Sermon Brief
Date Written: December 30, 2010
Date Preached: January 2, 2011
Where Preached: OPBC (AM)
Sermon Details:
Series Title: Falling in Love With Jesus
Sermon Title: Who is this Jesus?
Sermon Text: John 1:1-13 [ESV]
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Introduction:
Do you love Jesus? For those of us here today who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our answer would be an unreserved YES! But do we REALLY truly love Jesus like we should…
In reality, our love for Jesus is often based on what Jesus has done for us… or has blessed us with in our lives! We may be blessed financially, or have a secure job, or a loving family or great friends… we have a loving fellowship and all these things are GOOD things, but they are NOT the main reason we should love Jesus!
Michelle is a wonderful wife…
Michelle is a wonderful mother…
Michelle is a SUPER grandmother…
She’s a great cook, wonderful housekeeper, a great partner…and there are so many other qualities about Michelle that I love about her, and that benefit me greatly!
But do you know that I loved her BEFORE I knew any of that… I loved her before she was my wife, before she became a mother, before she was a nani, before I ever ate her cooking… I fell in love with HER! The person… MICHELLE PUCKETT!
As believers, it’s the same with Jesus! Before we know of any blessings Jesus can bring into our lives, we fall in love with WHO Jesus is…
But that really begs the question… Who is this Jesus?
1. Jesus is Sovereign Lord and Creator! v.1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
Who is this Jesus? Scripture reveals to us that Jesus is GOD. Jesus, Himself proclaimed in John 10:30, “I and the Father are ONE!” Jesus is God, and in our verse this morning we can see John referring to this in his opening verses.
Jesus dwelled in heaven, and Jesus was present at Creation and is the Creator! In v.3 John reveals that Jesus created all things… all things were made THRU Him (by His hand) and NOTHING in this world that has been created, was created without His hand… Jesus IS Creator… Jesus IS God.
In Col 1:15-16 Paul tells this about Jesus as well…
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.
We can see that Jesus is the very image of who God is… an exact representation of God, but Jesus is FAR more than just a representation of God… Jesus is God Himself wrapped in the flesh! Just as John said in John 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Paul says Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, but that does NOT refer to Jesus being a created being, as some interpret this verse. In the original Greek the term is…pro-tah-takoss which is the singular, masculine, normative adjective that is used as a descriptor of who Jesus is… The 1st born of the 1st century held THE premium role in the family! Jesus is supreme in the family of God… He is heir to all things, He is above all else…
John tells us in v.1 that 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD.
What a great description of the sovereignty of Jesus!
Paul tells us that all things were created in heaven and earth were created by and for Jesus… John tells us in v.3 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.
Paul tells us that Jesus was before all things… John shares that IN the beginning… the same phrase that is used in Genesis 1:1 for the Creation account! Jesus is before ALL things! Jesus is Creator and Paul tells us that in Him all things are held together… now how great of a description of our Lord is that… He is creator and because of Him we are! He is sovereign over all of creation!
Who is this Jesus with which we should fall in love? This Jesus is first and foremost, the Sovereign Lord and Creator of the universe! But I want to look at another answer to “Who is this Jesus?” and it is…
2. Jesus is the Giver of Life and Light! v.4-5
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
We have seen how Jesus is the Creator and how He spoke things into existence, but think about this… Jesus spoke life itself into existence! Jesus was before LIFE was… Jesus is the creator of life as we know it!
Now understand that our physical life means a great deal to Jesus, it is important to Him. We can see from His life here on earth that He touched the physical lives of hundreds of people… Jesus even raised several people from the dead back to life in this world!
However, as important as the physical is to Jesus, there is a higher priority for Him! His main concern for us is that we experience a spiritual life with Him for all eternity.
In John 5:21 Jesus expresses this in this manner… 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will.
God has control over the physical life we live and Jesus is establishing here that the spiritual life is far more important to Him than our physical life. Jesus preached all thru His ministry that eternal life was His purpose… He came to bring us eternal life in God.
In 3:15 Jesus said that He had come that others may have eternal life… (not just the physical)
In 3:16 Jesus reveals that God desires salvation in the spiritual realm and has made provision for that salvation out of His love for creation.
In 3:36 Jesus reassures those who follow Him that eternal life is their destination, not just life with Him here on this world. He also assures us that those who reject Him shall NOT see the life He can and will bring!
In chapter 4 we find Jesus speaking with the woman at the well and offering to her the wellspring of LIFE… to partake of Him and she would recv eternal life.
