Jesus in everything
one off/Topical/Jesus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning everyone. It is a joy to be with you today. I hope and trust you all had a merry Christmas and I am prayful for each one of you as we move into the new year 2026 it will be a great year for everyone.
This morning we are going to take a break from the book of acts and look to Luke 24 for our main text
and in preparing for today I used a couple of resources that have helped shaped my thoughts. The Jesus story book bible a childrens bible I read to my kids since they were small. Smethurst execellent book on Tim Keller on the Christian life. Desiring God by piper and then some of our own resources concering Bible reading and prayer
and our what I want to do just for the next few mins is break down how Jesus is in all of scripture. That every single story truly whispers his name. How Jesus is at the center of all of Human history and end with how Jesus should be the very center of our lives.
and the reason this matters is because there is always something at the center of our lives. Their is always something at the bottom or the core of what we do. Our motivations come normally from what we delight in and desire the most
and in this room on a Sunday morning I am sure there are many of us who in 2026 want Jesus to be our greatest delight and desire. Scriptur epromises if we
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
and it’s here when we delight in Jesus our hearts become his heart and our desires become his desires
and the question often is how? How do we actually do this. How can Jesus be the very center of all we are and who we are?
One of the key discipleship questions we ask at rivertree is “am I enjoying the nearness of God through scripture reading and prayer?”
and I know sometimes we read the Bible and we examine it. We have a Bible reading plan and we try to answer this question. How should I live. We look for platitudes or ways we can live our life. What we should do and shouldnt’ do. But that at best eventaully isn’t very enjoyable. Sometimes it keeps us out of the ditiches but it just ends up feeling like a chore
and our hope this year is you would spend time exploring the scriputre. You might pray and read your bible daily but instead of examining the bible for how to live my encouragement tfor all of us is allow the bible to examine us looking for things God can’t accept.
and the way we allow the bible to examine us is to see Jesus in every story.
Let’s look to how Jesus did this in Luke 24:13-32
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
here the risen Jesus shows up almost incogntio to 2 of his followers on the road to emmaus. They don’t know what to do. There is a sense of cofusiong and buzz around the empty tomb. They don’t uderstannd.
so Jeuss speakings and starts with Moses first 5 books of the OT and then the rest of the scriputre showing have everything is about him!
then letter in Luke 24:44-45
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
What Jesus was helping them see is that what seemed concealed about Christ in the Old testament had be reaveled in the New Testament of Jesus Christ
it’s like this. Imagine going in a room full of treasure. You are on a treasure hunt and you’ve found it but the room is dimly light at warfield says that’s the Old testement. You are there where the treasure is but because the room is still dark you don’t realize how great the treasure is
but when we get to Jesus the room lights up and we see the treasure Jesus truly is
What we see in this passage is From beginning to end, the Bible is an epic story about Jesus. So this year as you read scritpure look for Jesus in every part.
Sally Loyed Jones drives this home so well in her Childrens Bible
Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn’t mainly about you and what you should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done.
Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you’ll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren’t heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.
No, the Bible isn’t a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story.
It’s an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his lost treasure. It’s a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne—everything—to rescue the one he loves. It’s like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!
You see, the best thing about this Story is—it’s true.
There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.
It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers his name. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle—the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture.
and once you know that Jeuss is the piece that makes all other pieces fit togther it really changes the way we come to the sciptures.
it’s like watching a movie with a major twist. Maybe the 6th sense, maybe intersteller,
when the twist happens it can be almost shocking. You might have seen it coming but when it’s done well it’s suprising. the end sheds light on the rest of the movie or book
it’s what Jesus and the gospel does. once you understand that Jesus really is a t the center of all of scipture it really changes the way you read everything.
We can see the Jesus in every theme, every genere and section, ever story where people are delivered, every majoyr image and every major figure
Some examples of this that have been helpful to me. And it’s not an exhaustive list but it’s a hepful one from the resource I mentioned earlier TK and the Christian life
Jesus is the true and better Adam, who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us. …
Jesus is the true and better Abel, who, though innocently slain, has blood that cries out for our acquittal, not our condemnation. …
Jesus is the true and better Abraham, who answered the call of God to leave the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void, “not knowing whither he went,” to create a new people of God.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac, who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us all. God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me, because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love, from me.” [So] we can say to God, “Now we know that you love us, because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love, from us.”
Jesus is the true and better Jacob, who wrestled with God and took the blow of justice we deserved so that we, like Jacob, receive only the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.
Jesus is the true and better Joseph, who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses, who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant. …
Jesus is the true and better rock of Moses, who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job—the truly innocent sufferer—who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends. …
Jesus is the true and better David, whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther, who didn’t just risk losing an earthly palace but lost the ultimate heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life but gave his life—to save his people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah, who was cast out into the storm so we could be brought in
but we also see Jesus in even the New Testemant of course his person but also his teaching
One example
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Why can we be as rich as kings? Because he became spiritually and utterly poor.
Why can we be comforted? Because he wept inconsolably and died in the dark.
Why can we inherit the earth? Because he became meek, like a lamb before his shearers. He was stripped of everything—they even cast lots for his garment.
Why can we be filled and satisfied? Because on the cross he cried, “I thirst.”
Why can we obtain mercy? Because he got none—not from Pilate, not from the crowd, not even from God.
Why can we someday see God? Because he was pure. We can see God because, on the cross, Jesus could not
this is just a small example of how Scriputres always point us back to Jesus
and the reason this matters is because if Jesus really is the center of every story. If Jesus really is the center of all of human history
we must allow Jesus to be the very center of our lives
I want go back to Luke 24 and end with verse 31-32
And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
amazing right? Jesus vanises and then they say did not our hearts burn within us while he alked to us on the road and opened to us the Sciriptures
and that’s exactly what we are after when it comes to enjoyment of God. that when we see Jesus at the center of it all when we have Christ centered lives
our hearts burn within us. Their is a joy and enjoyment of God that we expierencing
so as we move into 2026 that’s my hope for all of us.
so as you approach bible reading and devotional times don’t reduce the bible to a textbook or only a book you go to for devos or just a book on morality how to live
no above all the word of God is a Jesus book that helps us get Jesus
don’t lose sight of him in 2026
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let’s pray
