IMMOVABLE TRUTHS: JESUS IS THE MESSIAH

INTRO: Hello everyone! We are continuing with what HAS BECOME OUR new normal. (I know that many if not all of you are like me and want to get to the next step toward being done with this.) This has gone on so long that...

We are almost used to some the differences now. I never thought that I would get even kind of used to walking around in a store with a mask on or seeing so many other people in public with masks, but it is so usual now.

I am still not used to not shaking hands or giving hugs. I miss that so much and I’m looking forward to when that becomes a thing again.

I do appreciate the person who weeks ago saw me in Walmart and before I could stop them came up and gave me a big hug. Now that I know you did not get me sick I am thankful for that hug. it meant a lot. (You know who you are, I love you brother).

GOD IS GIVING US A NEW APPRECIATION of the little blessings in life that we often take for granted like hugs and handshakes and haircuts. HA! I GOT A HAIRCUT THIS WEEK. I TOLD MY BARBER I DON’T EVER REMEMBER BEING THIS EXCITED ABOUT A HAIRCUT. (I THINK I LOST A COUPLE OF POUNDS, HA. IT ALMOST MAKES UP FOR THE POUNDS I’VE GAINED BEING TO CLOSE TO THE REFRIGERATOR DURING ALL OF THIS. HA!)

I know we are all pretty tired of not being together in person. But be encouraged that we are slowly moving toward getting back to being together.

Also I want to encourage you to think about the day that we are all together in heaven. There will be nothing that will distance us from one another. No sickness or saying goodbye. The things that TEMPORARILY distance us from each other and God will not even be a thought.

WE CAN MAGNIFY AND PRAISE CHRIST FOR THAT BECAUSE HE CAME AS OUR MESSIAH OR SAVIOR AND SACRIFICED HIMSELF TO TAKE AWAY THE SIN IN OUR LIVES THAT DISTANCED AND ISOLATED US FROM GOD!

Trans: Last week Perry taught us about Mankind’s common need for salvation. Today we are going to look at God’s answer to that need: Jesus the Messiah.

In John chapter four we find the account of Jesus talking to the woman at the well. During that interaction Jesus REVEALS TO her this incredible immovable truth. In verse 25-26...,

John 4:25–26 ESV

The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

WHAT AN AWESOME SCENE...She knew from the scriptures that the promised Messiah was coming and Jesus says, “Your talking to Him.” You know that she never would have thought on her way...This was one of many times Jesus would tell others that He was the Messiah.

In John 14:6 we find Jesus’ statement; “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This statement of Jesus demonstrates that the immovable truth of Jesus being the Messiah means that He is the only Messiah that mankind can be saved by.

As Acts 4:12 says,

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

WE CAN KNOW THAT THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE ITS not just that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah Himself. The evidence that Jesus is the Messiah is given through so many other witnesses.

Back in John 5 Jesus Himself stated that it wasn’t just His own words that witnessed to Him being God’s Son, the Messiah but there were other witnesses. In John 5:30-47 Jesus mentions 5 witnesses to Him being the Son of God. John 5:31-32 states,

John 5:31–32 ESV

If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

Jesus goes on to mention other witnesses to Him being God’s Son. (1) In verse 33 John the baptist, (2) in verse 36 He says the works that God had given Him to do that He was accomplishing testified to Him, (3) In verse 37 He says the Father (God Himself) bore witness about Him, (4) then in verse 39 He says that the scriptures bear witness of Him and then finally (5) then in verse 46 He says Moses believed and wrote of Jesus. (list these on screen graphic)

These five witness were powerful proofs to the Jews who consider two or three witnesses enough to establish testimony to be true. Jesus gives more two or three.

WE HAVE SO MANY MORE THAT THIS: Similar to what Jesus does in John five, I want to consider the many witnesses we have that Jesus is the Messiah. Not only to show that Jesus was the Messiah, many if not most of us believe that but also to consider what we who believe are doing with this incredible immovable truth.

EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS: When you begin to study the scriptures for the truth of Jesus being the Messiah it does not take long to see that God went to extraordinary lengths to make it unmistakable that Jesus Christ is the Messiah.

Jesus mentions five witnesses here but think about the vast amount of witnesses that are included in the things that Jesus stated here. First of all, lets consider just how powerfully the scriptures bear witness about Christ. Trans: within scripture...

PROPHECY PROVES JESUS IS THE MESSIAH: (heading on screen)

We know from Ephesians one that before God ever created us (and knowing we would sin) made a way to save us through a Messiah, His own Son.

What is awesome is that God not only planned it but shows the unfolding of that plan throughout scripture.

In Genesis 3 right after the fall God gives the first prophecy about the Messiah who would come from Eve’s offspring and He would crush Satan. From that point on, the Old Testament is filled with prophecies telling of the details of the coming of the Messiah, His life, ministry, death and resurrection. Also His Kingdom, the church being established.

We have heard many times that there are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah. Even though we have heard this many times we might not really grasp just how incredible this really is.

(Graphic) The probability of Jesus fulfilling just 8 of these by change is a crazy number. This shows that the only way was that Jesus was the Messiah!

The specifics that the prophecies point out about the Messiah are not generalities that could be fulfilled by chance. The prophecies pinpoint (1) the time period and empire Jesus would come during, (2) the town He would be born in, (3) that He would be born of a virgin, details of his early life, (4) and so many details big and small about His life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection.

HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO ASK WHY? WHY DID GOD GIVE US SO MANY PROPHECIES ABOUT THE MESSIAH? Why not just a few and let that do it? any

FULFILLMENT RECORDED AND HIGHLIGHTED

AFTER INSPIRING ALL THE PROPHECIES THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD MADE SURE THAT JESUS’ FULFILLING THOSE PROPHECIES WAS RECORDED AS WELL through the gospels.

RECORDED AND POINTED OUT IN THE GOSPEL; What is awesome is that He not only has the gospel writers tell of the events in Jesus’ life that fulfilled prophecy but “highlights” them for us with phrases, like we find often in Matthew, “This happened to fulfill what was spoken of by the Prophet,” or “for it is written.” These phrases signal that Jesus or an event in His life was the fulfillment of prophecy so we do not miss them.

Just one example of this is Jesus speaking in Parables. Matthew 13:35 states,

Matthew 13:35 ESV

This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

The purpose of the gospels is to testify of Jesus as the Messiah and the good news of His life, death, burial and resurrection. THIS IS OFTEN DONE BY POINTING OUR O.T. SCRIPTURE.

Consider how incredible it is that there are more prophecies concerning Jesus’ death and resurrection than any other person or event in scripture. The are more prophecies about Christ life than any other person in scripture. There are more prophecies about Christ death, burial and resurrection than any other single event in History!

JUST ON THE DAY OF JESUS’ DEATH there are OVER 25 prophecies: (LIST ON SCREEN:

His betrayal, the scattering of His Apostles, His silence during His trial, His scourging, being executed with criminals, the piercing of His hands and feet, soldiers gambling over His garments, among others.

But one of the ones that I want to point out is this one in Psalm 22 where God prophecies not only the fact that Jesus would be mocked but the very words they would say;

Prophesied: “He trusted on the LORD; let Him deliver Him; let Him rescue Him, since He delights in Him!” (Psa. 22:8).

Fulfilled: “ ‘He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, “I am the Son of God.” ’ (Matthew 27:43)

DO NOT MISS JUST HOW AWESOME THIS IS...He was being mocked and ridiculed BY THOSE SAYING HE WAS NOT THE SON OF GOD. The very ones who were claiming He was not the Son of God were fulfilling prophecy that would prove to so many after this that He was.

GOD TURNED THE WORDS THAT SAID “YOU ARE NOT THE SON OF GOD” INTO WORDS THAT PROVED HE WAS THE SON OF GOD.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TRUTHS THAT JUST MAKES YOU STOP AND GO, GOD IS AWESOME.

