Do you know what is the only country in our world named after Jesus Christ, our Saviour?
It is El Salvador.
If you visit Nigeria, you can visit a city called Jos – in the Middle Belt – the story says, which
likely as the word has no connection to any tribal language, that the missionaries called it Jos,
because it stood for Jesus Our Saviour.
Introduction
We are focusing on Jesus our Unique Saviour.
To refresh us in why we worship.
To be reminded of his example.
When we think about his demands of discipleship – we can be reminded of who is the One who
calls us to follow him, to be with him, to become like him and to do what he did.
Yet, we know, in European societies like our own which focus on inclusion, the message of Jesus
is an exclusive one – he is the Saviour who is unique, there is no other. As Peter would declare
‘’Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name, under heaven, given to mankind,
by which we must be saved.’’
3 Points.
- Who is Jesus?
- Jesus is the Suffering Servant
- Jesus’ Call and Commission
A) Who is Jesus?
Jesus Christ’s uniqueness is so great that no one, absolutely no one, can compare with Him.
What makes Christ’s person unique? He is the God-man, the very expression of God Himself in
our human flesh (John 1:14-18).
He was born of a virgin as a result of the power of the Holy Spirit.
He came to earth to redeem people from their sinfulness by the sacrifice of His life on the cross
and His resurrection.
He performed miracles including raising the dead and declared Himself to be the Son of God.
In Christ’s life and ministry, He demonstrated who He was—the God-man, the only Son of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
He also declared His purpose—to die for our sin.
In His death on the cross, Christ accomplished that purpose. He bore our sin in His sinless body
on the cross. He died as our substitute and took our judgment.
By His resurrection, God proved the value of His Son’s death and the sinlessness of His Person. It
proved Him to be the unique God-man.
Jesus Christ is the subject of more than 300 Old Testament prophesies, told over a period of
1,500 years. Many of which he had no personal control over.
And history confirms that even the smallest detail happened, just as predicted.
The NT declares how they were fulfilled
It confirms beyond a doubt that Jesus is the true Messiah, the Son of God and Savior of the
world.
We will not look at the passages but they are in the sermon inside the church app.
There are predictions about His Birth
Old Testament Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14 – Fulfillment in Jesus: Matthew 1:18,22,23
His Birthplace
Old Testament Prophecy: Micah 5:2 – Fulfillment in Jesus: Luke 2:4,6,7
His Childhood in Egypt
Old Testament Prophecy: Hosea 11:1 – Fulfillment in Jesus: Matthew 2:14-15
The Purpose for His Death
Old Testament Prophecy: Isaiah 53:4-6 – Fulfillment in Jesus: 1 Corinthians 15:21; 1 Peter 2:24
His Betrayal
Old Testament Prophecy: Zechariah 11:12-13; 13:6 – Fulfillment in Jesus: Matthew 26:14-16;
27:3-10
His Crucifixion
Old Testament Prophecy: Psalm 22 – Fulfillment in Jesus: Matthew 27
His Resurrection
Old Testament Prophecy: Psalm 16:9-10; 22:21-22; Isaiah 53:10 – Fulfillment in Jesus: Acts 2:31
Jesus Christ is the central figure of history, the bible and the church.
He is unique and unlike any other individual who ever walked on this earth.
Jesus is the centerpiece of civilisation.
He is the central person in all history. Jesus of Nazareth is the One on whom all our theology
focuses. He is the person who outshines all other names. If ‘’history’’ could be compared to a
door, we would say that He is the hinge on which history swings.
He is the point where eternity intersects with time.
An anonymous author ended his poem about Jesus:
‘’All the armies that have ever marched,
all the navies that have ever sailed,
all the kings that have ever reigned
and all the governments that have ever ruled, combined,
have not influenced the life of man upon this earth
nearly as much as that one solitary life.’’
Who is Jesus?
He is the absolute Word and God incarnate. He is the powerful Son of God and loving Saviour of
humankind (John 1:1-18).
He is our role model, and our guide in all we do.
He is our gentle master and wise mentor, compassionate counsellor and healer,
reliable Saviour and our own redeemer.
He is our close friend and faithful companion,
our holy and yet merciful Lord.
