part 5

[Virtual Presenter] Jesus questioned His disciples about how He was being identified by people. Some thought He was John the Baptist, while others believed He was Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Jesus then asked His disciples directly for their thoughts on His identity. Peter spoke for the group and gave the answer that Jesus was looking for. This confession of Jesus' true identity serves as a solid foundation for who He is. It not only reveals His mission as the sent One of God, but also His true nature as the Son of God. As the Son of God, He is Lord and as the Christ, He was sent by the Father to fulfill the sacrifice for sin on the cross. His resurrection serves as evidence of His deity. This truth about Jesus became the cornerstone of His ministry, which would spread globally through His church. In verses 17-20, Jesus commends Peter for his confession and emphasizes the importance of its message. He then charges the disciples to keep this truth about Him secret from others..

[Audio] Jesus asked His disciples about how people recognized Him and revealed the significance of Peter's confession of Him as the Son of God and the foundation of His ministry through His transfiguration on Mount Hermon..

[Audio] Jesus instructed His disciples about his upcoming death, cautioning them that the Jewish leaders would reject him. Despite these warnings, the disciples struggled to understand the reality of Jesus' death, even though he repeatedly emphasized it. As they traveled towards Jerusalem, Jesus revealed more details about what would happen to him, including being sentenced to death by the chief priests and scribes, being handed over to the Gentiles, and being publicly crucified. He also set an example by sacrificing his own desires to follow the will of God. However, the disciples remained focused on the belief that Jesus would defeat his enemies and establish his Kingdom during his current ministry, hoping to share in its glory..

[Audio] Jesus asked His disciples how people were recognizing Him. Peter's declaration of Him as the Son of God and the cornerstone of His ministry was unveiled during His transfiguration on Mount Hermon..

[Audio] As Jesus and His disciples approached Jerusalem, word spread quickly along the road that Jesus of Nazareth would be at the Passover. He rode into the city with His followers, knowing that He was fulfilling a longstanding prophecy and presenting Himself as the Messiah, the Prince of Peace. Many people shouted "Hosanna" and recognized Him as the Son of David, acknowledging His royal lineage. Quoting Psalm 18:26, they also exclaimed "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." They placed their clothes on the ground to create a path for the King and placed branches from trees along the road. Jesus' public entrance into Jerusalem made it clear that He was there..

[Audio] Slide number six out of fourteen discusses the importance of caring for the needy, as highlighted in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus questions His disciples about how people are identifying Him and the confession of Peter as the Son of God, which leads to the revelation of His ministry through His transfiguration on Mount Hermon. The next section reveals the Sadducees taking advantage of the poor by selling doves at high prices in the temple, which angers Jesus who drives them out and reminds them that God's house of worship should not be corrupted for personal gain. Despite this, Jesus still shows compassion for the needy, healing the blind and the lame and receiving praise from the children. However, the city ultimately rejects Jesus, as part of God's plan for His death on the cross to bring peace to those who trust in Him as their Savior. Caring for the needy is important because it reflects Jesus' love for all people. Slide number seven will continue to explore the message of the Gospel of Matthew..

[Audio] In Jesus' ministry, He consistently emphasized the importance of prayer, both through his teachings and his own example. He believed in the power of prayer and made it a priority in his daily routine. Jesus also taught about prayer through his model prayer, where he emphasized the importance of addressing God as our Father and aligning our will with His. He also showed the power of prayer in his own life, as seen in his surrender to God in Gethsemane. As we reflect on Jesus' teachings and examples, we are reminded to make prayer a priority in our own lives and seek God's will. Thank you for joining us on this journey through "One Story: Prayer..

