I. Jesus was God on earth
A. John 1:1-3, 14. Jesus was in the beginning with God and was God (v. 1).
However, He came to earth and showed us the glory of God.
B. These facts explain why Jesus was able to do such amazing miracles while on
earth. Certainly God who made all things has the power to do what He
wishes.
C. Phil 2:5-8. Jesus emptied Himself to come to earth. When He became a man,
He became one of the things He created. We learn an important lesson in
humility and selflessness from His example.
D. Matt 1:23. Jesus was "God with us" while on earth. Today He is with His
people spiritually rather than physically.

II. Jesus lived a sinless life
A. 1 Pet 2:21-23. Jesus committed no sin, even when others reviled and
threatened Him. We are left to "follow His steps"(v 21) in so doing.
B. Heb 4:15-16. Jesus was tempted as we are, yet He never succumbed to
temptation. He has faced all that we must face and successfully defeated
it.
C. Jesus' sinless life is important because it is the basis by which He can make us
right before God.
D. 2 Cor 5:21. He made sinless Jesus bear our sins. He didn't deserve to die, but
He became sin for us. As a spotless Lamb of God, He bore the penalty for
our sin.
E. Heb 7:26-28. Jesus didn't need to cleanse Himself first, because He was
sinless. Rather, His perfect blood cleanses us. He is not weak like the
Levites, who were mere men. Rather, He is the Son, who is perfected
forever.

III. Jesus suffered and died for our sins
A. The horrible means by which Christ's blood makes us right is through His
suffering and death for us.
B. Jesus was wrongfully seized, illegally tried, and falsely condemned. As Pilate
was trying Him, the people began to cry out for His blood, in spite of the
fact He had done no wrong (Matt 27:22-26).
C. He was then cruelly mocked by the Roman soldiers (Matt 27:27-31).
D. Taking Him outside the city, they nailed Him to a cross until He died (Matt
27:35, 50-54).
E. Remember, all this suffering had a purpose: forgiveness for our sins. Read
carefully Isaiah 53:4-6.

IV. Jesus was buried after His death
A. Mark 15:42-47. Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in a tomb, where a stone
was rolled against the door.
B. Rom 6:3-6. This burial is important because in baptism we are "buried with
Him" and "united together in the likeness of His death".
C. Col 2:11-12. Here again, when we are baptized, we are buried with Him, that
just as He was raised from the dead, we too can be raised a new creature.

V. Jesus rose from the dead
A. Luke 24:1-9. The stone was rolled away! Just as when Jesus was born, angels
announced that He had risen from the dead! What wonderful news to His followers! How incredible that Jesus beat death!
B. John 20:24-29. Jesus showed Himself to His apostles, who became witnesses
of His resurrection. However, we are blessed when we believe in Jesus'
resurrection without ever seeing it!
C. The resurrection is important because now we know that God can and will
raise us up from the dead!
D. 1 Cor 15:12-17. If Christ is not risen, there's no reason to believe and we are
still in our sins! However, since He is risen, our faith is alive and we have
forgiveness of sins!

VI. Jesus is at the right hand of God
A. Acts 1:9-11. After His resurrection, Jesus remained with His apostles until
His ascension into heaven. Today He remains in heaven.
B. Acts 2:32-33. Jesus is now exalted at God's right hand, ruling there.
C. Heb 1:13. Jesus is reigning at the right hand of God until all things are finally
subjected to Him. We can now willingly submit to His rule and authority.
D. 1 Cor 15:20-26. At the end, Jesus will deliver His rule and kingdom to the
Father. However, He will continue to reign at God's right hand until death
is destroyed (v. 26).

VII. Jesus commands our allegiance today
A. Jesus offers eternal life through His blood to all who would come to Him
(John 14:6, Matt 11:28-30).
B. We can either choose to serve Him now or we will be forced to later (Rom
14:11, Phil 2:9-11).
C. Will we serve Him?___Jacob Hudgins