“Who was the real Jesus?”

Intro:

1.      In a primetime interview Diane Sawyer asked Ellen Degeneres how she thought Jesus would feel about her coming out of the closet and being gay.  Ellen stated: “The Jesus I know would overlook that.”

2.      Society in general holds four views of Jesus:

·        Liar-  false miracles, was not God, did not live a perfect life, everything that He said was not true.

·        Leader-  like Moses, good physical, earthly leader, Jn 6:15.

·        Lunatic- Jn 6---eat my flesh and drink my blood,  Jn 3 born again,  Mk 3 Mother and brothers

·        Lord- the view that most of us here would hold, Acts 2:36, Acts 9:6.

3.  Mark’s Place and Purpose in the New Testament.

I.                  Jesus was a man of prayer (Mk. 1:35, Lk 22:44, Jn 17).

A.     Other Biblical examples of prayer are:

1.      Daniel  (Dan. 6:10).

2.      Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25).

B.     We need to be people of prayer today (Lk 18:1, I Thes. 5:17, James 5:16-17, Matt 21:22, Phil 4:6).

II.               Jesus was a man of logic (Matt 9:12-13, Mk 2:17).

A.     The Bible teaches that we should be logical, rational, thinkers (I Thes 5:21, Isa 1:18, Isa 41:21—Acts 17:11). 

B.     Examples of Biblical reasoning:

1.      The church

2.      Plan of salvation.

III.           Jesus was a man of Power (Mk 4:41, seven signs).

A.     The purpose of Jesus’ “power” or miracles was to confirm His teaching (Mk 16:20, Heb 2:3-4, Matt 28:18).

B.     Examples of signs and their teachings:

1.      Jn 11 (I Am the ress. and life).

2.      Feeding 5,000 (I am the bread of life).

3.      The withered fig tree (spiritual fruit is a must).

IV.            Jesus was the Perfect Person (Mk 7:37, Acts 10:38). 

A.     Jesus was perfect from sin (2 Cor 5:21, Heb 4:15, I Pet 1:19, I Pet 2:21).

B.     He did all things well in accomplishing God’s will (Matt 17:5).

C.     Perfect in every way a human can be (Lk 2:52, 49).

D.     You and I can do all things well today if we try to be obedient to God (Matt 25:21).

V.               Jesus was a man of proper priorities (Mk 8:36-37).

A.     In context Jesus is teaching the value of the soul (Vale of soul making).

B.     What are some of our priorities?

1.      Matt 6:33 Kingdom

2.      Col 3:1 Heaven

3.      Rom 12:1-2 righteousness, spiritual sacrifice

C.     False priorities (Lk 10:38-42, Lk. 12:15-21, Acts 8, Jonah)

VI.            Jesus was Servant of all (MK 10:45, 2 Cor 8:9, Phil 2:5, Lk 19:10)

A.     We should follow the example of Christ and be servants also (Lk 17:10, Rom 12:11, Matt 20:26)

B.     Servanthood requires the characteristic of humility (Lk 14:11, James 4:10, I Pet 5:6).

C.     What ways can we serve others today?

VII.        Man of stern rebuke (Mk 12:24; Matt 7:13-14, Matt 25)

A.     Would this be what Jesus would say to Ellen (Rom 1)?

B.     This is a side of Jesus that many people don’t like to see?

C.     What would Jesus say to Denominations and to their leaders who are proclaiming false doctrine?

VIII.     Jesus was the Master Teacher (Lk 20:40, Jn 6:46, Matt 21:23-27).

A.     Jesus was such a great teacher because He taught God’s Word (Jn 7:16-17).

B.     If we are going to have good teachers and preachers in the Lord’s church we must teach God’s word, and not what man wants or thinks (2 Tim 4:2, I Pet 4:11, Titus 2:1, 2 Chron 18:13, I Tim 4:15).