[Audio] Slide 8: In discussing how Jesus was identified, we reach the second point - through His sermons and parables. In Matthew 6:5-8, part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches the proper way to pray. He cautions against praying for recognition and using repetitive words, instead urging us to pray sincerely from the heart to God. He even calls out those who pray for show. Moving on to Luke 11:5-10, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent friend. This teaches us that we do not need to overcome God's reluctance, but rather hold fast to His willingness through persistent and heartfelt prayer. Similarly, the parable of the unjust judge in Luke 18:1-8 reveals that God is the opposite of the unjust judge. If even the unjust judge will eventually answer the persistent requests of a widow, how much more will our just God answer when we pray earnestly for a righteous cause? Finally, in Luke 18:9-13, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. We see how the Pharisee boasts of his virtues and leaves satisfied, while the tax collector humbly confesses his sins and is justified before God. These parables highlight the importance of genuine and persistent prayer, rather than outward displays of righteousness. Let us take this to heart and approach God with sincerity and persistence in our prayers..

[Audio] This presentation will discuss the key aspects of Jesus' prayer life and teachings on prayer. Throughout His ministry, Jesus emphasized the importance of prayer and encouraged His disciples to pray. One of the significant aspects of Jesus' prayer life was intercessory prayer, where He prayed for others, including those considered enemies. He exemplified this by praying for children, His enemies, and His disciples. He also urged His disciples to pray for wisdom and strength in their faith. Another crucial aspect of Jesus' prayer was sensitivity. Despite His own anguish before the cross, Jesus remembered His disciples and took them to Gethsemane for a prayer retreat. He asked them to pray and keep watch, but they were overcome with sorrow and fell asleep. This illustrates how the pressures and anxieties of life can impact our ability to pray. Additionally, Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was submissive as He knew the suffering that the cross would bring, yet He submitted to God's will. He was willing to endure unimaginable pain because He knew His death would bear the sins of the world. In conclusion, Jesus' prayer life serves as a perfect example for us to follow. He demonstrated the significance of interceding for others, being sensitive to others' struggles, and submitting to God's will in difficult situations. Let us strive to incorporate these principles into our own prayer lives, just as Jesus did..

[Audio] Throughout His ministry, Jesus faced opposition and criticism from the religious leaders. As the end drew near, the Pharisees and chief priests were determined to stop His teachings and influence. In the middle of the night, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, while the city was filled with Passover pilgrims. The leaders wanted a quick trial and execution, fearing the people's protest. This trial was not a fair determination of Jesus' guilt or innocence, but rather a conspiracy against Him. One of His own disciples, Judas, betrayed Jesus with a kiss, identifying Him as Rabbi. From Jesus' perspective, the whole scene must have seemed ridiculous, as the crowd did not know His true identity and power. He could have called upon the Father to send 72000 angels to defend Him, but instead, He willingly allowed Himself to be taken into custody. As the disciples fled, Jesus was brought before Annas, the former high priest. This secret meeting was the first of many illegal actions during Jesus' trials. He was not informed of any charges against Him, and the outcome was already decided. The Jewish leaders were determined to stop Jesus' teachings and silence Him permanently. However, even amidst these unjust trials, Jesus remained calm and composed. His demeanor, attitude, and responses are an example for believers today who may face similar opposition and enmity. Let us remember that just as Jesus conquered death and injustice, we too can overcome any challenges and difficulties through Him..

[Audio] Our examination of Jesus' trial continues with a pivotal point in the story: B. Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. After Annas' questioning, the selected members of the Sanhedrin gathered at Caiaphas' palace in the early hours of the morning. Their determination to find witnesses to testify against Jesus led to two individuals coming forward, but their testimonies did not align. These witnesses misunderstood and misquoted Jesus' words about "destroying and rebuilding the temple," which Jesus was actually referring to his own body. Despite this, the Sanhedrin used this misunderstanding to condemn Jesus, not realizing that Jesus' words were meant as a figure of speech for his death and resurrection. The focus of the Sanhedrin was solely on manufacturing a reason to give Jesus a death sentence, and when the false witnesses failed, Jesus was made to make incriminating claims about himself. The council quickly declared Jesus guilty of death, but it's important to remember that Jesus allowed himself to be condemned so that he could provide a way for his condemners to find forgiveness and eternal life. This included the Sanhedrin, as Jesus died for their sins as well. The beatings and torture that Jesus endured were meant to prove that he was not the Son of God, but little did the Sanhedrin know that the true power and proof of his divinity would come through his death and resurrection. This was all part of God's plan to bring salvation to all who believe in him. Our discussion of Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin concludes here, and we will next delve deeper into the events leading up to his crucifixion..

