THE MASTER OF SELF-DISCLOSURE Part 1
The Red Letters • Sermon • Submitted
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· 21 viewsIn light of Jesus' overwhelmingly clear self-disclosure, how will you respond?
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Introduction (self-disclosure)
Prayer:
Who, in all of human history, could carry the title, “Master of Self-Disclosure?” We could look at many examples — Historians, Autobiographers, Musicians, Songwriters, Poets, and people we know personally that are comfortable in their own skin...we could come up with a lot of folks that are really good at self disclosure.
Introduction (self-disclosure)
Here’s a detailed definition from Wikipedia:
Self-disclosure is a process of communication by which one person reveals information about them-self to another. The information can be descriptive or evaluative, and can include thoughts, feelings, aspirations, goals, failures, successes, fears, and dreams, as well as one's likes, dislikes, and favorites.
Three criteria of true self-disclosure:
Must contain personal information about oneself
The sender must communicate the information verbally
Another person, or persons, must be the intentional target
Self-disclosure ranges in breadth and depth from very shallow to extremely deep and revealing. Most of us only have a few, if any, people that we have ever been able to be that vulnerable with.
Can I get a couple of volunteers to help me? I want each of you to disclose to all of us two things about yourself that others might not know.
1.
2.
When I self-disclose things about myself in the course of a conversation or maybe when I am preaching or teaching, chances are high that I will point out my weaknesses rather than my strengths.
The Master of Self-Disclosure is Jesus — nothing He disclosed about Himself was shallow or trivial. He was on a mission…He only had 3 years to display, communicate, and disclose everything about Himself — the world desperately needed, and still needs, what Jesus said and did.
My proposal for you today
Must contain personal information about oneself
The sender must communicate the information verbally
Another person, or persons, must be the intentional target
For normal human beings like us, self-disclosure ranges in breadth and depth from very shallow to extremely deep and revealing
The Master of Self-Disclosure is Jesus — nothing He disclosed about Himself was shallow or trivial. He was on a mission…with an expiration date…He only had 3 years to display, communicate, and disclose everything about Himself — the world desperately needed, and still needs, what Jesus said and did.
If Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?" , how would you answer?
We can find His own description of Himself in His “I am” statements in the New Testament.
We can find His own description of Himself in His “I am” statements in the New Testament.
One of the most well-known “I am” proclamations of Jesus is found in
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Prayer
We are going to look at 8 of Jesus’ “I am” statements (not all today) — as we go through them, I want you to pay attention to how you respond in your own mind and heart
Big Idea: In light of Jesus' overwhelmingly clear self-disclosure, how will you respond?
In light of Jesus' overwhelmingly clear self-disclosure, how will you respond?
Big Idea: In light of Jesus' overwhelmingly clear self-disclosure, how will you respond?
Transitional: When Jesus says “I am…” , listen and let His self-disclosure sink in
Transitional: When Jesus says “I am…” , listen and let His self-disclosure sink in
Transitional: When Jesus says “I am…” , listen and let His self-disclosure sink in
Transitional: When Jesus says “I am…” , listen and let His self-disclosure sink in
Video: Names Of Jesus
Video: Names Of Jesus
Bread of life
Bread of life
Exposition (keep self-disclosure in the picture)
Context:
Jesus had crossed the Sea of Galilee, followed by a huge crowd…they couldn’t get enough!
Jesus went up to the side of a mountain and sat with His disciples. He tested Philip’s faith by asking, “Where can we buy bread so these folks can eat?” Philip responded — “Master, it would take 200 days’ wages to be able to do what you ask”
Andrew pointed out a boy that had five barely loaves and two small fish. That’s all it took: Jesus blessed the food and had the Disciples pass it out to the multitudes (about 5,000 men, v. 10). When it was all said and done, they gathered up twelve baskets full of left-overs.
After this…the people wanted to make Jesus king, by force if they had to. He slipped away to the mountain to be by Himself. His disciples got in the boat to go back across the water. That was the night a great storm arose…they were frightened, then they saw Jesus walking on the water. You know the story. The moment Jesus stepped into the boat, “at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.”
his…the people wanted to make Jesus king, by force if they had to. He slipped away to the mountain to be by Himself. His disciples got in the boat to go back across the water. That was the night a great storm arose…they were frightened, then they saw Jesus walking on the water. You know the story. The moment Jesus stepped into the boat, “at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.”
The crowd was searching for Jesus…they finally found Him on the other side of the lake.
When they found Him: “Rabbi, where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
He said, “Folks, lets be honest, you weren’t looking form me because of the healings I performed…you just wanted more bread.” FREE FOOD
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
…food is important, but Jesus is life...
John 6:27-
Bread is life!
Bread is life!
The people were not wealthy — they were not city folks — just poor farmers and fisherman for the most part. Many of them knew what it was like to go hungry.
Bread was the all important commodity of that part of the world
Bread was the all important commodity of that part of the world
The word bread was synonomous with “food” — and food is necessary for life
The metaphor eating and drinking was familiar to the Jews. As a metaphor it points to taking something into one’s innermost being (New Bible Dict.)
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Filling one’s self with Jesus satisfies the hunger and thirst within us that nothing else can satisfy.
No wonder we move from death to life when Jesus saves our soul
He is more than just sustenance — above and beyond.
He is more than just sustenance — above and beyond.
Every time Jesus spoke, He was disclosing essential truths about Himself — leaving a map, page by page.
…if bread is necessary to have life, we need to...
