Jesus, the Holy One of God
Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
When the angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary, he delivered this message...
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1:31
Understandably, Mary asked in response, “How will this be, sin I am a virgin?” ().
Gabriel responded...
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
Luke 1:35
There are many Names and titles for Jesus used in Scripture, and every one of them describe Him perfectly.
He is Jesus, the Savior.
He is Christ, the Anointed One.
He is Archegos, the Founder and Ruler.
He is the Chosen One.
He is Firstborn, preeminent.
He is God.
In the days ahead we will think about Jesus, the Son of God, as Gabriel refers to Him here in v. 35.
But this morning we want to think about that title that Gabriel used to refer to Jesus before Son of God, that title being holy.
Jesus is the Holy One of God.
There is no greater question, no more pressing question demanding answer than the question of Jesus’ identity. The Christmas season is one long prolonged invitation to consider the identity of Jesus. After all, its supposedly His birth that we celebrate on December 25th. But most people spend their time thinking about other things during this season—gifts and parties and decorations. Most will wake with the joy of gifts in their hearts on Christmas morning rather than the joy of Jesus.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with parties, decorations, and gifts, but these things are secondary to Christ who is primary at all times but especially during this time of the year. Every party, decoration, and gift ought to be a celebration of Him, an occasion to look on Him, an occasion to know Him further—to know Him in His fullness.
My hope for my own heart and my hope for your hearts this Christmas season has been to have all our hearts more fully set of Jesus in His fullness.
It is the full Jesus, the Savior, the Anointed One, the Chosen One, the Preeminent One, the Holy One of God who was born for us on Christmas Day.
As we study this title today, let’s ask ourselves, “Is my heart more fully set on the fullness of Jesus this Christmas? Am I doing what I can to turn the hearts of those I love more fully to the fullness of Jesus?”
He is much more than just a baby in manger.
He is the Holy One of God.
[TS] Let’s examine this title by looking at how it is USED in a couple of passages...
Major Ideas
Major Ideas
Use #1: The Holy One of God means authority ().
Use #1: The Holy One of God means authority ().
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
[Exp] The point of this passage is clear—Jesus has the authority. It was apparent in His teaching and demonstrated in His casting out the demon. In v. 27, the people asked, “What is this?” by which they meant, “Who is this?” The demon, however, knew who this was—this was Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy One of God.
[Exp]
In the gospel narratives, Jesus demonstrates His authority over evil spirits, all sorts of physical ailments, over people, and over death. Of course, we think of Lazarus obeying the authoritative command of Jesus to come forth from the tomb, but Jesus also demonstrated His authority over death in rising from the dead Himself.
He came in the flesh, died on the cross, and three days later rose from the dead so that we might be saved if we repent of our sins and trust in Him.
After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me,”().
says that God has put all things in subjection under His feet.
says that God raised Jesus from the dead...
that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
says that God has highly exalted Jesus...
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
says that Jesus is “the head of all rule and authority.”
and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
says that Jesus has gone into heaven...
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Now, we might wonder
Jesus is the Holy One of God—all the authority belongs to Him!
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
[Illus] Every once in a while the kids will get into an argument and Cheryl and I will hear, “You”re not in charge! You’re don’t tell me what to do! You’re not an adult!” It’s an argument about authority and who has it. The truth is, Madelyn has it! We affectionately call her “Blonde Hair Nightmare” because she has the authority!
[Illus]
[App] Seriously, there might be confusion about who has authority in your home, but I can clear it up for you—it’s Jesus! He has all the authority in your home!
There might be some confusion about who has authority in the church, but let’s be clear, Jesus has all the authority in the church!
There might be confusion about who has authority in this area or that area, but Jesus has all authority in every area!
That doesn’t mean that everyone will submit to His authority in every area, but He has it nonetheless.
The author of Hebrews said that God the Father crowned Jesus with glory and honor...
putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.
Hebrews 2:8
No, we don’t see everything in subjection to Jesus yet, but everything is in subjection to Him and that reality will be made manifest when He returns. Until then..
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9
What’s the author of Hebrews saying? He is saying that Jesus—the Holy One of God—has all authority. Everything is in subjection to Him although we don’t see the manifestation of that truth in the present moment.
But what do we see? We see Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone ().
The only reason Jesus’ authority as the Holy One of God hasn’t been fully revealed is that the Father is still giving people time to see the grace of God in Jesus’ cross.
Have you truly seen that grace?
If so, you gladly submit to His authority in every area of life.
[TS] The Holy of God means authority.
“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
Use #2: The Holy One of God is used to communicate salvation ().
Use #2: The Holy One of God is used to communicate salvation ().
and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:55
[Exp] Jesus sometimes said hard things, confusing things, things not immediately understood by those that followed Him. We have an example of one such hard saying here in this passage--”…My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in Me, and I in Him,” (). Is Jesus commanding some sort of cannibalism? Is He really suggesting that those following Him break out the forks and knives, carve Him up, and devour Him? Is that really the way of salvation? Of course not.
If we back up just a bit in we see that Jesus feeds thousands of people with five loaves of bread and two fish (). Thousands of people ate as much as they wanted and there was still leftovers (, ). Then says...
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
John 6
The next day, the thousands who were fed with loaves and fishes found Jesus and were hoping to be fed by Him once again. Jesus told them in ...
Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
Jesus told them what He meant in , when He said...
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Then, as if they had not already received a sign the day before when He miraculously fed them, the people asked for another sign, for another proof that Jesus was sent from the Father. The people cite the manna that came down from heaven as a defense of their asking Jesus for another sign. They said their ancestors knew that Moses was a prophet of God because he gave them bread to eat from heaven ().
But Jesus told them it was not Moses who provided the bread, but Jesus said to them...
Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:32-33
The people respond correctly, “Sir, give us this bread always,” but they do not understand that Jesus is talking about Himself and not about manna or barley loaves. So, Jesus says to them plainly in , “I am the bread of life...” Then He follows that up in with what it means to receive Jesus as the bread of life; He says, “…everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life...”
This belief in Jesus as the Son of Man/Son of God come down from heaven to die as the sacrifice for our sins on the cross is what Jesus means when He refers to Himself as the bread of heaven that must be partaken of if we would be saved. He makes this clear in ...
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Jesus’ answer is simple: They don’t believe because the Father has not drawn them to Jesus. He says...
Those grumbling unbelievers, however, pressed on in their unbelief, so Jesus says if they didn’t partake of his flesh and his blood—i.e., if they didn’t believe that Jesus death on the cross was the work of God saving them from death and sustaining them in this earthly wilderness until they could reach the heavenly Promised Land—then they were not saved and would not be saved. God the Father had not granted them eyes to see and ears to hear that Jesus is Savior.
After this, as we’ve already read, many turn back from following Jesus. They were looking for loaves of bread, but they couldn’t receive Him as the bread of heaven. They were looking for proof that He was sent by God the Father, but they wouldn’t believe the signs they had already seen. And they wouldn’t believe it when Jesus died and rose again either.
Turning to the twelve, Jesus asked, “Do you want to go away as well?”
refers to the manna from heaven that came down to God’s people after they were rescued from slavery in Egypt.
Pause for a moment and think...
Did the twelve Apostles understand everything that Jesus had done and said over the last two days? Probably not.
Do you think they were perplexed when Jesus talked about eating His flesh and drinking His blood? I think they were.
But listen to how they answer Jesus’s question in ...
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
What do they mean by this answer? They don’t mean that they understand everything. They do mean that, despite the occasional hard or confusing teaching of Jesus, they do believe and know that He is the Holy One of God! They understand that He is salvation!
[Illus] When I was in college, one of our professors was trying to get us to think hard. He wrote on the board that God was all loving, all powerful, and all knowing. He then said there is a contradiction in these three attributes of God. Our professor reasoned that if God was all loving then He wouldn’t knowingly allow evil to exist in the world if He had the power to do anything about it. Evil does exist in the world. So, God must not be all-loving, or He must not be all-powerful, or He must not be all-knowing.
