11. The Identity of Jesus

"Before Abraham came into existence, I am!"

John 8:58

"The Father and I are one."

John 10:30

"The person who has seen me has seen the Father!"

John 14:9

"The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:45

"You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven!"

Matthew 16:17

Caesarea Philippi — Matthew 16:13-20 | Mark 8:27-30 | Luke 9:18-21

The Seven I AM Statements — John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7-9; 10:11-15; 11:25-26; 14:6; 15:1,5

The Son of Man Sayings — Matthew 8:20; 9:6; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8; 16:27-28; 19:28; 20:18,28; 24:27,30,37,44; 25:31; 26:2,24,45,64

Who do you say He is — and what does your ordinary week say?

12. Suffering and Persecution

"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way."

Matthew 5:11-12

"If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first."

John 15:18

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage — I have conquered the world."

John 16:33

"I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

Matthew 10:16

Persecution Discourse — Matthew 10:17-39

The World's Hatred — John 15:18-25

What would you be unwilling to lose for following Him?

13. The Law — Fulfillment and Interior Application

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them."

Matthew 5:17

"I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place."

Matthew 5:18

"The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath."

Mark 2:27

"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Matthew 22:40

The Six Antitheses — Matthew 5:21-48

The Dispute over Clean and Unclean — Matthew 15:1-20 | Mark 7:1-23

On Tithing and the Weightier Matters — Matthew 23:23-24

Where are you keeping the rule while avoiding what the rule was pointing to?