120615 Jesus Is Lord of Everything Text: Luke 1:26-38 Opening: A Christmas song that we don t sing too often is one written by Benjamin Hanby during the mid-1800. The verses all ask the same question albeit from a slightly different perspective - while the chorus is the response to those questions. Who is He in yonder stall at whose feet the shepherds fall? Who is He in deep distress, fasting in the wilderness? Who is He the people bless for His words of gentleness? Who is He to whom they bring all the sick and sorrowing? Who is He that stands and weeps at the grave where Lazarus sleeps? Who is He the gathering throng greet with loud triumphant song? Lo! at midnight, who is He prays in dark Gethsemane? Who is He on yonder tree dies in grief and agony? Who is He that from the grave comes to heal and help and save? Who is He that from His throne rules through all the world alone? We all know the answer to that question; it is Jesus, Whose birth we celebrate each December 25th! In Luke chapter 1, the angel Gabriel went to Mary and told her that she was going to have a child: And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Luke 1:31 Just imagine the questions that were in Mary s mind: Why me? Not only that but, Why is this going to happen? (Gabriel answers that question in vs. 32-33 which we ll look at in just a moment.) How is this going to happen? (She actually asked that question in vs. 34.) What am I going to tell my parents? What am I going to tell Joseph? Who is this child going to be? o In vs. 31, Gabriel tells Mary that the child s name will be Jesus. o Then, in vs. 32-33 Gabriel continues with the answer to this question: He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke 1:32-33
This child would be the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament prophets had spoken about: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6-7 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness. Isaiah 16:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. Jeremiah 23:5 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Daniel 2:44 Now, we jump ahead to chapter 2 and in vs. 6 and 7 we are told: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7 There, as Mary looked into the eyes of this newborn child her son, the question still must have come to her mind, Who is this child? As the shepherds came to worship Him, she must have wondered, Who is this child? But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19 When, in Matthew chapter 2, the wise men came to worship Him and present their gifts, she must have wondered, Who is this child? 1. That was a question that followed Jesus throughout His life and ministry. a. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus went back to His hometown of Nazareth and began teaching in the synagogue. i. They questioned Who He was Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? Matthew 13:54b-55 ii. His response to their unbelief is recorded in Matthew 13:58: And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief. b. In Mark chapter 4, Jesus was asleep in the back of a boat when a storm arose. His disciples woke Him up and asked, Master, carest thou not that we perish? He rebuked the wind and the sea became calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Mark 4:40-41 c. All four Gospels share the fact that Pilate wanted to know who Jesus was. (Turn to and read John 18:33-38.) 2. That is a question that religions have been answering incorrectly for centuries. a. The Mormons believe that Jesus was created as a spirit child by the Father and Mother in heaven, and is the elder brother of all men and spirit beings including Lucifer. b. The Jehovah s Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God. Before He lived on earth, He was Michael, the archangel. On earth He was merely a man who lived a perfect life. c. Seventh Day Adventists believe that God the Father exalted Jesus to be His Son, thus provoking Lucifer s jealousy and a war in Heaven. Jesus is merely our example to prove that we can live sinlessly. His sacrifice on the cross did not complete the atonement for our sins. d. The Muslims do not believe that Jesus is God or the Son of God. He was sinless, a worker of miracles, and one of the most respected prophets sent by Allah but He was not crucified or resurrected. e. In Judaism Jesus is seen either as an extremist false messiah or a good but martyred Jewish Rabbi. Orthodox Jews are still looking for the Messiah. 3. That is a question that we must each answer for ourselves. a. (Turn to and read Matthew 16:13-16.) Peter had to answer for himself when Christ asked him, Whom say ye that I am? b. You see, I can stand behind this pulpit Sunday after Sunday and tell you that i. Jesus Christ is God. ii. Jesus Christ is the theme of this Book the Bible. Every book of the Old Testament foretells His coming. The Gospels give us the account of His life
on earth. The Epistles and the book of Revelation reveal that He is coming again. iii. Jesus Christ was born to die. He came into this world to die on the cross for our sins so we might have eternal life by trusting in Him. c. I can stand behind this pulpit Sunday after Sunday and tell you these things but you must still answer the question for yourself, Who is Jesus? d. He is either your Savior or your soon coming Judge! And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:27-28 e. Christ first appeared as the man of sorrows to make atonement for sin. His second appearance will be as the Lord of His people, and the Judge of the quick and the dead. f. The first time, Jesus came to save. The next time He will come to judge! g. Is Christ your Savior? Have you acknowledged your sins? Have you recognized Jesus Christ as the perfect, sinless Lamb of God Who taketh away the sins of the world through His finished work on the cross of Calvary? Have you received Him and His gift of eternal life? That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 4. That is a question that we must help others find the answer to. a. There s just something a little awkward when I walk up to someone I know who is with one of their friends whom I don t know and we begin talking yet the individual I know never introduces me to their friend. Finally, I may something like, I don t believe I ve made your acquaintance. b. Sometimes the reason is given, O, I thought you already knew each other. c. One of the greatest mistakes that we can make is to assume that others know Who Jesus is. d. Whenever I speak with individuals who have visited our church or who desire to join our church, I never take it for granted that they know Jesus Christ. e. While we cannot answer that question for others, we have been given a wonderful privilege; to introduce others to Jesus Christ! That s called sharing the Gospel!
One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. John 1:40-42a f. The woman at the well, in John chapter 4, after she had determined for herself Who it was that was offering her Living Water, went and told others Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? John 4:29 g. The mission of South Charlotte Baptist Church is the Great Commission! Telling others who Jesus Christ is! Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 Closing: How have you answered this question for yourself? Are you actively seeking to introduce others to Jesus?