…if bread is necessary to have life, we need to...
Eat this Bread!
Eat this Bread!
Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.
Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.
Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.
John 6:47
Gravely ill people are sometimes fed with an NG tube or intravenously…to keep them alive. A lot of “Christians” are just barely surviving…only taking in the smallest amount of Jesus…teetering on the edge of starvation…getting weaker by the moment
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
Gravely ill people are sometimes fed with an NG tube or intravenously…to keep them alive. A lot of “Christians” are just barely surviving…only taking in the smallest amount of Jesus…teetering on the edge of starvation…getting weaker by the moment
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
What did Jesus mean when He said “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”?
The people had been focused on physical…temporary sustenance — Jesus is the sustenance we must have in order to be made complete in Him and to look forward to eternal life.
John 7:37-38
Application:
Why did Jesus disclose these things about Himself?
Transitional: We must have bread to survive…I would say to you that we must have light to thrive
His plan is for you to thrive as you follow Him and take in all that He has for you
There is no reason to simply get by, or, worse yet, be on the verge of starvation.
Transitional: We must have bread to survive…I would say to you that we must have light to thrive
Light of the World
Light of the World
Exposition: Each day Jesus’ teaching drew more followers and attracted more enemies. The people and the religious leaders debated over who He was. Some thought He was demon-possessed and others began to speculate, “Is He really the Messiah?” (Ch. 7-8)
His teaching drew even more followers and attracted more enemies. The people and the religious leaders debated over who He was. Some thought He was demon-possessed and others began to speculate, “Is He really the Messiah?”
In Jesus, once again, speaks to a crowd, now in Jerusalem…letting them know that He is not just bread…He also light
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Light brings safety
Light brings safety
From the darkness - the unknown - the worrisome things of this life that can engulf you.
Illustration: Our dog, Lucy, is a border collie/lab mix, we think. She is not a yappy dog…doesn’t bark much at all. But I have noticed the last few nights…if I take her out after dark, she gets all serious and alert. She finds something to bark at in the dark…she doesn do this in daylight. There is something about daylight that changes her perspective. It is the same with us…we feel safer walking down the sidewalk in the daylight rather than the dark
The metaphor “I am the light of the world” clearly means that Jesus is our Light....our protector, our security, our source that helps us to grow and bear fruit.
Bad things come out at night…but His light in our hearts shatters the darkness. He guides us even in the darkest of times…if we stay in His light…His truth
Light keeps you from getting lost
Light keeps you from getting lost
Light keeps you from getting lost
Light keeps you from getting lost
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Psalm 119:
They grope in darkness with no light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.
When we were lost and without hope…we were in darkness, groping around trying to find our way
If you have ever been in a place without any light…you know that you can lose your bearings very quickly…it would be easy to panic.
Illustration: I don’t remember if it was Fantastic Caverns in Missouri or Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, but one time our family went on a tour. When we are in the deepest part of the caves, they shut the lights off. It was cool, for a minute, but that was enough.
Jesus is the Living Word…He is the Light of life…we won’t lose our way if we stay close to Him and His truth…every day.
Light brings joy!
Light brings joy!
In the Bible…the word light is often used in connection with joy, blessing, and life: in contrast to sorrow, adversity, depression, and death.
It signifies God’s presence and blessings
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Ps
When someone is lost in a darkness, they are overjoyed when they see light at the end of the tunnel.
We can securely follow the light of Christ and His truth because He’s more than just a man…He is God!
CHALLENGE
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.
John 10:
Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Resurrection and the Life
Resurrection and the Life
Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
Way, Truth, and Life
Way, Truth, and Life
Expostition
Resurrection and the Life
Resurrection and the Life
Way, Truth, and Life
Way, Truth, and Life
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
CHALLENGE
There are a few nonnegotiable things humans need in order to have a chance at survival:
True Vine
True Vine
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
,
I Am
I Am
Food
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
John 8:58
Alpha and Omega
Alpha and Omega
Water
When God spoke to Moses, I AM was the name He used to describe Himself
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
I AM is equivalent, in the Hebrew culture, to Yahweh…(Lord)
Interpersonal connections
The Jews considered God’s name too sacred to pronounce…devout Jews would not speak the name Yahweh…they used other words to refer to God, such as “Lord”
Light - a sense of knowing where you are and the joy of knowing you have someone leading you in the right direction
a sense of knowing where you are and the joy of knowing you have someone leading you in the right direction
Jesus tells us “I am God”
Jesus tells us “I am God”
When He used that term…the Jewish leaders were furious
It was blasphemy…a sin punishable by death
“You wouldn’t know God if He were standing right in front of you”
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
To call a Pharisee a child of Satan was over the top - who could have the nerve to say something like that? The one who knows all…even the deepest motives of the heart.
Jesus call us to follow Him
Jesus call us to follow Him
CHALLENGE
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
In order to survive and thrive spiritually we need:
Spiritual food and drink — Jesus is the Bread of Life and the Living Water
Light — Jesus is the light of the world
What are some obvious ways we can access the Bread of Life and the Light of the World?
“The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent”
The Bread of Life is found in the word of God : "Taste and see that the Lord is good”
The Light of the World is found in the Living Word of God: “a light to my feet and a lamp to my path.”
How can we truly experience spiritual food and light?
We need relationship to make any of it work
Build your relationship with Christ
Pour yourself out and let Him fill you up
Humble yourself…be willing to let go of anything that causes you to miss the life that is found in having a relationship with Jesus