Introduction A. John portrays Jesus as One Who was both fully man and fully God. B. Matthew approaches the task of chronicling Jesus’ life from a uniquely Jewish perspective with a strong emphasis on the kingdom of heaven that Jesus came to establish. C. Matthew portrays Jesus as the One anointed by God. I. Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One. A. Jesus is a prophet (John 4:19; 9:17; Matthew 21:46; 13:57). B. Jesus...
What a Friend We Have in Jesus!
Introduction A. Friends that you can really count on are rare, and we should be thankful for every one we have. B. As great as our friends may be, the fact is that there is not a friend anywhere in this world like Jesus. I. Jesus was always a friend to the friendless. A. He was a friend to lepers (Mark 1:41; Matthew 26:6). B. He was a friend to sinners (Matthew 9:11-12; 11:19). C. He was a friend to the poor (Luke 4:18...
A Different Kind of Kingdom
Introduction A. When Jesus came into this world, He found a people expecting the kingdom to appear at any moment. B. The kingdom Jesus ushered in was very different from the one they had been expecting and from any other they had ever seen. I. This kingdom has a different kind of king. A. When offered earthly dominions, this King refused them (Matthew 4:8-10; John 6:15). B. When this King entered the capital...
“Love One Another”
Introduction A. In His final instructions to the disciples, the one commandment that Jesus chose to emphasize was that they continue to love one another as He had loved them (John 15:12). B. Jesus knew that the disciples would need one another to weather the storms ahead, and nothing could hold them together like love. I. Why was brotherly love so important to Jesus at this moment? A. Jesus saw love...
The Marks of Jesus
Introduction A. Scars are difficult to get rid of and often are worn forever. B. When Paul told the Galatians, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus” (6:17), they knew what he meant (cf. Acts 14:19). C. Do we bear the marks of the Lord in our body today? I. Jesus’ resurrected body bore many marks for our sakes. A. He bore the marks of a whip (Matthew 27:26). B. He bore the marks of thorns and a reed (Matthew 27...
Don’t Give Up Now!
Introduction A. When Jesus offered the bread of life to a crowd with an appetite that only literal bread would appease, many refused to walk with Him another step. B. When the Christian life becomes difficult, there are many who will give up when God’s greatest gifts are yet to come. I. Jesus reminds us that any hardships we endure are only temporary. A. In the garden He asked for just one hour (Matthew 26:40)...
Failing to Live Up to It
Introduction A. Everyone knows the feeling of making a commitment and then failing to live up to it. Can you imagine how Peter felt after he forsook the Lord in the garden and then denied Him? B. When we fail to live up to the commitment that we have made to the Lord, what should we do? I. The disciples’ faith failed more than once. A. Their faith failed them on the Galilee Sea (Luke 8:22-25). B. Peter’s faith failed him on...
The Lord’s Prayer
Introduction A. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to listen to Jesus pray? This text affords us that opportunity. B. Of all the hours that Jesus spent in prayer to the Father, this chapter is the longest excerpt of any of those prayers that is preserved today: this must have been an important prayer! I. Let’s take a look at the content of Jesus’ prayer. A. He prayed for Himself (John 17:1-5). B. He prayed for...
The Good Shepherd
Introduction A. Throughout John’s gospel Jesus introduces Himself in various ways (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7,11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1), and yet so very few realized who He was. B. One of the most endearing portraits of Jesus is that which represents Him as the Good Shepherd. What does it mean for us? I. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. A. The good shepherd knows his sheep (John 10:3,14). B. The good shepherd leads...
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (Part 2)
Introduction A. In spite of the troubling circumstances that the disciples faced, Jesus told them, “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). B. We live in troubled times, but we needn’t have troubled hearts. I. It is encouraging to know that there is room for everyone in our Father’s house. A. Jesus told His disciples that there are many dwellings in His Father’s house (John 14:2). B. Jesus went to prepare a place for us...