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Who Can This Be?
A. We are usually awed by watching people do things that we don't have the ability to accomplish. When I watch a computer programmer sit down and run a program for glitches, I watch in awe and wonder how they can do that so easily. Other people are amazed when an auto mechanic can tune an eight-cylinder engine to run on only two cylinders. For others, it may be someone on the basketball court or an artist painting a picture or a sculptor forming something out of a blob of clay. B. Jesus disciples were with Him for almost, if not all, the entire time of His earthly ministry. They had seen him do many things that were astounding. Yet they were constantly amazed at the wonders He performed and magnificence of His personality (Matt. 17:14-20 - disciples could not cure the boy). C. Until the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:6), the disciples did not fully understand all the things that Jesus taught and did. It is perhaps possible that even at this time not everything was understood (Acts 10 - Peter and the vision). D. Many times we take the things Jesus did for granted. But if we spend time in deep conscientious study (not just plain reading), we are lead to ask, as His disciples did, "Who can this be?" I. Jesus Was A Human Man A. He was born of human parents - Gal. 4:4
1. According to the divine government, and prearranged
history
2. David Lipscomb, in his comments on Rom. 5:6, says,
"There was a due season for Christ to come. There was
a long providential preparation, a remarkable concur-
rence of many conditions, before the "fullness of
time" for God to send forth his Son had come. A
select nation must be prepared by centuries of dis-
cipline. Time must be allowed for the human race to
grow into the historic age so that the proofs of facts
connected with the advent of the Son of God could be
adequately established. A language more copious and
precise than any earlier one must be developed; a
world government, wider and stronger then the world
had before seen, must be consolidated, to favor un-
wittingly, even while it wickedly opposed, the dis-
semination of the gospel."(Commentary on Romans, p. 96)
B. He grew up as children have always grown up - Lk. 2:40
1. From teaching & training by parents
2. Jesus had a human body and was capable of increasing
in wisdom and knowledge.
3. The Jews marked the stages of a child's development by
seven different stages.
a. Newborn babe - Isa. 9:6
b. Suckling - Isa. 11:8
c. Suckling beginning to ask for food - Lam. 4:4
d. Weaned child - Isa. 28:9
e. Child clinging to its mother - Jer. 40:7
f. Child becoming firm and strong - Isa. 7:14
C. He had the capacity for desires & emotions
1. Mental
a. Love - Jn. 17
b. Sorrow (death of Lazarus) - Jn. 11:35
c. Anger - Mk. 3:5
d. Joy - Jn. 2:1-2
2. Physical
a. Hunger - Matt. 21:18
b. Thirst - Jn. 19:28
c. Weakness - Lk. 23:26
d. Suffering - Lk. 22:44
II. Jesus Was A Divine Man A. Born of a virgin
1. His birth prophesied - Isa. 7:14
2. The prophecy fulfilled - Lk. 1:26-35
B. He existed eternally - Jn. 1
C. He was the Son of God
1. He claimed to be - Jn. 10:36
2. We also have God's testimony
a. Matt. 3:17
b. Matt. 17:5
c. Jn. 12:28
3. And the testimony of inspired men - Rom. 1:4
4. Plus the testimony of uninspired men - Matt. 27:54
III. He Was A Man Who Could Perform Miracles A. He could heal instantly; even without faith on the part
of the person being healed.
1. Jn. 5:2-9
2. Jn. 5:13
B. Lazarus - Jn. 11
1. This is in sharp contrast to the "faith healers" of
today.
2. They claim that it is lack of faith on the individuals
part.
C. The elements of nature obeyed Him - Matt. 8:23-27 ( wind
& waves)
IV. He Was A Man Who Could Save From Sin. A. He had this power while on earth - Mk. 2:5
B. He still has this power
1. Because he was & is perfect - Heb. 5:8-9
2. Because He offered the perfect sacrifice
a. It is sufficient for all times
(1). Heb. 7:27
(2). Heb. 10:12
b. It is sufficient for all men - Titus 2:11
C. Redeems with His blood
1. Rom. 5:8-9
2. Eph. 1:7
3. Rev. 1:5
4. Must be His blood - Heb. 10:4
Conclusion: A. Jesus performed many miracles while on this earth and people stood in awe of Him. Yet perhaps greatest miracle He per- formed was to make it possible for you and me to have for- giveness of sins through His blood. But in order for us to take advantage of this, we must reach His blood. B. The scriptures tell us that it by the act of baptism that we come into contact with it - Rom. 6:3-4 C. We cannot believe, repent and confess into it. The saved are washed in it. 1. Rev. 7:13-17 2. Acts 22:6 |