What If Jesus Streamed?

1. The internet increases convenience – “Streaming” has become quite the in vogue activity:

a. Stream Meetings

b. Stream Worship Services

c. Stream parties; weddings; funerals

d. Streaming advantages: Convenience, Time, and Money

e. Streaming disadvantages: Lack of personal contact

[I enjoy FaceTime with Laura and her boys but it makes me want more – it doesn’t relieve the absence, it increases it

2. Some like streaming, some do not – 28% of our congregation “Loves” streaming; 72% take or leave/hate

3. Isn’t it interesting that God did not send his Son when mass communication was so convenient? Galatians 4:4-5 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

a. Clockwork Universe Theory compares the universe to a mechanical clock wound up by God and ticking along, as a perfect machine, with its gears governed by the laws of physics. God's only contribution to the universe was to set everything in motion, and from there the laws of science took hold and have governed every sequence of events since that time.

b. Not a biblical view – Jesus was born in flesh; died in the flesh; resurrected in the flesh

4. What would it have been like if Jesus had streamed from heaven and had not come in person?

I. No Touching!

A. There is Value in Touch/Hugs

[Benefits of Hugs https://www.healthline.com/health/hugging-benefits#1

1. Reduce Stress by Showing Support

2. May Protect against Illness (hormones for boosting immune system)

3. May Boost Heart Health

4. Can Make You Happier

5. Can Reduce Your Fears

6. May Reduce Pain

7. Helps Communicate with Others

B. No Nearness – 6’ Social Distancing

C. Jesus TOUCHED was CLOSE to People

1. Illnesses – Mark 8:22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.

2. Transfiguration Matthew 17:7-8 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

II. No Talking (Face to Face)

A. LORD and Adam – Genesis 3:9 “Where are you?”

B. LORD and Moses – Exodus 33.11a Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

C. More than Information-giving – relationship.

III. No Trust

A. National Motto – In God We Trust

B. Cannot Trust Whom We Do Not Know – Philippians 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

IV. No Trouble (for Him)

A. God’s Effort vs. Our Effort

1. There could have been a “virtual” DBR of Jesus – no muss, no fuss but instead he made the effort

2. What is OUR effort?

a. We’ve turned the church into convenience

b. We’ve developed a consumer mentality

c. We’ve made a switch to be served rather than serve (Acts 20:35)

d. “We are educated above our level of obedience.” ~ Dr. John Maxwell

B. Streaming – No Real Effort

1. Jesus HAS “streamed”:

a. He started with sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44)

b. He streamed his blood onto the world (no accidental spilling/an intentional pouring out)

c. Streamed Rivers of Living Waters – John 7:37-39 37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

d. He streamed his life into ours

2. So what? As the Ekklesia, we are called “OUT”

a. Out of ourselves

b. Out of our comfort zones and away from our fears

c. Out of our conveniences

d. Out of our consumerism and into contributing

e. Out of ignorance and then learning in order to do – Ezra 7:10

3. Jesus showed God to the world – we are to show Jesus