Whenever i teach or preach, my objective is pretty much the same. I want to encourage you to love Jesus! A stable, mature relationship with Jesus is built line by line, precept by precept.
Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15?-?16 ESV
When we ask ourselves "what would Jesus do, " we can get some surprising answers by simply looking at the events of His life. We can see that He did in fact have to deal with the same realities that we have to deal with in our day to day lives amen?
So with that in mind, I want this to be a message where we look at Jesus with fresh eyes and really appreciate the fact that He did experience life just like we do. The title of this message is "Portrait of Jesus."
Jesus had fun.
Does that surprise you?
He was not a far-off ascetic who simply sat on a mountain at spouted platitudes. In fact, He enjoyed life even to the extent that He was (falsely) accused of being a glutton and a drunkard .
Let's look at Luke 10:21:
In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
The point I want to stress is that Jesus “rejoiced (Luke 10:21),” which is the Greek word agalliaô which means “to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad.”
The Bible is full of joy and laughter. In fact, it uses words such as “laugh,” “laughter,“ or other variations of those words over 200 times. The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery tells us that “The Bible is predominantly a serious rather than a funny book. Yet it would distort the Bible to suppress the humor that is present
Always keep in mind that Jesus was both fully God and fully human, and a part of being fully human is experiencing the full range of human emotion, both the joys and the sorrows. Jesus was not the dour, gloomy person that popular religious tradition has often painted Him as being. People from all walks of life actively sought out His company. Did you ever wonder why this was? While the spiritual aspects of His presence are obvious, could it have also been that He was (gasp) a fun guy to be around?
In his book The Humor of Christ, Elton Trueblood brings up a vitally important point: Many of Jesus’ parables and illustrations had humorous overtones in the vernacular of that day. “Why are you worried about a speck in your brother’s eye when you have a two-by-four in your own eye?”
A common form of communication for Jews in that day was called hyperbole, or exaggeration to emphasize a point. A modern example would be “I haven’t seen you in a million years!” Here, Jesus uses it in a very funny way, being a carpenter, Jesus used the tools of His trade to make a stinging point about religious hypocrisy.
Elton Trueblood also reminds us that “Often a smile comes because Jesus reveals to us some of the absurdity of our own lives, where we need help to recognize it .” I can certainly say “amen” to that, can’t you?
Jesus met people where they were. He went to social events and He didn't even mind providing the refreshments!
I think you know where I'm going with this. Turn with me to John 2:1-11 NLT
The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Let me set this up a little. Jesus had been baptized in water. He had been anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Then He had spent forty days in the wilderness dealing with Satan's temptations to use this power for selfish purposes. When He came down from that mountain, Jesus had the victory that would carry Him through the rest of His life on earth. Now it was time for the disciples to see Jesus in a way that they hadn't seen yet.
This village of Cana, which means "reedy" or "place of reeds." It was less than ten miles from Jesus' hometown of Nazareth.
If you've ever seen a Jewish wedding you know that they can be pretty lively events! But it wasn't all about the party. Much of the ceremony was very deep and somber as the ancient Jews saw the marriage ceremony as having a sacramental quality to it. People would often spend time in deep prayer and fasting leading up to the event.
But the celebration itself could last for several days. To run short on refreshments for your guests was considered to be one of the highest forms of insult. In some cases, it could even result in a lawsuit!
So Mary comes and tells Jesus about the problem and at first, He seems a little hesitant. “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” But how many of you know that sometimes Mom has a special knack for getting results! They needed wine and they needed it now!
But getting back to the passage, we see Mary tell the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” The greatest advice anyone could ever give. Do what the Master says! True faith is obedient faith!
Standing nearby were six large jars, whichcould hold twenty to thirty gallons each. Jesus told the attendants to fill them with water. “Fill the jars with water.”
A couple of important observations here. First, notice that before God blesses, He usually requires a corresponding action on our part. Again, it goes back to true faith is obedient faith. Also, notice how he said to FILL the pots with water. Don't do it half way. When you do something for Jesus, do it all the way!
So, they follow Jesus' instructions and after they had tasted the wine, they observed that it was customary for them to start off with the good wine, then bring out cheaper, lower quality wine later on. But in this case, the wine Jesus had made was the best of all of it6
Jesus' first miracle was one of pure luxury, supplying a want, not just a need. He didn't just provide wine, He provided wine of the highest quality!
This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee is described as the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And notice this: his disciples believed in him.
Miracles are designed to glorify Jesus, to help people in need and to build faith and we see all three of these things accomplished right here.
Jesus Got Angry
It was rare, but it did happen.
I'm going to challenge another sacred cow and you've probably noticed by now that I really enjoy doing that. After all, sacred cows make the best steaks, amen? But listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you: Jesus never called us to be "nice." Kind? Yes. Compassionate? Yes. Forgiving? Yes. But never "nice."
