Jesus presented in comparative terms: (Each comparison was intended to teach specific lessons about Jesus.) The Shepherd:

The good (John 10:11-16)

The chief (1 Peter 5:1-4)

The great (Hebrews 13:20)

1. As specifically as possible, state the function and work of a first century shepherd.

2. As specifically as possible, state the nature of sheep as animals. Who are the sheep?

3. Why is Jesus compared to a shepherd?

4. What lessons should this teach us about Jesus?

The Door (John 10:7)

1. Why would Jesus compare himself to a door (gate) to a security enclosure for sheep?

2. What are the lessons we should learn from Jesus being the door?

The Light:

The true (John 1:9)

Of the world (John 8:12)

1. State the importance and significance of light as compared to darkness.

2. What was the intended point of Jesus being the "true" light?

3. What was the intended point of Jesus being the light of the "world"?

The Vine (John 15:1-6)

1. What are the lessons we should learn from Jesus being the vine?

The Ransom (1 Timothy 2:6)

1. When a ransom is required, there are hostages. What is a hostage? Who are (were) the hostages?

2. What is a "hostage exchange"?

3. State how Jesus' death went beyond "hostage exchange."

The Bread of Life (John 6:48-51)

1. What was the place and importance of bread in the first century world?

2. What was the relationship between bread and life?

3. What lessons are to be learned from Jesus being the bread of life?

The Cornerstone (Acts 4:8-12; Ephesians 2:19-22)

1. What was a cornerstone? Why was it important?

2. Understanding the cornerstone, state the importance of Jesus to us.

3. List specific areas and spiritual realities in which Jesus must be seen as our cornerstone.

The Lamb of God (John 1:29)

1. What were lambs used for in Israel? Be specific.

2. How is Jesus God's lamb?

3. How is Jesus our lamb?

4. What awareness should be created in us by the understanding that Jesus was God's lamb sacrificed for us?

The Alpha and Omega [or the a and the z] (Revelation 1:8)

1. The alpha and omega are the first and last letters in the Greek alphabet (the written language of the New Testament). What is the lesson to be learned from the fact that Jesus is "the first and last language of our spiritual alphabet?"

God's Beloved Son (Col. 1:13, 14)

1. State the first century concept of the father-oldest son relationship.

2. What is the significance of being a "beloved" son?

3. What is the lesson we are to learn from the fact Jesus is God's beloved Son?

The beneficial roles of Jesus: (Each concept is given to help us understand specific ways in which Jesus can provide us with benefits that we need.) Savior

1. What is a Savior?

2. Who needs a Savior?

3. What lessons do we need to remember from understanding that Jesus is our Savior?

1 John 2:1, 2

Advocate

1. What is an advocate? What does an advocate do?

2. Why do we need an advocate before God?

The Righteous

1. What is the exact concept of being righteous?

2. What is the significance of Jesus being righteous?

Propitiation

1. Define propitiation.

2. Explain how Jesus is propitiation for each of us.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Wisdom

1. Define/explain wisdom.

2. Explain in as specific terms as possible how we should see Jesus as wisdom.

Righteousness

1. This is the same concept as the I John 2:1, 2 scripture.

Sanctification

1. Define/explain sanctification.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of the fact that Jesus is the source of our sanctification.

Redemption

1. Define/explain redemption.

2. Jesus is our "redeemer" because He "redeemed" us (gave us redemption). What does that mean?

Ephesians 1:22, 23; 5:23

Head of the church.

1. State the significance of "head" as "head of a body."

2. State the significance of "head" in the sense that a husband is to be a "head."

3. State the "head" relationship that exists between Christians and Christ.

1 Timothy 2:3-6

Mediator

1. What was the role and work of a first century mediator.

2. When is mediation needed?

3. How specifically does Jesus serve as our mediator?

Ransom

1. The same concept as the 1 Timothy 2:6 scripture.

1 Timothy 6:13-16

The only sovereign.

1. What is a "sovereign"?

2. What does it mean for Jesus to be the sovereign?

3. How are Christians to look at Jesus if He is sovereign?

King of kings

1. What is the position and significance of a King over kings? Think about power.

2. What meaning or significance would that have in the first century?

Lord of lords

1. What is the position and significance of a Lord of Lords? Think about authority.

2. What meaning or significance would that have in the first century?

Hebrews 1:1-4

God's heir

1. Explain what an heir receives.

2. Explain the concept of an inheritance.

3. What is the most common reason for being an heir?

4. What was Jesus' inheritance?

God's creative force

1. Define the word "create."

2. Read John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:16 and state one way in which He was God's creative force.

