Sermon nuggets Fri June 6, 2008
Theme Spiritual Heritage
Verses John 8:48-59 The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"
"I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."
"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
JESUS' DISTINCTIVES
As the true Son of God, Jesus is distinctive. Only Jesus has been in the presence of God, the Father. Only Jesus has come from Heaven to Earth. Only Jesus was virgin born. Only Jesus knows completely what the Father wants us to know. He is the source of all spiritual truth. Any other truth ultimately comes from Him. Jesus is the only one the Father shares glory. He only can set us from sin and give us forgiveness.
This gave so many Jews problems then and now. If Jesus were mere man then His words would be blasphemy; but if Jesus were God in the flesh then it is fulfilling Scripture and is consistent with the teaching of the Old Testament. Jesus is not to glorify himself, God the Father does.
Only Jesus is sinless. No one can prove him guilty of sin. But He says, "I tell you the truth, if a man keeps my word, he will never see death." Who else can say that truthfully?
If He were only man then His words would mean nothing. But this word is from the Father.
Only Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament and only Jesus was the fulfillment of what Abraham was looking toward. Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing the Messiah come. Yet we might ask how Abraham could see our Lord's day, or Jesus' life and ministry on earth? God did give Abraham spiritual perception to see these future events. Warren Wiersbe wrote, "Certainly Abraham saw the birth of the Messiah in the miraculous birth of his own son, Isaac. He certainly saw Calvary when he offered Isaac to God. In the priestly ministry of Melchizedek, Abraham could see the heavenly priesthood of the Lord. In the marriage of Isaac, Abraham could see a picture of the marriage of the Lamb.”
Only Jesus could commune with Abraham, Moses, and the Old Testament prophets for He is not bound by the time we know. He was pre-existent and lived before Abraham and even before the world began.
Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am" The reason that the Jews wanted to stone him was He actually was using the divine name by which God had revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush. When Moses asked His name he answered, "I am that I Am.” Jesus was claiming the name of God. A true Son carries the name of the Father.
The distinctive of Jesus is that he alone is preeminent, divine,pre-existent, omniscient, eternal, the bearer of truth, the redeemer.
By understanding Jesus more fully results in greater faith and confidence. As followers of Jesus we are to be committed to biblical obedience. In addition to proclaiming Spiritual truth to a lost world, we also means working for justice and righteousness, serving as advocates for the needy and powerless who cannot speak for themselves. It means to love God and love others. It is to be like Jesus.
Pastor Dale
