Who Is This Jesus? Series

Sermon Brief

Date Written: December 30, 2010

Date Preached: January 2, 2011

Where Preached: OPBC (AM)

Sermon Details:

Series Title: Falling in Love With Jesus

Sermon Title: Who is this Jesus?

Sermon Text: John 1:1-13 [ESV]

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.

12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Introduction:

Do you love Jesus? For those of us here today who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our answer would be an unreserved YES! But do we REALLY truly love Jesus like we should…

In reality, our love for Jesus is often based on what Jesus has done for us… or has blessed us with in our lives! We may be blessed financially, or have a secure job, or a loving family or great friends… we have a loving fellowship and all these things are GOOD things, but they are NOT the main reason we should love Jesus!

Michelle is a wonderful wife…

Michelle is a wonderful mother…

Michelle is a SUPER grandmother…

She’s a great cook, wonderful housekeeper, a great partner…and there are so many other qualities about Michelle that I love about her, and that benefit me greatly!

But do you know that I loved her BEFORE I knew any of that… I loved her before she was my wife, before she became a mother, before she was a nani, before I ever ate her cooking… I fell in love with HER! The person… MICHELLE PUCKETT!

As believers, it’s the same with Jesus! Before we know of any blessings Jesus can bring into our lives, we fall in love with WHO Jesus is…

But that really begs the question… Who is this Jesus?

1. Jesus is Sovereign Lord and Creator! v.1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.

Who is this Jesus? Scripture reveals to us that Jesus is GOD. Jesus, Himself proclaimed in John 10:30, “I and the Father are ONE!” Jesus is God, and in our verse this morning we can see John referring to this in his opening verses.

Jesus dwelled in heaven, and Jesus was present at Creation and is the Creator! In v.3 John reveals that Jesus created all things… all things were made THRU Him (by His hand) and NOTHING in this world that has been created, was created without His hand… Jesus IS Creator… Jesus IS God.

In Col 1:15-16 Paul tells this about Jesus as well…

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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.

We can see that Jesus is the very image of who God is… an exact representation of God, but Jesus is FAR more than just a representation of God… Jesus is God Himself wrapped in the flesh! Just as John said in John 1:14

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Paul says Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, but that does NOT refer to Jesus being a created being, as some interpret this verse. In the original Greek the term is…pro-tah-takoss which is the singular, masculine, normative adjective that is used as a descriptor of who Jesus is… The 1st born of the 1st century held THE premium role in the family! Jesus is supreme in the family of God… He is heir to all things, He is above all else…