Title: We Have Seen The Glory Of The Lord
Place: BLCC
Date: EASTER-2017
Text: John 1.14
CT: We see the Glory of God in Jesus Christ.
[Screen 1]
FAS: [Tim Kellar says On Easter] I always say to my skeptical, secular friends that, even if they can't believe in the resurrection, they should want it to be true. Most of them care deeply about justice for the poor, alleviating hunger and disease, and caring for the environment. Yet many of them believe that the material world was caused by accident and that the world and everything in it will eventually simply burn up in the death of the sun.
They find it discouraging that so few people care about justice without realizing that their own worldview undermines any motivation to make the world a better place. Why sacrifice for the needs of others if in the end nothing we do will make any difference?
If the resurrection of Jesus happened, however, that means there's infinite hope and reason to pour ourselves out for the needs of the world.
N.T. Wright has written:
The message of the resurrection is that this world matters! That the injustices and pains of this present world must now be addressed with the news that healing, justice, and love have won.
If Easter means Jesus Christ is only raised in a spiritual sense—then it is only about me, and finding a new dimension in my personal spiritual life.
But if Jesus Christ is truly risen from the dead, Christianity becomes good news for the whole world—news which warms our hearts precisely because it isn't just about warming hearts. Easter means that in a world where injustice, violence and degradation are endemic, God is not prepared to tolerate such things—and that we will work and plan, with all the energy of God, to implement victory of Jesus over them all.
Tim Keller, The Reason for God (Penguin Books, 2009), pp. 210
[Screen 2]
I get most of my sermons from what happens during the week. Last week I overheard some people trying to say Jesus fed the 5000 by getting everyone to just share what they had.
I will never allow anyone to tell me the power of Jesus is limited to what we as humans can imagine. Jesus is above our imagination. There are people who try to water down the miracles Jesus performed and the healing he did as something explained by a human way of thinking. Won’t see me buying that.
The minute we downplay the power of Jesus we degrade the cross and resurrection. We begin to lose what Jesus came to do for all of mankind. I for one will never underestimate what my Lord can do. I crank up Josh Wilson’s song, Pushing Back the Dark” anytime I feel a little discouraged or doubtful.
It says:
One million reasons why, you shouldn’t even try.
After all you’re just one heart, a single candle in the dark.
There are shadows here, feeding on your fear.
That you don’t have what it takes, who are you to make a change.
But oh oh
[Screen 3]
Don’t underestimate the God you follow.
[Screen 4]
My God’s Word, which is what I believe it is, God’s Word, opens up with this statement: IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND EARTH.
That pretty much covers any questions any one has about my Lord. He created everything that was, that is and will be.
When I walk outside and look around me at a world full of beauty and full of living things there for me to behold. [Screen 5]
I know I am seeing the Glory of the Lord.
The Glory of God is found in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus had the power of God within Him.
Jesus is God. John 10.30, I and the Father are one.
The Apostle John writes that Jesus is God, John 1.14, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. [Screen 6]
When I see Jesus I know I see the Glory of the Lord.
Jesus revealed God’s glory in at least 40 miraculous events in the gospels. The first miracle about Jesus was his virgin birth. Can’t get past that one. Matthew 1.18, This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. [Screen 7]
When I read of the virgin birth I know I am seeing the Glory of the Lord.
Jesus’ first actual miracle we read about is at a wedding where they needed more wine. Jesus’ mom needed some help and Jesus was a good son and gave it.
John 2. 1-8, 1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They took it to the master of the banquet and he got to taste the best wine he had ever tasted. [Screen 8]
When I think about the water turned to wine, I know I see the Glory of the Lord.
Jesus also caused two blind men to see as he was traveling about. Matthew 9.27-30, 27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they replied.
29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored.
These two men had been blind but now they see. [Screen 9]
Before I met Jesus I was blind but now I know I see the Glory of The Lord.
Jesus caused a man who couldn’t talk to speak. Matthew 9.32-33, 32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
[Screen 10]
Of course the Pharisees complained that Jesus was the prince of demons, but I along with the others there see the Glory of the Lord.