He is the fulfilment of all three of the OT roles of Prophet, Priest and King (Hebrews 10:19-23,
Rev 17:14).
Though he is indeed God’s Long Promised King, Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth was not to
enjoy life, and to live like a king, but to demonstrate his servanthood and love. He identified
with the poor and with those whom society scorned. Though a King he came to suffer at the
hands of people – to endure the shame of the cross – in order to defeat Satan so God might be
glorified and humanity redeemed.
And that King, Isaiah in chapter 53, describes as a suffering servant.
B) Jesus is the Suffering Servant.
Isaiah predicted Jesus’ coming
and the atoning significance of his coming.
In his writings, Isaiah shares ‘’Servant Songs’’, with the best known and the climatic one is the
fourth song – which William read – Isaiah 53 – where each phrase and every word demands
attention.
Again and again, the writers of the NT, refer directly and indirectly to these words when
describing the Lord Jesus and his Atoning Work on Calvary’s Cross.
The Apostle Paul, using the ideas in Isaiah 53, writes a creed of sorts to the Philippians. This
creed, shows Christ in his humility and servanthood, compared to Adam and the Emperors who
seek to exalt themselves, and shows Christ fulfilling the prophecies in Isaiah. Christ who was
equal to God, who yet chose willingly to become human, and suffered and died on the cross.
He was then exalted by God to the position of Lord; he shared in the honour due to God alone.
In a few words, Paul declares the gospel: the Life, ministry, death, resurrection ascension of
Jesus and looking to the end of history. Paul points to Jesus servanthood as a model of how we
are to treat each other – not standing on our rights but seeking the good of others.
What Jesus suffering servanthood means to us today.
The secret of victory is always the cross
This is God’s way – Revelation 5 declares – ‘behold the lion of Judah’ and who do we see – a
lamb. The lamb who was slain is placed upon the throne..
Though the details of Isaiah 53, apply directly to Jesus, the chapter also implies that obedience
to God’s will is also for the disciples of Jesus. The disciple of Jesus as we heard Jesus say in our
gospel reading, is one who ‘takes up his cross daily’’ whatever the cost. (Luke 9:23).
Taking up one’s cross is a metaphor for giving up one’s life to follow Jesus even to death:
We see this in the gospel teachings of Jesus
- The cost to the disciples: was leaving home and the source of their income (Mark 1:16-20)
- The cost to the rich young ruler: was selling everything and giving to the poor (Mark 10:21)
- The cost is being identified with Jesus and not being ashamed (Mark 8:38)
- The cost is being faithful to Jesus and His teachings (Mark 8:38)
- The cost is removing anything that would interfere with following Jesus (Mark 9:43-48)
*The cost requires entrusting one’s life entirely to Jesus and repenting from sin (Mark 1:15)
*The cost requires loyalty to Jesus above loyalty to one’s own family (Matthew 10:37; Luke
14:26)
Paul describes taking up the cross: 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Only as we are able to give to God our possessions, our future, our loved ones, even our own
life, are we free to be more than conquerors. Our ultimate freedom, is to deny ourselves, take
up our cross daily and follow him – why, because that is what Jesus said, ‘’Jesus shaped lives’’
look like.
To help us in our following, Jesus empowered us with His resurrection power when he sent the
Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. What is that power available to us?
Paul writes:
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know … his
incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20
he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 1:15-20.
We have with us, the same power that rose Jesus. The Power that rested on Jesus as he was
obedient to God, as he took up his own cross …
Jesus Call and Commission.
Jesus the Unique One, the One who Suffered, Calls us.
- Jesus’ call to Commitment.
The gospel is an invitation. It is an invitation both to the blessings of God as well as a challenge
to completely commit our will, to the will of God.
Jesus in his call, requires three elements of commitment as recorded in Luke 9:23.
he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
a) The relational aspect of commitment
The relational aspect is found in the phrase –
“If anyone would come after me.’’’
There is a desire in us, that causes us, to want to come to Jesus to be his follower. It is a
relationship that we seek to establish with Him.
But what is the origin of this relationship? We do not have anything in us, that is good enough
to be offered to God. It is God Himself, who in love, has committed himself to us.
It is HE who has taken the initiative that makes it possible for me to respond and commit myself
to Him.
b) The entrusting aspect of commitment.
