Sermon Cloud

I guess it won’t surprise you that Christians believe in the Lord Jesus Christ – after all, he is the one we are meant to follow – a  Christ-ian = follower of Christ.

      What may surprise you is that although Jesus is well respected all over the world, his followers aren’t.

      “It’s not Jesus I have trouble with – it’s the church”. So as we say “we believe in the Lord Jesus” – we also ask how we can emulate him more and more.

In this series we’re attempting to grasp a whole picture in a few summary words. Pages have been written about Jesus; here is our précis.  

We believe .. The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God's punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.

Remember we only know God by God telling us about himself, which he’s done in the bible. It is from the Bible we understand not only what God is like, but also what we are like - we are humans, made in God’s image, made to worship God. But we find ourselves trapped by a rebellious nature that does not naturally adore God.  Sin is such that we have turned inwards to worship ourselves.

With a clear view of God (as perfect) + a clear understanding of ourselves (as imperfect), we see Jesus as the go-between. He came to reverse the damage done by human sin – to re-set us on a path to life rather than death. Look who Jesus is : fully God and fully man

 What is Jesus like?

Mark, in his account of Jesus divides his material into two.  1^st he looks at Jesus’ character; what he’s like. He tells us what Jesus actually did and the way his followers are fascinated by him until Mark 8:29 when one of them exclaims:  “You are the Messiah, the Christ”. 

From Mark 8 Jesus explains to followers just what he’s come to do.  He makes clear to us what it means that he is the Son of God; how, as the long-expected Jewish Messiah, he fulfils all the prophets said of him – but not in the way the people assumed. He came to die, to give his life a ransom for many – 10:45.

he’s ….the Son of God

Mark opens his account saying the good news/gospel is about Jesus the Son of God.  Then he continues to prove that. There’s no mention about his birth and early life – that’s left to Luke & Matthew.

he’s ….supernatural

Pretty quickly we see that Jesus has two natures.  Yes he is a complete human – he is baptised; he is tempted as a human; he prays and interacts with ordinary people. Yet, he is also divine – a God-man.  Matthew and Luke tell of his “virgin-birth” - really a supernatural conception; no human father is involved – as Joseph discovers to his shame. God, via an angel says to Joseph, Matt 1:20: Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

We discover that God has been at work, impregnating Mary, so that her child is God from God. As Jesus enters manhood we find him debating with the theologians of his day. When he begins his ministry he gets baptised publicly by John. Everyone hears the voice of God saying: This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Matt 3:17 - words taken from Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42 - Scriptures that speak of a coming Messiah, and especially his dual role as a King and a Sufferer.

The idea of a dove descending and hovering remind us of the Spirit of God brooding over the waters at creation.  Here comes Jesus – the first of a new order – to bring in God’s new creation. A supernatural reconstruction to human beings and to this world is about to take place.  Jesus is God’s man for the task. He lives his life completely in tune with his Father: He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father.

he’s ….able to explain himself

One of the great features of Jesus is not that he performs miracles. After all, you expect that with a Messiah. But that he spends time talking, explaining what he is about. So brilliant is his teaching that people are drawn to him. He taught with authority and all his words are true. Matt 7:28f

His teaching

Matthew writes his account using five teaching sections, thus presenting Jesus as the Jewish rabbi; the great teacher who can interpret the mind of God. In fact Jesus calls himself The Teacher, Matt 26:8.

Almost like a refrain, the Sermon/Mt echoes with the line: you have heard that it was said..but I tell you.

After answering a question, Matthew records When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. 22:33. 

It was truly remarkable teaching; for it had authority in its own right.  You see Rabbis only quoted one another; Jesus used himself as his final authority. And the people realised this. Luke 4:32 says They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority

His words had power, just like God’s word at creation; he tells people to build their lives on his words, Matt 7:24: Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

His dying

Although he spoke a great deal about himself, and about big theological issues of the day, the greatest punch in his speech is what he said about his role as the Christ, the Son of God.  He insisted that he had come to die. He told his followers regularly: The Son of Man will be betrayed; condemned to death, handed over to the gentiles. They will flog him and kill him. But he always added; three days later he will rise, Mk 10:33f.

The famous statement in Mk 10:45 lands a huge punch; For even the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many. A ransom was a huge sum of money to be paid over; we talk about “a ransom price” to release a person kidnapped.

It may appear that his death on the cross is a huge defeat – all his followers run away; he’s left naked and mocked. Even an uncanny darkness descends on “The Place of the Skull” as its called.  But in reality it is Jesus greatest day; the Temple Curtain is torn open, the darkness shows judgement has fallen, satan is defeated, death is crushed to death.  If you understood this Jesus, you would have no trouble believing he could conquer the grave.

His rising

It took his close followers some hours to get their head round this.  Mary thinks he’s a gardener; Thomas thinks his fellow disciples have lost their marbles, and two walkers believe the man who joins them doesn’t listen to the news!   It is staggering to think that someone can walk out of the grave – but not if you are Jesus. So when he finally leaves earth he’s caught up in a cloud and rises out of sight.

50 days later, Peter had grasped this good news. He told the harvest crowds who’d come into Jerusalem God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses to the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Acts 2: 32f

We don’t have Jesus here with us on earth; we have someone better – his Holy Spirit who takes up residence in every true believer.  But we would never have him, had not Jesus personally come here and completed his God-appointed work. That’s why we are worshippers of Jesus; that’s why he’s the kingly ruler of all his followers. And that’s why you and I must proudly take his name all over the world.

The Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God's punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he is exalted as Lord of all. He intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father.

~~~end

Pray:  Lord Jesus Christ; there is no-one like you; no-one who is both divine and human, no-one else who is such a brilliant teacher and such a wonderful saviour.  Even though you didn’t write up an account of yourself, your apostles did a great job in giving us their material recording you so accurately and clearly. As we discover more about you, we are drawn more to you. We are eternally grateful, literally, for you amazing cross-work and your resurrection. Thank you for giving us new, undeserved life, in exchange for our rebellious hearts. Lord Jesus, we love you and adore you; help us to hold you high this week as we attempt to make you known to our friends.

For your glory O Lord we ask, Amen.