INTRO
What if I could only preach one sermon… What would that sermon be? What would it be titled? Would it be taken from the Old Testament, maybe the Psalms or Proverbs? Or would it come out of the New Testament, taken from the first-hand knowledge found in the Epistles? Perhaps it would be more “Topical” ripped out today’s headlines filled with controversy! Or would it be something more personal, something painful, coaxed from the darkness of my past or something joyous, shared from the light of my future! Oh, I know! What about a good ole fashion, beat em over the head with the Bible, “HELL FIRE AND BRIMSTONE” message!!! Can I get a HALLELLUJAH! Can I get an AMEM!
But what if it was about all of this at the same time?!? What if it was about something too BIG, too REAL, to put into any one box that I might have in my repertoire, what then? What if it asked and answered all the questions? What if it was truly the only “message” we ever needed to hear?!?
Well, if that were the case then I think it becomes very clear what my one and only message would be about...
” JESUS”.
Main Message
Yes, My Message would be tilled “JESUS”, it would be about “JESUS”, Because He is the same “JESUS” we find in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son (JESUS), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
“JESUS” is the MOTIVATION: The Divine Love for all humanity (“For God so loved the world”).
“JESUS” is the ACTION: The sacrificial gift of Jesus to the world (“…that he gave his only Son (JESUS)...”)
“JESUS” is the CONDITION: The human response through belief or faith (“…that whoever believes in him…”)
“JESUS” is the PROMISE: The deliverance from spiritual destruction ("perish") and the promise of "eternal life" (…should not perish but have eternal life.)
So, we now see how this lines up with Hebrews 12 that says that “JESUS” is, the Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith!
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
It would be a message as old as time itself,
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 John 1:1-3
It would be a message as new as today’s sun rise,
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. John 1: 4-5
And what Version of the “Word” would it be taken from. The KJV, NKJV, HCS, NIV, ESV? The simple answer is this… Any version that has within it covers an “Old Testament” that directly points us to “JESUS” and a “New Testament” that desires to teach us about “Jesus”!
An “OT” that goes from “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” to “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction”.
An “OT” that introduces us to the “First Adam”, exposes us to the “First Sin” and brings to light the "First Gospel”, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you shall bruise his heel." Genesis 3:15 It establishes that a human "seed" (Jesus) would one day deliver a fatal blow to the serpent (Satan), though he would suffer a "bruised heel" (the crucifixion) in the process.
The “OT” would foreshadow “The Suffering Servant”, "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). It shifts the expectation of a military conqueror to a "Suffering Servant" who acts as a substitute for humanity's sin.
The Old Testament will establish Jesus' identity as both a royal heir and a divine figure.
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.2 Samuel 7:12–13
6 For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6–7
Both these verses promise a descendant of King David whose kingdom will never end.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Micah 5:2 predicts the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem but that his "goings forth" are from eternity, implying his divinity.
The Lord's Authority: The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Psalm 110:1 is the most-quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament, where David refers to the Messiah as his "Lord," indicating Jesus' superiority over even the greatest earthly kings.
An “OT” that has the 14 generations from Abraham to Jesse, the Father of King David, and the 14 generations form David to the deportation to Babylon, and the 14 generations from the Babylon deportation to Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom “JESUS” was born, who is the Christ.
And what would the “New Testament” teach us about “Jesus”?
Jesus' Core Identity & Divinity,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[a] from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14:
Identifies Jesus as the eternal "Word" who was with God, was God, and "became flesh" to dwell among humanity.
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58:
Jesus claims the divine name by stating, "Before Abraham was, I am," leading his audience to understand he was claiming equality with God.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, Colossians 2:9:
Explicitly states that "all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily" in Christ.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:3:
Describes Jesus as the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his nature".
Jesus' Mission & Authority,
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, John 14:6:
Jesus identifies himself as "the way and the truth and the life," asserting that no one comes to the Father except through him.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18:
Following his resurrection, Jesus declares, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me".
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8–11:
Recounts his humility in dying on a cross and his subsequent exaltation, where "every knee should bow" at his name.
Jesus' Compassion & Character,
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28:
A famous invitation where Jesus offers "rest" to those who are weary and burdened.
John 11:35: The shortest verse, "Jesus wept," is frequently cited for its profound illustration of his human emotion and empathy.
“JESUS” gets us! Jesus understands us! Jesus hurts with us! He cries with us! Because He knows your pains!
I have often wondered at this short verse…” Jesus Wept”, why would Lazareth’s death bring Jesus to tears, knowing fully well that the miracle of Lazareth’s resurrection was about to be witnessed by all that were there mourning… I believe that when Jesus saw Lazareth’s tomb, he caught a foreshadow of Judgement… Jesus weeps at the thought of those who will not be resurrected, those who will hear … ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:23, Yes Jesus Weeps for those who will not be resurrected to Him and to their eternal home…
But for this he does not weep for us, Colossians 2:10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority, in other words, if you have “Jesus”, you have everything you will ever need! Can I get an AMEN!
So, I have said all of this to say this…
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son (JESUS), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.j8
Closing and Invitation.
Close from the heart…
And offer an invitation into the arms of “JESUS”.
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2,
Pastor Curtis
