Knowing Jesus

1. Knowing Jesus Lesson #2:How He Came? Text: Ph. 2:5-8

2. Review: Who He Is? He is either a Liar, Lunatic or Lord! His works testify of His Lordship – “the works I do bear witness of Me…Many good works I have shown…believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (Jh. 10:24-25, 31-33, 37-38) His enemies rejected His works – “For good works we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” (Jh. 10:33) Best attempts to discredit His power failed – “…And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.” (Mt. 12:22-25) He was declared to be God’s Son by His resurrection – “and declared to be the Son of God with power…by the resurrection of the dead.” (Ro. 1:5) Jesus’ words are supported by the Scriptures – “search the Scriptures …these are they which testify of Me…if you do not believe his [Moses] writings, how will you believe My words?” (Jh. 5:39, 45-47) If all the words, works and power of Jesus are credible and believable, then we must either accept or reject Jesus as our Lord!

3. “Knowing Jesus” Means Knowing How He Came! Jesus Christ Came In Humility “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Ph. 2:5-8) “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Mt. 11:29) To know Jesus, we must understand, “How He Came?” Let’s explore four examples of His humility.

4. Humility In Birth His birth was not with pomp, ceremony, or mass celebration, even though He was the Son of God (Lk. 2:1-7). He was Born: In an obscure town –“…to a city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David…” (Lk. 2:4; Mic. 5:2) To poor, peasant parents –“…and to offer…a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.” (Lk. 2:24; Lev. 12:6-8) In meager surroundings –“…and laid Him in a manger [crib], because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Lk. 2:7; Isa. 53:2-3) The Son of God was born in a feeding trough, in a smelly, insect infested barn, to poor parents and in a small town.

5. Humility In Birth There were no public announcements and not many knew the King of Kings was born (Lk. 2:1-7). A few humble shepherds were told –“…Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields…the angel said…For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord…” (Lk. 2:8-12) Some wise men were apparently told –“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…behold wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?…” (Mt. 2:1-2) Jesus, the Son of God, came to this world in a lowly manner through a miraculous birth of a poor virgin girl.

6. Humility In Power Jesus supported His claims to be the Son of God by His power – “…What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even unclean spirits and they obey Him.” (Mk. 1:27) Jesus Has Power Over : Nature proving His claim to be the creator of the world - “…He arose and rebukes the wind and raging sea…” (Lk. 8:24) Demons proving He is greater than Satan - “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come…” (Jh. 8:46) Sickness proving His care and concern for us - “…when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion…” (Mt. 9:36) Death proving He has power to be resurrected - “…Lazarus, come forth!…” (Jh. 11:43)

7. Humility In Power Jesus has all power, yet never used it for selfish purposes. He could have called 60,000 angels to fight the injustice and to take revenge – “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” (Mt. 26:53) He could have become rich and powerful – “…Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Mt. 8:20) He could have owned the world – “…showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory…All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me…Jesus said, Away with you Satan…” (Mt. 4:8-9) “Absolute power, corrupts absolutely,” but not with Jesus.

8. Humility In His Moment of Triumph • Jesus moment of triumph was unconventional (Lk. 19:29-40). • Jesus came to conquer. • “…when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” (Lk. 9:51) • “…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hb. 2:10, 14-15) • “Having disarmed principalities and powers…” (Col. 2:15) • Jesus rode a beast of burden, not a white horse armed troops. • “…And they threw their own garments on the colt, and they set Jesus on him.“ (Lk. 19:35) • “Rejoice greatly…behold your King is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt…” (Zech 9:6) He did conquer as planned!

9. Humility In His Moment of Triumph Even His disciples did not understand His moment of triumph. “…and went out to meet Him, and cried out, Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel…His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written…” (Jh. 12:12-16) The crowds wanted to see Him and make Him an earthly king, but Jesus refused. “…when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to a mountain by Himself alone.” (Jh. 6:15) “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David…Hosanna…” (Mk. 11:8-10) People did not know the nature of His kingdom.

10. Humility In Our Heart The Lord is knocking at your door and asking for your permission to be let in. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Re. 3:20) “Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (Jh. 14:23) We abide in Him by adorning ourselves with His doctrine. “…that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” (Ti. 2:10) We willingly put Him on. We are not forced!

11. Humility In Our Heart Our reception of Jesus reflects His true nature. IMPORTANT FACT: God never forced Jesus to comply to His will, neither will He force us to comply, no matter how difficult our refusal is for Him to endure. “O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often, I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!.” (Mt. 23:37) Don’t refuse to let Jesus into your heart! Tomorrow may be too late!

12. Common Thread:HUMILITY Jesus is the very essence of humility and submissiveness as shown in the examples in birth, in power, in a moment of truth and in our heart. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of now reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men, And being found in the appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”Ph. 2:5-8) His entrance into the affairs of men reflects the true nature of His kingdom. “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. (Jh. 12:42-43)

13. FACT: Jesus Is Coming Again In contrast to these humble truths, Jesus is coming one final way. In vengeance – “and to you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (II Th. 1:7-9) With a shout – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heavenwith a shout [command], with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (I Th. 4:16-17) Will you be ready?

14. Are You Ready? To confess Him now or later - “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord....” (Ph. 2:10-11) To obey Him now or later - “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. .” (II Th. 1:8) To live eternally in heaven or hell - “… we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord …Those shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord .” (I Th. 4:17; II Th. 1:10) Are you prepared, ready and joyful for Jesus’ return?