Introduction

Good morning, beloved family. It's a joy to be here with you today, standing on the shared ground of our faith. We are all here, gathered in His name, ready to hear His word.

Let's start with the words of the scripture, from 1 John 1:1-3: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."

These words, so full of promise and hope, echo in our hearts. They speak of a Savior who has been there from the start, a Savior we have known through our senses, a Savior who brings us into fellowship with the Father and with each other.

In the words of G.K. Chesterton, "The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man." Today, we won't be solving any riddles. Instead, we'll be savoring them, finding satisfaction in the mystery and the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We'll talk about Jesus as the Revealer—the one who shows us the truth about God and about ourselves. We'll talk about Jesus as the Conqueror—the one who overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil. And we'll talk about Jesus as the Reconciler—the one who brings us back into a right relationship with God.

But before we go any further, let's bow our heads in prayer. Dear Lord, we thank you for this day, for this gathering, for your word which guides us. As we talk about Jesus as Revealer, Conqueror, and Reconciler, we ask that you open our hearts and our minds. Let us see Jesus as he truly is, and let us be changed by that vision. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

So, let's get started, friends. Let's meet Jesus anew today. Let's see him, hear him, touch him. Let's testify to the life he gives. Let's share in the fellowship he creates. Let's know him as Revealer, Conqueror, Reconciler. Let's find satisfaction in the riddles of God.

Jesus the Revealer

In the scriptures, we find the life of Jesus Christ laid bare for us to see. He is not hidden, not a mystery. The life of Jesus is a revelation of God. In Jesus, we see the character of God, His love, His mercy, His justice, His wisdom, His power. In Jesus, we see God's heart for the lost, the broken, the outcast. In Jesus, we see God's desire for relationship with us, His creation.

John 14:9. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). This is a profound statement. Jesus is saying that He is the exact representation of God. He is the image of the invisible God. If we want to know what God is like, we look at Jesus.

But Jesus doesn't just reveal God to us. He also reveals the truth about ourselves. In His interactions with people, we see our own humanity reflected back at us. We see our need for a Savior, our need for forgiveness, our need for love, our need for purpose.

In the story of the woman at the well, for example, Jesus reveals the woman's past and her need for living water. He reveals her thirst for something more, something that will truly satisfy. And in doing so, He reveals our own thirst, our own need for the living water that only He can provide.

In the story of the rich young ruler, Jesus reveals the man's love for his wealth and his inability to give it up to follow Jesus. He reveals the man's misplaced priorities and his need for a change of heart. And in doing so, He reveals our own misplaced priorities, our own love for the things of this world, our own need for a change of heart.

In the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus reveals the Pharisee's self-righteousness and the tax collector's humility. He reveals the Pharisee's pride and the tax collector's repentance. And in doing so, He reveals our own self-righteousness, our own pride, our own need for repentance.

In all these stories, and in many others, Jesus reveals the truth about God and the truth about us. He shows us who God is and who we are. He shows us our need for God and God's love for us. And this is not just a revelation for the people of Jesus' time. It's a revelation for us today. Through the pages of the Bible, Jesus reveals God to us. He reveals our need for God. He reveals God's love for us.

Jesus the Conqueror

As we continue to reflect on the nature of Jesus, we turn our attention to His role as the Conqueror ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO