Some Things Jesus Did NOT Do

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Some Things Jesus Did NOT Do

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr


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Sunday, January 3, 2021 am

SOME THINGS JESUS DID NOT DO

 

There are many misunderstandings about Jesus today. These come from both unbelievers and believers alike. Unbelievers say Jesus was just a good man, if anything. Many believers misunderstand who He was and attribute characteristics to Him that are foreign to the Bible. Both are wrong and need correcting. Understanding who Jesus is, is crucial to our salvation – Acts 4:12 tells us, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Because of this, we need to strive to understand who Jesus was and who He was NOT.

With that in mind, today I want to present a lesson that briefly describes some things Jesus did not do. Many of these are a lesson within themselves, but in this lesson, we will give a list of some things He did not do and notice what we can learn form them.

Just a personal note: As I went to save this lesson, I noticed that I presented a lesson by the same title back in June of 2018. IN that lesson we noted that He did not reject the will of the Father, condone false teaching, please or convict everybody, ask the impossible or remove our personal accountability, This lesson is not a repeat of that, but based upon others sources. This lesson is a “first principles” lesson (this being the first Sunday of the month) addressing the character of Jesus – who He was and noting why these things are important that we get them right. So let us get started.

Some things Jesus did not do. He did NOT:

 

Surrender His deity coming to this earth

  1. Philippians 2:5-8 – this text reminds us that Jesus left heaven and took on flesh. He did this for many reasons, among which:
    1. He can now sympathize with us (Hebrews 4:14-16),
    2. He further showed us who God the Father really is (John 14:9-11)
    3. And of course He came to provide remission of our sins (Mark 10:45 – He came to give His life a ransom for many, Titus 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:5-6 – He …gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time…, etc.).
  2. However, there are some who say that when Jesus came to this earth, He surrendered His deity and was “just a man” with no powers as God.     Often the argument is that if He were deity, He could not understand what we are going through, and He was not really tempted in all points as we are.
  3. But scripture indicates very clearly Jesus had the powers of deity while on earth. Mark 14:41 He described Himself as “the Son of Man”, which if you examine its usages, it was as much a term of deity as “son of God” (Mark 1:1).
    In fact, Jesus used this term more than Son of God. Matthew 9:6 – He had power to forgive sins, Matthew 13:41 – in judgment the Son of Man will send out his angels to gather out of the His kingdom. Etc.
    We also find Jesus at age 12 showing His extraordinary abilities – Luke 2:47-49.
  4. And HE still understands what we are going though. Jesus was NOT 50% man and 50% God, rather He was 100% of each in the same way that we can be multiple roles – I am a father, a husband, a Christian, a citizen all at the same time – 100% all of them.

 

Please Himself

  1. Jesus could have done whatever He wanted. He had power to do that. He could have made bread out of stones, He could have spoken and the corrupt religious leaders would have been permanently silenced, and He could have chosen to no go through with the crucifixion (John 10:18).
  2. But continually, we read that Jesus submitted Himself to the Father – John 8:29 – where He said, “I do those things that please Him.” Even in the garden, wanting there to be another way, He submitted to the will of the Father – Matthew 26:38-39.
  3. Who are we seeking to please?  Hebrews 5:8-9 also tells us He learned obedience through His suffering. But then note how we follow that example. It is about obeying Him.
    Colossians 1:10 also speaks of walking worthily of the Lord, fully pleasing Him…
    2 Corinthians 5:9
    Furthermore, we are to please others rather than ourselves – Romans 15:1-3 – including the example of Jesus in this.
    1 Corinthians 10:32-11:1 – Paul an example in this, Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Commit sin

  1. 1 Peter 2:22 again appeals to His example for us.
    Hebrews 4:15 tells us that thought He was tempted in all points as we are, yet He was without sin.
  2. Because He committed no sin, Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice that God accepted once and for all. That is the message of Jesus in Hebrews. Hebrews 9:13-14 notes the superiority of Christ to that of animal sacrifices that were without blemish.
  3. The message for us – we do NOT have to sin!   There are some who think that we are so corrupt that we have no choice but to sin. That is not what scripture teaches. We are told that we WILL sin (Romans 3:23), but it does not say we HAVE TO sin, as if we have no control.
    There is NO sin you commit that you are not in some way responsible for it. That is why we cannot use weakness as an excuse to engage in sinful behavior.
  4. And we have Jesus as an example, who we are to follow.

