The Truth About Jesus (part 2)
Four gospels to reveal Him.
People sometimes wonder why there are four gospels all telling basically the same story – the story of
Jesus.
There are several reasons for this – each writer reveals different aspects of his life and ministry, each
tells some stories that the others didn’t tell, and some add details that the others omitted.
But more importantly, each writer was writing to a different audience, and each reveals a specific aspect
of Jesus identity.
Matthew wrote to the Jews. He revealed Jesus as a King – the Messiah, the savior who was promised.
He includes a lot of Jewish history and Old Testament scripture.
Mark wrote to the Romans. The stories are short and to the point, appealing to a military people. He
reveals Jesus as a servant – not a self-serving dictator, but one who helps others.
Luke wrote to the Greeks. They loved literature and academics, so he wrote with much detail and style.
He reveals Jesus’ humanity.
John wrote to believers. He emphasizes Jesus’ deity – His god-ness.
Last week, we talked about who Jesus is.
We said that He is God manifested in flesh.
We said that He is eternal – without beginning and without end.
Today, I want to talk about some things Jesus said about Himself.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
He is the WAY.
He had just told Thomas,: John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Jesus is talking about heaven –
eternity. He said he was going there and the disciples would go there also. Thomas said, “How do we
get there?” Jesus said, “I am the way.”
The door.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find
pasture.
“no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He is the only path to heaven.
He is the TRUTH.
Today we have situational ethics. Everybody has his own truth – the truth as each individual
perceives it. There are no absolutes. But, there is an absolute truth. You can deny it, but it is still truth.
Jesus is the truth. In him is no deception or dishonesty or darkness. He is completely trustworthy,
faithful, and right.
He is the LIFE.
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
There is no real life outside of him. We think life is just being alive. But Jesus refers to an “abundant
life”. This is more than just existing. It is drinking deeply of the wells of life. It is living to the fullest.
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. You see, life is in and through Jesus.
Without him there is no life. He is the embodiment of life.
Let me illustrate this way. A light bulb is useless without electricity. It has no power – no light – without
the electricity. That is how man is without Jesus.
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live:
Resurrection refers to life after death. Jesus is the one who gives us life after death.
So, He gives us abundant life – which is a deeper level of living – and He gives us eternal life – which is
life after death which never ends.
Finally, Jesus declared:
Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is
to come, the Almighty."
In 21:6 He explains more fully, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
All of creation and all of life has its origin in Him. On Him it all depends. Everything revolves around
Jesus.
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible
and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:
Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Not only did Jesus create all things, but He is the one holding it all together. Without Jesus there would
be no life – no existence.
This is why we need to be in fellowship with Him. This is why we should spend time in His presence. We
feed on Him spiritually. We draw our life from Him. He is our life.
The most important thing in life is Jesus.
People sometimes wonder why there are four gospels all telling basically the same story – the story of
Jesus.
There are several reasons for this – each writer reveals different aspects of his life and ministry, each
tells some stories that the others didn’t tell, and some add details that the others omitted.
But more importantly, each writer was writing to a different audience, and each reveals a specific aspect
of Jesus identity.
Matthew wrote to the Jews. He revealed Jesus as a King – the Messiah, the savior who was promised.
He includes a lot of Jewish history and Old Testament scripture.
Mark wrote to the Romans. The stories are short and to the point, appealing to a military people. He
reveals Jesus as a servant – not a self-serving dictator, but one who helps others.
Luke wrote to the Greeks. They loved literature and academics, so he wrote with much detail and style.
He reveals Jesus’ humanity.
John wrote to believers. He emphasizes Jesus’ deity – His god-ness.
Last week, we talked about who Jesus is.
We said that He is God manifested in flesh.
We said that He is eternal – without beginning and without end.
Today, I want to talk about some things Jesus said about Himself.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
He is the WAY.
He had just told Thomas,: John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Jesus is talking about heaven –
eternity. He said he was going there and the disciples would go there also. Thomas said, “How do we
get there?” Jesus said, “I am the way.”
The door.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find
pasture.
“no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He is the only path to heaven.
He is the TRUTH.
Today we have situational ethics. Everybody has his own truth – the truth as each individual
perceives it. There are no absolutes. But, there is an absolute truth. You can deny it, but it is still truth.
Jesus is the truth. In him is no deception or dishonesty or darkness. He is completely trustworthy,
faithful, and right.
He is the LIFE.
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
There is no real life outside of him. We think life is just being alive. But Jesus refers to an “abundant
life”. This is more than just existing. It is drinking deeply of the wells of life. It is living to the fullest.
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they
might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. You see, life is in and through Jesus.
Without him there is no life. He is the embodiment of life.
Let me illustrate this way. A light bulb is useless without electricity. It has no power – no light – without
the electricity. That is how man is without Jesus.
John 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live:
Resurrection refers to life after death. Jesus is the one who gives us life after death.
So, He gives us abundant life – which is a deeper level of living – and He gives us eternal life – which is
life after death which never ends.
Finally, Jesus declared:
Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is
to come, the Almighty."
In 21:6 He explains more fully, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”
All of creation and all of life has its origin in Him. On Him it all depends. Everything revolves around
Jesus.
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible
and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:
Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Not only did Jesus create all things, but He is the one holding it all together. Without Jesus there would
be no life – no existence.
This is why we need to be in fellowship with Him. This is why we should spend time in His presence. We
feed on Him spiritually. We draw our life from Him. He is our life.
The most important thing in life is Jesus.