Jesus Christ: A Thematic Study

By David W. Hester

Jesus Christ continues to be popular--and controversial--two thousand years after he lived in Palestine. His teaching and example have influenced countless millions of people. Yet for all of the notoriety surrounding him, he continues to be misunderstood and misrepresented. Jesus Christ: A Thematic Study aims to help both the novice and the experienced Bible student to better understand the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth. David W. Hester relies upon the wisdom and experience of a number of Bible scholars in order to paint a vivid portrait of the Son of Man. Appropriate for both academic and church settings, this volume provides a resource for those seeking to truly know Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Release date: Sep 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781666780581

David W. Hester

David W. Hester is Lecturer for the V. P. Black College of Biblical Studies and the F. Furman Kearley Graduate School of Theology at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. He is the director of the Faulkner Bible Lectureship, and coeditor of the graduate journal, ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙΚΑ. He is the author of two books: Among the Scholars (1994) and Tampering With Truth (2007).

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Introduction

Engaging in a study of Jesus Christ presents unique challenges—especially if one has in mind a volume that could be used in the academy. Foremost among these is the fact that, compared to the King of kings, the author is acutely aware of his own inadequacies. Peter’s reaction—on several occasions—to Jesus feels very familiar. In Luke 5:6–8, Jesus had told Peter to take his boat into deep water and drop the nets. As an experienced fisherman, Peter was skeptical. Luke describes what happened next: When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, ‘Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!’

Another incident in John 13:1–9 beautifully captures the humility of Peter, and his on the spot reaction to the character of Jesus:

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, Lord, do You wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter. Peter said to Him, Never shall You wash my feet! Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me. Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.

Of all the apostles Jesus selected, Peter comes the closest to representing humanity’s reaction to the Messiah. It is a very human response.

That being said, modern society today needs to be introduced to Jesus Christ more than ever before. As these words are being written, the United States is in the midst of several crises. On the heels of perhaps the most contentious presidential election in recent history, the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the country—triggering an economic shutdown and causing hundreds of thousands of deaths. Added to the mix is mistrust that exists between a significant number of the population and law enforcement.

Perhaps most disturbing is the shift in public opinion concerning fundamental beliefs about God and Jesus Christ Himself. In a 2015 study conducted by Barna, 92 percent of those surveyed believed that Jesus was a real person. Yet, of that same group 52 percent agreed that—while He lived on earth—Jesus committed sins like other people.

¹

Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research partnered in 2020 to produce The State of Theology, which aspires to show what Americans believe about fundamental truths of Scripture.

²

To the statement, God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, 63 percent agreed—with 13 percent not sure. A majority—51 percent—agreed with the statement Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God. Disturbingly, 35 percent disagreed with the statement Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin. Among those described as evangelicals, 78 percent agreed with the statement Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God. In response to the statement Biblical accounts of the physical (bodily) resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. This event actually occurred, 34 percent either disagreed or were not sure. Only 45 percent strongly agreed.

Gallup released the results of a 2022 poll of Americans, in which 81 percent stated that they believed in God—the lowest in Gallup’s trend, going back almost eighty years.

Gallup first asked this question in

1944

, repeating it again in

1947

and twice each in the

1950

s and

1960

s. In those latter four surveys, a consistent

98

% said they believed in God. When Gallup asked the question nearly five decades later, in

2011

,

92

% of Americans said they believed in God. A subsequent survey in

2013

found belief in God dipping below

90

% to

87

%, roughly where it stood in three subsequent updates between

2014

and

2017

before this year’s drop to

81

%.

³

This correlates with other findings of Gallup, concerning church affiliation and attendance.

According to an average of all

2021

Gallup polling, about three in four Americans said they identify with a specific religious faith. By far the largest proportion,

69

%, identify with a Christian religion, including

35

% who are Protestant,

22

% Catholic and

12

% who identify with another Christian religion or simply as a Christian. Seven percent identify with a non-Christian religion, including

2

% who are Jewish,

1

% Muslim and

1

% Buddhist, among others. Twenty-one percent of Americans said they have no religious preference, and

3

% did not answer the question. Fifty years ago, in

1971

,

90

% of U.S. adults identified with a Christian religion,

6

% were non-Christian or another religion, and

4

% did not have a religious preference. Thus, much of the change in the U.S. has been a shift away from Christian religions to no religion at all.

