Teacher Notes

Bible Stories for Adults

Psalms Tell About Jesus - Exaltation

Psalms 2; 16; 110; 118



Welcome and Announcements
    Next Week - Jesus Blesses Children & Child in the Midst (Matthew 19:13-15; 18:1-14)
    Bible Words to Remember:
      Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

Opening Prayer


Exaltation - Jesus is God (Philippians 2:9-11)
    What did last week's lesson from Isaiah tell us about Jesus?
      Philippians 2:5-8 = Humiliation - He humbled Himself and became man
    What does today's lesson from Psalms tell us about Jesus?
      Philippians 2:9-11 = Exaltation - He is God and is exalted above all

    How does John begin his gospel that points out the divinity of Jesus?
      John 1:1-3 = In the beginning was the Word ... and the Word was God.
    What was this Word?
      John 1:14a = Jesus - The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
    How did Jesus try to make it clear to Philip that He was God?
      John 14:9 = Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father

Psalm 2 - Jesus the King = 1-6 is God the Father; 7-9 is God the Son; 10-12 is God the Holy Spirit
    How does this song say the promised Messiah would be received by the world?
      Psalm 2:1-3 = The world would oppose Him - The Anointed One = Messiah, Christ
    Did the disciples understand this was God's plan when they encountered opposition?
      Acts 4:25-29 = They remembered this verse in a prayer for God's strength
    How does God react to threats against the completion of His plan?
      Psalm 2:4-6 = He laughs at human arrogance, man cannot alter God's plan
    What is Zion?
      Hebrews 12:22-23 = God's holy people and heavenly nation over all time

    Did Jesus recognize His calling to be exalted as God's King on Zion?
      John 18:36 = My kingdom is not of this world ... it is from another place
    How does Jesus describe His exaltation in this Psalm?
      Psalm 2:7-9 = He states the "decree" with which the Father exalted Him
    What events of His exaltation are Jesus referring to in verse 7?
      Matthew 3:16-17 = His baptism
      Matthew 17:2-3, 5 = His transfiguration with Moses and Elijah

    How does God the Spirit then convince the world of its sin and guide it to truth?
      Psalm 2:10-12 = He warns the world to serve God's King

Psalm 16 - A Prayer of the Messiah
    How does the Messiah begin His prayer to the Father?
      Psalm 16:1-2 = Shows His reliance and devotion to the Father
    How does the Messiah feel about the people in this world He was sent into?
      Psalm 16:3-4 = He delights in those who follow Him, rejects those who reject Him
    Did Jesus sense any exaltation through the people the Father had given to Him?
      John 17:9-10 = He thanked God for them and the glory that came to Him thru them

    How does the Messiah recognize His role in bringing His people into the new Promised Land?
      Psalm 16:5-6 = Note land distribution terms - portion, lot, boundary lines, inheritance
    How was the Messiah's role similar to that of the Levites who were given no land inheritance?
      Numbers 18:20 = As the Great High Priest, Jesus' inheritance was God

    How did the Messiah feel about the suffering He would undergo in saving His people?
      Psalm 16:7-11 = He rejoiced in knowing God's plans to raise and exalt Him
    How did Peter use this verse on Pentecost to prove that Jesus was the Messiah?
      Acts 2:22-32 = God's eternal plan was that Jesus would die, but not stay in the grave

Psalm 110 - The Exalted King-Priest Messiah = One of most quoted Psalms in New Testament
    How does David begin this song with a verse that confused the Jews?
      Psalm 110:1 = The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand..."
    How did Peter use this verse in the continuation of his Pentecost speech?
      Acts 2:33-37 = Jesus was exalted to the Father's right hand as David had prophesied
    How did Jesus better use this verse in explaining how He was both God and man?
      Matthew 22:41-46 = The Messiah was both David's descendant and Lord

    How does this Psalm show Jesus as God's mighty King? = scepter - gospel; troops - Christians
      Psalm 110:2-3 = holy majesty - sanctification; dew of youth - countless new believers
    How does Peter describe this kingdom?
      1 Peter 2:9 = A chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, people belonging to God
    How does this great King protect His kingdom?
      Psalm 110:5-7 = He destroys their enemies on His day of wrath

    How is God's Anointed One also considered His Priest?
      Psalm 110:4 = A great priest in the order of Melchizedek
    Who was Melchizedek? = Genesis 14:17-20
      Hebrews 7:1-2, 4 = A great priest to whom Abraham gave a tithe after a victory
    What is the point of Jesus as a great priest in the order of Melchizedek? = from Judah, not Levi
      Hebrews 7:11-12, 15-19 = A new covenant by which we draw near to God
    How long will this new covenant last?
      Hebrews 7:20-24 = Since Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood
    Why is this permanent priesthood important to us?
      Hebrews 7:25 = Our salvation is assured because Jesus is always there to intercede for us