In John 6 Jesus puts forth the illustration of God is (the bread of life) and how just as food brings life to the physical body and life, so too does the Bread of Life bring eternal life to the spiritual soul! Jesus speaks to this in John 6:35 when He says, 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst.
In John 6:51, Jesus declares: 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever…" Jesus is the bread that gives life… eternal life! But not only does Jesus bring us life eternal… Jesus enlightens our hearts and minds and lights our pathway thru this dark and evil world!
Look at what John tells us in v.5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
When the light of Jesus shines, it illuminates and NOTHING can hold back His light! David said in Ps 119:105 – “…Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path…”
A lamp is an item that gives us comfort and warmth, but it also serves a function to light the pathway we are on to prevent us from stumbling and falling…
Have you ever tried to walk around in the dark? Even when your eyes ‘adjust’ to the darkness… you still cannot see things as they truly are! Jesus is the lamp that lights our way and reveals to us the reality of the obstacles and dangers in our path…
v.9 from our passage this morning tells us, The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. John is telling us that Jesus is that TRUE light… a light that will enlighten and guide us…
In John 8:12, Jesus proclaims: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Jesus tells us that He is THE light of the world, using the definite article that reflects an exclusive nature, a unique character…Jesus is the TRUE light! There is NO other light that will illuminate your path to eternal life with God in heaven.
Many come with another light, claiming to be the same or even superior to Jesus, but Jesus is the only true light! Not Mohammed, not Buddha, not Confucius, not Joseph Smith, not Mary Baker Eddy… NO ONE can bring the light of eternal life but Jesus! Jesus is the light of the world!
Who is this Jesus you should love? He is sovereign Lord of all Creation! He is the life and light of eternity with God in Heaven! But finally this morning when we ask the question “Who is this Jesus?” we can see that…
3. Jesus is Savior! v. 4, 12-13
4 In Him was life [eternal life], and the life was the light of men… 12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
In Jesus alone is eternal life! We can find salvation in no other name! Peter shares this with us in Acts 4:12 where he was preaching about Jesus… “12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Jesus Himself says in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This statement from Jesus proclaims ALL of the answers we have covered this morning… “I am…” expresses the sovereign nature of WHO God is… IN the wilderness from the burning bush God told Moses… “I AM!” Jesus before the Pharisees proclaimed that before Moses, “I AM” Here Jesus proclaims His sovereignty!
Jesus says I am THE way… the definite article here indicates that the path of Christ is unique and stands alone! It is the SINGULAR path to God!
Jesus says I am THE Truth… the definite article indicates that His word is sure and that we can trust His faithfulness, and know He will deliver on His promises!
Jesus says I am the LIFE… in Christ eternal life is found! We can only know eternal life with God THRU the person of Jesus Christ! Jesus is the Savior… Jesus is the redeemer of lost souls… Jesus will deliver us from our sin!
In Matthew 1:21 the angel promised Joseph to trust in God that the baby being born (Jesus) was come to save His people from their sin… But who are His people? In v.12-13 we find that all who accept Him as Savior are HIS people!
12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Who is this Jesus you love…
Jesus is Sovereign Lord and Creator…
Jesus is the life and light of this world… AND
Jesus is Savior, bringing salvation to a lost and dying world!
Conclusion:
Now that we have a better picture of this Jesus… I want to ask 2 separate questions!
First, are you willing to turn your life over to the sovereign Lord of the Universe who is THE light to our path and the LIFE for our eternity, and who has come and died on the Cross for our salvation! Are you willing to surrender to the Savior this morning? OR are you still selfishly holding onto the desires of your own heart?
Today He wants you to be a part of His family and He bids you to come, but because of His great love, He will NOT force you to come! He will stand at your hearts door and knock… He has NOT given up on you, even if you have given up on yourself!
You cannot get clean and come to God, but this morning you can know a clean heart, you can experience a cleansing of your soul… today Jesus is calling to you, to surrender to Him… to make Him priority in your life!
My 2nd question this morning is this… To those who have accepted Christ as Savior, today are you ready to show Him the love He deserves?
Far too often our love for Jesus is based on what He can do FOR us, when it should be fully wrapped up in WHO He is! He is our LORD! He is our Creator! He is the light for our steps! He brings and gives us LIFE eternal! He is our SAVIOR! Are you willing and ready to surrender your heart to Him this morning! Are you willing to fall in love with Jesus all over again?
As Steven comes to lead us in our Hymn of Invitation… All to Thee… I want you to pray that God will guide your heart this morning and if you feel led by God… step out and come down to this altar and pray with me! Come and surrender your hear today… won’t you come as we sing!
