Jesus Our Priest

Introduction:

Intro: We are given a portrait of who Jesus is in this Text! As we taste and see this morning, may we find delight in this picture.

Problem: The problem: We have have a wrong picture of Jesus. If we get Jesus wrong, we get everything wrong. A distorted picture leads to distorted faith.

Roadmap: But if we get a biblical picture it leads to true worship, salvation, and transformed living. Seeing Jesus as God, as fulfillment, and as human we will gain a more biblical picture of who Jesus is!

Portrait 1: Jesus as God.

Statement: Jesus, the eternal Creator, lives in perfect community and gives life to the dead and light to the world.

Explanation:

It starts with “in the beginning.” (Gen 1:1!)

The “Word” = Jesus.

He was with God and was God. Jesus was in the start with God (perfect community)

“all things…” (Eternal Creator)

“in Him life…” (Gives Life)

“the light…” (Light to the world)

Argumentation: There are false narratives to who Jesus is/isnt. Jesus isnt just a good therapist existing to make me happy . HE is GOD!

Application:

If Jesus is God, which He is, we cannot treat him like a good teacher, therapist, or a cosmic vending machine. We have to worship Him as God! Worshipping Jesus whole-heartedly. Not with parts of our life. But ALL of our life. We worship Jesus as Savior, and Lord. Not just as our substitute, but also our commander. When Jesus calls us to follow him, if bids a man come and die. If Jesus wasn't God, we dont need to die to ourself. However, Jesus is God. so we can trust Jesus’ claims.

When you worship Jesus as God it changes your worship! It leads you to a transformed life.

Desires begin to change. Actions began to change.

Transition: We must first start with the picture of Jesus as God, but the text offers another picture in the verses to come.

Invitation: I invite you today to surrender ALL to Jesus. Believe that Jesus is your savior yes! But also your Lord. Jesus is God.

Portrait 2: Jesus as the Fulfillment of prophecy and law!

Statement: Jesus, the promised light, rejected by His own, yet offering eternal life to all who believe.

Explanation:

Fulfillment of prophecy: 2 Sam. 7:12-13, Isa 7:14

Fulfillment of law: Mt. 5:21-48

Argumentation: Jesus was not just a good teacher. He was the prophesied messiah that would come to bring about salvation to the world! The Savior of the world!

Illustration: There are over 300 prophecies that are made in scripture that Jesus fulfills!

Application: Jesus as the fulfillment gives us assurance that we can take Jesus at his Word.

His words are true! : Because he is the WORD, we can trust that the words of Jesus can be trusted! God’s word is trustworthy!

His words bring light.

Invitation: I invite you today to TRUST the Word of God. Lay down your preconceived notions about Jesus, read his Word, and submit your lives to it.

Transition: One very important prophecy that Jesus fulfilled was that He came as a Man.

Portrait 3: Jesus as a Man.

Statement: Jesus lived amongst humanity to show God’s glory.

Explanation:

“The Word”- Jesus

“became flesh”- the incarnation

“dwelt among us”

“seen his glory”

“full of grace and truth”

Application:

Jesus becoming flesh grants us:

Eternal Life. (John 3:16)

Union with Christ. (Gal. 3:26)

Adoption. (John 1:12)

Peace with God. (Romans 5:1)

Indwelling of the spirit! (Rom. 8:9-11)

Im reminded of, Exodus 33:7–11 “Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”

BECAUSE OF JESUS DWELLING WITH HIS PEOPLE ON EARTH, THE SPIRIT NOW DWELLS IN US! WE DON’T HAVE TO WATCH SOMEONE ELSE MEET WITH GOD, BUT, BECAUSE OF JESUS BEING HUMAN, WE GET TO HAVE GOD DWELL IN US!

Invitation: I invite you to believe that when Jesus died on the cross, it was meant for you. We can have faith because of Jesus leaving his cosmic throne to robe himself in humanity and sacrifice himself in our place to grant us salvation. I invite you today live in the power that comes with being indwelt by God himself!

CONCLUSION:

To know Christ was to know God (John 8:19; 14:7). To see Christ was to see God (John 12:45; 14:9). To believe in Christ was to believe in God (John 12:44; 14:1). To receive Christ was to receive God (Mark 9:37). To hate Christ was to hate God (John 15:23). And to honor Christ was to honor God (John 5:23).

John Stott (English Preacher)

My prayer is that today we have a more robust, Biblical picture of Jesus and it leads us to knowledge and transformation in our minds and lives.

If we get a biblical picture it leads to true worship, salvation, and transformed living. Seeing Jesus as God, as fulfillment, and as human we will gain a more biblical picture of who Jesus is!