Everyday Theology | Part 4

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FACTS: What do we need to know about Jesus?

There are three fact about Jesus’ life that are important for us to understand tonight...

Jesus existed before His birth in Bethlehem

This is the idea of the PREINCARNATE CHRIST. We have several scriptures scattered throughout Scripture that show us that Jesus existed prior to His birth in Bethlehem.

He is eternal.

Micah 5:2 ESV

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

In this passage the OT prophet Micah prophesies about the birth of king who would be born in Bethlehem. We read here that this one who would be born king is from eternity past. In other words he always had been.

John 8:57–58 ESV

So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus makes the claim that not only has he seen Abraham he predated as well.

Bottom line - Jesus has always existed.

Jesus’ life on earth

When we read the Gospels, we get just a snapshot of the life of Jesus. We read about his INCARNATION or birth and a little about His childhood. The next thing we read about is the beginning of His ministry. However, the heavy emphasis seems to gravitate on Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem, His death, His burial and His resurrection.

Why is this so?

The focus of the Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. All the rest is simply context. The reason the writers do this is because they were focused on the most significant event in the history of the world - the RESURRECTION.

Why?

The resurrection reveals that Jesus is who He said He was, and it reveals that our faith in Him is valid.

Illus.: If I were to tell you about he day that our first son was born. I would not bore you with the small details of Julie’s vitals and the 13 hours of waiting. I would condense it down to the most important parts and highlight the moment I saw him face to face.

Therefore, we don’t have in the Gospels every moment of Jesus life. Yet, we have the most important moments of His life. The parts that highlight who Jesus is. We will talk more about that in a minute.

The eternally existent Christ

The fact is that not only did Jesus predate and post date his time here on earth. He lives today in heaven with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

There are a couple of questions that come up when it comes to Jesus and his activity now...

What does He look like now?

(1) He ascended to heaven in bodily form.

Right before Jesus ascends into heaven and before he tells them they will take the Gospel into all the world we read this.

Acts 1:9 ESV

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

(2) He will return in bodily form.

Acts 1:11 ESV

and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

(3) He has a bodily form in heaven.

Later in Acts as Stephen is being martyred for his faith we read this.

Acts 7:55–56 ESV

But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Bottom line - Jesus has a resurrected body and will come back in the same way he left.

What is He doing now?

(1) Ruling at God’s right hand.

1 Peter 3:22 ESV

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

(2) Praying for us.

Romans 8:34 ESV

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

(3) Holding the universe together.

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

(4) Waiting for us to be with Him.

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Summary | What do we need to know about Jesus?

He existed before his birth/incarnation in Bethlehem.

He lived here on earth.

He exists right now in his resurrected body in heaven.

FAITH: What do we need to believe about Jesus?

Three things...

Jesus Is God

How do we know Jesus is God?

(1) Jesus said he is God.

John 5:18 ESV

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:30 ESV

I and the Father are one.”

(2) Others said he is God.

John 1:1–2 ESV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

(3) He is worshipped as God.

Matthew 14:33 ESV

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

(4) He does what only God can do.

One such example is found in Mark 2:1-12

Have Julie tell the story of paralytic who was carried in by his friends and Jesus healed him.

Not only this but he raised people from the dead, restored the sight of the blind, sent the Spirit, etc.

What evidence supports Jesus’ claim to God?

(1) Fulfillment of Prophecy

Jesus fulfilled more than 300 specific OT prophecies.

(2) His Miracles

When asked for proof of His deity, Jesus responded with these words...

Luke 7:22 ESV

And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

(3) His Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

I will not take too much more time with this. However, be ready for sermon series this fall on the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the firm foundation that our faith can rest upon.

Jesus Is Man

How do we know Jesus was a man?

(1) He had a human birth.

Galatians 4:4 ESV

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

(2) He showed human growth.

Luke 2:52 ESV

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

(3) He had human emotions.

John 11:35 ESV

Jesus wept.

Jesus Is Fully God and Fully Man

This seems to be another contradiction in terms or at least a challenging thing to understand like the TRINITY.

How can someone be fully God and fully man?

There are a couple of things that we need to keep in mind in order to understand this belief.

(1) Jesus limited himself.

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

(2) Jesus did not lessen himself.

Luke 4:3 ESV

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

Bottom line - Jesus is fully God and fully man.

This is what is called the hypostatic union.

FEELINGS: What do we need to do about Jesus?

I want to share three things that these facts and faith move us to do...

(1) Seek Jesus

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Ask Julie what has been most helpful to her in seeking after Jesus.

(2) Live for Jesus

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

(3) Share Jesus

1 John 1:1–2 ESV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—

My prayer is that this will help you...

Seek Jesus More.

Live for Jesus More.

Share Jesus More.