See and Savor Jesus

Outline

Big Idea: God beckons us to See and Savor His glory by displaying it in the changeless complexity of the God-Man Jesus Christ.

We were created for the Glory of God.

Jesus Christ is the Glory of God in flesh.

The Complexity of the Lion-Lamb

Joy’s Changelessness

Introduction

On Christmas Eve, I suggested to you that the one thing we can never overindulge in, is Christ. That in fact, we SHOULD make him the source of overindulgent joy.

On New Year’s Eve, I built upon that idea and introduced the theme for 2026 that we come to today—Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ. (Not original phrasing to me, borrowed from John Piper)

It is a theme that has continued to arrest my own heart personally and one I believe The Spirit is laying at my feet for us as a church to make our own for this year.

Last year, I unfolded the them of Faith in Action.

I have also introduced the theme of LOOK UP and PRESS On.

This year, I will be using John Piper’s book Seeing and Savoring Jesus as inspiration for helping us to consider how we, as His Church, His Bride, can strengthen our seeing and our savoring of Jesus.

We were created BY God, FOR God.

It ought to be the pursuit of EACH of our lives to SEE and SAVOR Jesus to the fullest extent possible.

Once per quarter, like last year, we will revisit and build upon this theme, but it is my prayer that we will keep it before us, DAILY.

This morning, I want us to consider this truth:

Big Idea: God beckons us to See and Savor His glory by displaying it in the changeless complexity of the God-Man Jesus Christ.

In considering it, I want to look at four truths that will help us to see and Savor Him more fully.

Body

We were created for the Glory of God—Ps 19:1; Is 40:26.

For those who were able to make our New Year’s Eve service, we considered a few texts…

Psalm 19:1 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Have you ever sat in wonder of the expanse of space above us? Both within our atmosphere and beyond?

To help us emphasize and focus on this, I showed a video on called, “The Created Cosmos.” It never ceases to stagger me, no matter how many times I see it.

There is SO MUCH space out there. And as far as we have discovered, there is no intelligent life in any of it but here. And to be honest, despite man’s imaginings of what could be out there, I doubt we will find any.

I personally think that the only place to contain intelligent life, made in the image of God, is here.

But whether or not that is true, the vast amount of space, seemingly infinite in its extent still begs the question…why did God created SO MUCH “wasted” and empty space?

**Let the question hang for a moment**

John Piper notes…

“The reason for ‘wasting’ so much space on a universe to house a speck of humanity is to make a point about our Maker, not us.” John Piper

I agree with Piper. The vastness of space is intended to make MUCH OF GOD. It is to make a point about HIM, not us.

Isaiah 40:26 ESV

26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.

Lift up your eyes, Church.

There is not one aspect of His creation that God has lost control of. There is not one element He does not control absolutely.

Who created all that we see?

Who created all that we tend to take for granted?

Who created all this order, beauty, and design around us?

We know him.

But we are being called to do more than just KNOW him. We are being beckoned to SEE AND SAVOR Him.

Piper goes on…

“The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this.”

“To see it, to savor it, and to show it—that is why we exist. The untracked, unimaginable stretches of the created universe are a parable about the inexhaustible ‘riches of his glory’ (Romans 9:23). The physical eye is meant to say to the spiritual eye, ‘Not this, but the Maker of this, is the Desire of Your Soul.”

John Piper (Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ)

The same truth could be made about ANY part of God’s creation.

When we see it and stand in wonder and awe of it…it is meant to draw our attention TO THE MAKER, not to the made.

Life in the universe DOES, in fact, reveal the presence of God. Romans 1:19-20

Romans 1:19–20 ESV

19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

We were created FOR God’s glory—

A glory revealed clearly in creation.

It is my contention that those who fail to see God’s handprint on creation, fail to do so because the god of this world has blinded their minds to the truth.

OR

Because their love of sin has purposefully blinded them to the reality of a divine creator.

This is the great sin of man—the rejection of the purpose for which we exist—the Seeing and Savoring of God’s glory. Romans 1:18-23

Romans 1:18–23 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

The list of sins that follow this text, long and ugly, are the consequence of man’s greatest sin—rejecting delight in the glory of God. The one sin that gives birth to all others is the rejection of life’s very purpose—to see and savor His glory. To delight in Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Church, as we grow in SEEing and SAVORing Jesus, let us begin by recognizing that ALL creation declares the glory and person of God.

One of December’s meditations focused on Matthew 2:1-2 and the fact that God used a star to speak, to declare his glory and lead the magi to worship Jesus.

Church, ALL creation WILL be spent to declare His glory.

All Creation Will Be Spent

Matthew 2:1-2

Even the stars speak, declaring the glory of God and the coming of the gospel.

———————————————

The Omnipotent’s voice

leaves no room for choice.

It will be heard.

His is the ultimate word.

Creation’s purpose is clear;

to bring the gospel near.

Everything that is

echoes the voice that is His.

His commitment to life,

to defeating sin’s strife,

is total and complete;

unwavering with passion’s beat.

The God of all that is—

Will preach the glory that is His

“Omnipotence has servants everywhere.*”

Their will?  To lay His glory bare.

Even the rocks cry out

shouting what He’s about.

The trees whisper in elegance,

declaring glory with holy reverence.

The wind and water,

Fowl and otter,

land, sea, and heavens

cry out with perfect sevens; 

declaring Infinite’s glory;

Telling His resplendent story. 

Were men never to speak again,

His glory—still—would be scribed in brightest pen.

The gospel will not be silent;

All creation will be spent

to declare His worth

and bring us joy’s endless mirth!

*Spurgeon, Charles.  Joy to the World

Church, LOOK Up and SEE. We are LESS than a speck in the face of God’s enormity. The fact that he considers us is truly a mind boggling truth.

So here is your first new year’s challenge.

New Year’s Challenge:

Take one day this year. Get away. Go off-grid. Turn off the noise.

Bring only your Bible, a notebook, and a pen.

Spend the day in creation.

Force your heart and mind into silence.

Look around. Observe. Notice.

Let His creation speak.

Humble your heart. Still it enough to listen.

See and savor Jesus—

and let His world lead you there.

We were created for the glory of God. So run after it.

Secondly,

Jesus Christ is the Glory of God in flesh—John 17:1-5

John 17:1–5 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

Glorify me…Jesus Says…with the glory that I had with you BEFORE the world existed.

Christ did not suddenly receive glory BECAUSE of His work on the cross.

The work He accomplished did not EARN Him glory.

His obedience, life, and death did not result in glory being credited to His account.

He always had it.

Do not make the grave mistake of thinking that Jesus is glorious SIMPLY because of WHAT He did.

He DID what He did, because HE IS glorious. Not the other way around.

For His time on earth, he set aside His glory…

Glory He ALREADY possessed from eternity past…

Consider John 8:58

John 8:58 ESV

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus claims the lofty name that God Himself gave to Moses in Exodus…the name He told him to take to Pharaoh…that He was “I AM.”

A statement about His eternity (nothing before, nothing after)

A statement about His uniqueness (nothing to which He can be compared)

A statement about His holiness, his otherness. He is WHOLLY different, WHOLLY Lofty.

He set aside this glory…

the use of His deity (though retaining the reality of it),

and He lived as a simple, mere created thing.

This prayer in John 17, is a prayer for The Father to restore that Glory which He already possessed but had set aside SO THAT God Himself is glorified.

Why is he asking, now, for this glory to be restored?

The answer is in what Jesus goes on to pray for in this text.

Jesus goes on to pray for ONENESS with each other and ONENESS with God.

He prays…

“I have manifested your name to the people…yours they were, and you gave them to me…”

“…they are yours.”

“All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”

“Keep them in your name, which you have given me.”

“Keep them from the evil one.”

