Who do you say Jesus is?

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? Name: Course: Date: Instructor: Keep this document intact and add your answers in the box under each prompt. You are to answer each prompt with complete sentences and clear, specific explanations with the specified number of words. Be sure you complete Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and the Reference section of this assignment before submitting. In Mark 8:29, Jesus famously asked Peter, "Who do you say I am?" In this part, you will analyze a passage that focuses on a teaching of Jesus. Part One: Teaching of Jesus Select one teaching of Jesus from the following choices. Check one: ☐ Matthew 5:21-24 ☐ Matthew 7:15-23 ☐ John 15:1-11 ☒Matthew 5:43-48 ☐ Luke 15:1-32 ☐ Matthew 6:19-24 ☐ John 13:1-17, 34-35 Respond thoroughly to the prompts based on the passage you chose, using and citing at least one of the commentaries from the approved commentaries at the end of this document (also found in the Topic 4 Resources). Cite all commentaries used with in-text citations and include all the sources you cite in the reference section at the end of this document. What was Jesus's point in the teaching? Your answer in 75-100 words: Jesus in Matthew 5:43-48 develops the standard teaching to "love your neighbor" by making a point that His disciples ought to love their enemies, as well as pray to those who persecute them. Blomberg (1992) argues that Jesus was correcting the misunderstanding of the Mosaic Law that had led to aggressiveness towards the outsiders, and instead he was insisting on a love that was patterned after the impartial goodness of God. In his command of enemy love, Jesus shows that righteousness is even greater than legalistic morality and indicates the self-sacrificing compassion of God. The aim is moral completeness - expressing mercy without favor, as the Father "causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good" (Matt 5:45, ESV). Besides differences of beliefs about God, the Bible, and Jesus, how might someone from an atheist or pantheistic worldview (choose only one) see the concepts of this passage differently? An atheist could understand the teaching of Jesus as an example of moral good that can bring to fruition social peace as opposed to divine loyalty. In the absence of faith in God or sin, this would not be to emulate a heavenly Father but humanistic sympathy and less conflict. A pantheist, who sees all things as expressions of a single Godhead, might understand love to enemies as an acknowledgement of the sameness of all things in a single universal essence, and not an obedience to the directives of a personal Creator. The two worldviews would appreciate compassion, though they would not appreciate the theistic basis of this passage, which bases love on the nature and will of God (Blomberg, 1992). What does this teaching reveal about Jesus? Your This text shows Jesus as the ideal embodiment of the love and morality of God. By likening love to enemies with the character of God, He acts as the one who would know God personally and invite His children to reflect the likeness of God. Blomberg (1992) observes that Jesus places Himself as the ultimate interpreter of the Law, demonstrating that He accomplishes it by mercy and grace and not by keeping the rules. In this way, this teaching reveals Jesus as a moral teacher and as a divine Son, whose teachings are the heart of God himself. © 2025. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. Part Two: Nature of Jesus In this part, you will analyze a passage that focuses on the nature of Jesus. Select one of the following passages in which Jesus makes statements about his nature and purpose. Check one: ☐ Ma...