Forty-nine percent of Americans say religion is very important in their life, with another

27

% saying it is fairly important and

25

% saying it’s not very important. When Gallup first asked this question in

1965

,

70

% said religion was very important. That fell to

52

% in a

1978

survey—though the percentage ticked up to near

60

% between

1990

and

2005

, before declining in the past

15

years.

Additionally, less than half of Americans,

47

%, belong to a formal house of worship. Church membership has been below the majority level each of the past two years. When Gallup first asked the question in

1937

,

73

% were members of a church, and as recently as

1999

,

70

% were.

⁴

Related to this is a decline in confidence in organized religion.

Confidence in organized religion topped confidence in all other institutions from

1973

to

1985

, and, even after falling amid televangelist scandals in the

1980

s, it registered at the majority level consistently until

2001

. After the Boston Globe’s

2002

expose revealed Catholic church leaders were aware of and did not take strong action to stop serial sex abuse by priests, confidence in organized religion dropped sharply to

45

%. It recovered slightly in the years after the scandal broke, hovering around the

50

% mark. Between

2010

and

2017

, it regularly registered in the

40

s. Since then, in

2018

and

2019

, Americans’ confidence in religion has been below the

40

% mark.

The downward trend in confidence in organized religion is partly attributable to the rising share of Americans who identify as having no religion—a group that has little confidence in organized religion, and now comprises about one-fifth of the U.S. population. But confidence in organized religion has also declined among those who are religious, including Catholics and Protestants.

⁵

If all that weren’t enough, fewer Americans than ever see the Bible as the literal word of God.

A record-low

20

% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God, down from

24

% the last time the question was asked in

2017

, and half of what it was at its high points in

1980

and

1984

. Meanwhile, a new high of

29

% say the Bible is a collection of fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man. This marks the first time significantly more Americans have viewed the Bible as not divinely inspired than as the literal word of God. The largest percentage,

49

%, choose the middle alternative, roughly in line with where it has been in previous years.

⁶

In spite of those disturbing trends, Jesus Christ is respected and revered in almost all aspects of society. His teaching is quoted and referred to by politicians, theologians, business leaders, and educators. Yet, He is still the most controversial person who has ever lived. The same individuals who will quickly quote Judge not, that you be not judged, will shrink away from If you believe not that I am He, you will die in your sins. One would be persuaded to think that if Jesus were to somehow set foot on this earth in the present day, He would immediately recognize the attitudes displayed by humanity—about Himself and about each other.

This volume is designed to introduce individuals to Jesus Christ, as He is presented in the Gospels. It does not purport to be an exhaustive treatment, along the lines of Alfred Edersheim’s monumental work The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. Nor is it a commentary, or a harmony of the Gospels on the order of The Fourfold Gospel, by John William McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton—though it will largely follow the outline of Jesus’ life as depicted in the Gospels. This book intends to present Jesus in a thematic way; that is, it focuses upon aspects of Jesus’ life and character and also reflects upon how He interacted with His disciples and the world at large. Throughout this work, the pronouns referring to Jesus will be capitalized (the only exception to this being where quotations from other works are used); this is a personal choice of the author, to show respect and reverence.

In the course of this study, the majority of citations and references will be from works of the distant past, penned primarily by preachers and educators in Churches of Christ. It is the author’s conviction that much deep, scholarly work has been done by these individuals in different areas of Christology—whether they be found in sermon books, academic treatises, or scholarly works. This author is a member of the Church of Christ, has preached since 1978, and is currently an associate professor at Faulkner University in the V. P. Black College of Biblical Studies and the Kearley Graduate School of Theology. Both V. P. Black and F. Furman Kearley were highly respected among members of Churches of Christ. V. P. Black was a legendary preacher, converting thousands to Christ and producing a sermon book (among the many volumes he penned), Christ Above All. F. Furman Kearley held a PhD from Hebrew Union College and was an educator and writer for most of his life—editing the Gospel Advocate periodical for many years. Kearley wrote extensively on Jesus Christ. The same can be said for many others, who will be referenced in due course. In 1988, Thomas B. Warren (PhD, Vanderbilt University) wrote his book on Jesus Christ; the subtitle stated, A book which can help one to know the real Jesus—the one who is revealed on the pages of the Bible.

⁷

That sentiment—written by one who has had a profound influence among many (including the author) in his writings, debates with atheists (most notably Antony Flew in 1976), and his editorship of the quarterly publication The Spiritual Sword—serves as the goal of this book.

