Further Study:
On the issue of Jesus' identity, read Ellen G. White, "Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?," pp. 236-243, in The Desire of Ages."Who is this Jesus? they questioned. He who had claimed for Himself the glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter, and had worked at His trade with His father Joseph. They had seen Him toiling up and down the hills, they were acquainted with His brothers and sisters. . . . They had seen Him develop from childhood to youth, and from youth to manhood. Although His life had been spotless, they would not believe that He was the Promised One"—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 237. "They would not admit that He who had sprung from poverty and lowliness was other than a common man"—p. 239.
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic . . . or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to"—C. S. Lewis, "The Shocking Alternative," p. 56, in Mere Christianity (New York: McMillan-Collier, 1960), p. 56.
Discussion Questions:
What makes it easier for us, we who live two thousand years after Jesus, to accept Him as the Messiah, than it was for those who lived at the same time as Jesus to accept Him? What makes it more difficult? 
Skepticism about Jesus is likely to continue as long as time shall last. What, for you is the single most convincing evidence of the validity of Jesus and His saving grace? How could you share this evidence with others in a way that could help convince them as well?
We looked this week at how the scientific rationalism of the Enlightenment had been used as a weapon against faith. What are some other types of -isms, or philosophies or ideologies, prevalent in your own culture that work against faith, as well? Most important, how can you meet these challenges?
As a class, go back over 1 Corinthians 1:18-27. What message is Paul giving that is important for all of us to remember?
| I N S I D E Story | ||
| Miriam's Stubborn Faith Miriam (not her real name) is a teenager living in a polygamous family in Ibajiland, Nigeria. Because of her family's religion, she knew little about Christianity until some Global Mission pioneers came to conduct concentrated outreach. The pioneers hired Miriam's aunt to cook for them, and Miriam went along to help. Miriam overhead the pioneers tell stories of Jesus that stirred her heart. She left the cooking pots and listened to the pioneers teach about Jesus. In time she gave her heart to Christ and asked to be baptized. Word of Miriam's decision spread to her family, and fellow villagers tried to prevent her from being baptized. But they failed. Her baptism triggered hostility, and Miriam was forced to leave her father's home. She found refuge with an Adventist teacher in her village, but militant religious leaders tried to kidnap her and force her to renounce her new faith, even if that meant killing her. The pastor managed to help Miriam escape to safety, but angry religious leaders turned on the Adventist community, threatening to burn the church down. In order to prevent a religious crisis in the region, the local king called a meeting of the two religious groups involved. The family's religious leaders insisted that the only peaceful solution was for the Adventists to produce Miriam. The king finally agreed and ordered the Adventists to return Miriam to her family. Reluctantly the pastor sent word for Miriam to return home. She was taken to the king's palace, where she exhibited great boldness for a young girl. She told those present that she was not interested in returning to her parents' religion, but wanted to continue to follow Christ. Some members of Miriam's family, seeing her strong conviction, were willing to allow her to follow Christianity, but the religious leaders demanded that she return to her father's faith and have no contact with Adventists. The pastor told the council that if Miriam wished to worship with the church members at any time, she would be welcome and the church would never send her away. Miriam returned home with her father, who tried to force her to worship with them. But Miriam is determined to remain true to Christ and finds ways to share her faith with others. She must remain under her father's control until she finishes high school, but then she will worship as she wishes. Her brothers have seen Miriam's faith, and though they cannot openly say it, they too wish to leave their father's religion and follow Jesus. Pray for Miriam, and give your mission offerings so that those who are searching for the truth may find it, no matter where they live.
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| Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Web site: www.adventistmission.org |
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