I Want To See Jesus

“Jesus”

January 28, 2014

Matthew 11:1-6

“After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

John 12: 20-22

”Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.”

What an exciting time it must have been to be living in Israel at this time. Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead. He was going around restoring sight to the blind; making the paralyzed to walk again; healing the lepers and curing those with diseases. Can you imagine the buzz of gossip going around town? Anyone who was sick or had a loved one who was ill must have had a hopeful desire to see Jesus. They must have thought, “Who IS this man who does such amazing things?” I imagine at every community well or walking to work or wherever people gathered they talked about the amazing things Jesus was doing. Those who were sick or hurt or had loved ones with illnesses and issues received a spark of hope. They probably began to plan on how they could bring their loved one or themselves to Jesus for healing.

The really wise ones got pass the miracles and wondered about the man that was doing them. Who was this miracle man? A couple weeks ago we saw that some thought He was one of the prophets. Peter realized He was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. But Jesus was much more. This morning I want to think about that question and share with you who the Bible says Jesus is. The Greeks stated that they would like to see Jesus. That’s my prayer; that’s my request this morning, too. We want to see Jesus. Who IS this man?

First of all, Jesus was God. Jesus was a healer. In our Scripture, in answer to John the Baptist’s question of whether He was the Messiah or not, Jesus said,

“Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

Matthew 11:5-6

Why do you think Jesus answered John’s question that way? It was because John knew God’s Word. He was familiar with this Scripture in Psalms.

“Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous.”

Psalm 146:5-8

This Scripture in Isaiah, Jesus proclaimed, was fulfilled in Him. (Luke 4:18-20)

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

Isaiah 61:1-3

This also explains why the religious community wanted to kill Him later on in His ministry. He clearly claimed to be God. It was only God who could do the things He was doing. Yet He was human. He was flesh and blood. Some of them knew His mother and earthly father and siblings. They couldn’t comprehend that they had misinterpreted the Scriptures. Their idea of the Messiah was a conquering King, not a suffering Servant.

Do you see that as a healer and a helper of people – He was revealing that He was God? The compassion He had with people; the tenderness; the love – only God could have. Jesus was testifying by what He did that He was God. He proclaimed it in the Temple – but only the wise understood. Later, He made it even more clear.