TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:6-7
Read: Philippians 2:6-8
Listen: Philippians 2
TODAY’S MESSAGE
There is no more significant disagreement between Islam and Christianity than over the person of Jesus. Both religions believe Jesus was a man and a prophet. However, Islam adamantly denies Jesus was God. To say Jesus is God is one of the worst sins of Islam. There are different interpretations of what happened to Jesus inside of Islam, but it is commonly viewed that he didn’t even die on the cross. According to most Muslims, God would never let a dishonorable thing like death on the cross happen to one of his prophets.
For Christians, Jesus is not just another prophet but the God-man. He is God come to earth to rescue us. He was born of the virgin Mary, so he was 100% human and 100% God. He lived a perfect life and was crucified on a Roman cross.
Jesus’ death and resurrection are the central events of the Christian faith. Not only does the New Testament revolve around those truths, but there is significant historical support outside of the Bible as well. There are numerous references to Jesus’ death in ancient writings within the first one hundred years, including Thallos, Mara bar Serapion, Tacitus, Pliny, and Suetonius. Jesus’ death and resurrection is not a myth made up by a ragtag group of first-century Jews to gain religious influence. Jesus’ disciples had nothing to gain from lying. In fact, the opposite was true—history tells us most of them suffered terribly from following Jesus, even to the point of death.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Write a letter to Jesus in your journal. Thank him for what he has done for you. Describe who he is and why that is important. Ask him to help you know him better, and how what he did for you changes the way you live.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