 

Apologize for His preaching

  1. While Jesus taught in love, He also emphasized absolute truth. That is one thing we have seen in our studies about the Sermon on the Mount.
    When needed, Jesus could be strong and seem harsh to some. But He told the truth, even when it was unpleasant.

    1. Consider the rich, young ruler who went away sorrowful because of what Jesus told Hem He must do – Matthew 19:21-22.
    2. Consider His teachings on Divorce and Marriage just prior to that – Matthew 19:9
    3. Consider His strong condemnations in Matthew 23 describing the religious leaders as a brood of vipers (33), hypocrites (7x) and whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness (27)
    4. Matthew 15:12-14 – there was an occasion when Jesus condemned their worship as vain and corrupt and hypocritical. The disciples come to Jesus and said, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”   Jesus did NOT apologize, but rather reemphasized their destiny should they refuse to repent.
  2. Sometimes we need to hear harsh truths. We are living in a time where we are afraid to say anything to anyone lest we offend them or hurt their feelings. You CANNOT save someone from danger (or stupidity) if you are not firm and even harsh at times.
  3. Spiritually, this is equally true. Souls are perishing and they need to be warned. Most do not need to be coddled, but chastened when they are in danger. That is a work of both preachers and elders.
    1. Jude 22-23 – on some have compassion, others snatch out of the fire
    2. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 – always remember Paul’s admonition to Timothy about what and when to preach. Its not always pleasant.
    3. Galatians 4:16, Paul said, “Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”
    4. If the truth hurts someone or even offends them, don’t apologize for that – EVER!
  4. Note: That is no excuse for hateful, uncaring and unloving words, or a failure to be tactful when needed. Such is equally emphasized in scripture – Colossians 4:6 – let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…

 

Come down off the cross

  1. The crucifixion was a cruel and torturous form of death. It was designed to intimidate those who witnessed its cruelty so as to prevent rebellion, etc.
    Jesus suffered extreme torture though He had done nothing wrong – against God, the Jews or even Rome.
  2. Matthew 27:40 describes passers by who blasphemed Him and said, “Come down from the cross.” And the truth is, He COULD HAVE! Matthew 26:53 in the garden where Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword.
    John 10:17-18 – Jesus had power to lay down His life and to take it up again. BUT He stayed on the cross!
  3. Why? We know the reason – we needed Him to stay there and die for our sins – Hebrews 2:9 tells us that He tasted death for everyone.
    Romans 5:6-8 again reminds us of this – Christ died for the ungodly – which includes me and you!

Stay in the grave

  1. Finally, Jesus did not stay dead. He arose from the dead and because of that we now have hope.
  2. Matthew 28:6, an angel spoke to Mary Magdalene saying, “He is not here; for He is risen.”
    Luke 24:5 records them saying “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
  3. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 finds Paul declaring what was likely a memorized verse of Christians as they sough to teach others. He declares that Jesus arose and was seen by many credible witnesses.
  4. Friends, this is why we have hope.   Acts 24:15, as Paul boldly stood before Felix and others he said, “I have hope in God, which they themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead…”
    WHY did they have this hope? Because Jesus did NOT stay in the grave. “He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever, death He overcame.”
    Paul would proceed in 1 Corinthians 15 to make the case for OUR resurrection based upon the fact that Jesus arose never to die again.
    Romans 6:3-7 describes how the act of baptism puts us into Christ, symbolizing the death, burial AND resurrection of Jesus on the cross. Now notice vs. 8-9, Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

 

We often speak about the things Jesus did (and next month I may present a lesson addressing that), but in this lesson we give pause to rejoice over the things He did NOT do and the hope we have because of that.

There is a day coming when we will stand before God and answer for how we have responded to the gospel of Jesus. If we prepare for that day, there is one more thing He will NOT do – Matthew 7:23 – He will NOT declare that He does not know you. If you are not ready to stand before God, let me encourage you to obey the gospel right now.   Think about it!

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