In order to understand who Jesus Christ is, one must understand who He was—that is to say, the nature of Christ before He came into the world as Jesus. That is part of the focus of chapter 1, When the Fullness of Time Was Come. The preexistent Christ of Scripture will be presented. In the process, the world that Jesus experienced will also be examined, including the intertestamental period. Since one is introduced in the Gospels without comment to groups and individuals that are not mentioned in the Old Testament, such an examination is necessary. Chapter 2, Unto You Is Born This Day . . . a Savior, centers on the infant Jesus—His very existence, the nature of His conception, His earthly parents, the impression the baby made upon those who saw Him, and His early life. Much can be gleaned about the character of the adult Jesus by observing this all too often overlooked period.

Chapter 3, Prepare the Way of the Lord, Make His Paths Straight, centers upon John the Immerser and his vital role in heralding the King of kings. John himself, along with his message, was unique; his upbringing from righteous parents contributed to who he was. The humility of John is seen in his statement about Jesus: He must increase, but I must decrease. John’s character—declared by Jesus—almost stands by itself as a testament to the greatness of the man. Chapter 4, Jesus Was Led up by the Spirit into the Wilderness, is a study of the humanity of Jesus as seen in the temptations He suffered in the wilderness by Satan. Jesus’ response to the temptations—as well as His continued response to the constant temptations He faced—serves as an example for the present day of how to overcome the manifold temptations humanity deals with at present.

One of the distinctive features of Jesus Christ on prominent display throughout the Gospels is His teaching ability. Chapter 5 explores this: No Man Ever Spoke Like This Man. Jesus was a preacher, and His recorded sermons (particularly the Sermon on the Mount and his denunciation of the Pharisees in Matt 23) demonstrate His mastery of Scripture, His mastery of language, and His emotional appeal. Jesus is universally recognized as the Master Teacher for good reason; His parables, as well as His one-on-one teaching, serve to illustrate how effective He was (and still is).

Any serious study of Jesus Christ must address His miracles and signs, attributed to Him by the Gospel writers. Are they to be believed? Chapter 6, No One Can Do These Signs Unless God Is with Him, explores this. Can the Gospels be trusted to give accurate accounts of Jesus’ miracles? Did they actually happen? What was the purpose of Jesus’ miracles and signs? A definitive answer is provided to these questions and more. Chapter 7, The Son of Man Is Come to Seek and to Save That Which Was Lost, examines the purpose of Jesus’ mission on earth. The phrase Son of Man was the favorite term Jesus used to describe Himself, and it was deliberate on His part; what’s more, His enemies knew the significance of the term, because of its importance in the Hebrew scriptures in describing the Messiah. In the course of this particular chapter, the heart of Jesus will be on display. He desired that all people—including His enemies—be saved.

Jesus’ use of Scripture is well attested in the Gospels. What is all too often overlooked is His use of logic and reasoning. Both of these aspects of Jesus are explored in Chapter 8, ‘Have You Not Read?’ Jesus’ Use of Scripture and Reasoning. His view of the Mosaic law, and who wrote it, directly contradicts modern scholars and their theories. Jesus’ utilization of Scripture in every moment of His life stands as a prominent example for us today. His confrontation with his enemies—first in John 8 and then in Matt 22—are remarkable displays of His masterful use of logic, combined with Scripture. Chapter 9, Jesus and His Disciples: The Leadership Qualities of Jesus, focuses upon the leadership qualities of Jesus, as seen by His relationship with the Twelve. The way in which Jesus led them speaks volumes about the best way to lead people today. Unlike some leaders of denominations, or even religious cults, Jesus was not authoritarian—nor did He separate himself from the common man so He could live sumptuously. His was servant leadership, in the very best way.

Chapter 10, He Was Determined to Go to Jerusalem, highlights the obedient attitude of Jesus. He wanted to sacrifice Himself for mankind; He knew what was ahead. Related to this are the sufferings of Jesus, just prior to and during His crucifixion. Chapter 11, The Baptism with Which I Am Baptized, dives deep into the horrific experience that the Savior bore. His arrest, trial, scourging, and crucifixion were more than most human beings could bear. It becomes all the more amazing to realize that Jesus went through all of that for sinful mankind—when He could have stopped it at any moment. Yet, He willingly suffered it all.

