Jesus Is...Mighty God

Introduction

There is something inherent within us all that naturally looks for leadership.  We desire someone to come into our scenarios and tell us what to do, where to go.

--One key example is what happened on 9/11.  In Rudy Giuliani's book called Leadership, the first chapter chronicles his entire day on 9/11.  Whether you agree or not with his political stance or his personal choices, the only logical conclusion to come to is that, as a leader, he saved NYC that day.  The key decisions he made on short notice, with limited information, made all the difference. Countless lives were saved, and untold destruction was limited, because of him.

In fact, leadership is often defined, not in good times, but in bad times.  As someone steps into a mess and shows the way forward. This is why Max DePree said “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.” A leader steps into the chaos, helps people understand what is really happening, and then charts a path out of the chaos and into a better place.

TS - is one of those times of chaos and despair.  During a time of national unfaithfulness to God, Israel is experiencing turmoil...because unfaithfulness to God always leads to turmoil.  And on top of that, in , God condemns the Israelites and announced that he is sending the Assyrian armies to conquer them.

Yet in the midst of all that turmoil we find this breath of fresh air as God declares relief.  Someone is going to step in a provide direction. But they are not looking for a King, a President, or a Pope.  They are looking for a...baby.

-  Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

2 The people who walk in darkness

   will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,

   a light will shine.

3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,

   and its people will rejoice.

They will rejoice before you

   as people rejoice at the harvest

   and like warriors dividing the plunder.

4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery

   and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.

You will break the oppressor’s rod,

   just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.

5 The boots of the warrior

   and the uniforms bloodstained by war

will all be burned.

   They will be fuel for the fire.

6 For a child is born to us,

   a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

   And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 His government and its peace

   will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David

   for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies

   will make this happen!

TS - We are spending a few weeks leading up to Christmas looking at these titles given to Jesus, this promised baby to be born. Last week we saw that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. Today we see that this baby to be born will be Mighty God. He is not just someone who will point the way. He is not a military ruler. He is not a King in any earthly sense. No, this baby to be born will be God himself.

Earlier this year the results of the bi-annual research survey called The State of Theology were released. Ligonier Ministry, founded by theologian R.C. Sproul does this research to show trends in theological views and provide an accurate snapshot of what people believe. Based on the results, Americans are in a sad State of Theology. For example (at least for our purposes today), Statement 6: “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.” 78% of Evangelical Christians (that’s us!) agree. On the surface, it sounds right to agree...Jesus is first, he is greatest.  The problem comes in the back half of the statement…”created by God.”

In the early centuries of Christianity, the primary theological issue that needed to get settled was the full identity of Jesus. His earliest followers clearly believed Jesus to be divine. But what did that mean about God the Father? How are they related? As they began hammering out the details of this doctrine, it led to multiple disputes and subsequent gatherings of the world’s theologians. One of them has come to be known as the Arian Controversy. This gets its name from Arius, an early Christian theologian from Alexandria, Egypt.

Arianism, as the view came to be known, is that Jesus is not divine, but is an exceptional being created by God (kind of like angels, but better). Essentially teaching that Jesus is “like” God, but not God in the sense that God the Father is God. This led another theologian from Alexandria, Athanasius, to respond with disagreement. If Jesus is created by God, then to worship him is idolatry. To pray to him, or in his name, is blasphemy. And the cross is nothing more than divine child abuse. This controversy led to the convening of the first church council, the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Its sole purpose was to debate and correct this controversy. That Council produced the Nicene Creed, which may be familiar to some of you. Notice the emphasis:

We believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the Son of God,

begotten from the Father, only-begotten,

that is, from the substance of the Father,

God from God,

light from light,

true God from true God,

begotten not made,

of one substance with the Father,

through Whom all things came into being,

things in heaven and things on earth,

Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down,

and became incarnate

and became man,

and suffered,

and rose again on the third day,

and ascended to the heavens,

and will come to judge the living and dead,

And in the Holy Spirit.

But as for those who say, There was when He was not,

and, Before being born He was not,

and that He came into existence out of nothing,

or who assert that the Son of God is of a different hypostasis or substance,

or created,

or is subject to alteration or change

- these the Catholic and apostolic Church anathematizes.

They viewed this belief in Jesus as God as so important that they condemned Arianism as heretical and exiled Arius. This set in motion the formulation of the uniquely Christian doctrine of the Trinity, which is the foundation of Christian belief for character of God. And now, all these years later, 78% of those who claim to follow Christ believe a heretical view about him.

Jesus was clear about his identity. In , Jesus definitely declares that he is, in fact, Mighty God.  Jesus is in a heated debate with the religious leaders of the day. The church version of the OK Corral. We pick up the argument as it is coming to a close.

