Look at Jesus-Weak and Tempted As We Are, Yet He was Sinless
We all agree that Christ came to save the world. Why is it, then, that crime and evil in general are so rampant in the world? For example, Muslims and Buddhists ask why it is that "Christian" nations are so immoral, with so much selfishness.
There is no falsehood in Christ's gospel. But the problem is that "an enemy" (Satan) has thrown a smoke screen around Him and has hidden Him from view. And for many centuries Satan has tried to do this inside the church!
Part of this smoke screen is the idea that sin is stronger than God, that temptation to sin is so strong that it's hopeless to say "No" to it. So, many give in. They do not realize what a powerful Saviour Jesus is, because they think He was so different from us that He doesn't understand how strong our temptations are. He belongs in dark cathedrals in stained glass windows, irrelevant to our real needs. But that's not true. Are sin and evil too difficult for Him to meet and conquer? The answer again is a resounding "No!"
This lesson contains great Good News: Christ is God in the highest sense, but He became man in the deepest sense. He is your Saviour. He is closer to you than you may have thought.
1. What prophecy in Matthew 1:21-23 was fulfilled when Jesus came? Isaiah 7:14.
ANSWER "A virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a __________, and they shall call His name __________."
Is Jesus Truly God?
2. What does the special name "Immanuel" mean? Matthew 1:23.
ANSWER: "Which being interpreted is, __________ __________ __________."
3. What did God the Father say about Jesus at His baptism? Matthew 3:16, 17.
ANSWER: "This is __________ __________ __________, in whom I am well pleased."
4. What did His followers say about Him, those who knew Him best? Matthew 16:13-16; John 20:27, 28.
ANSWER: "Thou art the __________, the __________ __________ __________ __________ __________." "And Thomas answered and said unto him, __________ __________ and __________ __________."
5. How did Jesus reveal divine love when His sufferings became almost unbearable? How does this prove His divinity? Luke 23:34; 1 Peter 2:20-23.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his clothing, and cast lots.
ANSWER: While they were nailing Him to the cross, He said "Father, __________ __________ ." "When He was reviled, __________ __________ __________; when He suffered, He __________ __________; but committed Himself __________ __________ __________ __________ __________."
This unselfish love was the greatest miracle which proved that He was the Son of God!
6. Did He also become truly a man, fully human, as well as remaining fully God? Hebrews 2:14-18.
ANSWER: "As the children are partakers of __________ __________ __________, He also Himself __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________."
Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trials, and sympathizes with our griefs. Every one of us may understand that our Creator is the friend of sinners. In the Saviour's life on earth, we see "God with us." There is no pain or abuse we have known that He has not also known.
7. How close to us did Jesus come? Romans 8:3, 4.
ANSWER: God sent "His own Son __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________. He did this in order "that the righteousness of the law might be __________ __________ __________."
He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. But we must not go too far. He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, not in the likeness of sinful mind. Do not drag His mind into it. His flesh was our flesh; but the mind was "the mind of Christ Jesus," which is unselfish heavenly love. In Jesus Christ the mind of God is brought to us humans (a miracle), and sin is conquered. Satan reaches the mind through the flesh, God reaches the flesh through the mind.
8. How does Jesus feel toward our weaknesses? He says, "I know your weakness, I have carried your sorrows and borne your griefs, there is no need to let sin overcome you. Look to Me and I will save you from sin and set you free." Read Hebrews 2:18; 4:14-16.
ANSWER: "He is able to __________ __________ __________ __________ tempted." ["Succour" means to help, to lift up.] He is "touched with the __________ __________ __________ __________; but was in all points __________ __________ __________ __________."
Jesus was fully man, while still being divine. This text means that He was tempted in appetite, sex-"in all points ... like as we are"-yet without sin. He knows how we feel in our temptations. Although He was fully God, He laid aside His divine advantages and fought the battle as we must. How did He overcome in the conflict with Satan? By the Word of God, through faith. "He took man's nature, that He might reach man's wants." Happiness Digest, p. 3.
Temptation is resisted when one is powerfully influenced to do something wrong, and, knowing that he can do it, resists by faith, with a firm hold on divine power. This was what Christ passed through. He could not have been tempted in all points as we are tempted if there had been no possibility of His failing. In his closing hours, while hanging on the cross, Christ experienced to the fullest extent what we experience when striving against sin. He realized how bad a human being may become by yielding to sin. He realized the terrible result of the transgression of God's law; for the iniquity of the whole world was laid on Him.
9. What does sin do to us? James 1:14, 15 and Romans 6:23.
ANSWER: "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth __________." "The wages of sin is __________."
You can see that if God is love, and if sin brings death, then His big concern is to get us to let sin go. He can't wink at it, because it will kill us! "Sin pays its wages-death" (Good News Bible).
10. Take a good look at the cross. Ponder what really happened there. Matthew 27:39-46. Do you think Jesus really felt as though the Father had truly forsaken Him?
YOUR ANSWER: __________.
If we say "No," we make Jesus to be an actor saying something He did not really feel. The only true answer is "Yes." He did feel forsaken, but He endured that agony in order to save us from having to feel forsaken. By faith He built a bridge for us over that dark chasm.
11. When Jesus laid aside His divine power to become a man, did He have a will of His own to struggle with, as we do? John 5:30; Luke 22:42.
ANSWER: "I seek __________ __________ __________ __________, but __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ who hath sent Me."
This means that when Jesus did His "mighty works" and lived His perfect life, He lived His life entirely by faith, as we may live our lives. He is truly our example in righteousness (right-doing) by faith. But best of all, He is our Saviour! He does more than give us an example-He lived that perfect life for us, and He lives it in us when we believe truly in Him. "By faith you became Christ's, and by faith you are to grow up in Him-by giving and taking. You are to give all-your heart, your will, your service-give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must-take all-Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to abide in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper-to give you power to obey." Happiness Digest, p. 33.
12. How fully did Jesus have to surrender "self" in order to save us? Matthew 26:39; Romans 15:3.
ANSWER: He prayed, "Not __________ __________ will, but __________ __________ will." "Christ __________ __________ Himself."
Before he fell, Adam in his unfallen state had no such struggle to endure! There was no need for him to "deny self or bear a cross on which self must be crucified. But Jesus took our nature, and had to say "No!" to His own will in order to follow His Father's will. Do you think it is difficult to say "No!" to your natural, selfish will? Look to Jesus Christ! His grace is sufficient to give you a glorious victory.
13. Does this truth encourage you to believe that Jesus is very near to you? __________.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7. "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17.