"The Promised One" by Rev. Kim Salo

This is based on the sermon I preached on April 16.

1. Read 2 Cor. 1:18-22. How is Jesus God’s ‘Yes’ to your life? How is Jesus God’s ‘Yes’ to the human race? 

2. In verse 20, Paul says that “through (Christ) the ‘Amen’ is spoken through us to the glory of God.” When you say ‘Amen’ at the end of a prayer, either your own or someone else’s, what do you mean? Why do we pray to the Father ‘through’ Jesus? 

3. In verses 21- 22, Paul says that God “anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” What does Paul mean by ‘what is to come’? Deposit also means guarantee, or down payment. What do you think Paul means by the Spirit as a down payment on what is to come?

4. Jesus is given many titles in the New Testament. As you read though this list, take note of one or two that mean the most to you. After reading them through, explain why those one or two titles of Jesus mean a lot to you.   Titles of Jesus:  Christ, Messiah, Lord, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of David, Word of God, Saviour, Redeemer, Bread of Life, I Am, Beloved Son, Only Begotten Son, Son of the Living God, Chosen One, Head of the Church, Alpha and Omega, Master, Rabbi, Teacher, King of the Jews, King of Kings, New Adam, Last Adam, High Priest, Prophet, Nazarene, Immanuel, Mediator, Judge, Chief Cornerstone, the Living Stone, Lamb of God, Good Shepherd, True Vine, Rock, Dayspring, Bridegroom, Lion of Judah, The Way the Truth and the Life.

5. Read John 11:17-27. In verse 25, Jesus gives himself another title. He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” Does Jesus promise that we will not experience death at all? What do you think will happen to you in the general resurrection? Is the ‘eternal life’ Jesus promises different in any way from ‘going to heaven’ after we die? Is ‘eternal life’ a promise for later, or for now, or what?

6. (Optional submitted question) Q: If Jesus fulfilled so many predictions, prophecies, and promises, why haven’t most Jews believed that Jesus is the Messiah? Are the Jews waiting for someone else? A: Most Jews do not believe that Jesus ushered in the Messianic age of peace right away. He didn’t ‘fulfil the requirements’ of the expected Messiah. He is seen as a divergence from Judaism rather than fulfilling Judaism. Historically, Christian anti-Semitism against Jews has prevented all but a few Jews from becoming Christians. Many Jews still expect the Messiah to come later.