Jesus did a lot of walking while he was here on this earth, but there was one walk he took that made us all see who he was. Matthew 14. 25-27, 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus walked on water. Peter tried but he couldn’t. Jesus walked on top of the water. No one without the power of God could do that. [Screen 11] When I hear of Jesus walking on the water, I know I see the Glory of the Lord.
Jesus blessed some bread and some fishes and 5000 people were well fed. People try to find a way this could have been rigged. Its hard to believe unless you believe that God who is Jesus can do whatever the heck He wants.
John 6.11, Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
Jesus did this through the power of God, not by getting others to share what they had. [Screen 12] When I hear of this miracle of feeding I know I see the Glory of The Lord.
Jesus’ friend Lazarus died and Jesus went to visit with his sisters Mary and Martha. They were upset with Jesus. Why hadn’t he come sooner? Lazarus had been dead for 4 days.
Jesus went to the tomb. He asked Mary, “Where have you laid him. They told him to come and see.
And in verse John 11.35 we read, Jesus Wept. and reading on: 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (I like how it says we have to believe to see the Glory of God here)
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” [Screen 13]
When I think of Jesus raising his friend from the dead, I believe and I know I see the Glory of the Lord. And I also see the compassion of the Lord as he wept for his friend.
One more. Jesus was out in a boat with some of the disciples. A storm came up and the boat was about to sink and all in the boat would perish.
Mark 4. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Jesus showed the true power of God and showed he did care. He calmed the storm with just his voice. Try to tell me that wasn’t of God. [Screen 14]
Yea the disciples were still frightened, but they had definitely seen the Glory of the Lord.
Through the gospel. There are many, many more examples I could share.
In all of these: [Screen 15]
Our eyes have seen the Glory of the Lord.
Yes our eyes have seen the Glory of the Lord.
Miracles we can’t explain.
The power of God is on display.
Our eyes have seen the Glory of the Lord. (1)
And even after all this, Jesus was not done. He prepared to do his most remarkable miracle of all.
In a moment of the biggest restraint of power he, Jesus allows himself to go through pure hell. He could have stopped this but he didn’t.
-One of his closest disciples had betrayed him for money.
-He was arrested by temple soldiers.
-He was interrogated by Annas the high priest.
-He was tried on false evidence by the Jewish council.
-He was denied by his most vocal supporter, Peter. Not once but three times.
-He was beaten and flogged by the soldiers.
-Questioned by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate and King Herod Antipas.
-Taken before Pilate again
-Whipped by some more Roman soldiers.
-Finally condemned by Pilate to be crucified at the insistence of the local people who had just been cheering him a few days before.
-Mocked by the soldiers and crowned with thorns that cut into his brow.
-Forced to carry his on cross to the place of his execution.
-Stripped and completely expunged of any dignity.
-Nailed. I repeat nailed to a board.
-Lifted on a cross to hang from his nail pierced hands and feet until dead.
He became our priest who interceded for us.
Just as the priests of the Old Testament He was to make an offering of a sacrifice to cleanse us of our sins. It now fell on Him to save us all.
But there was one big difference in Jesus and the Old Testament Levite priests.
[Screen 16]
JESUS BECAME THE LAMB that was slaughtered on the cross for us.
Behold your Lamb.
Behold the Light shining in the darkness.
Behold the KING.
Behold the Word walking here among us.
SEE THE GLORY OF THE FATHER IN THE SON OF MAN
Behold the Lamb (2)
But wait. There is one more little thing we need to add.
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
[Screen 17]
His glory revealed
Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming (3)
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One bringing
My Savior Jesus is mine
[Screen 18]
CT: We see the Glory of God in Jesus Christ.
Won’t you believe with me today and see the glory of our God. What better day than today to start your journey to follow the one who can do all these things we talked about today.
Come follow Jesus Christ and know the true Glory of God in your life.
Know the forgiveness that he offers to all who will choose to follow no matter where you have been before.
Know the victory you can have over the things trying to bring you down.
Sing Glorious Day
Bibliography:
(1) Song excerpt:Our Eyes have Seen the Glory of the Lord
(2) Song excerpt: Behold the Lamb
(3) Song excerpt: Glorious Day