[Audio] As we continue discussing the events before Jesus' crucifixion, a defining moment occurred in His journey. He was brought before the Jewish leaders after being arrested, but they changed their approach and accused Him of trying to become a king. The Roman governor, Pilate, grew concerned and questioned Jesus privately in Luke 23:3, asking if He was the King of the Jews. Jesus replied with, "You said it," implying His kingship and putting the responsibility of judgment on Pilate. However, Pilate did not see Jesus as a threat to Rome, declaring in verse 4 that he found no fault in Him and that He should be released. But the Jewish leaders continued to stir up the crowd, claiming Jesus was inciting rebellion. Pilate took this opportunity to send Jesus to Herod, the tetrarch of Galilee, who was in Jerusalem for Passover. Pilate hoped Herod, who had previously beheaded John the Baptist, would know what to do with Jesus. However, Herod was more interested in seeing Jesus perform a miracle than making a judgment. Despite Herod's inquiries and the ongoing accusations, Jesus remained silent. We see Jesus enduring false accusations and continued rejection from both the Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities. But as we approach the final moments of His earthly journey, we will witness Jesus remaining steadfast in fulfilling His purpose as the Son of God and the foundation of His ministry. This concludes our discussion on the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion. In our final slide, we will reflect on the importance of Jesus' transfiguration on Mount Hermon and its connection to His identity as the Son of God. Thank you for joining me on this journey and I hope this presentation has been informative and insightful..

[Audio] During the last interview between Jesus and Pilate, the Jews reminded Pilate of Jesus' claim to be the Son of God and the potential consequences for helping someone who declared himself to be a king. In Luke 23:24 and 26a, we see that Pilate ultimately chose to hand Jesus over for crucifixion. This decision was driven by fear for his own position and the desire to not go against Caesar's wishes and risk losing his power. As a result, Jesus was flogged and crucified. This brings us to slide 13 out of 14 in our presentation, which highlights how Pilate's fear and desire for self-preservation led to Jesus' death. This pivotal moment reveals the depth of Jesus' sacrifice and the extent of His love for us. Next, we will explore the aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion and its impact on the witnesses. Stay tuned for the final slide, where we will see the powerful outcome of Jesus' death and resurrection..

[Audio] We have reached the final slide of our presentation where we will discuss one of the most important events in the life of Jesus - the crucifixion. This event not only changed the course of history, but also revealed Jesus' true identity as the Son of God. During this time, Jesus questioned his disciples about how people were identifying him, and Peter's confession solidified the foundation of his ministry. This was further confirmed during Jesus' transfiguration on Mount Hermon. Moving on to our focus on scripture, we will be examining accounts from all four Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - that detail Jesus' journey to Golgotha and his time on the cross. It was here that Jesus gave up his spirit and died, fulfilling the prophecy of the Messiah. In the first part, we see Jesus being led away by soldiers to be crucified. He was so weak from beatings and scourging that he collapsed under the weight of the cross. Simon of Cyrene was then forced to carry it to Golgotha, where a large crowd followed, mourning for him. Jesus warned them of the destruction of Jerusalem, which later came true in AD 70. As he was nailed to the cross, a plaque above his head declared the charge against him in three languages - Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Each Gospel records a slightly different wording, but the message was the same - Jesus was being crucified for claiming to be the King of the Jews. The cross symbolizes Jesus taking on the sins of the world and offering salvation to all who believe in him. It is a powerful reminder of God's love and sacrifice for us. As we conclude our presentation, let us reflect on the significance of the cross and the message of hope and redemption it brings. Thank you for joining us..