Have You Seen Him?

Scripture Ref: Genesis 3:14–15 Psalms 19:1–4

Isaiah 7:14 John 1:1, 14

Isaiah 53:9, 12 Romans 10:17

Luke 2:16, 40–52 Genesis 1:26

Luke 24:9–12, 13–24, 33–39 Galatians 5:22–25 John 21:1–13 Ephesians 5:8–10

1. Introduction

a. In 1971, a pop group by the name of The Chi-Lites had a No. 3 billboard hit entitled Have You Seen Her?

b. The lyrics of the first verse went like this:

Oh, I see her face everywhere I go, On the street, and even at the picture show.

Have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her?

Oh, I hear her voice as the cold winds blow, in the sweet music on my radio.

Have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her?

Why, oh, why did she have to leave and go away?

c. The subject of this song has lost his true love and is suffering from it. He sees her everywhere in everything.

d. Today, I change those lyrics somewhat and ask the question, Have you seen Him?

2. Seeing Him in His Past

a. Asking the question “Have you seen him,” implies that you have been looking for Him. Although it may possibly be for you, it is not a new search for He has been sought throughout history.

b. Approximately 3,500 years ago, the book of Genesis was written by, what is generally believed to be, Moses. There is no way of knowing when Genesis’ recorded events actually occurred. However, the coming of Christ was prophesied by God Himself as the age of paradise was brought to a close.

Read Gen. 3:14-15—So the Lord God said to the serpent, “…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

c. Approximately 900 years later, or 2,600 years ago, the prophet Isaiah also prophesied His birth,

Read Isaiah 7:14—Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

and that He would come to save us and to die for our sins.

Read Isa. 53:9, 12—And He put His grave with the wicked, and with a rich one in His death; although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth…and He was counted among the transgressors; and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for transgressors.

d. Approximately 2,040 years ago, as prophesied, He was born.

Read Luke 2:16—So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

3. Seeing Him in His Physical Life

a. Not much is told about Him before he reached the age of 12 except what can be gleaned from Luke 2:40-52 — He ”grew, and waxed strong…, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him…increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

b. Not much is told about Him between the ages of 12 and 30 other than He lived in Nazareth with His parents and was subject to them.

c. Much is told about Him and his brief ministry and the miracles He performed between the ages of 30 and about 33.

· Feeding 5,000 with only 5 loaves and 2 small fishes

· Raising Lazarus from the dead

· Walking on the water

· Calming the tempest

· Healing the blind man

· Cleansing the leper

d. We are most interested in the miracle following His crucifixion—the resurrection.

4. Seeing Him in His Resurrected Life

a. After receiving the report from Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Joanna, Peter ran to the tomb seeking Him because he did not believe the women.

Read Luke 24:9–12—When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

b. On the road to Emmaus, two of Jesus’ followers, one named Cleopas, had an encounter with Jesus but did not know it was Him. They recounted to Him the story of Peter at the tomb.

Read Luke 24:13–24

c. The two, after having Christ reveal himself to them that evening in Emmaus, returned to Jerusalem (about 7 miles away) and told the 11 of their experience. While there, Jesus appeared in their midst.

Read Luke 24:33–39

d. Jesus later appeared to the disciples by the sea of Tiberias and then ate with them.