[Illus]
Of course, there is no contradiction here. To think there is is a prideful because we assume that if we were all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful that we would have done things differently than God has. But in thinking that all we prove is that we are not all-wise as God is.
Our professor then turned to us and asked, “How do we work this out?”
But the professor put the problem to us students as a contradiction, and though we were confused in the moment and didn’t know how to answer him, one brave soul raised his hand and simply said, “No. I may not understand how or why God allows evil to exist in the world when He is all-loving, all-powerful, and all-knowing, but I know that He is all-loving, all-powerful, and all-knowing.”
I love the answer that my fellow classmate gave because in it he said, “I don’t have to understand everything to know that God is as He is.”
In the same way, we might not understand everything about Jesus, but what we must understand is that He is the Holy One of God, the One who has the words of eternal life, the One who is salvation!
[App] I wonder what kind of questions you or your loved ones have concerning Jesus. I wonder what kind of hard or confusing sayings of Jesus might stand in the way of you or yours believing on Jesus for salvation.
The truth is it’s probably not sayings about eating Jesus’ body or drinking His blood. It’s probably not the statements that confuse us that keep us from following Jesus.
Rather, it’s probably His teachings about leaving everything to follow Him. It’s probably His teachings about loving Him more than we even love our own families. It’s probably His teachings about being willing to sever all sin in pursuit of holiness. It’s probably His statements about Him being the only way of salvation.
If we are confused about the mysteries of God, we should be because they are the mysteries of God! If it’s those things that keep you from following Jesus, don’t let them keep you any longer! Much will be revealed as you follow Him and much more when you are with Him in heaven.
But if it those clear teachings of Jesus that turn you away from Jesus… Well, as Jesus said, each one in deciding to follow Him must count the cost.
But if we are honest, we have to admit that what Jesus taught about salvation is crystal clear.
But know this, the Bible is clear on salvation. It is only found in One person—the Holy One of God. Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ. As Peter said, only He has the words of eternal life.
[TS] {see below}
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
[Exp]
Revelation
R
[Illus]
[App]
[TS]
Conclusion
Conclusion
Well, I wish we had time this morning to talk about the letter to the church in Philadelphia in . There the Holy One means encouragement—Jesus offers and is the encouragement for believers to persevere in faithfulness. But you will have to ponder that one on your own this afternoon.
A final use, however, of “the Holy One of God” in Scripture communicates a sobering truth—there is nothing worse than denying Jesus, the Holy One of God.
In ...
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
[Exp] Peter had healed a lame beggar in the Name of Jesus as he and John went into the temple to pray. The man that was previously unable to walk was suddenly jumping and dancing and that drew a crowd. Peter saw the opportunity to make much of Jesus and took advantage. He told them the man was healed in the Name of Jesus—the very same Jesus that had been glorified in His resurrection and ascension by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of their fathers—but the very same Jesus that they had delivered over to death and denied before Pontius Pilate. They denied the Holy and Righteous One! They killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead!
If we had been listening to Peter’s sermon with belief in our hearts, we would have said, “This is bad! This Jesus whom God raised and exalted and glorified is the Jesus we rejected! This Jesus whose Name can make a lame man walk is the Name we spit on when we shouted, ‘Give us Barabbas instead!’ What will this Jesus do with us?”
Peter gives the answer in , when he says...
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
[App] Every person has rejected Jesus, but God offers salvation to every person. You may think that you’ve done terrible things, unforgivable things. You may have a family member who thinks that way or a friend. But these people in literally chose Barabbas, a murderer, over Jesus and what does Peter say to them? Repent… turn back to Jesus… your sins will be blotted out… you’ll be refreshed by the Holy Spirit… and when Jesus comes, He’ll come to save you rather than destroy you.
Today if you hear the voice of God calling on you to trust Jesus, the Holy One of God, do not turn Him away!
Today if you hear His voice do not turn Him away!
Repent!
Turn back!
Have your sins wiped away!
Receive the Holy Spirit!
Be saved!
All through faith in the Holy One of God, Jesus Christ!