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Investigating Jesus' Life > Part 5: Jesus the Giver of Hope, Peace, Joy, Purpose, and Eternal Life

The last chapter of Luke gives a clear account of the fantastic miracle of the resurrection. After Jesus' crucifixion his disciples were afraid of the Jews. While they continued to meet, they did so in secret. Suddenly, Jesus came to them.

C.S. Lewis, a famous Christian writer, wrote:

"The New Testament writers speak as if Christ's achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought and beaten the king of death."

A. The Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the climax of his life's work. Jesus rose from the dead as he said he would. This historical fact challenges us to believe that the other things he said about himself are also true. The resurrection demands a response from us, one way or another.

B. Responding to Jesus
Luke wrote about one particular woman in
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Luke 7:36-50

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is --that she is a sinner." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven --for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."Luke 7:36-50. Read this and see how she responded to Jesus. She could be sure that she was at peace with God. Jesus had welcomed, accepted and forgiven her because of his love and mercy. Nothing she had done could have earned his response. But she was now free to live as a new person.

We can be sure in this same way. We can never pay God the debt we owe Him for our sinful behavior. But, if we come to Jesus as this woman did, we can know that he forgives and accepts us completely. In the last session we discussed how this happens through Jesus' death on our behalf.

C. Becoming a Christian
The sinful woman came to Jesus and recognized her sin. She trusted Jesus to forgive her and, by her actions, thanked him for the new life he offered her. We must do the same if we want to be at peace with God, both now and eternally.

Each one of us must realize that living a good moral or "religious" life will not make us acceptable to God.

To begin a relationship with God, you could pray something like this:

Jesus, I realize that I have been running my own life and have rebelled against You. I admit that I have sinned against you and deserve to go to hell. Thank You for dying for my sins so I can spend eternity with You in Heaven. I open my life to You and ask You to be my Savior and Lord. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.

D. Growing as a Christian
These five studies have shown us who Jesus is and why he came.
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Luke 6:46-49

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."Luke 6:46-49 teaches that we must not only hear what Jesus said, but put it into practice.

Read
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Luke 6:46-49

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."Luke 6:46-49

A decision to become a Christian is just the beginning of a lifetime of getting to know God better. As you get to know God by reading His Word (The Bible), you will gain assurance of salvation. Feelings have their place, though Christianity is not just another emotional or psychological experience. Also, You should expect to see changes if Christ has really entered your life.

Read Luke 24:1-53. How do you think the disciples felt after seeing Jesus crucified?

News began to reach them that Jesus was alive again. The disciples' reaction shows that they did not expect this. They thought the story was nonsense (v.11). The two on the road said that they were surprised by the news (v.22) and Jesus himself confirmed that they had doubts in their minds (v.38). Nevertheless, various people became convinced that Jesus had risen from the dead.
Describe how the following groups of people were convinced that Jesus had risen from the dead: the women (vs.5-8)? The two people on the road (vs.25-32)? The group of disciples (vs. 33-43)?
After seeing Jesus, how did the disciples' attitude toward Jesus change in Luke 24:52,53?
Read Luke 7:36-50. Why do you think the woman acted as she did?

This woman had a bad past. Her behavior toward Jesus was very different from the stiff and starchy response of Simon the Pharisee.
In Luke 7:40-43 Jesus told Simon a story to explain the woman's actions. Why do you think he did that?
How were the woman's debts cleared before God (Luke 7:48)?
What does "faith" mean (see Luke 7:50)? What does having faith mean to you?
What did "go in peace" mean to this woman in Luke 7:50?
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Investigating Jesus' Life > Part 5: Jesus the Giver of Hope, Peace, Joy, Purpose, and Eternal Life

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