Who is Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
This morning, I want to begin by asking you a question.
Who is Jesus?
In the world we live in there are all kinds of answers to this question.
Some would say Jesus not a historical figure at all. The Bible is a book of fairytales.
Some would say that Jesus was a good man, maybe even a good teacher, but that is as far as it goes.
Some would suggest that Jesus may have been a “prophet” of sorts.
Many of us would say that Jesus is the Messiah—the Christ—the Son of God.
Today, we need to acknowledge that Jesus is either who He said He was, or a liar and actually gave humanity the greatest hoax ever.
Or worse yet, He was a lunatic—a crazy man.
Three choices for each person to choose from. Jesus is either a Liar, Lunatic, or He is LORD.
So as we begin, let me ask you again, “In your life, Who is Jesus?”
This was the same problem that the religious leaders faced. That is exactly what we have bene looking at over the past several weeks. We’ve see how Jesus defended that He was indeed who He claimed to be—The Messiah, God’s Anointed One, the Son of God!
But like our world today, many in Jesus’ day simply could not accept that God would actually offer Himself to pay the debt of sin that each one of us owe.
To them, it sounded crazy. To understand how crazy it sounded we need to pick up our story in John 8:48.
Let’s begin with verse 47.
Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
Verse 47 closes the previous section, by Jesus saying, “Anyone who belongs to God listens to the words of God.”
Jesus is suggesting that the religious leaders present were NOT listening to the words of God.
In the second part of the verse, Jesus actually tells them that the reason that they are not hearing the words of God is because they do not belong to God.
Look at their response in verse 48.
The Jews Response!
The Jews Response!
The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”
They tell Jesus, that He is speaking like a Samaritan! Samaritans were a mixed race. They were considered to be ungodly, and filled with heretics and false worship.
So to call Jesus a Samaritan they are saying that He was a heretic. This may have been the ultimate derogatory name.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, the religious leaders claimed that he was demon possessed! (cf. Jn. 7:20; 8:52; 10:20).
Jesus’ response to their latest accusation
Jesus’ response to their latest accusation
“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
Jesus denies that he is demon possessed (v. 49a).
In fact, it would be impossible for Jesus to be demon possessed because his goal is to honor God the Father (v. 49b).
Even though he is honoring God, the religious leaders are dishonoring him (v. 49c).
I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.
Jesus states that he has no desire to glorify (Gk. glory, praise, honor, opinion) himself (v. 50a).
There is “one”—God—who seeks glory (v. 50b). God seeks for humanity to glorify Him.
Likewise, God is the judge (v. 50c). Because the Father is the judge, Jesus sought the Father’s approval! (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2-5).
Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
Jesus has been giving glimpses of the fact that He can offer salvation (cf. Jn. 5:24; 8:24). Now Jesus clearly states that He is going to be the source of God’s salvation of mankind!
The Jew’s Lash Out!
The Jew’s Lash Out!
At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death.
When the Jews heard these words many of them lash out. They continue to accuse Jesus of being demon-possessed! (v. 52a)
Their view would not allow them to believe Jesus could be greater or more important than Abraham (v. 52b).
Nor would their view allow them to believe Jesus could be greater than the prophets (v. 52c).
They point out that Abraham and the prophets all died (v. 52d).
So what makes Jesus think he could say that they could escape “death” by obeying what he taught (words) (v. 52e).
Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
Then they ask Jesus, “Do you think you are greater than our father Abraham?” (v. 53a).
After all, Abraham (the father of the Promise) died, and so did the prophets (v. 53b).
Finally, they ask, “Who do you think you are?” (v. 53c).
Jesus’ Response
Jesus’ Response
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.
Jesus goes back to the glory question. He says if he glorifies himself, such glory would mean NOTHING (v. 54a).
So Jesus is going to appeal to “My Father” (Yahweh), the God they claim that they know (Gk. ginosko: know, understand, perceive, have knowledge about, acquainted with, familiar with) as their God, is the one who gives Jesus his glory (v. 54b).
Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.
Jesus tells his listeners that although they claim to know God they don’t (v. 55a)
He turns right around and states that he does indeed know God (v. 55b).
At this point, Jesus is claiming to have more authority than the religious leaders that were gathered around him.
Jesus goes on to tell them that if he denied knowing God (Yahweh) he would be a liar just like them (v. 55c).
Then Jesus confirms two things:
Jesus knows God (v. 55d).
And the evidence of this relationship is in his obedience to God the Father (v. 55e).
Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”
Now Jesus reveals details about his relationship with Abraham (v. 56a).
He says that Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing God’s Messiah coming to earth (v. 56b).
And Abraham saw God’s Messiah and was glad (v. 56c).
The Impossible Claim
The Impossible Claim
“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
The Jews Can’t Believe What They Are Hearing!
Jesus claim that Abraham knew him was impossible for them to comprehend. This is because they denied any possibility of Jesus being divine.
The reference to the age “50” could be interpreted a couple of ways:
They could mean that Jesus was too young to have such wisdom, and thus they were discounting his teachings altogether.
They could see “50” as the average length of life. So Abraham could not yet know of Jesus because Jesus has not yet died.
It seems to me that they were in some way attacking the youth of Jesus and his “obvious” (to them) lack of formal teaching.
Bottom line for them is that there was NO way Jesus could have seen Abraham!
Jesus’ Final Response
Jesus’ Final Response
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Jesus emphasizes that he is speaking truth. Would would say, “I tell you the truth. . .”
He says, “Before Abraham was born, I am.”
Throughout the Gospel of John we have a series of I am statements.
However, this one is one of the clearest statements of Jesus’ deity.
It refers back to Exodus 3:14, when Moses asks Yahweh who he should tell the Israelites sent him to deliver them.
God says tell them I am sent me. . .
They Can’t Believe Their Ears
They Can’t Believe Their Ears
At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
The Jews that were listening to all that Jesus said, knew exactly what he was claiming in verse 58! And to them that was blasphemy and deserved death!
So they picked up rocks to stone Jesus to death (cf. Lev. 24:16—Anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death.).
Jesus, however, evaded their rock throwing. The Greek says, He passed through their midst. The better translation that captures the intent is that in someway Jesus slipped away and hid from their presence and then quietly left the temple.
So What?
So What?
The question still remains,
“Who is Jesus?”
Here’s the thing. No one can answer that question for you.
My answer is simple—
First Jesus is my Savior. He’s the one that placed me into a right relationship with God! He’s the one that moves me from spiritual death to spiritual life. And He’s the one that justifies me—makes me just as if I had never sinned!
Secondly, because Jesus did all of these things, Jesus is my Lord, my Master, my Ruler. He is the one that I must obey!
But Jesus is also my Friend. Jesus is going to remind us of this in chapter 15.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command.
Today, each one of us MUST answer the question, “Who is Jesus.”
If Jesus is a liar, then you should reject His message completely.
If Jesus is a lunatic, then you should get as far away from Him as possible.
BUT if Jesus is what He claimed to be
The Messiah
The One sent by God
If He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; And if He is the only way to relate to God, then He must become Lord, Master, Ruler of your life!
In your life, WHO IS JESUS?
