What do you look for in Jesus? What do you see?
Text: Mt. 16:13
Intro:
1. In the region of Caesarea Phillippi, Jesus asked his disciples:
Who do people say the Son of Man is?
2. While this is an identity question, their answer also indicates just what it is they look for.
I. PEOPLE RESPONDED TO JESUS IN MANY WAYS
A. At his birth:
Herod saw a threat
Wise men saw a king
Anna and Simeon saw God’s hope for Israel
B. As he grew—the only instance we have of him is age 12
He astounded the religious teachers in the temple courts with
his answers, they didn’t look for that
C. During his ministry:
Lk. 4 his debut in his hometown synagogue: isn’t this Joseph’s
son? Not looking for anyone special, not seeing it in him
Pharisees saw a blasphemer
Many saw a healer, a way out of pain and anguish
Jn. 6—the crowd saw another free meal, having followed him
Mt. 7:29 many saw an authoritative teacher
Jn. 1 some saw him as the one Moses & the prophets wrote of
Mt. 16—disciples respond to his question as to how people saw
him:
You are John the Baptizer, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the
Prophets
So, many people saw boldness, courage forthrightness as a
man of God and teacher.
Peter: you are the Christ, the Son of God
Jn. 11—Martha recognized him as the resurrection and life
Jn. 11:47-48 the Jews saw him as a threat to their position
Jn. 12 Mary Magdalene (it is thought) anointed him for his
burial, thus seeing in him who he claimed to be
Lk. 24:19-21—the two Jews on the road to Emmaus saw him as
“a great man, a prophet, powerful in word and deed…we had
hoped he was the one who was going to redeem Israel”
II. JESUS QUESTION: WHO IS HE? WHAT DO YOU SEE?
A. Response today is no different than when he was alive:
1. many still see him as a threat to the kind of life they want
so, they try to discredit him with every chance and
opportunity.
2. many see him as a good teacher, a good moral man
3. Some even go so far as to give him prophet status, so they
can give other great men prophet status
B. What do you see?
1. a model of life
2. a wise teacher
3. another character to “believe in”
4. confusing: “turn the other cheek” a pacifist who is hard to
understand? Not even real in today’s dog eat dog world?
C. do we look for the right thing?
Lk. 10:38-42—Martha is concerned about doing all the work
“Martha, Martha, …Mary has chosen what is better…”
III. JESUS CAME IN A WAY UNEXPECTED
A. Isa. 52:13-14; 53:2-3
See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted.
14 But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
B. born in a stable, to common parents, not a regal way for the
Creator to begin life on earth among his creation
C. John told his audience: there stands among you one you don’t
Recognize
D. John the author stated that the Creator of the world came into
the world, came unto his own and they didn’t recognize him,
they didn’t receive him. Jn. 1:10-11
IV HE ACTED LIKE THE LION OF JUDAH
A. He was bold and courageous
1. Lk. 4: rebuked his hometown, then walked right through
them
2. Consider the times he spoke to the disciples of his imminent
death.
3. On several occasions, he healed on the Sabbath right in front
of his adversaries and who wanted him dead
4. He blasted the religious leaders in public Mt. 23
5. He took every lash and every hammer stroke without
retaliation---I Pet. 2:21-22
B. He did the unexpected
1. Fed over 5000 people, then preached in a way to run them
off. Jn. 6
2. Jn. 3 didn’t quite give the religious leader Nicodemus the
reception he expected
3. . Jn. 8—woman caught in adultery—consider what she
Expected
4. Jn. 11 Jesus told of Lazarus, but waited two days
5. Mt. 19—the rich young ruler—what did he look for, but get?
6. He cried over the stubbornness of his people
7. he talked in parables to weed out the unconcerned, curious
and rubberneckers—Mt. 13:13-15
8. he washed the disciples’ feet. Jn. 13
Concl.
1. The Jesus I serve:
Is strong enough to take away my sin
Strong enough to love me in my sin and want more for me
Yet gentle enough with compassion and mercy
Is exactly who I need
2. He came to earth in the fullness of God, revealed God to us and accomplished God’s eternal purpose.
3. He is real, he is to be believed, worshiped, and obeyed:
“God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
4. what do you look for in Jesus? What do you see?