(MAKES GOD TURNED THE WORDS OF UNBELIEVERS INTO PROOF SO THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD BECOME BELIEVERS.)

TRANS: AS IF ALL OF THIS WERE NOT ENOUGH…GOD USED...

TYPES IN SCRIPTURE POINT TO JESUS AS THE MESSIAH

GOD ALSO POINTS TO THE MESSIAH THROUGH THE TYPOLOGY THAT HE PLACES BETWEEN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW.

(Don’t zone out on me, I know that sounds like some boring technical term. But it is actually an incredible thing that God does.)

Typology “is a method of Biblical interpretation where an element found in the Old Testament is seen to prefigure one found in the New Testament” - Theopedia.com

The initial element is the “type” and the fulfillment or parallel element is the “antitype.”

Another way of saying it is “the preordained representative relationship” between two things such as persons, places or things.

These are not just parallels that we can make up they are parallels that God intended all along to point us to truth.

God establishes something in the Old Testament that He intended all along to point to the greater thing in the New Testament.

For example two that relate to Jesus as our Messiah: (1) The Passover lamb (Exodus 12) and Jesus our passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) (2) Moses and Jesus.

The Passover lamb (Ex 12) would be killed at a certain time of the day, its bones were not to be broken, its blood covering the doorpost so God would pass over the houses of Israel.

1 Corinthians 5:7 calls Jesus “our passover lamb,” He would be crucified and die at the same time of day as the original passover lamb, none of His bones were broken and His blood was shed to cover our sins so God’s wrath would pass over us because it was put on Christ at the Crucifixion.

Moses and Christ: Moses prophesied this one in Deuteronomy 18:15

Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

There are a number of parallels to them that I encourage you to look into but Moses was God’s deliverer of God’s people Israel from physical slavery while

Jesus is God’s deliver of spiritual Israel from slavery to sin.

Study some of the others…like the scapegoat, the High Priest, Jesus even pointed out some of like being the Bread from Heaven which is the antitype to the Manna which God gave in the wilderness.

AS IF THAT WERE NOT ENOUGH....

GOD PROVES JESUS IS THE MESSIAH THROUGH SIGNS AND MIRACLES.

(Continue to add things to the graphic list: Prophecy, Types, Signs, Resurrection)

SIGNS SURROUNDING HIS BIRTH, like the Angels witnessed by the shepherds but the greatest of which being the fact that He was born of the virgin Mary.

Isa 7:14 prophecies that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and then Luke tells the account of this happening.

BEFORE HIS MINISTRY GOD SENT JOHN THE BAPTIST who scripture prophesied would come and prepare the way for the Messiah. Mal. 3:1

SIGNS DURING HIS MINISTRY

At the beginning of His ministry GOD’S VOICE SAYING AT HIS BAPTISM “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON.”

The gospel of John focuses on seven miracles that Jesus did but the gospels tell of so many more; Jesus healed the lame, gave sight to the blind, walked on water, calmed the storm, brought the dead back to life, fed over 5000 people and cast out demons among so many other miracles…all magnifying the truth that Nicodemus spoke in John 3 when He said, “no one can do these sign…unless God is with Him.”

SIGNS SURROUNDING HIS DEATH

The Jews should have seen these prophecies coming true before their eyes but even without them they had reason to believe. The Signs recorded in the gospels.

1. Darkness; for the last three hours... When you couple this with the other miracles the evidence and signs for Christ’s divinity are overwhelming.

Interestingly, “There were three days of darkness in Egypt before Passover (Ex. 10:21–23); and there were three hours of darkness before the Lamb of God died for the sins of the world.”[1]

2. The Veil in the temple being torn V51 The veil was torn from top to bottom.

3. The Earthquake V51b (Can you imagine?...)

When the first covenant was given at Mount Sinai with many signs and wonders including an earthquake. (Ex 19:18) Now the Old covenant was taken away and the new enacted with an earthquake.

