The Incomparable Christ: ‘the Uniqueness Of Jesus.' Series

The Incomparable Christ: ‘The Uniqueness of Jesus.'

SERMON OUTLINE:

• Claim #1: "I am equal with God" (vs 19-20).

• Claim #2: "I am the giver of life" (vs 21 & 26).

• Claim #3: "I am the final judge" (vs 22-23).

• Claim #4: "I determine man's destiny" (vs 24).

• Claim #5: "I will raise the dead" (vs 25-29).

• Claim #6: "I am always doing the will of God" (vs 30)

SERMON BODY

Reading: John chapter 5 verses 16-30

Ill:

• In the news this week was a story about man's best friend,

• His name is Benny, and he is a rescue Labrador.

• Why is he in the news, well, not because he has rescued someone,

• But because at the age of nine he learnt to ice skate.

• Benny's owner, Cheryl Delsangro,

• Saw how much her dog enjoyed running around on the ice,

• Chasing after an ice hockey puck,

• And decided to see if an old dog could learn a new trick.

• And yes, Benny actually has his own custom skates designed by his owner Cheryl.

• Benny is fast becoming an internet star.

• You can view him on YouTube (https://youtu.be/JQC396oKmmI)

• TRANSITION: When I read his story, I thought he must be unique, incomparable,

• But a quick search soon showed that there are other ice-skating dogs out there!

• Yet, when it comes to Jesus Christ,

• One word you can associate with him is incomparable,

• There is no-one, and I mean no-one who can compare to him.

• And our series of studies up to and including Easter will show you why.

This morning:

• We are going to look at a fascinating dialogue found in John chapter 5 verses 16-30.

• Between Jesus and the religious leaders.

• They are opposed to Jesus over a number of issues,

• You could summarise their objection as Jesus refused to play by their rules.

• And the big rule for these religious leaders was the Sabbath.

• One day in seven must be kept for rest and worship and nothing else.

• They took that commandment from God.

• And they twisted it, they distorted it, they misused it.

• And Jesus comes along and he deliberately, in their face,

• Breaks and ignores their interpretation of the commandments.

• And will show and teach its real meaning.

Note:

• On first reading of this passage,

• You may give you the impression it is about the Sabbath.

• But if you slow down and read it again and again,

• There is a different item on the agenda of Jesus.

Ill:

• A few years ago, we were invited to a wedding and afterwards the reception.

• The bride and groom went from the Church to somewhere else for some extra photos.

• When they arrived at the venue,

• They came down a long driveway to the front of the hotel,

• There was a crowd of guests, including us who were ready to greet them.

• The car they came in was a vintage white Rolls Royce,

• And as the couple stood next to the car while yet more photos were taken,

• All the ladies gathered were saying; “Wow! Doesn’t the bride look fantastic?”

• While all the men were saying, “Wow! Doesn’t the car look fantastic?”

• TRANSITION: Somebody had missed the point!

• And in this passage some people will miss the point about what is going on.

• Like the religious leaders they will be focussed on the Sabbath,

• Yet, notice that Jesus doesn’t directly refer to the Sabbath,

• His focus and the point he is emphasising is on the relationship to his Father.

• i.e., Verse 17: ““My Father is always working”

• i.e. Verse 18b: “he was even calling God his own Father”

• i.e. Verse 19b; “ the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing,”

• i.e. Verse 19c: “because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

• i.e., Verse 20: “For the Father loves the Son”

• i.e., Verse 21a: “For just as the Father raises the dead”

• i.e., Verse 22a, “Moreover, the Father judges no one”

• i.e., Verse 23a: “That all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. “

• i.e. Verse 23b: “Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him.”

• i.e. Verse 26a: “For as the Father has life in himself,”

• So, the religious leaders may be focussed on the Sabbath,

• But not Jesus, his focus is on his relationship to his Father.

• And that relationship makes him incomparable and quite unique.

• Incomparable is a great word, meaning,