Who Is Jesus?
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Introduction:
We no longer live in a day where an understanding of the Bible and Jesus is prominent.
Most don’t truly understand who Jesus is and what He came to do.
Today, I want to tell you about who Jesus is.
Who is Jesus?
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
This book is all about Jesus and His gospel.
I. Jesus’ authority as a teacher.
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
The people were surprised at the method of Jesus’ teaching. He did not quote the thoughts of other Rabbis or teachers. His characteristic way of teaching was, “I say unto you…”
II. Jesus’ authority over evil spirits
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
In verse 24, the demon is defensive and resistant: he senses in Jesus a threat to his existence. Jesus had authority even over the powers of spiritual darkness that the people could not handle.
III. Jesus’ authority over sickness
And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
At just a word this woman was instantly healed. The Bible contains over thirty such incidents - the sick, blind, lame, and leprous were healed.
The Gospel of Mark contains many such examples of Jesus’ extraordinary authority.
IV. Jesus’ authority over nature
And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
In a violent storm, he stood up in a boat and commanded the wind and waves to die down, and they obeyed.
V. Jesus’ authority to forgive sins
And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Jesus said to the man: “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” The religious leaders rightly saw this as a claim to be equal with God. The rest of the New Testament tells us that Jesus is indeed equal with God as God’s Son - more than that, he is both God and man in one person (emphasize this point).
So this is the picture we are building. Jesus has come into God’s creation, God’s world, with the full authority of God. There is not part of the creation - animate, inanimate, human or spiritual - over which Jesus does not rule.
VI. Jesus’ authority over life and death
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
On three recorded occasions he raised up dead people - even Lazarus, who had been dead for four days.
As God in human form, he not only forgives sins: he had power over life and death. However, there is one more area of Jesus’ authority we need to consider.
VII. Jesus’ authority over people
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
Jesus went to almost complete strangers and commanded them to leave their jobs and follow him. As the Son of God, Jesus makes the same claim over your life and mine. He calls ordinary people like us to follow him. These four men did. Some whom Jesus called later refused to follow him. In the whole of creation Jesus’ authority is never resisted, except by the wills of human beings! God, however, commands us to submit to the authority of his Son.
Conclusion:
We have seen in this study:
Jesus’ great authority as God’s Son. He is the supreme Master in God’s world.
He claimed to be divine.
You must need to come to a decision about him. Someone called Jesus “The man you can’t ignore.” You can say he is a liar, a lunatic, or Lord.
You can come to know Jesus today. He can be the Lord and Savior of your life today. All you have to do is trust in Him.