What Do You Look For In Jesus Series

What do you look for in Jesus? What do you see?

Text: Mt. 16:13

Intro:

1. In the region of Caesarea Phillippi, Jesus asked his disciples:

Who do people say the Son of Man is?

2. While this is an identity question, their answer also indicates just what it is they look for.

I. PEOPLE RESPONDED TO JESUS IN MANY WAYS

A. At his birth:

Herod saw a threat

Wise men saw a king

Anna and Simeon saw God’s hope for Israel

B. As he grew—the only instance we have of him is age 12

He astounded the religious teachers in the temple courts with

his answers, they didn’t look for that

C. During his ministry:

Lk. 4 his debut in his hometown synagogue: isn’t this Joseph’s

son? Not looking for anyone special, not seeing it in him

Pharisees saw a blasphemer

Many saw a healer, a way out of pain and anguish

Jn. 6—the crowd saw another free meal, having followed him

Mt. 7:29 many saw an authoritative teacher

Jn. 1 some saw him as the one Moses & the prophets wrote of

Mt. 16—disciples respond to his question as to how people saw

him:

You are John the Baptizer, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the

Prophets

So, many people saw boldness, courage forthrightness as a

man of God and teacher.

Peter: you are the Christ, the Son of God

Jn. 11—Martha recognized him as the resurrection and life

Jn. 11:47-48 the Jews saw him as a threat to their position

Jn. 12 Mary Magdalene (it is thought) anointed him for his

burial, thus seeing in him who he claimed to be

Lk. 24:19-21—the two Jews on the road to Emmaus saw him as

“a great man, a prophet, powerful in word and deed…we had

hoped he was the one who was going to redeem Israel”

II. JESUS QUESTION: WHO IS HE? WHAT DO YOU SEE?

A. Response today is no different than when he was alive:

1. many still see him as a threat to the kind of life they want

so, they try to discredit him with every chance and

opportunity.

2. many see him as a good teacher, a good moral man

3. Some even go so far as to give him prophet status, so they

can give other great men prophet status

B. What do you see?

1. a model of life

2. a wise teacher

3. another character to “believe in”

4. confusing: “turn the other cheek” a pacifist who is hard to

understand? Not even real in today’s dog eat dog world?

C. do we look for the right thing?

Lk. 10:38-42—Martha is concerned about doing all the work

“Martha, Martha, …Mary has chosen what is better…”

III. JESUS CAME IN A WAY UNEXPECTED

A. Isa. 52:13-14; 53:2-3

See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted.

14 But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.

My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.

3 He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

B. born in a stable, to common parents, not a regal way for the

Creator to begin life on earth among his creation

C. John told his audience: there stands among you one you don’t

Recognize

D. John the author stated that the Creator of the world came into

the world, came unto his own and they didn’t recognize him,

they didn’t receive him. Jn. 1:10-11

IV HE ACTED LIKE THE LION OF JUDAH

A. He was bold and courageous

1. Lk. 4: rebuked his hometown, then walked right through

them

2. Consider the times he spoke to the disciples of his imminent

death.

3. On several occasions, he healed on the Sabbath right in front

of his adversaries and who wanted him dead

4. He blasted the religious leaders in public Mt. 23

5. He took every lash and every hammer stroke without

retaliation---I Pet. 2:21-22

B. He did the unexpected

1. Fed over 5000 people, then preached in a way to run them

off. Jn. 6

2. Jn. 3 didn’t quite give the religious leader Nicodemus the

reception he expected

3. . Jn. 8—woman caught in adultery—consider what she

Expected

4. Jn. 11 Jesus told of Lazarus, but waited two days

5. Mt. 19—the rich young ruler—what did he look for, but get?

6. He cried over the stubbornness of his people

7. he talked in parables to weed out the unconcerned, curious