 104:4]

8 but to[Or about] the Son:

Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.
9 You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, your God,
has anointed you
with the oil of joy
beyond your companions.[Or associates][Ps 45:6–7]

10 And:

In the beginning, Lord,
you established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain.
They will all wear out like clothing;
12 you will roll them up like a cloak,[Other mss omit like a cloak]
and they will be changed like clothing.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.[Ps 102:25–27]

13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool?[Ps 110:1]

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?

Hebrews 1:5-14 CSB

What Jesus has done and is doing for us

  • Pioneered and founded our faith (Hebrews 12:2)
  • The source of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)
  • Perfecting and completing our faith (Hebrews 12:2)

For more study: