A Vision of Christ's Supremacy

In chapter 16 of Matthew’s gospel we are jolted by an electrifying declaration.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

“Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” And they said, “Some say that thou art John

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” He saith unto them,

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

“But whom say ye that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed art thou, Simon

Peter, a Jew by birth and by heritage, declares that Jesus Christ is God Himself.

Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in

heaven.”

Peter, a Jew by birth and by heritage, declares that Jesus Christ is God Himself.

In his dynamic sermon on the Day of Pentecost, Peter once again declared this truth.

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” ()

The question Jesus posed in is just as relevant and just as provocative as the moment it was first asked.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

4) The question Jesus posed in is just as relevant and just as provocative as

the moment it was first asked.

What about our generation? How do people today answer this question? Whom do they say Jesus Christ is?

5) What about our generation? How do people today answer this question? Whom do they

say Jesus Christ is?

Well....some say He was a great prophet.

Some say He was a great teacher.

Some say He was a wonderful moral example.

Others say He was an outstanding philosopher.

C. S. Lewis, the eminent British scholar and author who prior to his conversion was an agnostic, wrote these words: "I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says that he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

agnostic, wrote these words:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often

say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His

claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and

said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a

lunatic—on a level with the man who says that he is a poached egg—or else he would be

the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or

else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and

kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not

come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not

left that open to us. He did not intend to."

So it comes down to only three viable possibilities: Either Jesus Christ was a liar, or He was a lunatic, or He was exactly who He claimed to be: the Lord God.

was a lunatic, or He was exactly who He claimed to be: the Lord God.

Dr. Phil—like other psychiatrists or psychologists—may be able to determine the source of personal problems and conflicts, but he cannot give the cure. Only Christ can cure, and only through forgiveness is there true healing.

1) A Vision of Christ's Supremacy

8) All of the evidence, if carefully and honestly judged, will lead to the conclusion that

Jesus Christ is, in fact, exactly who He said He was—and when we get a clear vision of

His supremacy, the impact is transforming.

A) It is important because He is the only way into fellowship with God.

Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the

Father, but by me.” ()

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I. The Importance of Recognizing Who Jesus Christ Is

Jesus Christ is the only way.

Jesus Christ is the only truth.

Jesus Christ is the only life.

B) It is important because He is the only source of freedom.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. ()

Forgiveness that we give and forgiveness that we accept

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not

entangled again with the yoke of bondage. ()

The freedom He gives is spiritual freedom.

Jesus liberates from the bondage of sin.

C) It is important because He is the only source of forgiveness.

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give

repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ()

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached

unto you the forgiveness of sins. ()

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to

the riches of his grace. ()

Illustration: Dr. Phil—like other psychiatrists or psychologists—may be able to

determine the source of personal problems and conflicts, but he cannot give the cure.

Only Christ can cure, and only through forgiveness is there true healing.

The lordship of Jesus Christ is recognized only through spiritual vision—that is insight that is given by the Holy Spirit.

A) The lordship of Jesus Christ is recognized only through spiritual vision—insight given

by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” ()

Illustration: In much of Christendom, the lordship of Jesus Christ is too much like the

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth

Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Ghost. ()

B) The lordship of Jesus Christ. It’s an easy phrase to say, but it carries huge

implications.

Illustration: In much of Christendom, the lordship of Jesus Christ is too much like the

role of England’s monarch—with lots of symbolism but little power. Queen Elizabeth, for

example, is a national symbol but she doesn’t rule the nation. The lordship of Jesus

Christ implies that He is not just a symbol but the power—the ultimate power with the

ultimate influence.

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

If Jesus Christ is Lord, then I am to be a servant

the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

I am totally dependent on Him.

I am subject to His desires and His will.

Illustration: J. B. Phillips in his classic book, Your God Is Too Small, suggests a wide

range of images that people (including a lot of Christians) have in their minds

regarding God in general and Jesus in particular. He gives interesting titles to these

images. See if any of these strike you as familiar...

Three specific implications:

1) If Jesus Christ is Lord, then I am a servant (literally, I am His slave).

If Jesus Christ is Lord, then He must be preeminent in my life. (That means He must be first)

If Jesus Christ is Lord, then I must adapt to Him (and not He to me).

Take note that He is to be preeminent in “all things”—everything in my life, whether big

or small.

3) If Jesus Christ is Lord, then I must adapt to Him (and not He to me).

If Jesus Christ is Lord, then He will ultimately be acknowledged as Lord.

in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of

no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness

of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became

obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ()

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but

now much more in my absence, work out yourown salvation with fear and trembling.

()

God the resident policeman

God the parental hangover

God the grand old man

God the meek and mild Jesus

God the absolute perfection

God the heavenly bosom

God the God-in-a-box

God the managing director

God the second-hand inheritance

God the perennial grievance

God the pale Galilean

God the projected image

The essential point for us as believers is this: To adapt to Jesus Christ,

I must have His mind, His attitude. According to that

attitude is clear:

It is an attitude of sacrifice.

It is an attitude of service.

It is an attitude of humility.

It is an attitude of obedience.

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Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every

name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in

earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is

Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ()

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Conclusion:

4) If Jesus Christ is Lord, then He will ultimately be acknowledged as Lord.

One day every knee will bow to Him. One day every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

One day every knee will bow to Him.

One day every tongue will confess that He is Lord.

If Jesus Christ is our Lord, then everything we are and everything we have are actually His.

actually His.

Vision is vital, and nothing matters more than a clear vision of the supremacy of

Is the way I spend my money respectful of His lordship?

Is the way I spend my time respectful of His lordship?

Is the way I use my words respectful of His lordship?

4) Vision is vital, and nothing matters more than a clear vision of the supremacy of

Jesus Christ.

He is Lord of all, and all are answerable to Him.

Daniel Webster, the great American statesman of the 19th century, was

once asked, What is the most profound thought you have ever had? And without a

moment’s hesitation, Webster replied, “The most profound thought ever to enter my

mind is the idea that I am personally accountable to the God who made me and who

spoke the worlds into existence.”

Jesus Christ is and always will be Lord of all, and we are wise to steward our days, our resources, our relationships and our opportunities for His glory.

make Him Lord. Jesus Christ is and always will be Lord of all, and we are wise to

steward our days, our resources, our relationships and our opportunities for His glory.