The word entrust – is a banking term referring to ‘depositing for safekeeping’. It means giving
something over to someone for them to keep safe.
When a person commits themselves to another person, a relationship has been established
between the two people. Now there must be evidence to prove that a person has made that
commitment.
In a few weeks Bas and Hanneke will marry. In the ceremony, this prayer is often used
Heavenly Father, by your blessing let these rings be a symbol of unending love and faithfulness,
to remind them of the vow and covenant which they have made this day through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
you could say as I look at my wedding ring, it is a reminder of the proof that I have made that
commitment to Jolanda. And that ring reminds me, she has made that commitment to me…
‘’if anyone would come after he, he must…’’
For proof of what we would do…
Jesus uses two phrases…
‘’deny yourself’’
‘’take up your cross daily.’’
Deny yourself.
When we make a commitment, it costs us something. The biblical concept of commitment, calls
us to ‘’deny ourselves’’.
It is not self denial. It is not denying your talents, it is not denying your personality.
It is not to deny something.
Rather it is a complete and total denial of one’s self, so that we no longer seek, for what
pleases self.
This is in direct contrast to the typical way of life, where people try to get what they can for
themselves. The basic sinful nature of the world is the same – it desires to promote self at the
expense of others. Jesus says his followers will be known as those who ‘’deny themselves’’.
Take up your cross daily.
The second part of commitment is even more extreme than denying one’s self.
Christianity is a radical religion.
Commitment calls for ‘’taking up the cross’’. When you commit yourself to Jesus, you deny
yourself, and become willing to go to your own execution.
We only commit ourselves to being willing to die, when we understand that the present life
ends in death anyway, and the One who has promised forgiveness and eternal life can really
deliver it.
A young man, who had recently become a Christian, was returning home to a country where
punishment for conversion to Christ was death. He was asked whether or not he was afraid to
go back.
He replied ‘’I have already died in Christ.’’
2) The Commissioning Aspect of the Relationship
The personal trusting relationship between God and his followers now leads the believer to a
commissioning.
‘’ 23Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’’
Jesus said ‘’follow me.’’ This commitment is not to a task, it is to a person. To be a follower of
Jesus is to be a disciple of Jesus.
Practicing the Way has been exploring what following Jesus looks like –
to be a disciple means when we choose to follow Jesus,
it means being with Jesus (time spent in prayer, solitude, scripture, worship),
to seek to become increasingly like Jesus, to become imitators of Christ. to follow God’s
example as Paul says in Ephesians 5v1.
Being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus,
finally to do what he did.
We are called to be about his work: The vision of Jesus is given in the words of the Dutch
theologian, Abraham Kuyper.
‘’There is not one square inch of the entire creation, about which Jesus does not cry out, ‘’This
is mine.’’
CS Lewis said. ‘’Enemy-occupied territory, that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of
how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part
in a great campaign of sabotage.’’
Conclusion.
I finish with a poem about our unique, suffering, calling, commissioning King. Shall we stand and
say together…
MY KING
Jesus Christ is the greatest person
to ever cross the horizons of this world.
He’s God’s Son.
He’s the sinner’s Savior.
He’s the centerpiece of civilization.
He stands in the solitude of Himself.
He’s majestic and He’s unique.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He’s available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He guards and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharges debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and
He beautifies the meek.
He’s the key to knowledge.
He’s the wellspring of wisdom.
He’s the doorway of deliverance.
He’s the pathway of peace.
He’s the roadway of righteousness.
He’s the highway of holiness.
This is my King.
(Read Hebrews 10:19-25, I read it alone.)
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy
Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is,
his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of
God,
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having
our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience
and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving
up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all
the more
as you see the Day approaching.
Questions to consider at home in the week ahead:
*Explain the difference between the way of the cross and what might be called the way of the
culture?
*From Isaiah 52:13-53:12 – describe 5 characteristics of Jesus that show him to be qualified as a
servant?
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his *resurrection and participation in his
sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection
from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11. How would you explain this verse to a new believer?
*What does it mean to you to a) deny yourself? b) take up your cross daily? c) and follow Jesus?
How do you walk the way of the cross in your work, your study, in your life?
*How can we draw constantly on the available resurrection power of the Holy Spirit?