“I do not ask for these only, but also those who will believe…”

“…that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me…”

“So that the world may know that you sent me and loved them as you loved me…”

Then he summarizes and prays in John 17:24-26

John 17:24–26 ESV

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

The reason for SEEING the glory of God is so that we would SAVOR the glory of God, finding in HIM our ultimate satisfaction and joy!

JESUS, is the living embodiment of God’s glory!

He is the Glory of God in flesh—so that we can see it, touch it, behold it…AND DELIGHT IN IT!

As Piper puts it…

“Christ is glorious so that rich or poor, sick or sound, we might be satisfied in Him.” John Piper

Jesus came, to show us His glory, SO THAT we would SEE and SAVOR that glory AND BE SATISFIED in it.

He is not glorious because He came.

He came because He was already glorious.

Do you see the difference, Church?

So here is your second new year’s challenge.

New Year’s Challenge

Take one day this year to meditate on the reality of God’s glory in Jesus—and how it shapes your life.

Set aside quiet time to ask and pray through each of these questions, resisting the urge to flee from answers you may fear. Ask the Lord for a humble, teachable heart—one willing to examine honestly, carefully, and with serious intent.

Ask:

How does the glory of Jesus impact my day-to-day life?

How is my role as a husband/wife shaped by Jesus’ “I AM” glory?

How is my role as a son/daughter, brother/sister, or friend affected by it?

How is my role as a boss, employee, or volunteer affected by it?

How is my struggle with __________ (fill in the blank) affected by it?

How are my time, talents, and possessions shaped by it?

How ought I to be living in light of His glory?

Where do I need to repent?

Where do I need to make changes?

Where can I be encouraged that God is already at work—and I should keep pressing on?

How can I encourage another believer in this area?

Church, God is beckoning us to SEE and SAVOR the glory of God as displayed in creation.

We See that glory in “The Great I AM” who is Jesus Christ, and we are beckoned to SAVOR it.

Will you respond affirmatively to the beckon?

Thirdly, we are beckoned to see and savor the glory of Christ in the complexity of the Lion-Lamb who sits in heaven.

The Complexity of the Lion-Lamb - Revelation 5:5-6

Revelation 5:5–6 ESV

5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

The difference between a Lion and Lamb cannot be greater.

A lion is ferocious and strong—a lamb is docile and weak

A lion is cunning and smart—a lamb is simple and dumb

A lion is a predator—a lamb is the prey

Christ is described BOTH as a LION and a LAMB.

Not that Christ was weak, dumb, or helpless prey.

Christ was not weak. He WAS meek, willingly setting aside His strength for a greater purpose. He was docile, on purpose.

He came, simply, fully aware of what He was doing. Not dumb, but simply—cunningly so.

He was not a helpless prey, but He willingly submitted Himself to becoming prey—for His glory and our good.

Jonathan Edwards described Jesus’ Lion-Lamb likeness as “an admirable conjunction of diverse excellences.”

We worship Christ for His transcendence—His loftiness and complete otherness to us.

But His transcendence is highlighted so infinitely because it sits in a frame of His imminence—his nearness. His complete OTHERNESS and OUT-THERE-NESS is so much more glorious precisely because of HOW near, intimate, and close He came…and how much He had to give up to do so.

Piper puts it like this.

“We marvel at him because his uncompromising justice is tempered with mercy. His majesty is sweetened by meekness. In his equality with God, he has a deep reverence for God. Though He is worthy of all good, he was patient to suffer evil. His sovereign dominion over the world was clothed with a spirit of obedience and submission. He baffled the proud scribes with his wisdom, but was simple enough to be loved by children. He could still the storm with a word, but would not strike the Samaritans with lightening or take himself down from the cross. The glory of Christ is not a simple thing. It is the coming together in one person of extremely diverse qualities.”

Jesus IS the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

AND

He is the Lamb Who was Slain

The incredible complexity of Jesus’ glory is that he conquered as a lion BECAUSE he was willing to be a lamb.

