THE FINGERPRINTS OF JESUS

INTRODUCTION

Opening Story: Fingerprint evidence. In the early morning hours of 9/19/1910 Clarence Hiller was murdered. His wife reached out to police who soon came to his house, and a man named Thomas Jennings was arrested less than a mile away. He had blood on his clothes and his arm had been injured, but this was all the “evidence” they had, hardly the stuff of a conviction. But what they did notice when they investigated the house was that whoever killed Clarence had clearly entered through the kitchen window…freshly painted with fingerprints. Fingerprint evidence was just introduced…something new. It says we all have unique ridges and patterns, so unique no two sets are alike. Key to our identity. Matched Thomas’ and he was the first person convicted on finger print evidence in the United States.

POINT: THE GOSPELS GIVE US THE FINGERPRINTS OF JESUS, AND ARE WILDLY ESSENTIAL IN HELPING US TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHO JESUS IS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW HIM.

CREATING THE NEED:

IMPRESSIONS AND OPINIONS OF JESUS ABOUND. SOME SAY HE NEVER EXISTED AND IS ONLY A FICTITIOUS CHARACTER, NO MORE THAN AN IMAGINARY FRIEND. OTHERS SAY HE’S JUST A GOOD MAN, OR A PROPHET WHOSE WORDS ARE LIKE TWEETS- SOMETHING TO PAUSE AND CONSIDER, BUT HARDLY ANYTHING TO BEND ONE’S LIFE TO. OTHERS, HE’S JUST SOMEONE TO MAKE OUR LIFE BETTER. A GOOD LUCK CHARM. BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE THE REAL IDENTITY OF JESUS.

HERE’S WHAT BONO SAYS:

I think it’s the defining question for a Christian: who was Christ?”

Bono is the lead singer of U2, one of the most successful rock ‘n roll bands ever, and he was responding to a question about his Christian faith in a 2013 interview with Irish news channel RTE.

“And I don’t think you’re let off easily,” he continues, “by saying, ‘A great thinker,’ or ‘A great philosopher.’

“Because actually, he [Jesus] went round saying he was the Messiah. That’s why he was crucified. He was crucified because he said he was the Son of God. So, he either, in my view, was the Son of God, or he was…”

Nuts!” “Forget rock ‘n roll messianic complexes. This is like, Charlie Manson type of delirium.” “When people say ‘Good teacher,’ ‘Prophet,’ ‘Really nice guy,’ … this is not how Jesus thought of himself,” Bono said. “So, you’re left with a challenge in that, which is either Jesus was who He said He was or a complete and utter nut case.”

“And I believe that Jesus was, you know, the Son of God,” Bono said, according to a transcript provided to Religion News Service. “I understand that for some people and we need to … if I could be so bold, need to be really, really respectful to people who find that ridiculous.”

“No, no. Nuts!” Bono corrects. “Forget rock ‘n roll messianic complexes. This is like, Charlie Manson type of delirium.”

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/06/u2s-bono-jesus-is-the-son-of-god/#DkDYrrS0FygBuTUE.99

APPLICATION/POINT: SO IF YOU’RE HERE AND DON’T KNOW CHRIST OR ARE ON THE FENCE LET’S MAKE THINGS EASY AND DIFFICULT. ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY’RE THE MESSIAH DOES NOT LEAVE US THE OPTION OF SAYING HE’S A NICE PERSON, A PROPHET. NO EITHER HE WAS WHO HE SAID HE WAS OR A COMPLETE LUNATIC. MY AIM THIS MORNING IS TO NOT PROVE TO YOU HE IS THE MESSIAH, BUT TO SHOW YOU WHAT FOLLOWERSHIP OF JESUS MEANS. AND WHY FOLLOWING JESUS IS THE MOST FREEING, EXHILARATING AND MEANINGFUL ADVENTURE YOU COULD EVER GO ON. THERE’S THREE LIFE ALTERING IMPLICATIONS FOR FOLLOWING JESUS.

THE IDENTITY OF JESUS IS COMPREHENSIVE-

EXPLANATION: PAINT THE PICTURE. AS THE PASSAGE OPENS UP WE FIND JESUS IN CHURCH. LUKE SAYS, “AS WAS HIS CUSTOM” WHICH MEANT JESUS, THE MESSIAH WENT TO CHURCH EVERY EVERY WEEK. MAKE FUNNY/NOW I’M GOING TO LEAVE YOU ALONE. BE IMAGINATIVE HERE. WHILE IN CHURCH HE WALKS UP AND UNFOLDS THE SCROLL TO TWO PLACES- AND - READS THESE WORDS…CROWD IS ASTONISHED, AND HE SAYS IN VERSE 21…DROPS THE MIC. THIS IS HOW WE KNOW HE’S THE MESSIAH. IF I DID THIS- READ A PASSAGE AND PRETTY MUCH SAYS I’M THE GUY IT’S TALKING ABOUT- YOU DON’T REALLY HAVE THE OPTION OF CALLING ME A NICE GUY…I’M EITHER WHO I SAID HE WAS, OR I’M CRAZY.

QUIC APPLICATION- THE QUESTION WE MUST ALL ANSWER IN THIS ROOM TODAY IS, WHO IS JESUS? WHO EXACTLY IS JESUS. THERE IS NO GREATE QUESTION IN LIFE. THAT QUESTION ANSWERS EVERYTHING!

EXPLANATION: LOOKING EXACTLY AT WHAT HE SAYS. WHO ARE THE POOR, CAPTIVES, BLIND AND OPPRESSED? IS IT LITERAL, OR SPIRITUAL. SHOW THEM HOW IT’S BOTH. THE GOSPEL IS BOTH SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL. THE GOSPEL IS COMPREHENSIVE. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF THIS- . MINISTRY OF JESUS. JAMES- WHAT GOOD IS IT IF A POOR MAN COMES IN…MEET HIS NEEDS. .

LEGACY OF CHRISTIANITY AND A HOLISTIC GOSPEL:

IT WAS CHRISTIANS WHO NOT JUST MET ON SUNDAY MORNINGS BUT WERE THE FIRST TO CARE FOR THE HURTING IN ROME. ONE ROMAN EMPEROR COMPLAINED THEY TAKE BETTER CARE OF US THAN WE DO.

IT WAS CHRISTIANS WHO DEFENDED THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST AND STARTED HOSPITALS.

IT WAS THE FATHER OF THE REFORMATION, MARTIN LUTHER WHO NOT ONLY DEFENDED SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE, BUT WHO ALSO PUT HIMSELF IN HARMS WAY BY CARING FOR THE SICK IN A TOWN THAT WAS RAVAGED BY THE PLAGUE.

IT WAS A GROUP OF JESUS LOVING “EVANGELICAL” CHRISTIANS AS THEY CALLED THEMSELVES IN THE 18TH CENTURY CALLED THE CLAPHAM SECT WHO TOOK ON AND BROUGHT DOWN SLAVERY.

IT WAS CHRISTIANS WHO MARCHED IN THE STREETS OF SELMA, BIRMINGHAM AND OTHER PLACES SINGING THE SONGS OF ZION WHILE STANDING UP FOR VOTERS RIGHTS, ETC.

POINT: THE BIBLE HAS NO CATEGORY FOR A CHRISTIANITY THAT IS CONTENT WITH BIBLE STUDIES, CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND PRAYER MEETINGS WHILE DOING NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE HURTING.

APPLICATION: OUR COMMITMENT AT ALCF AND CHERYL DEGREE (REAL OPTIONS, PRISON MINISTRY, ETC). PUSH TOWARDS AN ANGEL TREE DRIVE…THIS IS OUR LEGACY!

THE IDENTITY OF JESUS IS CONNECTED TO THE NEEDY-

EXPLANATION: TELL THE STORY. WHEN HE GETS FINISHED READING HE SAYS TODAY…THE CROWD IS BLOWN AWAY. THEY ARE ASTONISHED. THEN THEY START TO MURMER- AIN’T THIS JOE’S BOY. JESUS RESPONDS WITH THE PROVERB OF PHYSICIAN HEAL YOURSELF. THIS MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE OF NAZARETH, JESUS’ HOMETOWN, WANT JESUS TO PROVE HIMSELF BEFORE THEY SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE. THEY WANT JESUS TO AUDITION.

AUDITION ILLUSTRATION…PROBLEM IS WHEN WE FORCE JESUS TO AUDITION WE PUT OURSELVES IN THE SEAT OF GOD.

APPLICATION. WAYS WE MAKE JESUS AUDITION: CURE MY CANCER. FIX MY FINANCES. BRING MY CHILD BACK. END SUFFERING.

STEVE JOBS ILLUSTRATION…THAT’S WHERE WE ARE,

EXPLANATION: JESUS RESPONDS TO THEIR THOUGHTS (WHICH IS HOW WE KNOW HE’S GOD) BY SUMMARIZING TWO BIBLICAL STORIES. BOTH STORIES HAVE PEOPLE IN GREAT NEED. ONE IS FINANCIALLY POOR, THE OTHER IS FINANCIALLY RICH. BOTH ARE GENTILES WHO GO TO JEWISH MEN. BUT BOTH ARE IN GREAT NEED. IT IS THEIR EMBRACING OF NEED THAT DRIVES THEM TO THE MAN OF GOD WHO HEALS THEIR NEED. POINT. JESUS IS SAYING, MY MINISTRY IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN DIRE STRAITS AND EMBRACE THAT NEED. .

ILLUSTRATION OF FRIEND WHO WENT TO THE DOCTOR FOR HIS ANNUAL PHYSICAL ONLY TO DISCOVER HE HAD A CERTAIN KIND OF CANCER. THEY OPERATED, GOT IT AND NOW HE’S DOING JUST FINE. HE SAYS THE SCARY PART IS HE FELT FINE. IF HE WOULD HAVE ALLOWED HIS FEELINGS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT HE WENT TO THE DOCTOR HE WOULD BE IN FAR WORSE SHAPE.

APPLICATION- THE PROBLEM IS MOST OF YOU FEEL FINE. LIFE IS GREAT, BUT YOU DON’T REALIZE THAT LYING UNDER THE HOOD OF YOUR LIFE IS A DEVASTATING DISEASE WITH ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES CALLED SIN. AND UNTIL YOU SEE AND EMBRACE THIS YOU WILL NEVER GO TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN JESUS CHRIST. THAT’S WHY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS JESUS COULD EVER DO IS TO INTRODUCE PAIN IN YOUR LIFE TO SERVE AS SYMPTOMS AND ALARM BELLS INDICATING YOUR NEED. THAT’S WHY I WOULD GO TO THE DENTIST...

APPLICATION: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US? IMMERSE OURSELVES IN THE SPIRITUAL AND/OR PHYSICAL NEEDS OF OTHERS. SOMETHING SPECIAL AND REDEMPTIVE HAPPENS HERE.

ILLUSTRATION OF SHOPPING ON THE MAGNIFICENT MILE AND SEEING WOMAN IN NEED. BOYS PRAYING OVER HER.

THE IDENTITY OF JESUS IS CONFRONTATIONAL-

EXPLANATION: WHEN JESUS GETS FINISHED TELLING THE STORY THE CROWD GETS SO INCENSED THEY TRY TO KILL HIM. AS ONE SCHOLAR SAYS THEY FORM A LYNCH MOB, BUT WHY? AFTER ALL THESE STORIES SEEM RATHER HARMLESS, BUT LOOK AGAIN. HERE IS JESUS SAYING HE’S NOT GOING TO PROVE HIMSELF. INSTEAD, HE LIKENS HIMSELF TO TWO GREAT PROPHETS. AND IN BOTH CASES HE SAYS THAT WHILE THERE WAS GREAT NEED IN ISRAEL AMONG THE JEWS, IT WAS ONLY THESE TWO GENTILE PEOPLE WHO GOT HELPED. THESE WORDS ARE INSULTING TO JESUS’ JEWISH AUDIENCE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE GENTILES WERE MORALLY EVIL, AND THEY WERE MORALLY GOOD. THEY WERE IN THE SYNAGOGUE EVERY WEEK, AT TEMPLE, MEMORIZED SCRIPTURE. SO THEY DESERVED TO HAVE THE MESSIAH. JESUS’ WORDS CUT AGAINST THE GRAIN OF MORALISM.

MORALISM DEFINED: BASING MY SELF WORTH AND VALUE ON MY PERFORMANCE AND SO CALLED GOOD DEEDS. MORALISM PRODUCES A SPIRITUAL ENTITLEMENT WHERE WE THINK THAT BECAUSE WE TITHE, ATTEND CHURCH, LEAD A GROWTH GROUP THAT WE GET EXEMPT FROM HARD TIMES AND DIFFICULTY. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR FAITH TRULY RESTS, GO THROUGH HARD TIMES:

“If I obey, if I follow everything the Bible says, if I never miss worship, if I’m very, very good in every way, if I follow every one of the rules, then I have God where I want him. He owes me. He has to give me a good life. He has to answer my prayers.” The way you can tell you have that same hostility, the way you can tell that through your obedience you’re rebelling against God, is when he does anything in your life that shows he doesn’t feel like he owes you anything, you go through the roof- TIM KELLER.

KERWIN STORY…POINT- WHEN HARD TIMES COME AND IT’S REVEALED THAT OUR FAITH NEVER RESTED ON JESUS, WE, LIKE THIS CROWD WILL FIND OURSELVES FURIOUS AND WILL SEEK TO MURDER OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR RELATIONSHIP IS, THEN GO THROUGH SOMETHING.