The pain, suffering, and dark tone of the passion are contrasted with the glorious morning of the resurrection. Chapter 12, I Am the Resurrection and the Life, rejoices in the reality of the triumphant Christ over sin, Satan, and the tomb. This will be accomplished by first examining what Jesus said about it—specifically, the significance of the I am statements of the Gospel of John and the relationship of Jonah and the fish to Jesus in the tomb. Then, observations will be made concerning the significance of the resurrection of Jesus to humanity. Did it really happen? Were Jesus’ disciples coconspirators in the biggest hoax of human history? No, it did happen; it cannot be explained away. He lives and offers salvation to all.

The final chapter addresses the current roles of Jesus in His glorified state in heaven. Jesus Is King of Kings and Our Great High Priest details these roles and the significance of them for Christians today. Jesus had told Pilate in John 18:36, My kingdom is not of this world. The expectation of humanity (including the Twelve) during the life of Jesus was of a conquering, militaristic king; Jesus stressed that His kingdom would be spiritual in nature. Daniel had prophesied concerning that kingdom; it is the church that Jesus promised to build (Matt 16:18). Jesus is now high priest, after the order of Melchizidek—as foretold in Ps 110:1–2. Much attention will be given to Heb 7 and how it connects Jesus to the Old Testament character mentioned briefly in Gen 14:18–20. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God, reigning over His kingdom/church, serving as high priest, and is the sole mediator between God and man.

Two appendices are at the end. The first, The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture, sets forth the author’s deep conviction that the Bible is the word of God today—and that it is the only source of authority in all things. To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn (Isa 8:20). If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet 4:11). This serves as the foundation for all that proceeds. The second, The Gospels Can Be Trusted, examines the arguments against the eyewitness nature of the four accounts and unapologetically sets forth the view that they alone present the clearest picture of Jesus.

As this work progresses, the author is cognizant of the enormity of the duty before him. Yet, it is a task which is buoyed with delight. The brethren who have plowed these fields before have done an admirable job of preparing the ground well. Considering the amount of time, devotion, and research they all put in makes the journey easier to endure. The subject, Jesus Christ, is one who is supreme yet who also knows the frailties of humanity—including the author. It is to Him, with love, joy, praise, and adoration, that this work is dedicated.

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.

And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.

(Rev

5

:

11

–

13)

—David W. Hester

1

. Kinnaman, What Do Americans.

2

. Ligonier, State of Theology.

3

. Jones, Belief in God.

4

. Jones, How Religious Are Americans?

5

. McCarthy, U.S. Confidence in Organized Religion.

6

. Newport, Fewer in U.S. Now See.

7

. Warren, Jesus—The LAMB Who Is a LION.

chapter one

When the Fullness of Time Was Come

The Preexistent Christ

The preexistence of the second person of the Godhead—the Christ—is affirmed from the very beginning of Scripture. Genesis 1 explicitly mentions God the Father and the Spirit; verse 26 states, Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. The apostle refers to this creation event in John 1:1–2 and calls the preexistent Christ the Word: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. Hugo McCord elaborates on the term λόγος—Logos (the Word):

What does that term mean? As a common noun it may signify an articulate sound communicating an idea. No audible sound need be assumed, but perhaps anthropomorphically it is implied in the statements: For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. And, By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. On John’s authority, therefore, one may accurately read David’s exclamation as follows: "By the Logos of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." But the Logos so described was more than an articulate sound: he was deity himself.

Perhaps Jesus is titled Logos because that term is so comprehensive. As an oral sound transmitting an idea represents thought, so "logos denotes thought and reason. In philosophy, logos" is defined as the rational principle of the universe. When applied to Jesus, it denotes the thought, the reason, the wisdom of God. Jesus as the Logos is the personification of reason and wisdom.

¹

The author of Hebrews is clear: 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 (Heb 1:1–2). The apostle Paul summarizes the creative work of the preexistent Christ in Col 1:15–17: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. The author speaks further of the eternal nature of the Christ, citing Ps 102:25–27: You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain; and they all will become old like a garment, and like a mantle You will roll them up; like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end (Heb 1:10–11).

There is a very real sense of mystery involved in the preexistent Christ. Who can fathom the unimaginable majesty and glory He possessed?

Jesus Himself makes it clear that He existed prior to His incarnation: Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58). He further declares, I and the Father are one (John 10:30). In an exchange with the Pharisees, He further emphasizes His preexistence:

So the Pharisees said to Him, You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true. Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know