It Is All About Jesus

A theological college in the United States .... invited to their annual conference, .... a renowned professor ... as their guest lecturer.

He spoke for two and a half hours .... "establishing proofs" .... that the resurrection of Jesus .... never took place.

The professor quoted ... scholar after scholar ... and book after book.

He concluded that since there was no such thing as.... the historical resurrection, .... the religious tradition of the church .... was groundless.

It was all emotional mumbo-jumbo, .... He said ... because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, ... who, in fact, ...... never rose from the dead ... in any literal sense.

After this verbal dissertation ... he moved back from the lectern ... and asked if there were any questions.

After about 30 seconds of silence, .... an elderly pastor ... with a head of woolly white hair ...... stood up ... in the back of the auditorium.

"Doctor Professor, .... I have one question", he said .... as all eyes turned toward him.

He reached into his sack lunch .... and pulled out an apple and began eating it.

CRUNCH, "My question is a simple question", CRUNCH, ...... "Now, I have never read those books you've read"

CRUNCH, ... "And I can't recite the Scriptures ... in the original Greek"

CRUNCH, ... "I know nothing' about Niebuhr and Heidegger"

CRUNCH, ...He finished the apple. "

All I want to know is: .... This apple I just ate .... was it bitter ... or was it sweet?"

The professor paused for a moment ... and answered in a scholarly fashion: .... "I cannot possibly answer that question, .... for I haven't tasted your apple".

The elderly preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, .... looked up at the professor and said calmly, .... "Neither have you tasted .... my Jesus."

The 1,000 plus in attendance ... could not contain themselves; .... the auditorium erupted with applause ... and cheers.

The professor thanked his audience and promptly left the platform. (Pause)

Beloved .... (Slow) It is all about Jesus, ...... It is all about Jesus ... this morning (evening) and every morning (evening). (Pause)

Hear Paul's Words to us today: BIBLE "For he has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son". END (Colossians 1:13)

The Colossian believers were well taught by E-pa-phras ... a faithful minister of Christ (v7) yet it became clear to Epaphres ... that the Colossian Church was having problems ... with false teaching.

These problems were shared with Paul ...... thus came the letter .... to the Colossian Church.

These false teachers were extremely confused about Creation .... and the physical realm.

These false teachers insisted ... that all matter was evil, .... including the human body.

They taught that Jesus Christ did not have a real body .... since this in their mind ... would have put Him in contact ... with evil matter.

The result of these false teachings were tragic, .... including extreme self-denial and austerity on the one hand ...... to unbridled sin on the other.

After all, .... If the physical world is totally sinful, .... you either try to enslave it .... or you sinfully .... enjoy it.

The truth is they really did not know Jesus.

For Jesus is fully man and Jesus is fully God.

In his letter to the Colossians ... Paul brings forth the truth of who Jesus is.

(1 Lift Finger) First Jesus existed before Creation (v. 15).

In Paul's letter ... he uses the term firstborn ... which does not refer to time, .... it refers to ... status.

Jesus Christ was not the first being created, .... since the scriptures tell us .... Jesus ... is the Creator of all things. ..... All Things!

Firstborn simply means ... "of first importance, .... of first rank."

Solomon was certainly Not Born First of all of David's sons, .... yet he was named the firstborn in the Psalms (Psalm 89:27). ..... The first of importance!

Firstborn of all Creation means ... "prior to all Creation."

Beloved .... Jesus Christ is not a created being; .... (Slow) He is eternal.

Paul used the word image ... to make this fact perfectly clear.

It means ....... "an exact representation and revelation." ......... Begotten not made.

The writer to the Hebrews affirms that Jesus Christ is Quote ... "The express image of His Person" (Hebrews 1:3). ... The Image of the Godhead.

Jesus was able to say, .... "He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Beloved, .... (Slow) It is all about Jesus.

The Apostle John explains it with these words. BIBLE "In God's essence, he is invisible; ...... but Jesus Christ has revealed Him to us" END (John 1:18).