Telling His Story

Looking

We just sang the song Tell me the story of Jesus and there is no greater story, no story that is historical that can change men’s hearts for all eternity.

We hold the whole story in our hands when we hold the Bible, we then learn to write it on our hearts every word as the song goes.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 NASB95

6 “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

Deuteronomy 6:8–9 NASB95

8 “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

We have it, we hold it, we write it all so we can believe it and share it with others.

What are you looking for?

Luke 7:28 NASB95

28 “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Notice the words of Jesus, speaking of John, no one greater, but then it says “he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Well, that would not be fair if I just gave you that verse, I need to give some back story, scripture so you can see and understand the context.

John is in prison for ticking off Herod, calling him out about sin, Jesus ministry is just getting started with His apostles in place and there is lot’s going on, but now let’s see the backstory on this.

Luke 7:18–19 NASB95

18 The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. 19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?”

Luke 7:20–21 NASB95

20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’ ” 21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

Luke 7:22–23 NASB95

22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

what are you looking for? John was looking for confirmation who Jesus is, was He the awaited Messiah. Jesus did not answer the question, but said tell him what you have seen. Which by the way is fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah 61:1-3.

Isaiah 61:1–3 NASB95

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Now back to the passage (v.19) the question was asked, are you the coming One or should we look for another?

Jesus responds (v.21) - with deeds, not words, cures, heals, casts out evil spirits and gave many blind sight (hum, wonder if this is just physically or spiritually too)?

Jesus instructs (v.22) - Go tell John what you have seen, what you have heard

Blind see, lame walk, lepers cleansed, deaf hear, dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

The Jewish people were looking for the coming Messiah, they were trying to figure out when, how He was coming and how would they know of His coming. John wanted to be sure, well, wait a minute, so do we right.

Jesus words are telling us in the passage that His deeds prove He is the Messiah, they confirm His identity.

What is the world looking for?

Look at the world was looking for.

Pilate

Matthew 27:11 NASB95

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”

Herod

Matthew 2:2–3 NASB95

2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

The world today wants hope, wants comfort, wants peace, they want reason and purpose, they want answers, logical, plain answers.

It does not matter age, position or possession we want answers.

We are a hurting people or know people who are hurting who are looking, longing searching for answers.

We have the answers people are looking for

Maybe people don’t know exactly what they are looking for, and many do not believe the historical answers provided in Bible. But we do hold the answers, we hold the hope, the peace, the comfort, the assurance, the purpose that people

Summarize the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch (Act8:26-39)

Philip the Evangelist had been in Samaria preaching the gospel and there was great joy when an angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him to go along the road from Jerusalm to Gaza

He comes to the Eunuch in a chariot reading from scroll of Isaiah

Then I really should read some of the passage from there.

Acts 8:34–35 NASB95

34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

Acts 8:36–37 NASB95

36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

Acts 8:38–39 NASB95

38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

Philip met the Eunuch right where he was at and shared the story of Jesus that resulted in the salvation of the Eunuch and the gospel going to Ethiopia.

Peter says we need to be prepared to share the story.

1 Peter 3:15 NASB95

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

First you be right with God through Christ, then be ready to share the hope that is in you, the gospel.

Be ready to tell His story and how His story has impacted your story!

(Song) (Prayer)