See John 1:1. There is a time element in this phrase “in the beginning”. It is referring to the past eternal stage. Jesus is one person of the holy trinity of God and so is eternal. This verse proves that Jesus Christ was God. Some people say that He is not. The roots of God’s plan for Jesus Christ is in eternity past . See John 8:58. Jesus says that He was before Abraham. He is claiming that he has pre-existence, thus making Him God. The phrase “I am” is a name of God. See Exodus 3:14. In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses this phrase fourteen times. See John 18:3-6. Jesus is the eternal Son of God.

There are three main ways Christ is shown in the Old Testament. God is preparing the world for what is to come.

• Prophecies – There is a host of prophecies concerning Jesus in the Old Testament. E.g.

1. The “seed of a woman”: Genesis 3:15…. Galatians 4:4.
2. Descendent of Abraham: Genesis 12:3, 18:18…. Acts 3:25, Matthew 1:1.
3. Born in Bethlehem: Micah 5:2…. Matthew 2:1…. Luke 2:4-7.
4. To be born of a Virgin: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18…. Luke 1:26-35.
5. He shall be called a Nazarene: Judges 13:5…. Matthew 2:23.
6. Betrayed by a friend, for 30 pieces of silver: Zechariah 11:12, Psalm 41:9… Mark 14:10, Matthew 26:14-15.
7. Judas’s position to be taken by another: Psalm 109:7-8…. Acts 1:18-20.
8. Soldiers divided his garments and gambled for his clothing: Psalm 22:18… Matt.27:35.
9. Crucified, “pierced through hands and feet”: Zechariah 12:10, Psalm 22:16…. Matthew 27:35, John 20:27.
10. No bones broken: Psalm 34:20…. John 19:32-36.
11. The way prepared by John the Baptist: Isaiah 40:3,5…. John 1:23, Luke 3:3-6.
12. Resurrection of Jesus: Hosea 6:2, Psalms 16:10, 49:15….. Luke 24:6-7, Mark.16:6-7.

• Types – There are pictures of Christ in the Old Testament. E.g. David, the Tabernacle, the Passover lamb, Melchizedek and Moses.
• Pre-incarnation – The phrase “the angel of the Lord” is found throughout the Old Testament. See Daniel 3:25, Daniel 7:9-14, Daniel 10:5-21 and Exodus 3:2-5.

There are three things to note about Christ’s earthly life:-

• The historicity of Jesus Christ – It is not possible to deny the historical fact of Jesus Christ. There are five sources:-

1. Jewish literature. E.g. Josephus.
2. Roman literature. E.g. Pliny’s letter to the Emperor Trajan.
3. Church fathers – The church fathers trace themselves back to the immediate disciples of Jesus Christ’s disciples. E.g. Polycarp was a disciple of John.
4. Archaeology. E.g. The symbol of the fish.
5. The Bible

• Jesus is God come in the flesh – There are four things which testify that Jesus was indeed the Son of God.

1. Jesus claimed He was the Son of God. See John 10:30.
2. His miracles were His credentials.
3. See Matthew 12:39-41 & 16:4. Jesus states that the only sign He will give to the Pharisees and the Sadducees is the resurrection. The resurrection is a historical fact.
4. The written account. The Bible.

• The purpose of His coming – There are three purposes for His coming.

1. To reveal God. See John 1:18.
2. To reign. Jesus was to establish the Kingdom of God. The people of Israel rejected their King. See John 19:15. However, Jesus will reign in the future as God has planned.
3. He came to redeem sinful men and women. His death was for this purpose. Jesus paid the debt that Abraham, David, Joseph, etc owed to God. If Jesus was only a man then he could only die for another man. Since Jesus is the Son of God, He can die for the world. An accounting term is used when Jesus cries out, “It is finished” on the cross. The debt has been paid in full.

There are three.

• God’s plan for Christ in relation to Himself is that He is seated in Heaven waiting for that time when all His enemies shall be made into His footstool. See Hebrews 1:7-13.
• For believers He is our High Priest and Advocate. See Hebrews 7:25 & 1 John 2:1.
• In relation to unbelievers He is the only way to God. See John 14:6 & Acts 4:12. This means that no man-made religion will get you to Heaven. E.g. Buddhism. The unbeliever who does not accept Christ will be judged justly and then cast into the Lake of Fire.

There are four.

• Jesus shall return in the clouds at the Rapture to gather His Church to Himself.
• Seven years later He shall reveal Himself when He comes in great glory and power to establish His Kingdom.
• He shall reign for one thousand years on the face of the Earth.
• At the conclusion of time He shall commit to God the entire Universe that He has brought into subjection so that God shall reign supreme. See 1 Corinthians 15:28.