WHO IS JESUS?

Ill. The Disciples on the sea, Jesus calmed the sea and they declared, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!", Mt. 8:27. (Ill. Even the enemies of Jesus, the Scribes and Pharisees, wondered about Who He was. “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” - Luke 5:21) People still wonder just Who Jesus is! No other man has ever been as polarizing a figure as Jesus. Just the mention of His name causes some people to bow in worship; while that same name causes others to lash out in hatred and anger.

While Jesus was here on earth, He encountered and changed many people. If those people were interviewed and asked, “Just who is Jesus to you?” The answer you received would be as varied as the people He met. Ill. Imagine if you asked: The blind man; the lame man; the leper; the deaf man; the Shumanite woman; those who hungered; those who thirsted; those who were lost; those who were sick in body, etc. All of these people would have something to say about Who this man Jesus is.

I. HE IS OUR HEAD

A. In regard to the believer, Jesus is our Head – He is The Supreme Master. He is the One in charge!

B. The Head is absolutely essential to the life of the body:

1. Ill. The church is the body of Jesus - 1 Cor. 12:27

2. The Head gives much to the body:

a. Direction - Eph. 5:1 - He leads the body. The head decides where the body goes.

b. Goals and plans - James 4:14-15

(14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

(15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

- He guides the body. The head establishes the goals and priorities for the body and the body responds by obeying the leadership of the head.

c. Usefulness - Ephesians 2:10

(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them., 2 Cor. 4:7 - He uses the body. The head decides which body part moves and what it does.

d. Existence - I John 5:12

(11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

(12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. - He gives life to the body. If the head were to die, then the body would cease to live also.

C. We owe the head total submission and obedience - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

(19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

(20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.. (Ill. There is a problem when the body ceases to hear the commands of the head. This is called paralysis. It results in a lack of movement and a lack of momentum. The only way paralysis can be overcome is for communication to be restored between the head and the body.)

II. HE IS OUR HOPE

A. The total hope of all mankind lies in Jesus Christ. He is the only hope for salvation, sanctification and satisfaction. No one will ever see Heaven apart from Him. No one will ever be holy apart from Him. No one will ever be truly happy apart from Him. But, those who know Him, find that He gives them all three! Jesus is our hope. Here why:

B. He is the Beginning - He is the "One with whom it all started." Everything had its beginning in Him! He is the beginning of all the creation of God, John 1:1; Col. 1:16-17. He made this world and He sustains this world! He is also the beginning of the church of God, Matt. 16:18. Jesus did not just assume responsibility for the church, He died to purchase it, Acts 20:28

(28) Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.;

Hebrews 12:2

(2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.; John 10:11. Friend, He died for you!!

C. He is the Firstborn – The word here is the Greek word “protokos.” We get our English word “Prototype” from it. It refers “something having the essential features of a subsequent type, and on which later forms are modeled.”[1]This means, that Jesus was "The first to die, be buried and rise again to never die." But, He won’t be the last! He is the prototype. What happened to Him will happen to all those who believe in Him. There will be a great getting up morning some glad day! (Ill. Lazarus, Dorcas, Widow of Nain's son, Jairus' daughter - all died again.) Jesus may have been the first to die and rise again to die no more, but He will not be the last, Rev. 1:18; 1 Cor. 15:20, 23; John 11:26;

Hebrews 7:25

(25) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Jesus is the “Firstfruits” from the dead. Ill. The Firstfruits - Lev. 23.

III. HE IS OUR HEART

A. The word “preeminence” comes from a word which means “To be first; to hold the first place.” In every area of life, Jesus is to come first! He should be first in your life; your job; your recreation’ you world; your church; your home; your heart, etc. He is to be considered above and before all things!

B. God moves forward toward one goal: to place Jesus on the throne of the universe; Philippians 2:9-11

(9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

(10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

(11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 14:11-12

(11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

(12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

He moves toward that goal daily, unerringly, unhesitatingly and without compromise. Our job is to place Jesus on the throne of our hearts - He must be acknowledged as our Lord!

C. Ill. Where Jesus already holds the preeminence –

Scriptures, John 5:39

(39) Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Salvation, Acts 4:12

(12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1 John 5:11-12

(11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

(12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Sovereignty, Acts 17:28; Matt. 28:18 Matthew 28:18-20

(18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

(19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

(20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

D. Does He have preeminence in your heart and life? If not, it is time to clean out the throne room and invite Jesus to take the place He deserves and died to acquire.

Conclusion:

That’s just a small glimpse, from one short verse of Who Jesus is! Who is He to you today?

On one occasion, Jesus asked His disciples this questions, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”, Matthew 16:13. Their answer is worth hearing as well, “And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” Matthew 16:14. Then, Jesus asked this question, “But whom say ye that I am?”, Matthew 16:15. Peter was there with his answer, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”, Matthew 16:16. Peter got it right that day and Jesus bragged on him for knowing Who He was.

But, if Jesus were to ask you that question, what would your answer be? Can you claim Him as Savior and Lord?

Can you say, “Lord Jesus, you are my Head. You are my Hope. And, You are my Heart! I need you for Life, for Leadership and because You fill the greatest longing in my life!”

Or, is there an area that needs work in your relationship with Him? If there is a need, or if you just want to talk to Him about something, then you come as He calls.

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