Seeing Jesus as He Really Is
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 12/06/2020
Foundation Scriptures:
John 1:1-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5 NKJV
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NKJV
1. In the Beginning Was the Word…
a. Jesus pre-existed with God—before the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34; John 17:24).
b. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last (Rev. 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13).
c. He was with God and He was God.
d. I and the Father are One; if you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father (John 10:30; 14:7-11).
e. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are coequal and co eternal; and together, they created the whole universe (Heb. 1:10).
f. His purpose was ordained even before the universe was created (1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8).
g. He is the Ancient of days (Dan. 7:9,13, 22).
h. “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58).
i. Thy throne O God is forever and ever (Heb. 1:8; Ps. 45:6).
j. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
2. He Has a Divine Nature and an Earthly Nature.
a. 1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV — For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
b. Jesus had a Divine Nature and a human nature, yet He was one person, not two.
c. He was the Son of God and the Son of Man.
d. He was Christ, the Messiah, and He was Jesus of Nazareth.
e. He was: “the Seed of the woman” (Gen. 3:15).
f. “The Seed of Abraham,” through Whom the Promise would come (Gen. 22:15-18; Gal. 3:16).
g. The “Prophet like unto Moses” (Deut. 18:15).
h. “The Priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 110:4).
i. “The Rod out of the stem of Jesse” and a Branch of his roots (Isa. 11:1-2, 10; 2 Sam. 7:12-14).
j. The Son of David, Who would occupy his throne (Matt. 1:1; Isa. 9:7; Rom. 1:3-4).
k. And “the Messenger of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1).
3. His Divine Nature.
a. He is the Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6).
b. The Lord, our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
c. David refers to Him as, “My Lord” (Ps. 110:1-7; Mark 12:36-37).
d. He is the Son of God (mentioned 49 times in the Bible).
e. He is Immanuel, God with us (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22-23).
f. And we know that the Son of God has come…This is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20).
g. Titus 2:13 KJV — Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
h. God, the Son; born of a virgin (Matt. 1:20-25; Luke 1:26-38; Gal. 4:4).
i. He is the only begotten, or unique, Son of God (John 1:18; 3:16; 1 John 4:9).
4. His Human Nature.
a. He called Himself, or is called, the Son of Man seventy times (John 8:28, 40).
b. He subsisted in the form of God and was equal with God; but took upon Himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:5-7).
c. Jesus was born a natural infant in Bethlehem’s manger and wrapped in a baby’s swaddling clothes.
d. He grew up in the normal manner of a child and was obedient to His parents (Luke 2:39,40,51,52).
e. He experienced life in every way as a man, as we do—hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, etc.
f. He was tempted and tested and all points as we are, without sin (Heb. 4:15).
g. He is our great High Priest, taken from among us, to represent us (Heb. 5:1-10).
h. Even after the resurrection, He still has a physical body that the disciples were able to touch.
5. Messiah.
a. Jesus is The Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.
b. This Name denotes that He was anointed or consecrated to His great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of His people.
c. Those who are His children are called Christians—little anointed ones.
d. They are just like Him—He lives in them—they are partakers of His life and nature.
e. Although He is God, He humbled Himself to take on a physical body—to identify with us, become one of us, and to sacrifice Himself for our sin and pay the price for our redemption.
f. He knows our sin and sees our weaknesses, and yet He shows us compassion, still.
g. He is Holy, but He was not religious; neither did He tolerate traditions of man.
h. He is King of all and worthy of all honor, and yet He became a servant and ministered to our needs.
i. He is mighty in power and full of perfect wisdom and knowledge, and yet He submitted Himself to the Father and did only what He saw and heard from the Holy Spirit (John 3:34).
j. He was all powerful, and yet He did not begin His ministry until He was anointed by the Holy Spirit.
k. He spoke Truth, even when it was not popular or welcomed.
l. He was innocent, and yet He was silent in the face of accusations and reproach.
m. He could have called thousands of angels to His defense, and yet He consecrated Himself to the suffering of the Cross.
n. Jesus the Christ is Jesus the Great Deliverer, the Anointed One, the Savior of men.
o. Hebrews 12:2 KJV — 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.
p. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith—our Prince, our Savior, our Captain, and our Head (Acts 3:15; 5:31; Heb. 2:10).