His glory is inextricably tied to both. Both magnifying and highlighting the other. And because of BOTH, we see Christ in fullness in a way that we otherwise would not.

So Christ is a lamb-like Lion and a lion-like Lamb. That is his glory—“an admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies.”

This glorious conjunction shines all the brighter because it corresponds perfectly with our personal weariness and our longing for greatness. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:28-29).

The lamb-like gentleness and humility of this Lion woos us in our weariness. And we love him for it. If he only recruited like the Marines, who want strength, we would despair of coming.

But this quality of meekness alone would not be glorious. The gentleness and humility of the lamb-like Lion become brilliant alongside the limitless and everlasting authority of the lion-like Lamb. Only this fits our longing for greatness.

Yes, we are weak and weary and heavy-laden. But there burns in every heart, at least from time to time, a dream that our lives will count for something great. To this dream Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.... And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The lion-like Lamb calls us to take heart from his absolute authority over all reality. And he reminds us that, in all that authority, he will be with us to the end of the age. This is what we long for—a champion, an invincible leader.

We mere mortals are not simple either . We are pitiful, yet we have mighty passions. We are weak, yet we dream of doing wonders. We are transient, but eternity is written on our hearts. The glory of Christ shines all the brighter because the conjunction of his diverse excellencies corresponds perfectly to our complexity.

Piper, John. Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ (pp. 28-29). (Function). Kindle Edition.

Church, the complexities of His person cannot be underestimated; nor can they be plumbed.

That, however, should not stop us from meditating deeply on it.

God is beckoning. How are we responding?

Here is the third challenge to help us hear and and respond.

New Year’s Challenge

Take one day this year to meditate on the reality of Jesus’ complex identity.

How does the reality of His Lion-like authority provoke worship and obedience in your life—or how ought it to?

How does the reality of His Lamb-like gentleness and sacrifice provoke worship and obedience in your life—or how ought it to?

Which are you more naturally drawn to—His Lion-hood or His Lamb-likeness? Why?

Where do you need to lean more fully into both? How would doing so deepen your relationship with Him?

How has an imbalance in your view of Christ hindered your spiritual growth or intimacy with Him?

As you consider these questions, prayerfully ask the Spirit to lead you and journal a prayer reflecting on both—thanking Him for both—and offering a renewed commitment to Christ.

Finally, may joy’s changelessness lead us to see and savor Jesus more fully.

Joy’s Changelessness - 1 Corinthians 1:9

1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Church, our salvation is primarily about fellowship and intimacy with Christ.

We are called into fellowship with Jesus, the text tells us.

Forgiveness, salvation gets everything preventing this out of the way.

But listen, if Christ is not worth it, if there is no joy in Him, then salvation loses it’s appeal.

Blessedly, this is not the case. He IS worth it.

In Christ is boundless, endless joy.

But, if intimacy with Christ IS THE POINT of salvation, if Christ is not glorious, if there is not pleasure or worth in Him, then no one would want it. And salvation loses its appeal.

Salvation IS appealing because God is appealing.

Piper puts it this way,

“…the glory and grace of Jesus is that he is, and always will be, indestructibly happy. I say it is his glory, because gloom is not glorious. And I say it his grace, because the best thing he has to give us in his joy.” John Piper

Jesus Himself declared in John 15:11,

John 15:11 ESV

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

HIS JOY IS OUR JOY because of the gospel.

HE IS JOY.

And He offers us that joy through intimacy and fellowship with Himself.

Boundless, Endless, Indestructible joy.

In Acts 2:25-28, Peter interprets and applies Psalm 16 to apply to person of Jesus Christ. He says…

Acts 2:25–28 ESV

25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

Psalm 16:11 says the same thing but slightly differently…

Psalm 16:11 ESV

11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

You make me full of gladness with your presence…

In your presence is the fullness of joy

At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Jesus IS the essence of joy.

He is the essence of gladness.

What’s more…His is a joy that is tried and true.