Because of the earthquake...

4. THE TOMBS WERE OPENED BY THE EARTHQUAKE AND The resurrection of saints

The graves were opened and then days later they resurrected saints came from the graves.

Matthew ends the account of the miracles that happened after Jesus’ death with the account of the soldier’s impression of everything, “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Matt 27:54 (ESV)

THE GREATEST PROOF BEING HIS RESURRECTION

Which Peter through inspiration testified to in 2 Peter 1:16

We know it wasn’t just Peter, the Apostles and a few others but over 500 people who saw Him alive after He died and was resurrected.

If you were to add up all of the prophecies and witnesses to their fulfillment, all the miracles, types and those who saw the resurrected Lord, think about how many witnesses would that be?

WHY DID GOD GO TO SUCH GREAT LENGTHS TO GIVE US SO MANY SIGNS POINTING TO THE MESSIAH AND PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS THE ONE?

THE GREATEST REASON OF COURSE IS BECAUSE...BECAUSE GOD WANTS ALL PEOPLE TO BE SAVED! (John 3:16; 2 Peter 3:9)

Luke 2:30–31 ESV

for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

2 Peter 3:9 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God’s plan, preparation and the fulfillment of His purposes are clearly shown in such a way that all people of all times can see it and believe.

THEN FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO BELIEVE, TO BUILD AND REINFORCE OUR FAITH.

The statement at the end of the gospel of John about its purpose applies well to all the things in scripture that point to and prove Christ is the Messiah. While Matthew’s gospel focuses on Jesus’ fulfillment of scripture. John’s gospel highlights certain miracles that prove Him to be the Messiah.

John 20:30–31 ESV

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

There are things that God did have have recorded for us that show Jesus the Messiah to be an immovable truth but all these things we have so that we would believe and be saved and even then built our faith. ALL OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF GOD’S IMMEASURABLE LOVE

WHAT IS INCREDIBLE AND MIND BOGGLING IS THAT...

EVEN WITH ALL THESE THINGS SOME PEOPLE STILL MISS JESUS THE MESSIAH

What is incredible is that despite all of the ways God was pointing to Him, many in Jesus’ day missed the Messiah who was right in front of them. Which is incredible considering they saw undeniable miracles. Why, how?

For some of them it is the same reason people can miss the Messiah today. THEY HAD MISCONCEPTIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE CHRIST...

MISUNDERSTANDING THE MESSIAH

Because they misunderstood what the Messiah’s purpose was…(to be King of physical Israel and lead them out from under Rome’s oppression.) This was one of the greatest misconceptions among others that many Israelites had.

In John’S GOSPEL we find them coming to make Jesus the physical King by force and Jesus withdrew from them. This goes along with another reason...

THEY TRIED TO MAKE THE MESSIAH ABOUT THEIR PURPOSES NOT HIS ETERNAL PLAN

They wanted a physical Messiah and were not concerned as much with having a spiritual Savior. In John 6 we have the account of the people who Jesus fed miraculously the day before finding Him only because they wanted more food.

Jesus tried to teach them of His spiritual purpose for their lives and many leave Him.

Jesus’ call did not line up with what they wanted for their lives. (Rich young ruler, religious leaders, JUDAS)

The people in Jesus’ day had the Old Testament prophecies which pointed to Jesus, the miracles that Jesus was doing, His death, burial and resurrection “according to scripture.”

We have those things and more. We have the New Testament accounts of all these things right here in our hands all put together and easy to access. The whole story in one volume!

TRANS: And we can still miss following the truth Messiah!

SO HOW COULD WE MISS THE MESSIAH AND HIS ROLE IN IN OUR LIVES?

