Isaiah's Proclamation
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Handout
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible® Leadership Ministries Worldwide, The Master Outline & Subject Index, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996).
Old Testament Prophecy Is Crucial to the Gospel Message
Old Testament Prophecy Is Crucial to the Gospel Message
1. The Gospel is “according to the Scriptures”
(1 Cor. 15:3–4
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
Isaiah Prophecies About Jesus’s Miraculous Birth (Isa 7:14)
Isaiah Prophecies About Jesus’s Miraculous Birth (Isa 7:14)
14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).
1. Isaiah prophesied the virgin birth of Christ
2. The virgin birth was a miracle
3. Many Miracles surrounding this central miracle
a. The angelic announcements
The angelic announcement of John The Baptist’s birth, Luke 1:13–20,
The angelic announcement of Jesus’s birth to Mary, Luke 1:26–38;
The angelic announcement of Jesus’s birth to the shepherds Luke 2:8-20
The angelic announcement of Jesus’s birth to Joseph Matt. 1:20–23)
b. The miraculous virgin birth was a sign
Isaiah Prophecies About Jesus’s Many Names (9:6)
Isaiah Prophecies About Jesus’s Many Names (9:6)
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!
1. Wonderful in His birth, His life, His death and resurrection
2. Counselor who understands us
a. He cares and is capable and compassionate
b. No problem too big for Him to handle
3. The mighty God: All things are possible with Him
a. Even the wind and waves were subject to Him
b. Death could not hold Him
4. The everlasting Father
a. “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58)
b. Offered everlasting life (John 3:16; 5:24)
5. The Prince of Peace brings peace (John 14:27)
a. Peace with God (Rom. 5:1)
b. The peace of God (Phil. 4:6–7)
The Greatest Miracle was the Incarnation (Phil. 2:5–7)
The Greatest Miracle was the Incarnation (Phil. 2:5–7)
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.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,
4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.
b. The name “Immanuel” (God with us) announced the Incarnation
Immanuel “God With US!” (9:7)
Immanuel “God With US!” (9:7)
300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church Security in God’s Faithfulness
If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, his arm over us, his ear open to our prayer; his grace sufficient, his promise unchangeable. Under his protection, though the path of duty should lie through fire and water, we may cheerfully and confidently pursue it.
JOHN NEWTON
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
1 (1:14) Jesus Christ, Incarnation:
1 (1:14) Jesus Christ, Incarnation:
Christ became flesh. The Incarnation did take place. The Son of God was actually made flesh. He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt about John’s meaning here.
Tyndale Bible Dictionary Incarnation
INCARNATION* Literally, “in flesh”; theologically, the doctrine that in Jesus of Nazareth God took on human flesh and became the God-man. Historically, the doctrine of incarnation was central in the christological debates of patristic times and has recently come to the fore again in academic circles. Biblically, it expresses the mystery of Jesus’ identity.
Incarnation is different then reincarnation
re•in•car•na•tion \ˌrē-(ˌ)in-(ˌ)kär-ˈnā-shən\ noun
1845
1 a: the action of reincarnating: the state of being reincarnated
b: rebirth in new bodies or forms of life especially: a rebirth of a soul in a new human body
2: a fresh embodiment
Many religions believe in reincarnation
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Early in 1989, when (Donald) Trump’s bank account was still bulging, a writer asked Trump the inevitable question about what horizons were left to conquer.
“Right now, I’m genuinely enjoying myself,” Trump replied. “I work and I don’t worry.”
“What about death?” the writer asked. “Don’t you worry about dying?”
Trump dealt his stock answer, one that appears in a lot of his interviews. “No,” he said. “I’m fatalistic and I protect myself as well as anybody can. I prepare for things.” This time, however, as Trump started walking up the stairs to have dinner with his family, he hesitated for a moment. “No,” he said finally, “I don’t believe in reincarnation, heaven or hell—but we go someplace.” Again a pause. “Do you know,” he added, “I cannot, for the life of me, figure out where.”
Donald Trump, investor and businessman quoted in Pursuit magazine in an adaptation from the book What Jesus Would Say, by Lee Strobel, Zondervan, 1994.
The word flesh (sarx) is the same word that Paul used to describe man’s nature with all of its weakness and tendency to sin. This is a staggering thought. Jesus Christ is God—fully God, yet Jesus Christ is man—fully man. (See 1 Jn. 4:2–3.)
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
The word beheld (theasthai) means actually seeing with the human eye. It is used about twenty times in the New Testament. There is no room whatever for saying that God’s becoming a man was merely a vision of some man’s mind or imagination. John was saying that he and others actually saw the Word made flesh.
Jesus Christ was beyond question God Himself who became man, who partook of the very same flesh as all other men.
1John 1.1-4
1 We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.
2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us.
3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
(1:14) Flesh:
(1:14) Flesh:
What does the Bible mean by “flesh”? And why did Jesus Christ have to become flesh? The best description of the flesh is probably found in 1 Co. 15:42–44.
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.
43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.
44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break.
14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.
15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.
16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.
17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1. The flesh is corruptible.
1. The flesh is corruptible.
a. The flesh is tainted, debased, ruined and depraved by sin (lust, 2 Pe. 1:4).
a. The flesh is tainted, debased, ruined and depraved by sin (lust, 2 Pe. 1:4).
There is a seed of corruption within human flesh; therefore, the flesh sins (lusts) and thereby ages, dies, deteriorates and decays. It does not live beyond a few years on this earth.
“The corruption which is in the world through lust” (2 Pe. 1:4).
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption” (Ga. 6:8).
“Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Co. 15:50).
b. Christ (the Word) became flesh to correct and to counteract the corruption of flesh.
b. Christ (the Word) became flesh to correct and to counteract the corruption of flesh.
“[By Christ] are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pe. 1:4).
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.… Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pe. 1:18–19, 23–25).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).
2. The flesh is dishonorable.
2. The flesh is dishonorable.
a. The flesh is not what God created it to be.
a. The flesh is not what God created it to be.
It does not exist in the image of God that God intended. It does not hold the glory, the honor, nor the prestige it once did when God created it. It is disgraced and shamed, and it is reproached by sin and lust. It is held in the grip of sin and fear and subject to being held in bondage—even the bondage of death.
“In me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing” (Ro. 7:18).
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Ro. 1:28–32; see Ga. 5:19–21).
“They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh.… For to be carnally [fleshy] minded is death” (Ro. 8:5–6).
b. Jesus Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the dishonor of the flesh.
b. Jesus Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the dishonor of the flesh.
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (He. 2:14–15; see 2:14–18).
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life” (Ro. 5:8–10).
3. The flesh is weak.
3. The flesh is weak.
a. The flesh is impotent feeble.
a. The flesh is impotent feeble.
It is feeble, frail, fragile, infirmed, ineffective, helpless and decrepit because of sin (lust). It has no strength to please God nor to save itself.
“They that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Ro. 8:8).
“There shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Ro. 3:20; Ga. 2:16).
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing” (Jn. 6:63).
b. Jesus Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the weakness of the flesh.
b. Jesus Christ became flesh to correct and counteract the weakness of the flesh.
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Ro. 5:6).
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Ro. 8:3).
4. The flesh is a natural body.
4. The flesh is a natural body.
a. The flesh is of the earth and is part of the earth;
a. The flesh is of the earth and is part of the earth;
it is made up of the chemicals and substances of the earth. It is physical, material, animal. It is “the earthly house,” the “tabernacle,” the “tent,” which houses the human soul and spirit (2 Co. 5:1). It is neither spirit nor spiritual; therefore, it cannot live beyond the strength of the chemicals and substances that form its flesh. It cannot live beyond its natural life.
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Co. 15:50).
“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Lu. 24:39).
“There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.… As we have borne the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Co. 15:44, 49).
b. Jesus Christ became flesh to counteract the natural body of the flesh.
b. Jesus Christ became flesh to counteract the natural body of the flesh.
He became flesh in order to become “a quickening spirit,” the Savior who could quicken and make alive all those who would trust Him (1 Co. 15:45).
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Pe. 3:18).
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Ro. 8:11).
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ” (Ep. 2:4–5).
(3:31) “From Above”
(3:31) “From Above”
31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.
—Jesus Christ: Jesus came out of (ek) the spiritual world into the physical world, out of the heavenly dimension of being into the earthly dimension of being. Jesus came out of …
• the incorruptible world into the corruptible world
• the glorious world into the dishonorable world
• the powerful world into the weak world
• the spiritual world into the natural world (see 1 Co. 15:42–44.)
“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (Jn. 3:13).
“For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.… For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (Jn. 6:33, 38).
“The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?” (Jn. 6:41–42).
“This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (Jn. 6:50–51).
“This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever” (Jn. 6:58).
“What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” (Jn. 6:62).
“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (Jn. 8:23).
“Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me” (Jn. 8:42).
“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God” (Jn. 13:3).
“Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God” (Jn. 16:30).
“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (Jn. 17:5).
“The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven” (1 Co. 15:47).
Proof of the Incarnation.
Proof of the Incarnation.
The first proof of the Incarnation is that Jesus Christ dwelt visibly among us.
The first proof of the Incarnation is that Jesus Christ dwelt visibly among us.
a. God’s glory was seen
Two things are meant by the word “glory.”
1) Christ was the Shekinah glory of God.
1) Christ was the Shekinah glory of God.
The word Shekinah means that which dwells or dwelling. It refers to the bright cloud that God used to guide Israel out of Egypt and that rested upon the tabernacle and above the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place (Ex. 40:34–38).
