Some Things Jesus Did

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See full series: concerning-first-principles

Some Things Jesus Did

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr


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Last month, in our ongoing study of first principles, we presented a lesson entitled, “Some things Jesus did not do”.  IN that lesson we noted that Jesus did not: 1) Surrender His deity in coming to earth, 2) please Himself, 3) Commit sin, 4) Apologize for His preaching, 5) Come down off the cross, and 6) Stay in the grave.  Clearly, the topic lends itself to a very broad range of subjects, but we presented a few that are, I believe, first principle observations about Him.

Today, I want to this study the other direction and notice some things that Jesus DID by coming to this earth.  Again, this is a selection of only a few things, among what could be an exhaustive list.  Like John said toward the end of his gospel, “Truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31)  Jesus did many things, but here we share just a few.

 

  1. He proved His claims
    1. Our study this year is dealing with the teachings of Jesus, so I will not in this lesson address His teachings. BUT I will notice that as He taught, He backed up His teachings.  How?
    2. By performing miracles. What was the purpose of the miracles of Jesus?
      1. Matthew 9
      2. Luke 7:18-22 – when the disciples of John were sent to Him
      3. John 10:24-25, 37-38
  2. He was baptized
    1. Matthew 3:13-16 – Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
      Luke 3:3 tells us it was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
    2. Why was Jesus baptized?
      1. Clearly, Jesus had no sins to repent of, so why was He baptized.
      2. We are told in our text in Matthew 3:15, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
      3. The fact is, John was preaching a baptism commanded by God. As such, Jesus was baptized in obedience to God’s command.
        It is in that sense that it fulfilled all righteousness.
      4. It also was an occasion that declared Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 3:17). In John’s gospel, it is this point that confirms once and for all to John the Baptist who Jesus really was (John 1:30-34)
    3. We may not fully understand why Jesus was baptized, but we have in Him an example of obedience to the Father.
  3. He set a good example
    1. 1 Peter 2:21-23 tells us that Jesus suffered leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps.
      Continually scripture emphasizes the importance of His example.
      Philippians 2:5 tells us to let the mind that Jesus had (about humility) be in us.
    2. He resisted temptation – Matthew 4:1-11 where Satan tempted Him and Jesus continually answered with scripture. Hebrews 4:15 tells us He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.
    3. He prayed – morning, evening and continually – Luke 5:16 tells us He withdrew Himself into the wilderness and prayed.
      Luke 6:12, He prayed all night in the mountains.  He also taught much about prayer (which we will emphasize later this year in a lesson).
      As I have noted, I am always impressed at how much Jesus prayed.  And if He, the Son of God, needed to pray that much, how about the rest of us?
    4. He forgave His enemies – Jesus is the example of how we ought to forgive others. And He taught so.
      1. Luke 23:34 – on the cross.
      2. He taught about forgiveness – Matthew 5:44, 18:22- 70×7 and then taught a parable about forgiveness. Matthew 6:14 – how you forgive is how you will be forgiven.
      3. We desperately need to learn from His example.
    5. He loved – 1 John 3:16, By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
      1. Ephesians 5:2 calls for us to walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us…
      2. John 13:1 – He loved to the very end…
      3. You will not find a greater example of what love is and HOW to love than Him – 1 John 3:16.
    6. He served – John 13:15 – at the conclusion of His washing the disciple’s feet.
      Matthew 20:28 notes that He did not come to be served, but to serve…
    7. 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul noted we imitate Christ.
  4. He finished His work
    1. John 17:4 – preparing for His betrayal and all that followed, He prayed to the Father – “I have glorified You on earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”
    2. Even on the cross, his final sayings including the declaration, “It is finished…” (John 19:30)
    3. And understand that He did what He needed to do, even at such a great cost. He did not quit, because we needed it.  Appealing again to 1 Peter 2:21-24 – He committed Himself to God bearing our sins on the cross
  5. He died and was buried
    1. Last month we talked about how Jesus did not come down from the cross. He stayed there because that is what was needed.
      But also understand, that He went through with the execution and he REALLY died and was buried.   That seem obvious to you and me as believers, but among critics, some (not most) believe Jesus did not really die on that cross (including most Muslims).
    2. The scriptures declare He died – Mathew 27:50 says, He cried with a loud voice, and yielded up His Spirit; Mark 15:37, And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last (Also Luke 23:46) and John 19:30, “And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
    3. The scriptures also plainly declare He was buried – Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:43-47; Luke 23:50-55; John 19:38-42. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 simply states, He died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried…
    4. Because He died, He became the sacrifice that God accepted for the forgiveness of our sins – Romans 3:25 – He was a propitiation, Romans 5:8 – Christ died for us.
      1 Peter 2:24 – He bore our sins in His own body; Hebrews 9:28, 2 Corinthians 5:21, etc.
      However you wish to describe the sacrifice of Jesus, understand that He died for us.
  6. He arose – we addressed this in our last lesson noting that He did NOT stay in the grave. And because of His resurrection, we now have hope. Acts 23:6, as Paul stood before an audience of Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers, he declared that he was being judged because of the resurrection of the dead.
    1 Peter 1:3 speaks of how we are begotten again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, etc.
  7. He promised to return
    1. John 14:1-3 – even before He died, He promised His disciples He would return to receive them.
    2. As Jesus ascended, we read in Acts 1:11, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
    3. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – the Lord will descend… and we will be caught up in the air to be with Him.
    4. Philippians 3:20 declares., For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

We live our lives as we do as Christians, because of what Jesus did for us.  He set an example and provided what we need to hope for something better after this life.  But that better life will only be experienced by those who are in Him.  And we do that by 1) Obeying the gospel, and 2) remaining faithful to the end – Revelation 2:10, 14:13, etc.  What about you?  Does your life reflect gratitude for all that Jesus has done for you?  Think about it!

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