Who is Jesus?

Open: “Too many folks want to box Jesus in, carve him in stone, create an idol out of him. But this story cracks the pedestal we’ve put him on. The wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting one, prince of peace, was as human as you and me. Like you and me, he didn’t have his life figured out. He was still growing, maturing, putting the pieces together about who he was and what he was supposed to do. We might think of him as the Rock of Ages, but he was more like a hunk of clay, forming and reforming himself in relation to God.”

quote from Lesbian UMC Bishop Karen Oiveto from Sept 2017 in article on The Institute on Religion and Democracy’s Blog, by John Lomperis

Transition: This is the type of junk that passes for preaching in many Methodist social clubs that were once Churches that honored God and His word. Sadly, this level of biblical incompetence and heretical teaching is becoming the norm in some circles.

What’s the point of sharing this account at Smyrna Baptist? There may be some among us who do not have a fully formed understanding of the uniqueness and Majesty of Jesus. I don’t believe for a minute that any of us think like this lesbian bishop is thinking, but some of may have some nagging doubts about just how important Jesus is. Some may question: ‘is Jesus really the ONLY way to God? What those good people who are nice but don’t even believe in God?’

Our text for today gives clarity to this topic and answers the question: Who is Jesus? READ Hebrews 1:1-4

The Essence of Christ

This passage, along with John 1:1-4, Philippians 2:6-11, and Colossians 1:15-18 is a passage that gives great insight into who Jesus is. In the Hebrews passage we discover that

Jesus is the Eternal Creator (v. 2)

The author of the book is attesting to the Eternality of Jesus. Jesus has always existed; there was never a time when He was not. He was already in the beginning and He was the agent of Creation (John 1:1, Col 1:16)

The Bible presents God as Eternal - He is the Singular Self-existing being; there is no other. He is outside the box of the space-time continuum. He existed in Eternity past prior to creating the box. The writer of Hebrews is revealing that Jesus IS this Creator!

Jesus is God in the flesh (v. 3a)

In about 8 weeks we will be observing and celebrating the Birth of Jesus. Jesus was really born as a baby and Mary was His mother. Jesus was truly human, yet we must never fail to remember that He was also truly God. Jesus did NOT come into existence in when Mary delivered Him in Bethlehem, nor did He come into existence when the Most High overshadowed Mary nine months earlier. The Creator of the Universe willingly chose to step into His own creation!

Jesus is the Divine Radiance of God and the exact representation of the Father. Consider how Jesus answered Phillip’s question when he asked Jesus to show them the Father. (John 14:8) Jesus answered by telling Phillip, “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)

Jesus is All-Powerful (v. 3b)

The Greek word translated “upholding” is φέρω (G5770) “carry, bear.” . . . It does not mean simply “sustain,” but has the sense of active, purposeful control over the thing being carried from one place to another. In Hebrews 1:3, the use of the present participle indicates that Jesus is “continually carrying along all things” in the universe by his word of power. Christ is actively involved in the work of providence. Similarly, in Colossians 1:17, Paul says of Christ that “in him all things hold together.” (Sytematic Theology, Wayne Grudem, p.

Deism is a belief system that views God as powerful but somewhat uninterested in His own creation. Deism views the universe like a watchmaker who creates a watch, winds it up, and then goes on to another project while leaving the watch to tick by itself.

God did not wind up the universe like a clock and then go wander off. Our planet, our solar system, our galaxy and all that is beyond them is held together by the Spirit of Christ. Jesus sustains this entire Universe and He is bringing it to its intended purpose.

Application: What comfort to know that this world is NOT out of control. For those IN Christ, this truth encourages when are tempted to give in despair due to the seemingly random and chaotic events that overtake us. Know that Jesus is sustaining you in your trials and tribulations (cf., Psalm 55:22)

Jesus is our Sin Bearer (v. 3c)

Jesus is the Only One who has the Nature and the Authority to atone for sins. This concept is of extreme importance to the writer’s argument for the superiority of Christ over the Old Covenant’s sacrificial system. Only Jesus can serve as the Sin Bearer because of His nature as Truly God and Truly Man.

The beauty and wonder of Jesus as Savior will be more fully developed in Hebrews, but the writer declares this truth at the outset - It was Jesus, and Jesus alone, who made satisfactory atonement for sin.

Jesus is our King (v. 3d)

Jesus IS seated on the throne of David at the right hand of the Father. All Authority is His (cf., Matt 28:18) and He IS ruling this Universe. The Kingdom of God is present in the NOW because of the King’s presence.

One only has to look around this broken and messed up world to realize that it is still in a serious mess. When you hear Jesus is on the Throne, part of you may be asking, ‘then why is there still pain & suffering, injustice and violence? The answer is realized in the tension of the NT’s principle of the already - not yet. The Kingdom has been inaugurated, but not yet fully consummated

Jesus is already King and He is our King for those of us who are already in Christ. But make no mistake, He will one day be recognized as King by all who live. Scripture reveals that “every knee should bow … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Phil 2:10-11)

Conclusion:

The writer of Hebrews begins his message by declaring Jesus IS superior based on His Divine Nature and His Authority. He has also definitively stated that God has completed His revelation to the world in Jesus (verse 2) - there will be no further word from God because none is needed.

The original audience included some who were considering going backwards to an inferior system that had already proved to be incapable of satisfying humanity’s sin problem. I would imagine that no one in this room is thinking about converting to Judaism, but there may be some who aren’t convinced that surrendering to Christ is the answer.

If that is you, at least you have heard of who Jesus really is. The lesbian ‘bishop’ presented a heretical and blasphemous picture of a distorted Jesus. Her made up Jesus is like the pocket-sized ‘squishy’ Jesus who is unable to do anything. If you are going to reject Christ, at least know which Christ you are rejecting. You are rejecting the Eternal Creator of the Universe, the Only Sin Substitute, and the King of Glory. If you see Him for who He really is you will surrender and serve Him now.