His joy, His gladness is well fought for.

Hebrews 4:14-15 - He has endured every temptation and trial we have. He understands

John 11:35 - Has wept with those who weep. And FOR those who weep.

Luke 10:17, 21 - Has rejoiced with those who rejoice

Matthew 4:2 - He has been hungry

John 4:6 - He has been weary

Matthew 26:56 - He has been forsaken

Matthew 26:45 - He has been betrayed

Matthew 27:26 - He has been whipped

Matthew 27:31 - He has been mocked

Matthew 27:35 - He has been wrongly accused and punished

And yet, He remains a God of joy.

A joy touched by sorrow, suffering, and hardship…yet victorious.

He has known the struggles of life, WITHOUT losing joy.

His is not a glib or careless joy.

But one rooted in Himself and proved through the very hardships we face.

I love the imagery that Piper put on this.

“Christ was complex, but he was not confused. There were divergent notes in the music of his soul, but the result was a symphony.” John Piper

One of my favorite songs that I played in high school was called “A Movement for Rosa.” It was a tribute to Rosa Park’s courage to take a stand against injustice that sparked a movement for equality and freedom. Throughout the piece, were dissonance and disharmony used to display the tension and injustice of those times. Despite it’s discomfort the ear, there was a beauty to this piece. Of all the songs I played in high school, this was the only one I kept the sheet music to. I still have it in a keepsake box from high school.

That dissonance is what I pictured when I read his words. It hurts the ears and heart to hear but the end result is a beautiful symphony that has long lingered as my favorite piece.

The same is true of Jesus’ joy. There is dissonance in it…for he had to prove it through the worst suffering known to all creation. And yet, as a result of it, we sing with glorious beauty and joy for the wonders it revealed.

And that suffering…and that joy…are the centerpiece of our worship for eternity.

Jesus IS indestructible, changeless joy.

We are being beckoned to indestructible, over indulgent joy—In Jesus.

Will you respond?

Here is one final challenge to consider to aid you in doing so.

New Year’s Challenge

This year—praise God in the storm.

This year—delight in Him more than in your material blessings.

At least once each week, take intentional time to center your joy on Jesus.

Once each week, share with someone how you are doing this—and ask them how they are doing the same.

Jesus is our joy.

Let’s live like it.

Conclusion

Big Idea: God beckons us to See and Savor His glory by displaying it in the changeless complexity of the God-Man Jesus Christ.

We were created for the Glory of God.

Jesus Christ is the Glory of God in flesh.

The Complexity of the Lion-Lamb

Joy’s Changelessness

There are challenges before us. I laid out four today. These are invitations, not boxes to check—meant to be entered slowly, prayerfully, and intentionally, not rushed through or completed all at once.

When we gather again in three months, I may offer more. Engage the ones you feel led to pursue, and pursue them as the Spirit leads you. But be intentional—do something purposeful that draws your heart to see and savor Jesus more fully.

As we close this morning, I want to invite to see and to savor, the glory of God. This song, Halleljuah, by Charis Studios, does an amazing job at drawing our gaze to His being and pleading with us to see and the savor the glory that is His. May it draw your gaze upward and fix it there.

Play Song - Hallelujah by Charis Studio

Application

What does it mean for you to 'See and Savor' the glory of God in your daily life?

How can you actively pursue a deeper understanding of Jesus as the 'Lion-Lamb' in your spiritual walk?

In what ways do the complexities of Jesus’ nature bring comfort to your personal struggles?

How does the realization of joy’s changelessness in Christ influence your perspective during tough times?

What specific steps can you take to cultivate your joy in Christ rather than in worldly distractions?

How can you make 'seeing and savoring' Jesus a consistent part of your work/school life?

What are some practical ways you can share the glory of God with your friends?

How can thinking about Jesus as both a Lion and a Lamb impact the way you live?

In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on Jesus’ strength, and how will you do that?

What changes can you make to focus on the joy found in Jesus rather than in social media or entertainment?