- 52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ 55 but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”

57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” 59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

There are those who will say that Jesus never claimed to be God, so we have to dismiss this idea because it’s not biblical. They've never read .  Jesus unequivocally declares that he is Mighty God and they are ready to kill him for it.

Jesus is referencing back to and that famous encounter between God and Moses at the burning bush.  God had heard the cry of the Israelites in their slavery in Egypt and is announcing he is going to deliver them, and that he is going to use Moses to do it.  Moses backpedals at the thought of facing Pharaoh. “What if they ask me who sent me? What should I say?” God declares, "You tell them 'I Am' sent you."

This is God's divine name.  Yahweh - the name that set him apart from the empty polytheism of the day.  He is the real, one true God. So is quite the declaration by Jesus. He is declaring himself to be the one, true God. Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh.

--The rest of the NT affirms this truth:

- 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

   He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

- 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.

- 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,

   he did not think of equality with God

   as something to cling to.

TS - I think the key in all of this isn't just that the NT affirms this truth, but that Jesus himself backed it up.  He proved he is Mighty God.

Jesus shows he has power over...

1. DISEASE

There is this great little account from the life of Jesus in .  Four friends carry a paralytic to Jesus to be healed, but they can't get to him because of the crowd.  So they dig a hole in the roof and lower their friend down to Jesus. Jesus declares that this man's sins are forgiven.  Not really why they were there, but cool nonetheless. Here is where the story picks up:

- 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

One of the constants in Jesus' ministry was the healing he brought to the afflicted.

2. SIN

I think this idea is reinforced in the same account in .  Jesus has declared this man's sins forgiven...the religious leaders erupt.  Who can do that but God alone? Who does Jesus think he is? I'll tell you who he is...Mighty God.  Notice what Jesus said...

- 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

So that they would recognize his power over sin...thus declaring him to be Mighty God...he healed this man.

3. NATURE

At one point in his ministry, Jesus and his disciples are in a boat and a storm blows up quickly.  Water starts roaring over the sides and the disciples start thinking they're not going to make it. Jesus, meanwhile, is asleep in the back of the boat.  They wake him up.

- 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

The only one who has power over nature is the one who made nature.

- 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

4. LIFE

In , Jesus finds out that his good friend Lazarus has died.  Once he arrives on scene, Lazarus has been dead for 4 days. A little too late.  But not for one who has power over life.

- 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

5. DEATH

In , the Apostle Peter stands up on the day of Pentecost and delivers the first Gospel sermon.  In that sermon Peter declares the truth of Jesus' identity.

- 22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

Jesus, as Mighty God, shows power over death.  Only the Creator and Sustainer of Life can defeat death.

TS - So Jesus clearly backs up this claim to be Mighty God.  But here is the question that must be answered: So what? Do we merely believe this as true so that we aren’t considered heretical? No, this truth makes a world of difference:

1. BRINGS COMFORT

I said at the beginning that we inherently want someone to step in a lead.  When that happens, we find comfort. Someone's got this. Someone is going to take care of this.  There is comfort there. When Jesus shows up, comfort arrives with him. Why? Because he is Mighty God.  He has the power to do something about it.

A few years ago I preached 9 months through Revelation.  Most of us experienced a shift in how we view Jesus' return.  Instead of viewing it as an event to fear and be anxious about, now we view it as a welcome event.  Why? Because Jesus will show up and fix this mess, because he has the power to do something about it.

2. PROVIDES DIRECTION

If Jesus being Wonderful Counselor is him coming alongside of us, him being Mighty God is him pointing the right direction to go. Since Jesus is Mighty God, that means Jesus does not give advice...he gives commands. His words are authoritative.  In , Jesus said if you have seen me you have seen the father. God as a man. Divinity in the flesh.

So when he comes alongside and points the direction to go, we go that direction.  When the Bible declares something as right or wrong, we follow its lead as the very Word of God. Whether that be in our relationships, our sexuality, our jobs, our faith...Jesus, as Mighty God, has all authority.

3. INSPIRES WORSHIP

Christmas is perhaps the hardest time to see Jesus as Mighty God.  “The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes”...first of all, yeah right.  In Christmas we see Jesus, meek and mild, a harmless baby. We struggle to see Mighty God in a manger.

Know that those at the first Christmas did not have that problem.  The Christmas story is a story of worship. If you read the Christmas narrative, and I hope you do before Christmas, you find all the characters ending up at the same place...on their face in adoration of Jesus.  Whether it is angels, shepherds or wise men...all bow in worship of Mighty God, found in a manger. God in the humblest and unlikeliest of places.

Conclusion

But we dare not leave Jesus in the manger.  As God, he lives sinlessly and goes to the cross to defeat sin and death forever.  He stands in our place of death so that we may live forever by trusting in him. Don't dismiss this baby as harmless.  Embrace him as Mighty God.

COMMUNION