34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.
35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.
36 Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it.
37 But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted.
38 The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.
The cloud symbolized God’s presence, and that is just what John was saying. “We beheld,” actually saw the Shekinah glory, God’s very presence “dwelling among us.”
2) Christ was the very embodiment of God, all that God is and does.
2) Christ was the very embodiment of God, all that God is and does.
John said “we beheld,” looked at Him, and could tell He was God. All that Jesus was in His person and being, character and behavior, was so enormously different. In person and behavior, work and ministry He was …
• the very embodiment of “grace and truth”
• the perfect embodiment of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control
• the absolute embodiment of all that God could be
The glory of all that God was stood right before them, right in their very presence. They beheld Him with their very own eyes. Jesus Christ, the Man who dwelt among them, could be no other than the glory of God among men. It was clearly seen that “in Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9).
The glory of His being …
• was the very glory God Himself would possess
• was the very glory God would give to His only begotten Son (just as any father would give the best of his glory and all he is to a son)
A striking fact is that James, who was the Lord’s brother, even called Jesus “the Lord of glory.” Just think: James was reared with Jesus beginning from the earliest years of childhood stretching right on through the years of adulthood. If anyone ever had an opportunity to see and observe Jesus, it was James. He had every chance to see some act of disobedience, some sin, something contrary to the nature of God. However, James’ testimony is: “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory,” the One in whom the very presence of God dwelt among us (James. 2:1).
b. Jesus Christ was full of grace and truth.
b. Jesus Christ was full of grace and truth.
The second proof of the Incarnation is John the Baptist.
The second proof of the Incarnation is John the Baptist.
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ ”
He, too, bore witness of the Incarnation. John said very simply …
• Jesus was born “after me” (6 months after).
• But He is “preferred before me” (mightier; more important in being, rank, and dignity).
• Why? Because “He was before me.”
The words “for He was before me” (hoti protos mou en) literally mean first to me or first of me. It refers both to time and importance. Jesus Christ was first in time, existing before John. He existed “in the beginning”—throughout all eternity.
John proclaimed, “He was before me”: He always existed; He was the First; He was the very cause for John’s existence. John also declared that Jesus was first in importance. He was first in superiority, Being, Person. His very name is the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Re. 22:13; see Re. 1:8; 21:6; Is. 44:6).
The third proof of the Incarnation is the fullness and grace of Christ which was given to us.
The third proof of the Incarnation is the fullness and grace of Christ which was given to us.
Genuine believers can testify to this.
The word fullness (pleroma) means that which fills, the sum total, the totality. It is the sum total of all that is in God (Col. 1:19).
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
In Jesus dwelt all the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—all the abundance of God (1 Co. 1:30).
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
All that Christ is, the very fullness of His being, is given to us who believe—all His “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Ga. 5:22–23).
We are complete in Him.
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:9–10).
The term “grace for grace” means that He gives grace upon grace, grace enough to meet all our needs, no matter the circumstances. It is one blessing leading to another blessing; new wonders dawning upon one’s consciousness every day; fresh experiences constantly springing into one’s life.
Notice that the fullness of God, His grace and truth, does not come by the law, but by Jesus Christ. It does not come …
• by being as good as we can
• by working to please God as much as we can
• by keeping the rules and commandments of the law
It does not come by law, for no man can keep the law to any degree of perfection. The law only points out a man’s failure and condemns him for breaking the law. If a man is to be acceptable to God, it is because he comes and keeps on coming to God, begging God to forgive him, and because God loves him so much that he forgives the man.
Such is the grace, the undeserved favor, of God. God’s grace comes by Jesus Christ, and we would not know the grace of God unless Jesus Christ had come to reveal it to us. The glorious fact that we do experience the fullness of God and His grace is proof of the Incarnation (that God did become flesh in the person of Jesus Christ).
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Tit. 2:11).
“But after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made h according to the hope of eternal life” (Tit. 3:4–7).
“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they” (Ac. 15:11).
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Ro. 3:23–24).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ep. 2:8–9).
The fourth proof of the Incarnation is Christ—God’s Son.
The fourth proof of the Incarnation is Christ—God’s Son.
He alone has seen God. No man has seen God at any time; however, Jesus Christ claimed …
• that He was “the only begotten Son of God” (Jn. 3:16)
• that He had come from the very “bosom of the Father” (from the deepest part, the most intimate place, the most honorable fellowship) (Jn. 1:18)
18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
• that He had come to reveal and to proclaim the Father
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
7 “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to him. For the time has come when he will sit as judge. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”
The fact that Jesus Christ is “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father” is proof of the Incarnation (that God became flesh). Jesus Christ declared unequivocally that He had come from God. A man either believes or does not believe the grace and truth of God as revealed in Jesus Christ.
31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.