Witnesses of Christ as the Messiah - 240404

SPEAKER A Hello. Welcome to let God speak. I am your host, Uriah St Juste. The Messiah had been promised since the fall of man. In Genesis, chapter three, verse 15, the prophets major and minor foretold his advent. Yet when the Messiah finally arrived, his identity was an issue. Was Jesus the one anointed by God to be the Messiah, or was he an impostor? We will examine the evidence supplied by the witnesses of Christ as the Messiah. Today on let God speak. On our panel today we have John Malkiewycz and Harold Harker. Welcome, Harold and John. SPEAKER B Thank you. SPEAKER C Thank you. SPEAKER A Let us pray. Father, we know that you're a God who is omnipresent. You are everywhere. But it is our desire, Lord, that you are with us today on this programme. Be with the viewers, Father, be with our panellists and be with our discussion. Please come near to us so close that you're in our hearts and our thoughts. Anoint us. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. There is a phenomenon known as the Mandela effect. That is a type of false memory where different people remember the same thing, except they are all incorrect, as the thing they claim to remember never happened. It received its name from a time when several people reported viewing a television news report that Nelson Mandela died in prison in the 1980s. Of course, that never happened, as Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and went on to be president in South Africa. Eyewitness testimony can be particularly unreliable. In John, chapter one, we have a case of possible mistaken identity. Heraldez. So can you begin by telling us what question the Jews sent to ask John the Baptist? SPEAKER B Well, John the Baptist preaching was having a massive impact on the jewish people. It caused a real revival. And the religious leaders, they sent people to question John. Let me read the story. In John 119 20. Now, this is the testimony of John. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who are you? He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. They thought he could have been the messiah. John quickly quenches that idea, saying, I am not the Christ. SPEAKER A Very good. Now, today we have three johns on the programme. We have John the Baptist, John, who wrote the Gospel of John, and we have John Malkovich. So we don't want to get confused which John we're referring to. So, John Malkovich, this next question goes to you. What would cause these jewish leaders to believe that John the Baptist may have been the Messiah? SPEAKER C Well, these jewish leaders were well versed in scripture, and they knew from the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel nine something was going to happen. They assumed it was a messiah. However, John the Baptist also was during that period of time. And there was that confusion as to which one. So they wanted to know. So in the Bible you'll find that in Luke, chapter one, we'll read verses 13 to 16. This is what it says about John the Baptist. It says, but the angel said unto him, fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son. And thou shalt call his name John, and thou shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. So here we're seeing his influence to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. SPEAKER A So there was a. Maybe a. Not a slight, but some kind of resemblance. But they missed some important detail about the Messiah and the difference between the Messiah and John the Baptist. Harold, what did they miss? SPEAKER B Well, they missed the virgin birth of the Messiah. The angel had said in Luke 114 to Elizabeth, Elizabeth, your wife will have a son by you. And then he would be the forerunner of the messiah. Let me read on. In Luke one, he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, and to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. These verses show us very definitely John the Baptist was not the Messiah. SPEAKER A Yes, and they also provide powerful proof of the divinity of Jesus. SPEAKER B It does. SPEAKER A Now, when John the Baptist gave the answer, explaining that he was not the Messiah, John, how did he explain his purpose and the nature of his own ministry? SPEAKER C Well, I think we can look at the scriptures in John, chapter one and verse 23. This is what he said. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord as said the prophet Isaiah. Well, that's Isaiah. So let's just turn there and see what he said. So in Isaiah, chapter 40, verses three and four, we readdez. This is what it says. It says, this is Isaiah speaking, the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places, plain. Well, in ancient times, when a king set out to travel to remote parts of his kingdom, his servants went ahead, and if there was potholes in the road, they fixed them. If there was too many bends or they made it level to make a safe journey for the king as he travelled. This is no different to what John the Baptist was doing. He was preparing the way for the Messiah. And he was the servant, not the king. SPEAKER A Excellent. And it's wonderful that he was able to use scripture, clarify his role. Now, at that time, the jewish people were under roman occupation. Now, you know, the Jews are very proud people. They have. They are the descendants of Abraham, clinging to the promises made by God to Abraham. They would remember such promises, Harold, such as he concerning the Messiahs, such as, he will rule the nations with the a rod of iron and the government will be upon his shoulders. And, you know, these may have caused them to mistakenly believe that the messiah would deliver them from roman bondage and he would be an earthly ruler. So tell us, Harold, how does John the baptist bring clarity to Jesus mission? SPEAKER B Well, it's tragic that the Jews got it so wrong, but God really showed them what it was. He didn't leave them in darkness. Let me read. Here's another prophecy about the messiah in Isaiah 53, and it says in verse seven, he was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as the sheep before it, shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. And then it says, yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He put him to grief. When you make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. You know, John used that when he saw Jesus coming. And in John it tells us this in verse 29, chapter one. The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and he said, behold the lamb of God. And then it says, which takes away the sin of the world. So he really told it what Jesus was going to do. SPEAKER A Excellent. So he made it plain that Jesus was the sacrificial lamb. Now, we may not fully understand in this time that we live in, fully have a grasp of the significance of Jesus, Harold, as the lamb of God. How does the Bible help us to unpack fully the significance of Jesus as the lamb? SPEAKER B Well, we have to realise Jesus own words. This is what he said. For even in Mark 1045, even the son of man did not come to be served. That's what a king would have but to serve and to give his life a ransom. For many, plainly speaking, jesus said, I came to die and so that everyone will not face eternal death. He came to save us from sins. That's why he came. SPEAKER A Yes. And from the Old Testament, lambs were sacrificial animals. They were brought to the temple, the sanctuary, to be slain for sin. So John, let's unpack even further. The lamb. What attributes of the lamb teach us about who Jesus is. SPEAKER C Well, I grew up on a farm and we had pet lambs and they were beautiful. They're so innocent. So in this particular lamb, it's innocent. It's just such a friendly, cheerful little thing to have around. This little lamb had done nothing wrong, and yet it was used as a sacrifice and it had to be spotless. And you read that in scripture, that everything, every sacrifice had to be spotless. This speaks of Jesus sinless nature, just like the lamb. It's amazing actually, in the Bible it says this in 1st, 1st Peter, chapter two, in verses 23 and 24, it says, who, when he was reviled, this is talking of Jesus reviled. Not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously, who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. It's a wonderful scriptures. Lambs are gentle and not aggressive. They are beautiful. I love lambs. He was a mission of peace and not of war. The lamb died in the place of the sinner. The life and death of Jesus justifies us through faith. SPEAKER B Amen. SPEAKER A So the lamb as a symbol, an animal as a symbol, was the perfect symbol for Jesus who he was and the nature of his, the lamb that. SPEAKER C Taketh away the sin of the world. SPEAKER A Wonderful. Now John has this powerful, very successful ministry. He has disciples. People are following him. But he understood from birth what his mission and his purpose was to prepare the way for the messiah. Harold? Now when Jesus comes on the scene and he's ready to take over from John, in what way does John prepare for Jesus success? SPEAKER B Well, scripture tells us. Let me read further. In John, chapter one, verse 33, and on again the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as he walked, he said, behold the lamb of God. The two disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. Well, John had really said who Jesus was. He's the one that's coming after me. He's the one I came for. And they thought it so great. He prepared the way. And as we speak of Jesus, others should see Jesus and follow him too. SPEAKER A And it's very important. John didn't feel threatened. No, he spoke positively Jesus. And in that way his own disciples were drawn to Jesus. And so he supplied the first disciples for Jesus ministry. Now John, these disciples of John, who followed Jesus, who were they and how did they help Jesus ministry? SPEAKER C Okay, we can find that out directly from reading scripture. John, chapter one, verses 40 and 41. The Bible says one of the two which heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon and saith unto him, we have found the messias which is being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, thou art Simon, the son of Jonah. Thou shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone. The Bible mentions one of them by name. Andrew shares the good news with his brother Simon and leads him to Jesus. This is Peter who went on to be a powerful worker in the church. He was the one responsible for the baptism of 3000 at Pentecost. So God knew these menta and he wanted to use them and