Who Is Jesus?

Our men's small group has started a study on the Gospel of John.  Our normal leader asked me if I would teach for a few weeks and I said yes.

So tonight, I taught a Bible Study for the first time in a while.  I have been teaching in youth groups for the last 3+ years so for the most part I have been doing most of the talking and mostly to people less mature in their faith than I am.  Tonight was a little different as there were some more mature Christians present and I am rusty at creating the good dialogue over the passage at hand.  I don't think the lesson was too bad, but the delivery was rusty.

The Gospel of John is so good because it really paints a picture of who Jesus is.  It says in John 20:30-31 that is the purpose of the book, "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

I made 3 main points or pictures of who Jesus is:

Jesus (the Word of God) is the Creator.  He was there in the beginning.  Even before Genesis 1:1, Jesus was there.

John 1:1-5, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus (the Word of God) is the Sustainer.  He holds the whole world (and more) in his hands.  He is the Strong Force that scientists puzzle about that holds atoms together.

Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Colossians 1:17

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus (the Word of God) is Savior.  In him alone, our hope is found.

1 Peter 1:23

For you have been born again,not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

I don't know where you are right now.  But where ever that is, won't you let the Word of God speak to you?

Do you need to know that he made you and created you because he loves you?  Do you need to know that he has a purpose for you?  Listen.  I mean really listen.  Can you hear him calling you?

Do you need to know that he can sustain you.  Do you need to know that he has you in his hands?  Do you need to know that what ever the struggle, he knows and he cares and he is there waiting for you to give it to him?  Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Do you love him?  He loves you.  Listen.  I mean really listen.  Can you hear him calling you?

Do you need to know him as Savior?  Have you messed things up?  Don't know where to turn?  We have all been there.  Romans 3:23 tells us, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  But Romans 3:24 continues, "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."  It is grace.  It's a gift.  There is nothing that you have to do to earn it.  In fact, you can't earn it.  Not even on your best day.  Listen.  I mean really listen.  Can you hear him calling you?

He's repeating Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."