Sermons
The Rejection of this Jesus
Series: Who Is 'This Jesus'?Link to sermon video: The Rejection of this Jesus - L Siegle
WHO IS ‘THIS JESUS’?
“The REJECTION of This Jesus’”
(John 1:9-18)
Series: WHO IS THIS ‘JESUS’?
Thesis: The “gospel accounts” are designed to introduce the people to the person and work of Jesus Christ
INTRODUCTION
1. The title of this series is Who is ‘This Jesus’?
2. This is the second lesson in our study: The REJECTION of this Jesus
3. The inspired apostle begins this gospel account by introducing his readers to the ministry of another man whose name
is John.
a. John the Baptizer was “send from God” (1:6)
b. His mission was to “bear witness” to the “light” (1:7, 8).
c. Jesus proclaims Himself to be the “light of the world” (John 8:12).
1) Jesus came into the “world” of Old Covenant Israel that had failed to be a “light to the nations” (Isa. 42:5, 6;
60:1-3).
2) The purpose of the gospel account of John is to rekindle the ‘faith’ of people and to receive Jesus as their
Messiah (20:30, 31).
3) Through the “gospel of Christ” believers are to provide “light” in the darkness of the world around us (Matt.
5:14-16).
THOSE SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
1. God spoke to the prophets in the OT who foretold the coming of Messiah into the “world” that revealed both what He
would suffer and in the glories that would follow (I Pet. 1:10, 11).
a. The prophets announced the expectation of His coming into the world (Isa. 7:14; 9:6, 7; 53:4-6; Micah 5:2)
b. In the OT there is more than 300 prophecies that foretold the coming of the Messiah.
2. The OT prophets had foretold the work and ministry of John the Baptizer (Isa. 40:3).
3. The other gospel accounts had documented the preparatory ministry of John the Baptizer (Matt. 3:1-3; Mark 1:1-4;
Luke 3:1-6).
a. John the Baptizer declared Jesus to be the “lamb of God” (1:29, 35, 36)
b. John the Baptizer declared Jesus to be the “Son of God” (1:34).
THE HEAVENLY FATHER BORE WITHNESS OF THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST
1. The Father “bore witness” through “signs”
a. The miracles Jesus did during His ministry (5:36, 37; 10:25, 37, 38).
b. Religious leaders and others saw the “witness” of the “signs” (3:2; 9:32, 33).
2. The Heavenly Father “bore witness "through His voice from heaven”
a. At His baptism (Matt. 3:16, 17)
b. At the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:5)
c. At Jerusalem during the “last week” of His ministry (12:27-30).
3. The Heavenly Father “bore witness” by raising Christ from the dead
a. Jesus was “declared” the Son of God with “power” (Rom. 1:3, 4)
b. Jesus was appointed the One who would bring about judgment at the ‘end of the age’ (Acts 17:30, 31).
THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST WERE TO BEAR WITNESS OF WHAT CHRIST CAME TO ACCOMPLISH
1. The “apostles” of Christ:
a. They bore witness as “eyewitnesses” (15:27; Acts 1:8; 5:30-32; 13:30, 31)
b. By what they had “seen” and what was manifested (I John 1:1, 2; II Pet. 1:16-18).
c. The apostles bore witness through their lives and their death.
1) The apostles endured great hardship for their testimony (I Cor. 4:9-13)
2) Their willingness to suffer persecution and even death testified to the truth of the identity of Christ.
2. The “Disciples” of Christ:
a. Our unity and love for one another confirms the truth of God (17:20-23).
1) Unity demonstrates that Jesus was sent from God.
2) God loves the world of humanity.
b. God calls us to stand together as a congregation of the Lord’s church (I Cor. 1:10-13; 3:3, 4)
c. How we live and conduct ourselves (Eph. 4:1-3)
d. Transformed Lives provides evidence of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
1) The influence and power of the gospel to change us (II Cor. 3:18; 4:6).
2) How to live our lives in holiness and righteousness (Eph. 4:17-24).
3) Empowered to “shine as lights in the world” around us (Phil. 2:12-16).
e. Are we being transformed in every area of our hearts, minds, and lives? (Rom. 12:1, 2)
1) Are we Christ-like in our character? (Col. 3:9-17).
2) The power of God through proclaiming His word (I Pet. 2:9, 10)
f. True Believers simply cannot remain silent when we have partaken of the work of God in our lives!
1) We must always do what is needed to spread the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16; Acts 8:4; I Thess. 1:8).
CONCLUSION
1. God “prepared the way” for Christ to enter into the world at the “fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4).
2. The “soil” of the hearts of the people had been prepared to hear and to believe the gospel of Christ.
3. Even though the “nation” of Israel rejected their Messiah, nevertheless, the “salvation” (deliverance) from bondage to
sin and death was accomplished by Christ (Rom. 8:1, 2).
4. Those who “received” Christ as the Son of God were given the ‘authority’ to become children of God (1:11, 12).
5. The purpose and goal of believers today is both to “walk in the light” and to encourage others to coming into the light
of the gospel of Christ (I John 1:5-9)
a. We cannot afford to quench what our Heavenly Father has given through the sending of Christ into the world (II
Cor. 4:6; Eph. 5:8).
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
1. Does the world around us see the glorious light of the gospel through our oneness and unity of purpose?
2. Does God’s transformation of our lives demonstrate the reality of our relationship with God?
3. Do we proclaim the message of Christ to those around us who are hurting, struggling, and groping in the darkness of
the world?
- Who_is_This_Jesus_II.docx (5.08 MB)
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