Jesus chose them. SPEAKER A And it's wonderful how in the beginning, you know, there's this mystery, this question of, you know, is John the Baptist the Messiah? Is Jesus the Messiah? And the lesson this week is the witnesses of Jesus. And here it is that Andrew is saying, we have found the Messiah. He's very clear in declaring who Jesus was. Was. SPEAKER C That's right. SPEAKER A Now John, the other disciple is not named in scripture here. Is there any way we can know who it is? SPEAKER C I think it is the Bible gives the indication that it's none other than John himself because John was one of these who didn't really he hit himself. But there was Mark. And in Mark's gospel it points that out. So you can. Well, let's just have a look at the scriptures here. In John chapter 20 and verse two it says, then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter. And then it says, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and we know who Jesus loved and that was John. And he saith unto him, they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre and we know not where they have laid him. So you know, the other disciple is most likely John who gave us the five books of the Gospels and involved in the New Testament. He wrote the book of revelation which is the revelation of Jesus Christ. So it becomes quite apparent from scripture that this is John himself. SPEAKER A So John hides himself he's not really big into talking about himself. And there are people like that, don't really like to be the centre of attention. SPEAKER C Mark's different, though. SPEAKER A Mark is hiding Jesus and then reveals Jesus at the end. But John's gospel reveals Jesus from the beginning. From verse one, bang. He says that Jesus is God. SPEAKER C That's right. SPEAKER A And this John, who was the second unnamed disciple, was not John the Baptist. This was John the Revelator, John the Beloved, as we have discussed. Now, all of this occurred because John the Baptist testified of Jesus. And Andrew then goes and tells his brother, invites his brother to follow Jesus. And this tells us how important it is to be a positive witness of Jesus. Simply put, to share Jesus with others and to share what he has done for us, not to keep it to ourselves. Let's move on to two other witnesses of Christ as the messiah. Harold, what important statement does Philip make about Jesus identity? SPEAKER B Well, Philip's another one. Let me read what John says in John 143 45. The following day, Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And he said to him, follow me. Now, Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, we've found him of whom Moses in the law. And also the prophets write Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathaniel said to him, can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, come and see. And so here is the story of Philip. Once Jesus said to him, follow me. He wants to get others. And he calls Nathaniel and he tells him who Jesus is, the identity of him. Here is Jesus that Moses wrote about and the prophets wrote about. We have found him. Come and see. SPEAKER A Excellent. And, you know, it's interesting that these first disciples, from the beginning, they are disclosing, they are preaching who Jesus is, the identity. He is the messiah. Now, John, Philip does something else. He says that Jesus is the one prophesied by the prophets. But he says something else about Jesus that almost was a tragedy. What did he say about Jesus? SPEAKER C Well, you know, Philip wanted to proclaim everything about Jesus. And I think if you know about Jesus, that's what you would do. And he was telling him he's the messiah from scripture. But he also reveals that Jesus is from a little town called Nazareth. Nazareth. Nathanael was from Cana, which was very close to Nazareth. And Nazareth was not a bad place. It just wasn't that great, if I could put it that way. It was a small town of about 200 to 400 people. The people were not wealthy. And you can imagine you're told that the next leader, the president, or is going to come from this little place. What would you think? SPEAKER B You're joking. SPEAKER C Yeah, that's right. No one could expect greatness from Nazareth. Surely not Nazareth. Nathaniel's response shows the danger of prejudice in the advancement of the gospel. It's a reality that we need to keep in mind, too. SPEAKER A That's right. And Harold, how does Philip's answer, his response to Nathaniel's statement, can anything good come out of Nazareth? How does that help us to get rid of prejudice? SPEAKER B Well, the verse I read said, nathaniel said to him, can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, come and see. And so we have to come and see. Let's consider it. It doesn't matter what race or what anything. We come, what religion, what class. Come and see. Jesus says, here I am. So if you see who he is, that's an answer. Here's another verse from revelation. It says in revelation 14, then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. So everybody needs to come and see. And the invitation is there. Come and see who Jesus is. SPEAKER C That invitation is for us now. For everyone. SPEAKER B It is. SPEAKER C It doesn't matter who you are. So the call is now for each one of us. SPEAKER A Yes. And so we don't really look at where a person comes from, what social class, what country, what race they are, what language they speak. We experience them for ourselves. And it's the same for the gospel. It's the same for Christianity. Before you write it off, experience it for yourself. I think that's the message here. Now we come to an important chapter in the Gospel of John. John, chapter three, where we are introduced to a new witness, Nicodemus. John. Who was Nicodemus, and what did he come to Jesus for? SPEAKER C Okay, let's just have a look at the scripture, because I like the way it explains this. And this is a very important message that we all need to listen carefully to. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night and said unto him, rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God. For no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. You know, he was a wealthy jewish leader. As a wealthy jewish leader, he had a lot of responsibilities in the Sanhedrin. He had authority over religious matters, civil and criminal matters for the Jews. So he was a very, very important person. SPEAKER B Sure was. SPEAKER C And he was a prominent aristocratic scribe or pharisee, or he would have been an elder in those days. He was regarded very highly. The Jews looked up to these people and they controlled a lot. We never know why he came to Jesus, because Jesus never gave him the opportunity. But, you know, like every one of us, when something comes on the scene, you want to know about it. You want to know, hey, is this that Jesus, the messiah that was to come? So he had two purposes. He came to Jesus to find out if he really was the messiah. And so I guess all of us do that. SPEAKER A Yes, that's what people want to know. That's right. Who's this Jesus? And Harold Nicodemus statement to Jesus, what does that say about him? SPEAKER B Well, Nicodemus was an old testament expert. He would have known all the prophecies. He would have studied them, he would have even taught them, probably. And when the jewish leaders are now struggling, who is this messiah? He's not giving us the nation we want. Who is he? Nicodemus is willing to accept that Jesus did come from God, and then he struggles to find out who he was. But he came to find out himself and we should do that too. SPEAKER A Yes, it's very interesting. He was willing to accept that. Yes. You know, you came from God. We know that God is with you, but just fell short of saying that he was the messiah, even if he was an expert in the Old Testament prophecies himself. SPEAKER B He called him a rabbi, a teacher. SPEAKER C Yes, I like the way that he says, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him. So he recognised that this was not an ordinary man? SPEAKER A Yes, that's right. Now, in responding to Nicodemus, Jesus goes to the heart of Nicodemus issue. John, what did jesus say to Nicodemus that he needed and that even we today need? SPEAKER C Well, you know what? Being in the position that he was, he thought he had it all. But Jesus says, well, that's true. You have that position. But there's something else you need, and I want you to turn with me to John, chapter three and verse three. It says, jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except the man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Now, that's a lot in itself, you know, just in case. Nicodemus thought that his identity as a prominent person in the church would give him total access to everything. It's not quite true. Jesus wanted to make him aware that there's more to it. He needed to experience the new birth and be born again. Because when you experience the new birth and you're born again, your life changes. SPEAKER B Amen. SPEAKER C Your direction in your character is such that you acknowledge the messiah, Jesus Christ. And that's what he had to do. He may have questioned, but now he knows. So something has to take place, and. SPEAKER A Nicodemus is coming as a member of the San Hindran, that identity. But Jesus is saying, you have to put all that aside. You have to be born again. You have to become a new person and come to me just as you are. SPEAKER C And you know, Uriah, each one of us, all of us sitting here and all those that are looking, they have to have that same need also and understand it. SPEAKER A Thank you, gentlemen. That's all the time we have for today's programme. What is the greatest need of the world today? One author proposes that if our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a saviour. SPEAKER B Amen. SPEAKER A Jesus did many things when he was here on earth. He was a teacher, preacher and healer. But the most important thing he did was die for you, to save you from sin and suffering. This is what he wants you to know today. SPEAKER C Amen. SPEAKER A We're glad that you've joined us today on let God speak. Remember, all past programmes plus teacher's notes are available on our website, 3abnaustralia.org dot au dot. You can also email us on [email protected] dot au dot. Join us again next time. God bless. SPEAKER B You have been listening to let God speak, a production of 3ABN Australia television. To catch up on past programmes, please visit 3abnaustralia.org.au. Call us in Australia on 02 4973 3456. Or email [email protected]. we'd love to hear from you.