3. Name other ways in which Jesus is God's creative force.

The radiance of God's glory

1. God's glory "shines."

2. How does Jesus reveal God's glory in "radiant" ways?

The exact representation of God's nature

1. How does Jesus precisely represent God's nature?

2. Make a list of the ways Jesus reveals and presents to us God's nature.

He who holds it together

1. State your understanding of this statement.

The purification for sins

1. Explain the ordinary concept (every day life concept) of purification.

2. Explain the spiritual concept of purification (the purification rites in Israel and the purification of the individual Christians).

3. Why do we need purification?

Hebrews 3:1

Apostle

1. Give the common meaning of the word "apostle."

2. In what way is Jesus God's apostle?

High Priest (also, Hebrews 5:1-4; 8:1-4)

1. After reading the scriptures listed, explain the basic function of a high priest.

2. Understanding the function of a high priest, explain what Jesus does as our high priest.

3. Why is that important?

Hebrews 12:1, 2

Author of our faith

1. What are other words beside "author" used to translate this word/phrase? (Look in several different translations.)

2. What is your understanding of this phrase?

Perfector of our faith

1. What are other words beside "perfector" used to translate this word/phrase? (Look in several different translations.)

2. What is your understanding of this phrase?

Jesus declared in abstract concepts: (Abstract concepts are given to create insights to reveal understandings that go beyond the obvious. With each of these words or phrases, write the insight or understanding you think the writer was teaching us about Jesus.)

Jesus is:

The Word (John 1:1, 14)

The source of grace and truth (John 1:14)

The "I am" (John 8:53-59)

The way, the truth, the life (John 14:6)

The resurrection and the life (John11:23-26)

The power of God (1 Corinthians 1:22-24)

The wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:22-24)

"God with us," Emanuel (Matthew 1:23)

The Holy One of God (Mark 1:24, 25)

Scriptures that focus on Jesus and are deserving of special study: (Read and think about these scriptures frequently before they are discussed in class.)

Philippians 2:5-11

1 Peter 2:21-25

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Romans 3:21-26

5:1

8:1

8:34-39

1 Timothy 3:16

Colossians 1:13-23

The relationship between Christ and the church:

Jesus Christ is:                 Christians as the church are:
Savior                           The saved

The Forgiver                     The forgiven

The Word                         The listeners

The Way                          The travelers

The Truth                        The instructed

The Life                         The made alive

The Resurrection                 The resurrected

The Shepherd                     The sheep

The Door to security             Those who enter security

The Light                        The enlightened

The Vine                         Individual is a branch;
                                 collectively the branches

The Ransom                       The freed

The Bread of life                The fed

The Cornerstone                  The building's living bricks

The Propitiation                 The atoned

The Advocate                     The represented

Wisdom                           The awakened

Righteous or Righteousness       The made righteous

Sanctification                   The made holy

Redemption                       The redeemed

Mediator                         The ones at peace with God

High Priest                      The ones represented perfectly

King of kings; Lord of lords     The ruled and governed

Christians as the church must not assume the position or role of Jesus Christ in any matter. We must never (individually or collectively) preempt Jesus Christ's role.

Neither the church throughout the world or the local congregation is ever the:

Savior

The source of divine forgiveness

The word

The way

The truth

The life

The source of resurrection

The shepherd

The door to security

The light

The vine

The power of ransom

The bread of life

The cornerstone

The source of propitiation

The advocate before God

The source of God's wisdom

The source of righteousness

The source of sanctification

The source of redemption

The mediator before God

The high priest

The source of power

The source of authority

Christians as the church can assist Jesus Christ in all these matters by belonging to Jesus, revealing Jesus, and reflecting Jesus. The church dare not function as though we were Jesus.

David Chadwell

Discovering Jesus Study Guide
Wednesday evening Bible class, beginning 25 June 1997
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR

Copyright © 1997
Permission is granted to freely copy and distribute with text unchanged, including author's name.

 Link to other Writings of David Chadwell

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