That You May Believe - 5

"THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE"
Jesus' Claims In Relation To Human Needs

We have considered claims made by Jesus in relation to God,and in relation to the Messianic hope. These claims indeed, are great and awesome claims! Jesus made claims that were not only great, but relate to basic personal needs common to all. In this study we shall consider these claims to human needs and the claims Jesus made in relation to them.

One basic need of man is to have fellowship with God. Concerning this need many may deny they have this need. Yet a simple look at the history of mankind reveals otherwise. Every civilization bears record of man's search for God. While concepts of God may vary, man is united in the need to know God. Paul explained that this "need" is innate with man. Ac 17: 24-28 "This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn't live in temples built by human hands. He doesn't need help from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people. From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be. God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn't far from any of us, and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. "We are his children," just as some of your poets have said.". God created man with an inner desire to seek the Lord. Though often suppressed, this desire prompts one to "grope for Him". Those who deny this need go through life never finding full satisfaction. Like Solomon in his search for meaning, they explore material things (riches, fame, drugs, sex, etc.). If permitted enough time to exhaust their search, like Solomon they often conclude as did he: "All is vanity and grasping for wind" Ecc 1:12-14 "I said these things when I lived in Jerusalem as king of Israel. With all my wisdom I tried to understand everything that happens here on earth. And God has made this so hard for us humans to do. I have seen it all, and everything is just as senseless as chasing the wind." It is only when we come to have fellowship with God that life can be complete. Material things alone do not satisfy this longing. Solomon concluded that man's purpose is to fear God and keep His commandments - Ecc 12:13-14 "Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad.". Jesus said that "man does not live by bread alone" - Mt 4:4 "Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say: 'No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.' ""

Jesus claims to fulfill this need as being the complete revelation of God - Jn 14:7-9 "If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him." Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need." Jesus replied: Philip, I have been with you for a long time. Don't you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How can you ask me to show you the Father?" . Jesus claims to fulfill this need by providing only avenue for fellowship with Him - Jn 14:6 ""I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father."

Closely aligned with this need to know God and have fellowship with Him is the need for salvation from sin. Concerning this need, again, many may deny this need. But the sins of mankind are obvious - cf. 2 Ti 3:1-4 "You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times. People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything that is good. They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure.". The problem lies within man himself/herself - Mk 7:21-23 "Out of your heart come evil thoughts, vulgar deeds, stealing, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, greed, meanness, deceit, indecency, envy, insults, pride, and foolishness. All of these come from your heart, and they are what make you unfit to worship God." . Thus man cannot save himself. He is therefore in need of salvation from the consequences of sin, the guilt of sin, and the power of sin. Fulfilling this need directly affects our being able to satisfy the need to have fellowship with God - Isa 59:1-2 "The LORD hasn't lost his powerful strength; he can still hear and answer prayers. Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That's why he doesn't answer your prayers or let you see his face.". Our sins separate us from God. Our sins prevent us from being heard by God. Jesus claims to provide the solution. He offers to set one free from sin - Jn 8:30-36 "After Jesus said this, many of the people put their faith in him. Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered, "We are Abraham's children! We have never been anyone's slaves. How can you say we will be set free?" Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin! And slaves don't stay in the family forever, though the Son will always remain in the family. If the Son gives you freedom, you are free!". Free from the guilt of sin. Free from the slavery of sin. This He does in two ways. Through His death on the cross, which deals with the guilt of sin - Jn 3:14-18 "And the Son of Man must be lifted up, just as that metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life. God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! No one who has faith in God's Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn't have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God's only Son." . Through the sending of the Spirit, which addresses the power of sin - Jn 7:37-39 "On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, "If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say." Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him. The Spirit had not yet been given to anyone, since Jesus had not yet been given his full glory."; also in Ro 8:11-13 "Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit. My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires."

In addition to claiming to provide the way to fellowship with God and salvation from sin, we see that Jesus also claims to fulfill the need for guidance in life. Concerning this need that man has such a need is clearly taught in the Scriptures. It is not in man to direct his steps - Jer 10:23 "O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (ASV). What seems right to man can lead to death - Pro 16:25 "Sometimes what seems right is really a road to death.". Evidence is seen in societies which forget God. Moral chaos is often the result - e.g., Ro 1:28-32 "Since these people refused even to think about God, he let their useless minds rule over them. That's why they do all sorts of indecent things. They are evil, wicked, and greedy, as well as mean in every possible way. They want what others have, and they murder, argue, cheat, and are hard to get along with. They gossip, say cruel things about others, and hate God. They are proud, conceited, and boastful, always thinking up new ways to do evil. These people don't respect their parents. They are stupid, unreliable, and don't have any love or pity for others. They know God has said that anyone who acts this way deserves to die. But they keep on doing evil things, and they even encourage others to do them.". Where chaos in societies (and individual lives) does not exist, it is only because such are guided by God-given principles of justice and righteousness, established previously when people did seek God for guidance. Jesus claims to provide this guidance. He offers Himself as "the light of the world" - Jn 8:12 "Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, "I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won't be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life."". He offers Himself as "the good Shepherd" - Jn 10:11 "I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.". He claims to be "the king" - Jn 18:37 ""So you are a king," Pilate replied. "You are saying that I am a king," Jesus told him. "I was born into this world to tell about the truth. And everyone who belongs to the truth knows my voice."" As our king, shepherd, and light, Jesus claims to guide us safely through a dark and difficult world.

He also claims to fulfill the need for spiritual sustenance. Concerning this need man is both a physical and spiritual being. We have seen that a purely materialistic world does not truly satisfy. The spiritual side of man must also be fulfilled. Jesus claims to provide siritual sustenance. He offers "the water of life" - Jn 4:13-14 "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give is like a flowing fountain that gives eternal life."". He claims to be "the bread of life" - Jn 6:35 "Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty." He offers "fullness of joy" - Jn 15:11 "I have told you this to make you as completely happy as I am" . He offers "peace". A peace the world cannot give - Jn 14:27 "I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid.". A peace that overcomes tribulation - Jn 16:33 "I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.". He offers "abundant life" - Jn 10:10 "A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest."

Finally, we note how Jesus claimed to fulfill The need for immortality. Concerning this need history records mankind's search and longing for immortality (e.g., the pyramids). Today, we express this need through our desire to prolong life along with our fear of death and dying. Jesus claims to offer immortality by claiming to one day raise the dead - Jn 5:26-29 "The Father has the power to give life, and he has given that same power to the Son. And he has given his Son the right to judge everyone, because he is the Son of Man. Don't be surprised! The time will come when all of the dead will hear the voice of the Son of Man, and they will come out of their graves. Everyone who has done good things will rise to life, but everyone who has done evil things will rise and be condemned.". By claiming to be "the resurrection and the life" - Jn 11:25-26 "Jesus then said, "I am the one who raises the dead to life! Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die. And everyone who lives because of faith in me will never really die. Do you believe this?""

We have now considered the claims of Jesus in relation to deity, in relation to the Messianic hope snd in relation to human needs. Whoever would make claims like these cannot be "just" a good man. He is either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord! Which do you think Jesus is? Our next three lessons shall review the evidence John presents in his gospel designed to produce faith in Jesus as Lord.