This Man...

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. This Man: “Spake with authority”

2. This Man: “Done nothing amiss”

3. This Man: “Offered one sacrifice”

Introductory Remarks.

1. Today’s lesson will be on “This Man.” Who spake and taught with authority and not as the scribes and Pharisees. This man lived a life perfect from his birth to his death, from the cradle to the grave, from poverty to prosperity. This man offered one sacrifice for sin, for all, forever. This will be one of our “Topical Sermons.” This type of lesson enables me to “go everywhere preaching the word,” as described in Acts 8:4.

2. First, we will discuss the people’s perception of “this man” when He preached and taught them the word of God. After Jesus finished His sermon on the mount, Matthew wrote: “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes,” Matthew 7:27-28.

3. Next, we will describe how people viewed the life of “this man.” Rulers admitted: “I find no fault in this man, before the rulers and people of Israel,” John 18:38. One thief hanging on his cross to die said to the other: “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong (amiss), Luke 23:39-41.

4. Finally, we will investigate how “this man,” after He purged our sins by offering one sacrifice, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High, Hebrews 1:1-3. This man became not only the offering for sin, but the High Priest over His people, and the Savior of those who obeyed Him, Hebrews 5:7-9. This man, God made him to be “the propitiation for the sins of the whole world,” as stated in Romans 3:24-26 and 1 John 2:1-2. God, through this man, accorded (offered): “Heaven’s intervention to enable human intercession.” Let’s consider our first point regarding “this man.”

BODY OF LESSON

I THIS MAN: “SPAKE WITH AUTHORITY”

A. During His teaching in the Temple, the guards were sent out to catch Him in His words. They return to the Leaders, and when asked, “'Why have you not brought him?' They replied: 'Never a man spake like this man,'” John 7:46.

1. Others said: “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” John 7:15.

2. What we see in Jesus is the “Living word of God embodied in human flesh, being seen, heard, read, and known by all men.” The “Word of God” dwelling now in the form of a man!

3. Truly, this is the Son of God! The image of the Father in heaven, for when we see Jesus, we see the Father. John 14:9. Beloved of the Lord,

B. It was this man…who captured the hearts and imaginations of His audience during His preaching and works of healing among the people. To the paralytic, Jesus said, “Take up your bed, and go to your house… he arose, and took up his bed…so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, we never saw anything like this,” Mark 2:11-12. Text shortened for brevity (TSFB).

ILLUSTRATION: Point out the makeup of the onlookers in the house, —no room in the house to receive any more people, —the faith of the four bearers of the man of palsy, —the reasoning in the hearts of the scribes, —their charge of blasphemies, —and the questions and miracle of Jesus. Christ, — the Son of Man, — had the authority to: “forgive sin while on earth,” Mark 2:10.

NOTE: Anytime good is done, evil is around. “We must learn how to overcome evil with good,” Romans 12:20-21. And we should never tire, “In doing good to all men, especially unto the household of faith,” Galatians 6:9-10.

C. The religious leaders asked: “How does this man know letters, having never studied?” John 7:15. The people remarked about His wisdom. Observe, while,

1. Teaching in the synagogue. Matthew noted: “And when He was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” Matthew 12:5. See Matthew 13:56; John 7:37-39. These are the words regarding Jesus as He taught in the temple during the middle of one of the Feast Days in Jerusalem. When He spake,

2. While in Nazareth. Luke penned: “So He came to Nazareth…into the synagogue and stood up to read…He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord…And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him…So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?” Luke 4:16-22. TSFB.