In Jesus Holy Name November 20, 2005
Text: I Timothy 6:11-16 Christ the King Sunday Redeemer
King of kings and Lord of lords
Who is Jesus?
In 1983 the Gallup Poll asked Americans this very question. 42% stated that Jesus was God among mankind.
27% felt Jesus was a great man, divinely called
It’s an old survey, I’m sure the numbers may have changed. It is a timeless question. Who is Jesus? It is a question that even the disciples had to answer.
(Luke 9:18) When Jesus and his disciples were at Caesarea Philippi Jesus asked his disciples the same question. “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples replied: “Some say, John the Baptist, others Elijah or one of the prophets.” Then Jesus asked, “But what about you?” “Who do you say that I am?”
If you been in church long enough you are familiar with Peter’s answer. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
Now the disciples did not always give that answer. Earlier in the ministry of Jesus we find this event from the life of Jesus and his disciples recorded in Matthew 8:23-27. Jesus and his disciples were in a boat crossing the Sea of Galilee. A sudden storm came up. The disciples fearing for their lives wake Jesus who was sleeping. Jesus simply speaks to the wind and the raging waves became as smooth as glass. Instantly, the disciples look at each other and exclaim: “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and waves obey him.”
The Jewish religious theologians, Pharisees and Sadducees also question the authority of Jesus. (Matthew 21:23) Jesus entered the temple courts and while he was teaching the chief priests & elders “questioned him”. “By what authority are you doing these things?” “Who gave you authority?”
(read John 10:22-33) They understood his words. They just didn’t believe!
Times and people have not changed. The question, “Who is Jesus?” must still be answered in every generation, by every individual.
In our Thursday morning Sr. Bible Study through the Book of Acts we found an interesting verse. (Acts 20:38) Paul is preparing for his trip to Jerusalem and he is saying “goodbye” to many of his friends and those who are pastoring the church in Ephesus. “Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with his own blood.”
Did you catch that? “The church of God, which He bought with his own blood.” It’s an easy verse to pass bye. How could God purchase the “church” with his own blood unless he came to earth in the skin of humanity?
The Gospel of John states: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The glory of God which filled the tabernacle in the wilderness was now in Jesus. The glory of God that filled the temple when Solomon dedicated the new temple in Jerusalem, was now in Jesus. On the banks of the Jordan River John the Baptizer said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Only a just and holy God could satisfy the demands of a holy and just God. Rev. John Stott in his book “The Cross of Christ” writes: “If God has sent a man to us, as he sent prophets to Israel, we would have been grateful. If he had sent an angel as he did to Mary, we would have counted it a great privilege. Yet men and angels are creatures of his creative hand. By sending his own son, eternally begotton of His own Being, he was not sending a creature by giving Himself.” “How could the Father’s love have been demonstrated if he had sent somebody else to us? No, since love is in essence self-giving, God gave himself in His Son.” “God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son.” (John 3:16)
“For (Christ) is the visible presence of the invisible God the first born of all creation…. For God was pleased to have all of his fullness dwell in him, and through him reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.” (Col. 1:15,19-20)
Christ died for us. Having “emptied himself” of his glory and taken upon himself the nature of a servant, He humbled himself to be born of a virgin, placed in a manger, in an obscure village in Palestine.
Ravi Zacharias in his book “Jesus Among Other Gods” writes: “….Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was a moment preceded by eternity. His being neither originated in time nor came about by the will of humanity. The Author of time, who lived in the eternal, was made incarnate in time that we might live with the eternal in view.”
The Apostle Paul wrote: “While we were still powerless, Christ died for us.” We had no power to save ourselves. As human beings are and we remain helpless to find true spiritual peace with an almighty, righteous God.
The heart of Christianity always points to cross where the blood of God himself, in Christ purchased our redemption.
We live in a culture, a pluralistic culture and people like the phrase, “God is a God of love.” True love is self-giving love. This is love, not that we loved God but that God first loved us. This is love, holy love, visible at the cross of Jesus, where a holy God inflicts the penalty for sin by bearing it.
Because we live in a post modern world, a pluralistic culture the ethos of the day is this: “Philosophically, you can believe anything, so long as you do not claim it to be true. Morally, you can practice anything, so long as you do not claim that it is a “better” way. Religiously you can hold to anything, so long as you do not bring Jesus Christ into it. If a spiritual idea is eastern, it is granted critical immunity; if western, it is thoroughly criticized.”
Yes, there are those who garner publicity by trying to remove God from the coinage of the land, but spirituality is making a come back. But often the “religions” are a hybrid of western marketing techniques and eastern mythology and mysticism. The first casualty in such a mix is the person of Jesus and his claim to deity.
Historians, poets, philosophers, and a host of others have regarded Jesus as an important centerpiece of history. He himself told the apostle Thomas: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Every word of that statement challenges our culture of tolerance.
Jesus asserted that there was only one way to God. Hinduism and Bahaism have long challenged the concept of a single way to God. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. Islam considers that claim to be blasphemous.
Every world religion wants to offer “a way to live your life.” It is not to Buddha to whom you turn, it is his noble truths that instruct you. It is not Mohammed who transforms your life; it is the beauty of the Koran that woos you. By contrast, Jesus was identical with his message. “In Him the fullness of the Godhead dwelt.” He did not just proclaim truth, he said: “I am the truth.” He did not just show a way. He said. “I am the way.” “I am the door. I am the good Shepherd. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the I AM.”
The Jews knew what he claimed. (read John 10:22-33)
His life without blemish proved His absolute and eternal existence. On numerous occasions, His antagonists were challenged to bring contrary proof against him. Jesus challenged His adversaries to lay a charge of sin at his feet. They could not.
Each individual who comes to faith in the one true God, believing that Jesus is God incarnate, who died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for our sin, our acts of disobedience against a holy God, does so through a different struggle.
` That reminds me. Remember the story of the disciples on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus calmed the storm? Early in their relationship with Jesus they asked themselves: “Who is this man?” Months later, they were again on the Sea of Galilee. It was the middle of the night. The disciples were alone, and during the 4th watch of the night they say someone walking on the water toward them. Matthew says: “They were afraid, thinking it was a ghost.” But it was Jesus. He said: “Take courage it is I. Don’t be afraid.”
So, impetuous Peter decides that if it really is Jesus he was going to walk on water too. Jesus invites him out of the boat. It was going well, until Peter took his eyes off Jesus and say the wind and waves. He began to sink and cried out for Jesus to save him. Jesus reached out his hand. And when they climbed into the boat, Matthew writes: “Those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God.”
Max Lucado concludes the last chapter of his book: “No Wonder They Call Him Savior” with these words: “…reflecting upon the scene in the bible where we find the disciples locked in a room somewhere in Jerusalem. Hiding.” Jesus has been put to death. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had placed his dead body in a limestone tomb. The Jewish leaders were afraid and asked Pilate to seal the tomb and to place a Roman guard to secure the tomb. They were to make sure Jesus stayed in the tomb.
“The door was locked. Dead bolted. Maybe even a chair under the door knob. Inside sat then knee knocking itinerants who straddled the fence between fear and faith.
Uneducated. Confused. Calloused hands. Heavy accents. Few social graces. Limited knowledge of the world. No money. Undefined leadership. And afraid. As you look at this motley crew you would not wager too many pay checks on their future.
Two days later….Jesus is alive. Suddenly Jesus is in their midst. And no one opened the door. A week later the disciples are again together and this time there are eleven, Thomas is with them. The gospel of John records the event. “Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Then Thomas said, “My Lord and my God.” Something happens to the soul of a man who stands inches from God.
