The Jesus You Seek

The Jesus You Seek

Griffith Baptist Church – 4/12/09

A.M. Service

Text: Mark 16:1-8

Key verse: Mark 16:6 - And he saith unto them, be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Premise: Some seek a great teacher, others seek a want satisfier, still others seek a miracle worker, but what we should be seeking is a grave robber and a life giver – our risen Lord and Savior!

The Introduction

A Sunday School teacher asked her class on the Sunday before Easter if they knew what happened on Easter and why it was so important. One little girl spoke up saying: "Easter is when the whole family gets together, and you eat turkey and sing about the pilgrims and all that." "No, that’s not it," said the teacher.

"I know what Easter is," a second student responded. "Easter is when you get a tree and decorate it and give gifts to everybody and sing lots of songs." "Nope, that’s not it either," replied the teacher.

Finally a third student spoke up, "Easter is when Jesus was killed, and put in a tomb and left for three days."

"Ah, thank goodness somebody knows" the teacher thought to herself. But then the student went on: "Then everybody gathers at the tomb and waits to see if Jesus comes out, and if he sees his shadow he has to go back inside and we have six more weeks of winter." Contributor: Andrew Chan

The world has some interesting ideas about Jesus

If you do not understand and know the real Jesus from the Bible, you do not know the real Jesus!

Some also misunderstand or teach heresy concerning His death:

• Some say He didn’t die at all – but that is not historically factual

• Some say that He simply swooned – in other words, he didn’t really die on the cross but only passed out from blood loss and He was revived later. (ILLUS)

One lady wrote in to a question and answer forum. "Dear Sirs, Our preacher said on Easter, that Jesus just swooned on the cross and that the disciples nursed Him back to health. What do you think? Sincerely, Bewildered.

Dear Bewildered, Beat your preacher with a cat-of-nine-tails with 39 heavy strokes, nail him to a cross; hang him in the sun for six hours; run a spear thru his side…put him in an airless tomb for 36 hours and see what happens. Sincerely, Charles. Contributed by: A. Todd Coget

(Look at and cover the text)

Body

1. Some Seek a Great Teacher

A. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night - John 3:2 - The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

B. No doubt, Jesus was a great teacher:

i. He taught His disciples by word and example

ii. He taught the people God’s truth that had not been skewed by the religious authority

iii. He taught by His life, humility, honor, love, mercy, and truth

iv. His teaching was with authority – Matthew 7:28-29 - 28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

C. For some people, that is the only thing they think about Jesus:

i. He had some great things to say, just like many other religious leaders in history

ii. It was some good philosophy and He had a good following.

iii. People are dismissive of His being the Messiah and only look at Him as a great teacher.

D. They forget what Jesus said about Himself:

i. John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

ii. John 11:25 – Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

iii. John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

iv. John 12:32 – And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

v. John 6:47 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

E. There is more to the Jesus you seek than just great teaching and philosophy.

2. Some Seek a Want Satisfier

A. After feeding the multitude, they followed Him - John 6:26 – Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.