Sermon Central
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Who Is Jesus?
Contributed by David Dewitt on Sep 21, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: The core of Biblical truth flows through the identity and person of Jesus who is the Christ
Who is Jesus?
Series: Searching for the Truth of Easter
March 6, 2005
Introduction
One of the biggest scams that seems to be taking place in our society lately is identity theft. People get access to some of your personal information and they cause major havok. With just the smallest bit of information another person can steal part of who you are and literally cause a great deal of harm to you without ever meeting you, knowing you or even caring to know you.
I believe that there is another identity theft crisis in our nation today but it doesn’t effect you or does it? In our nation today there are people who are working to steal the identity of Jesus. They don’t say that Jesus didn’t exist or that He is just a myth but what they are trying to do is change who He is and what He has said. They are saying that Jesus can not be the only way to God.
The New York Times writer Thomas Freidman, said the following: “It is urgent that the different religions ‘reinterpret’ their traditions to embrace modernity and pluralism and to create space for secularism and alternate faiths.”
What is being said essentially is that we need to give up the idea that Jesus is the only way to God. So let me ask you the question what happens to our beliefs if Jesus is removed? What would our lives be like without a Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life?
• Without Jesus there is no more purpose for the Bible
• Without Jesus there is no more forgiveness
• Without Jesus there is no more hope of salvation
• Without Jesus there is no restoration of our relationship with God
• Without Jesus there can be no heaven, which means Hell is our destiny
Without Jesus we no longer have a genuine faith. When Jesus is changed or removed we no longer have a basis for the core of most sacred and cherished principles. Dare I say it without Jesus we have nothing. All of this begs a question that we desperately need to answer in light of all these attempts to steal the identity of Jesus: who is Jesus? What makes Him so special? What makes Him so different?
Who does Jesus say that He is? This morning I want to examine one of the passages just before the crucifixion of Jesus to see what He said about Himself and to see how He understood Himself. Open your bibles with me to Mark 14:60-65
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.
Jesus communicates three clear understandings about who He was with the Sanhedrin that night and I believe His statements help us to understand Him more.
I. Jesus is the Son of Man
Three Basic facts about the title
1.) This was the most popular title that Jesus used for Himself.
2.) Nowhere in the gospels does anyone else use this title to describe Jesus
3.) The early church and the book of Acts did not openly use this title to describe Jesus. The only reference, outside of the gospels, in the New Testament where it is used is in Stephens statements just before he dies.
Jesus uses the term Son of Man over 65 times in the gospels because it was His favorite title. What is the significance of this?
As the Son of Man Jesus is...
The Person of God in human understanding - Jesus is God brought into our existence
MT 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us."
The Perfection of God in human flesh - Jesus came to redeem that which was fallen
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
