Christ, our Light

The Quotations Bible Study:
Series I: The Person of Jesus

Appendix: Suggestions as to
answers to the study questions

Week 5. Who is Jesus:
the Evangelists on Jesus

  1. The LORD is speaking to Isaiah: who is the servant, chosen? (Isa. 41:8,9) God declared Israel to be His servant.
  2. But is the LORD speaking about a group or a particular person? (Isa. 42:1) From Isa. 42:1 on, the LORD speaks of the servant as though of a particular person, an individual called to this office.
  3. How does the LORD feel about the Servant? (Isa. 42:1) The LORD delights in the servant.
  4. What will the LORD send the Servant? (Isa. 42:1) The LORD will send His Spirit to the Servant.
  5. The descriptions in Isa. 42:2,3 concern the obedience of the Servant to the LORD's will. What four behaviors will mark the Servant? The servant will (1) not complain, (2) not make a public outcry, (3) be gentle, and (4) care for the weak.
  6. What will be the result of the Servant's faithfulness? (Isa. 42:3) Justice.
  7. Is the Servant immune to ordinary failings? (Isa. 42:4) No, but He will not fail or become discouraged.
  8. Is the Servant's calling just to Israel? (Isa. 42:4) No. The whole world waits on Him.
  9. How will the "islands" (Scofield says the Hebrew word means "coasts"; does this mean the whole Mediterranean world? it might) look on the Servant? (Isa. 42:4) The world, particularly it would seem the Mediterranean world, looks to the Servant for guidance.
  10. When we last saw Jesus, His family had settled in Nazareth. (Matt. 2:23) Now He appears before John the Baptist as a full-grown adult. Is the Gospel of Matthew a biography? No. It recounts the Gospel.
  11. John the Baptist soothed his listeners with comforting words and gentle sayings—true or false? (Matt. 3:7-10) False. If "brood of vipers" sets the standard for John's addresses, he was about as undiplomatic as one can get.
  12. John distinguishes himself from the one to come. What four distinctions does John cite? (Matt. 3:11,12) The one to come (1) is mightier, (2) will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire, (3) will gather his own, and (4) will purify the church.
  13. Where did Jesus come from? (Matt. 3:13) From Galilee.
  14. John at first refused to baptize Jesus. Why? (Matt. 3:14) John felt that the roles should be reversed. After all, of what had Jesus to repent?
  15. On what grounds did Jesus persuade John to baptize Him? (Matt. 3:15) The fulfillment of righteousness.
  16. What three signs of Jesus initiation into His divine mission followed His baptism? (Matt. 3:16,17) (1) The heavens were opened, (2) the Spirit of God descended upon Him, and (3) a voice from heaven said, "This is my son, whom I love."
  17. Where did Jesus come from? (Mark 1:9) From Nazareth.
  18. What three signs were given immediately after Jesus' baptism? (Mark 1:10,11) (1) The heavens opened, (2) the Spirit descended upon Him, and (3) a voice from heaven said, "You are my Son, whom I love."
  19. John the Baptist presented an agreeable manner—true or false? (Luke 3:7-9) False, if "brood of vipers" is any indication.
  20. John distinguishes himself from the one to come. What four distinctions does John cite? (Luke 3:16,17) The one to come (1) is mightier, shall baptize with the Holy Ghost, (3) will gather His people in, and (4) will destroy all the rest.
  21. John, like the legendary old preacher, had "quit preaching and gone to meddling." What happened with Herod? (Luke 3:19,20) John criticized the king's marriage.
  22. What three signs of Jesus initiation into His divine mission follow His baptism? (Luke 3:21,22) (1) Heaven was opened, (2) the Holy Ghost descended upon Him, and (3) a voice from heaven said, "You are my Son, whom I love."
  23. How old was Jesus by then? (Luke 3:23) About 30 years old.
  24. What three important points about who Jesus is are recorded in the mouth of John the Baptist? (John 1:15,17,18) (1) Jesus existed before John, (2) Jesus comes with grace and truth, and (3) Jesus has seen the Father.
  25. John the Baptist distinguishes himself from the one to come. What distinctions does John cite? (John 1:26,27) Jesus is preferred over John, and John is unworthy next to Jesus.
  26. John the Baptist gives the reason for water baptism. What is it? (John 1:31) So that Jesus could be presented to Israel.
  27. John records John the Baptist's testimony as though he had been talking directly to him (which he might well have done). What happened at Jesus' baptism? (John 1:32,33) The Spirit descended upon Jesus, and the Spirit told John that Jesus was the one who baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
  28. Who informed John the Baptist of Jesus' identity and the meaning of what he saw? (John 1:6,34) God Himself.
  29. What was the people's attitude towards the Servant? (Isa. 53:3) They despised and shunned Him.
  30. What did the Servant bear? (Isa. 53:4,5) He bore our weaknesses (infirmities) and sorrows, as well as afflictions from God. He bore the punishment for our sins.
  31. What is the Servant likened to? (Isa. 53:7) A lamb.
  32. What did the Servant's life become? (Isa. 53:10) A guilt offering.
  33. How important was the One to follow, in John's opinion? (John 1:27,30) Surpassingly greater than John.
  34. Why was John baptizing? (John 1:31) In order to reveal the Messiah to Israel.
  35. Where did John get his information? (John 1:33,34) From the Spirit of God directly.