Pastor Tim Keller insightfully pointed out that Jesus wasn't crucified for being a nice guy doing nice things. He was crucified because the establishment saw Him as a threat to their power! Even some of Jesus' greatest acts of mercy and compassion were done in a vary "in your face" manner to His critics. In fact, He made a point of that from the very beginning!
You can tell a lot about a person by looking at what makes them angry. It says a lot about the person's priorities. I once heard about a preacher who told his congregation "Tonight millions of children will go to bed hungry and most of you don't give a ----. The sad thing is that most of you are more upset about me using that word than you are about millions of children going to bed hungry! " Makes you think, doesn't it?
So what makes Jesus angry? Let's turn to John 2:13-22 NLT
It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who
sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”
There was a meme on Facebook that said "Next time someone asks you 'What would Jesus Do?' Remind them that turning over tables and chasing people with whips is within the realm of possibility!"
This was Jesus' first public appearance in Jerusalem and He made sure it was an eventful one. It was time for the great holiday of Passover in which countless Jews would make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem with their families. For the city officials, this was one of their biggest events of the year and they made every effort to present the city in all of its splendor.
In the Temple area Jesus sees Merchants selling sacrificial animals and exchanging money.
Now, the original intent of selling the animals might not have necessarily came from bad motivations. Many of the people had traveled a very long way and this may have simply started as a convenience so that they could buy their animals here instead of having to travel with them. But as you know, anytime there are large crowds of people, price gouging and price inflation are almost inevitable. If you've ever been to a ball game or an amusement park and had to pay $5 or more for a watered down flat soft drink you know exactly what I mean!
Think carefully about the purpose of the Temple: It was the place where God's glory dealt. It was the place where sin was atoned for. It was the place where God met with humanity. Friends, all of these things point to Jesus, the greater one than the Temple! When people trifle with God's glory and interfere with people experiencing Him, Jesus takes that personally!
But we've looked at what did make Jesus angry, let's look now at what DIDN'T make Him angry. Let's go to Isaiah 53.
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:1?-?12 ESV
Was there anger here? No, there was love. There was mercy.
Jesus faced sorrow.
For my example here, i want to share a passage that it may surprise you to hear, but i find it to be one of the most comforting parts of the entire Bible
Ill read it to you, then ill explain why. Look with me at Matthew 26:36?-?38
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”
Matthew 26:36?-?38 ESV
Some of us, if we heard Jesus say something like this, would rebuke Him for making a bad confession! Friends, the notion that Christians are supposed to be happy all the time is nonsense. Isaiah 53, which we just read,tells us that Jesus wsd a man well acquainted with sorrow.
But here is the key point I want to make: Jesus knew everything was going to be OK. He knew He would rise from the dead and then go back to Heaven. But He still did not downplay the agony He was about to experience. When you are in a dark time, you can have complete faith that God will bring you through it, yet you can be totally real with the pain you are facing. Jesus’ example gives you permission. Take time to think deeply about that. It's such a liberating truth.
When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, the physical pain of the cross He was facing was obvious. But even deeper than that, He faced the reality of becoming sin, something that was totally foreign to His holy nature.. This culminated when, for the only time in history, God the Father turned His back on His Son, resulting in Jesus crying out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
He was cursed, so that we could be blessed
He was made sin, so that we could be made righteous.
He was wounded, so that we could be healed.
He was made poor, so that we could be made rich
He died, so that we could live
And what was His mindset as He was doing all those things? Turn to Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Yes, He endured the cross and all of the agony that went along with that. But why did He do it? For the joy set before Him. And what was that joy? That He could have a relationship with us! And that brings us to the final portrait:
Jesus Is a Friend
Yes, I think most of us have some understanding of how Jesus is a friend closer than a brother, and although obviously that's true, we can get some important lessons about how that works as we look at how He related to His actual flesh and blood friends that He had during His time on earth.
John 21:1?-?14 KJV
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
These were the friends who had abandoned and denied Jesus in His darkest hour. And how did He respond? He made them breakfast! There is so much to learn there. When we sin and disappoint Him, what does He do? He makes a banquet to welcome us back, just like we see happen with the prodigal son. As the beautiful Hymn reminds us:
The disciples came to land,
Thus obeying Christ’s command,
For the Master called unto them, “Come and dine”;
There they found their heart’s desire,
Bread and fish upon the fire;
Thus He satisfies the hungry every time.
Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;
You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now,“Come and dine.”
Friends, THIS was the joy that Jesus endured the cross for, the joy of being reconciled to us, no matter how far away from Him we may have drifted. He may be calling out to you right now! Come and dine!
So as I begin to wrap up, again, I hope this message has helped you see Jesus in a fresh way. This is a very real Jesus Who is so much more than the vague religious images have led us to believe.
