Introduction

Good morning, church family! Today, we're diving into the opening of the Gospel of John as we explore the Jesus of Scripture, the Jesus of History, and the Jesus of Faith.

C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Christ is the Son of God who became man for us, and then we are Sons of God who must become men for Him.” This reminds us of the incredible truth that Jesus, the eternal Word, took on flesh and stepped into history to reveal the Father's love for us.

Let's read together from John 1:1-3:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."

Would you join me in prayer as we ask the Holy Spirit to guide our time together?

Father God, we thank You for Your Word, which is alive and powerful. We thank You for revealing Your Son, Jesus, to us through the pages of Scripture, through His life and ministry in history, and through our personal faith in Him. We ask that You would open our hearts and minds to receive Your truth today, that we may grow in our understanding and love for Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The Jesus of Scripture

The Jesus of scripture is a profound and multi-faceted concept that encompasses the entirety of the Bible, from the Old Testament prophecies and foreshadowings to the New Testament accounts of His life, teachings, death, and resurrection.

First and foremost, Jesus is presented as the eternal Word of God, as we read in the opening verses of John's Gospel. This means that Jesus is not only the ultimate expression of God's wisdom and creative power, but also that He has existed from the very beginning, co-eternal with the Father.

This truth is further emphasized in Colossians 1:16-17, where the Apostle Paul writes, "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Jesus, as the eternal Word, is the source of all life and the sustainer of the universe.

Another crucial aspect is His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and expectations. Throughout the Old Testament, God's people were given glimpses of a coming Messiah, a figure who would bring salvation and restoration to Israel and the world. Jesus is the embodiment of these prophecies, as He Himself declared in Luke 4:18-19, quoting the prophet Isaiah:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." In Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah had finally arrived, fulfilling the hopes and dreams of God's people throughout the centuries.

The Jesus of scripture is also characterized by His teachings, which reveal the heart of God and provide a blueprint for living a life that is pleasing to Him. Jesus' teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount, challenge us to love our enemies, to be peacemakers, to forgive, and to seek first the kingdom of God. These teachings, while often difficult to put into practice, are grounded in the reality of God's love and grace, which Jesus came to demonstrate and make available to all who would believe in Him.

Moreover, the Jesus of scripture is marked by His miracles and signs, which attest to His divine authority and power. Throughout the Gospels, we read of Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, calming storms, and feeding thousands with just a few loaves of bread and fish. These miracles not only reveal Jesus' compassion for those in need but also serve as evidence that He is indeed the Son of God, sent to bring salvation and restoration to a broken world.

The Jesus of scripture is also defined by His relationships with others, particularly His disciples. Jesus called ordinary men and women to follow Him, promising to make them "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Throughout His ministry, Jesus invested in these disciples, teaching them, praying with them, and preparing them for the mission that would continue after His death and resurrection. In this way, Jesus modeled the importance of discipleship and community, showing us that the Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation but in the context of loving and supportive relationships.

Furthermore, the Jesus of scripture is characterized by His obedience to the Father, even to the point of death on the cross. In the Garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus faced the prospect of His crucifixion, He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). This willingness to submit to the Father's will, even in the face of unimaginable suffering, demonstrates Jesus' perfect love and trust in God. It also serves as an example for us, as we are called to follow in His footsteps and live lives of obedience and surrender to God's will.

Finally, the Jesus of scripture is revealed in His death and resurrection, the climax of His mission to bring salvation to humanity. Through His sacrificial death on the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world, offering forgiveness and reconciliation to all who would believe in Him. And through His resurrection, Jesus conquered death itself, opening the way to eternal life for all who trust in Him.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 6:4, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." In this way, the Jesus of Scripture brings hope, transformation, and victory to all who embrace Him as Lord and Savior.

Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about how the Jesus of Scripture has impacted your life and faith journey.

The Jesus of History

The Jesus of history refers to the actual person who lived and ministered in first-century Palestine, the one whose life and teachings have been recorded in the Gospels and other historical documents ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO