JESUS ! THE ANSWER TO LIFE’S QUEST

MATTHEW 1:18-25

(MAT 1:18 NKJV) NOW THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST WAS AS FOLLOWS: AFTER HIS MOTHER MARY WAS BETROTHED TO JOSEPH, BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER, SHE WAS FOUND WITH CHILD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

(MAT 1:19 NKJV) THEN JOSEPH HER HUSBAND, BEING A JUST MAN, AND NOT WANTING TO MAKE HER A PUBLIC EXAMPLE, WAS MINDED TO PUT HER AWAY SECRETLY.

(MAT 1:20 NKJV) BUT WHILE HE THOUGHT ABOUT THESE THINGS, BEHOLD, AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO HIM IN A DREAM, SAYING, "JOSEPH, SON OF DAVID, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TAKE TO YOU MARY YOUR WIFE, FOR THAT WHICH IS CONCEIVED IN HER IS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

(MAT 1:21 NKJV) "AND SHE WILL BRING FORTH A SON, AND YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS, FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS."

(MAT 1:22 NKJV) SO ALL THIS WAS DONE THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY THE LORD THROUGH THE PROPHET, SAYING:

(MAT 1:23 NKJV) "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," WHICH IS TRANSLATED, "GOD WITH US."

(MAT 1:24 NKJV) THEN JOSEPH, BEING AROUSED FROM SLEEP, DID AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD COMMANDED HIM AND TOOK TO HIM HIS WIFE,

(MAT 1:25 NKJV) AND DID NOT KNOW HER TILL SHE HAD BROUGHT FORTH HER FIRSTBORN SON. AND HE CALLED HIS NAME JESUS.

LUKE 2:25-32

 

(LUKE 2:25 KJV) AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON; AND THE SAME MAN WAS JUST AND DEVOUT, WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL: AND THE HOLY GHOST WAS UPON HIM.

(LUKE 2:26 KJV) AND IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM BY THE HOLY GHOST, THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH, BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD'S CHRIST.

(LUKE 2:27 KJV) AND HE CAME BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE TEMPLE: AND WHEN THE PARENTS BROUGHT IN THE CHILD JESUS, TO DO FOR HIM AFTER THE CUSTOM OF THE LAW,

(LUKE 2:28 KJV) THEN TOOK HE HIM UP IN HIS ARMS, AND BLESSED GOD, AND SAID,

(LUKE 2:29 KJV) LORD, NOW LETTEST THOU THY SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE, ACCORDING TO THY WORD:

(LUKE 2:30 KJV) FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THY SALVATION,

(LUKE 2:31 KJV) WHICH THOU HAST PREPARED BEFORE THE FACE OF ALL PEOPLE;

(LUKE 2:32 KJV) A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES, AND THE GLORY OF THY PEOPLE ISRAEL.

JOHN1:1-5

(JOHN 1:1 NKJV) IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD.

(JOHN 1:2 NKJV) HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD.

(JOHN 1:3 NKJV) ALL THINGS WERE MADE THROUGH HIM, AND WITHOUT HIM NOTHING WAS MADE THAT WAS MADE.

(JOHN 1:4 NKJV) IN HIM WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN.

(JOHN 1:5 NKJV) AND THE LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS, AND THE DARKNESS DID NOT COMPREHEND IT.

JOHN 1:26-36

(JOHN 1:26 NKJV) JOHN ANSWERED THEM, SAYING, "I BAPTIZE WITH WATER, BUT THERE STANDS ONE AMONG YOU WHOM YOU DO NOT KNOW.

(JOHN 1:27 NKJV) "IT IS HE WHO, COMING AFTER ME, IS PREFERRED BEFORE ME, WHOSE SANDAL STRAP I AM NOT WORTHY TO LOOSE."

(JOHN 1:28 NKJV) THESE THINGS WERE DONE IN BETHABARA BEYOND THE JORDAN, WHERE JOHN WAS BAPTIZING.

(JOHN 1:29 NKJV) THE NEXT DAY JOHN SAW JESUS COMING TOWARD HIM, AND SAID, "BEHOLD! THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!

(JOHN 1:30 NKJV) "THIS IS HE OF WHOM I SAID, 'AFTER ME COMES A MAN WHO IS PREFERRED BEFORE ME, FOR HE WAS BEFORE ME.'

(JOHN 1:31 NKJV) "I DID NOT KNOW HIM; BUT THAT HE SHOULD BE REVEALED TO ISRAEL, THEREFORE I CAME BAPTIZING WITH WATER."

(JOHN 1:32 NKJV) AND JOHN BORE WITNESS, SAYING, "I SAW THE SPIRIT DESCENDING FROM HEAVEN LIKE A DOVE, AND HE REMAINED UPON HIM.

(JOHN 1:33 NKJV) "I DID NOT KNOW HIM, BUT HE WHO SENT ME TO BAPTIZE WITH WATER SAID TO ME, 'UPON WHOM YOU SEE THE SPIRIT DESCENDING, AND REMAINING ON HIM, THIS IS HE WHO BAPTIZES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.'

(JOHN 1:34 NKJV) "AND I HAVE SEEN AND TESTIFIED THAT THIS IS THE SON OF GOD."

(JOHN 1:35 NKJV) AGAIN, THE NEXT DAY, JOHN STOOD WITH TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES.

(JOHN 1:36 NKJV) AND LOOKING AT JESUS AS HE WALKED, HE SAID, "BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD!"

 

ILLUSTRATION:

SOME TIME AGO A REPORTER ASKED THIS QUESTION TO VARIOUS PEOPLE, AT RANDOM -- "WHAT DO YOU THINK WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IN HISTORY?" THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE ANSWERS HE WAS GIVEN.

1. "THE SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN BY THE ENGLISH."

2. "THE SPLITTING OF THE ATOM."

3. "THE DEFEAT OF THE JAPENESE."

4. "THE INVENTION OF THE WHEEL."

5. "THE EMANCIPATION OF THE SLAVES."

6. "THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST." ( A 14 YEAR OLD BOY)

 

A. PEOPLE HAVE A MISPLACED SENSE OF VALUE CONCERNING THE PRICELESS GIFT OF JESUS.

1. WEALTH AND SOCIAL PROMINENCE.

2. EDUCATION AND SUCCESS.

3. POWER. WEAPONS AND WAR MATERIALS.

4. PRIDE, LUST AND FLESHLY FULFILLMENT.

 B. VARIOUS IDEAS ABOUT JESUS.

1. THE WORLD TAKES HIM TO THE MANGER.

2. MANY RELIGIONS TAKE HIM TO THE CROSS.

3.SOME CELEBRATE HIS RESURRECTION.

4.BELIEVERS ANTICIPATE HIS RETURN.

 

C. THAT GREAT EVANGELIST, BILLY SUNDAY, SAID, "TO MANY, JESUS IS ONLY A GRAND SUBJECT FOR A PAINTING; A HEROIC THEME FOR A POEM; A BEAUTIFUL FORM FOR A STATUE; AND A THOUGHT FOR A SONG. BUT TO THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD HIS VOICE, WHO HAVE FELT HIS PARDON; WHO HAVE RECEIVED HIS BENEDICTION ...... HE IS MUSIC, LIGHT,WARMTH, JOY, HOPE, PEACE, HAPPINESS, ASSURANCE AND SALVATION."

D. SOME TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN AS THOUGH JESUS WERE NO MORE THAN A MOTHER GOOSE STORYBOOK CHARACTER; A FANTASY LIKE THE EASTER BUNNY, LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD, AND ....... (WHISPER) SANTA CLAUS !

E. OTHERS STRIP HIM OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY, MAKING OF HIS A STRING PUPPET TO SATISFY THEIR EVERY WHIM AND NEED. THEY SPURN HIS LOVE AND HIS OUTSTRETCHED HAND UNTIL HEARTACHE OR TROUBLE OVERTAKES THEM.

F. YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO MAN’S DEPRIVATION AND SIN CURSED NATURE. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ANYONE SAY:

1. "I WAS WRETCHED AND MISERABLE BUT I READ VOLTAIRE’S WRITINGS AND NOW I HAVE WONDERFUL INNER PEACE."

2. "I WAS IN AGONY BECAUSE OF MY SINS BUT I FOUND A COPY OF THOMAS PAINE AND IMMEDIATELY ENTERED INTO THE JOY OF FULL LIBERTY."

3. MY MIND WAS IN TERROR AND GREAT DISTRESS UNTIL I FOUND THE TEACHINGS OF SIGMOND FREUD AND NOW I KNOW WHY I AM HERE AND WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH MY LIFE."

4. "I WAS BOUND BY ALCOHOLISM AND DOPE BUT I FOUND MADOLYN MURRAY O'HARE AND HER ANTI-GOD TEACHINGS AND NOW I AM FREE, CLEAN AND SOBER."

5. "I WAS CONFUSED BY THE ASTOUNDING ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE AND THE COMPLEXITIES OF HUMAN CREATION UNTIL I FOUND SCIENCE AND NOW I AM AT EASE AND UNDERSTAND THE POWERFUL POSSIBILITIES OF ACCIDENTAL MOLECULE EXPLOSION."

 

G. MY FRIENDS, JESUS CHRIST IS THE ANSWER.

 

HE IS:

THE SOVEREIGN ONE OF MATTHEW.

THE SERVANT OF MARK.

THE IDEAL MAN OF LUKE.

THE INCARNATE GOD OF JOHN.

HE IS:

THE HOLY ANOINTER OF ACTS.

OUR JUSTIFICATION IN ROMANS.

OUR SANCTIFICATION IN 1ST CORINTHIANS.

OUR CONSOLATION IN 2ND CORINTHIANS.

OUR LIBERATION IN GALATIONS.

OUR EXALTATION IN EPHESIANS.

OUR EVERYTHING IN COLOSSIANS.

OUR TRANSLATION IN 1ST THESSALONIANS.

OUR COMPENSATION IN 2ND THESSALONIANS

THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH IN HEBREWS.

HE IS:

THE SECOND ADAM; A PROPHET LIKE MOSES; A PRIEST LIKE AARON; A CHAMPION LIKE JOSHUA; AN OFFERING LIKE ISAAC; A KING LIKE DAVID; A COUNSELOR LIKE SOLOMON; AN EXALTED SON LIKE JOSEPH.

HE IS:

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT; THE SACRIFICE ON THE BRAZEN ALTAR; THE MERCY SEAT OF THE SANCTUARY; THE WATER FROM THE ROCK; THE MANNA FROM THE SKY; THE BRAZEN SERPENT LIFTED UP; THE PASSOVER LAMB; THE SCAPEGOAT; THE LION OF JUDAH; THE GOOD SHEPHERD; THE LILLY OF THE VALLEY; THE ROOT OUT OF THE DRY GROUND; THE FRUITFUL BRANCH; THE ALTOGETHER LOVELY.

HE IS:

THE ANOINTED PROPHET OF THE GOSPELS.

THE ASCENDED PRIEST OF THE ACTS AND THE EPISTLES.

THE RETURNING KING OF THE REVELATION.

TO THE:

ASTRONOMER, HE IS THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR.

BAKER, HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE.

BUILDER, HE IS THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.

SICK, HE IS THE GREAT PHYSICIAN.

THIRSTY, HE IS THE WATER OF LIFE.

BURDENED, HE IS THE LIFTER OF BURDENS.

SINNER, HE IS SAVIOR, FORGIVER, SACRIFICE.

CHRISTIAN, HE IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

H. PONTIOUS PILOT SAID, "I FIND NO FAULT IN THIS JUST MAN."

 

I. AGAIN, I QUOTE BILLY SUNDAY, WHO SAID, "HE IS A FRIEND WHO NEVER FORSAKES, LIFTING YOU UP WHEN OTHERS TRY TO PUSH YOU DOWN. WE CANNOT WERE HIM OUT. WE HEAP ON HIM ALL OUR GRIEFS AND TROUBLES AND HE IS ALWAYS READY TO HELP US. HE ADDRESSES US WITH THE SAME LOVE; HE BEAMS DOWN ON US WITH THE SAME SMILE; HE PITIES US WITH THE SAME COMPASSION."

 

POEM --

"A LAMB WAS SENT, HIS LIFE WAS SPENT,

HIS BLOOD SPILLED TO THE GROUND;

REDEEMING MEN, FROM VILEST SIN,

HIS LOVE HAS KNOWN NO BOUND.

HIS HAND WILL GUIDE, O’RE THE CHILLY TIDE,

SAFE TO THE OTHER SHORE;

BUT WHILE I LIVE, MY LIFE I’LL GIVE, TO CHRIST WHOM I ADORE."

 

J. IS JESUS INDISPENSABLE TO YOU?