Psalm 118 - His Love Endures Forever
    What is the obvious theme of this Psalm?
      Psalm 118:1-4 = God's love endures forever
    What does this theme mean for our everyday lives?
      Psalm 118:5-16 = Trust in the Lord in everything and He will take care of you

    What was Martin Luther's personal motto and why should we also learn it?
      Psalm 118:17 = Jesus has given us eternal life and we should tell everyone
    What should we remember during tough times?
      Psalm 118:18-21 = He will not abandon us, but will give us salvation

    How does this song of praise explain how God has given us salvation?
      Psalm 118:22-23 = The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone
    Who were the builders that rejected Jesus?
      Matthew 21:42-45 = The Jews rejected Him, He became Christians' cornerstone
    What prophesies of Isaiah also point to Jesus as God's exalted and precious rock?
      1 Peter 2:4-8 = I lay a stone in Zion and A stone that causes men to stumble

    Knowing what God has done for us, how should we approach each day?
      Psalm 118:24 = This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it
    What other great reminders of God's love do we have in this Psalm?
      Psalm 118:25-29 = Blessed is he who comes ... his love endures forever

Creeds, Our Statements of Faith = Developed in the early years of the church
    Nicene Creed - Speaks to the Divinity of Jesus = 325AD by council in Nicea

    Apostles' Creed - Speaks to the Humanity of Jesus = Probably around 100AD

      Humbled Himself as man (steps down on picture)
        was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
        born of the virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23)
        suffered under Pontius Pilate (John 18:28...)
        was crucified (John 19:18)
        died and was buried (John 19:30, 42)

      Exalted in victory over the grave (steps up on the picture)
        He descended into hell (Eph 4:8-10, 1 Peter 3:19-20)
        the third day He rose again from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10)
        He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50-51)
        and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty (Eph 1:19-22)
        from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead (John 5:28-30)

Jesus - Both God and Man
    How much of God is in Jesus?
      Colossians 2:9 (also 1:19) = in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives
    Why was it important for Jesus to be fully God?
      Matthew 11:25-27 = Allowed God to reveal Himself and His plan to His world
      Matthew 1:23 = Jesus was called Immanuel (God with us)
    Why was it important for Jesus to be man?
      Hebrews 2:14-15 = To share in our humanity and destroy Satan by his death
    Was Jesus just God in man's clothing or fully man?
      Hebrews 2:17-18 = He had to be made like his brothers in every way...
      Luke 2:7 = Born of a woman

The Full Powers of Humanity
    What did people who saw Jesus raised as a child think about his powers?
      Matthew 13:54-56 = They were amazed & wondered where He got His powers
    Did Jesus have these powers because He was God?
      Matthew 17:18-21 = No, these powers are available to anyone with faith

Closing Prayer



Our Statements of Faith


The Nicene Creed The Apostles' Creed


I believe in one God,


I believe in God,

The Father Almighty,

The Father Almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth and
    of all things visible and invisible.
    maker of heaven and earth.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

And in Jesus Christ,
    the only-begotten Son of God,
    begotten of His Father before all worlds,
    His only Son,
    God of God, Light of Light,
    very God of very God,
    begotten, not made,
    being of one substance with the Father,
    by whom all things were made;

    who for us men and for our salvation
      came down from heaven
    our Lord,
    and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit
    who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
      of the virgin Mary
    and was made man;
    born of the virgin Mary,
    and was crucified for us under
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      Pontius Pilate.
    was crucified, died and was buried.
    He suffered and was buried;
    He descended into hell.
    And the third day He rose again
    The third day He rose again
      according to the Scriptures
      from the dead.
      and ascended into heaven,
    He ascended into heaven
    and sits at the right hand
    and sits at the right hand
      of the Father.
      of God the Father Almighty.
    And He will come again with glory to
    From thence He will come to
      judge both the living and the dead
    whose kingdom will have no end.
      judge the living and the dead.


And I believe in the Holy Spirit,


I believe in the Holy Spirit,
    the Lord and giver of life,
    who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
    who with the Father and the Son
    together is worshipped and glorified,
    who spoke by the prophets.

    And I believe in one holy Christian

    The holy Christian Church,
      and apostolic Church,
    the communion of saints,
    I acknowledge one Baptism for
      the remission of sins,
    the forgiveness of sins,
    and I look for the resurrection of the dead
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life of the world to come.
    and the life everlasting.



Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen

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