We may misunderstand how He saves us and for what purposes. After the death and resurrection of Christ, His Apostles whom He had given the Holy Spirit preached Christ and salvation in Acts through repentance and baptism for those who believe He was the Messiah. (Acts 2)

Just like the people of Jesus’ day we can make Him more about me than about His eternal purposes. Check your reasoning…if your spiritual life is mostly focused on what Christ is going to do for you and little about what you have given for Christ you may need to check your heart and ask this question, “What are you seeking?”

OccasionalLY interest, curiosity, a financial savior or investor, An EMERGENCY ROOM SAVIOR that you only call on when you have to because it is that serious, but you do not really want to pay the price for, you have missed the Messiah’s purposes.

HE WENT TO SUCH GREAT TROUBLES TO SAVE YOU FROM SIN AND BRING YOU TO HEAVEN FOR ETERNITY, TO BE WITH HIM. WE SHOULD WANT NOTHING MORE THAN THAT!

Not putting Him in the rightful place in our hearts as Lord of Lords and King of Kings over our lives and everything that we are.

SO, WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE IMMOVABLE TRUTH THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH?

Tr: let’s end by looking at some of the first of Jesus’ disciples and how they responded to finding the Messiah…in John chapter 1…ANDREW AND PHILIP...

John 1:40-42 “We have found the Messiah” Notice what Andrew said to Simon (Peter)!

John 1:40–41 ESV

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

Then in the following verses we have Philip’s reaction to finding the Messiah.

John 1:44–45 ESV

Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

What these disciples did was more incredible that we give them credit for many time. THEY WERE EXCITED AND THEY WANTED TO TELL OTHERS WHAT THEY FOUND.

Andrew believed John and understood what they had found. I can only imagine what excitement must have been in his voice as he told Simon.

Think about what you have found…the ONLY SAVIOR, THE SON OF GOD, THE GREAT I AM, THE ONE CONTROLLED THE STORMS, WALKED ON WATER, HAD DEMONS BOW BEFORE HIM, CONTROLS THE THINGS WE DO NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND… or how.

WE SHOULD BE AS EXCITED AND TELLING OTHERS about the MESSIAH. Every time Andrew appears in John’s gospel, guess what he is doing? Bringing people to Jesus.

Notice V41 “He first” the first thing that Andrew did was find his brother...

Now notice V45 Philip found Nathanael…and Nathanael comes to Jesus. It is so simple but so powerful. Those who are following Jesus find others and tell them about Jesus.

This was not from obligation but excitement from the realization of who Jesus was and what was happening.

WHAT ARE YOUR DOING WITH THE IMMOVABLE TRUTH THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH?

FIRST IT SHOULD LEAD US TO FOLLOW JESUS AND LET HIM SAVE US.

THEN IT SHOULD LEAD US TO GIVE OUR LIVES AND HEART TO THE ONE WHO SAVED US.

THEN IT SHOULD LEAD US TO DO WHAT GOD, THE PROPHETS, THE PARALLELS, THE GOSPELS AND HIS FOLLOWERS DID; POINT PEOPLE TO JESUS THE MESSIAH.

HERE IS AN INCREDIBLE THOUGHT:

GOD DOES NOT STOP AT THESE THINGS (THAT WE HAVE STUDIED) TO POINT TO THE IMMOVABLE TRUTH THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH.

He has given us all these proofs so that through them we can point the world to Jesus. (Add this to the graphic list: Prophesy, types, gospels, signs, resurrection and YOU AND ME.)

THERE IS evidence that is just as powerful is how Christ has changed our lives and the love we have for others.

IF GOD WENT TO SUCH GREAT EFFORTS TO MAKE THE MESSIAH KNOWN SHOULDN’T WE GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO MAKE HIM KNOW AS WELL.

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO ABOUT? WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW YOU FOR AND EVEN REMEMBER YOU FOR?

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT WHAT LEGACY ARE WE GOING TO LEAVE. I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I AM NOT CONCERNED WITH THAT AS LONG AS MY LIFE POINTS PEOPLE TO JESUS AND THEY IN TURN POINT OTHERS TO CHRIST THEN THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS.