JESUS -- WHAT DOES HE MEAN TO YOU?
His birth was contrary to the Laws of Life.
His death was contrary to the Laws of Death.
He had no cornfields or fisheries, but He could spread a table for five thousand and have bread and fish to spare.
He walked on no beautiful carpets or velvet rugs, but He walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee and they supported Him.
When He died few men mourned. But a black crepe was hung over the sun.
Though men trembled not for their sins, the earth beneath them shook under the load.
All nature honored Him. Sinners alone rejected Him. Corruption could not get hold of His body. The soil that had been reddened with His blood could not claim His body.
Three years He preached His gospel. He wrote no book, had no monetary backing. But after nineteen hundred years He is the one central character of human history, the pivot around which the events of the ages revolve and the only Regenerator of the Human Race.
Was it merely the Son of Joseph and Mary who crossed the world's horizon nineteen hundred years ago? Was it merely human blood that was shed on Calvary's Hill for the redemption of Sinners? What thinking man can keep from exclaiming—"My Lord and My God"?
JESUS, THE SON OF MAN
Jesus Christ was obligated to have a dual nature so He could save us from our sin.
He had to be deity in order to have the ability to save.
He had to be a man, so humanity could understand His salvation
As the Son of Man, Jesus Christ identified Himself with mankind; in temptations, heart-aches, disappointments, and in pains.
- The gospel of Matthew presents Christ as the King of all.
- Mark presented Him as the Servant of God.
- Luke presented Him as the Son of Man.
- He is presented by John as the son of God.
- The geology of Christ in the book of Matthew traces His lineage from Davit to Joseph (his foster father).
- Luke traced Jesus’ linage from Adam to Mary in order to establish His humanity.
- John traced Christ’s heritage to God the Father, thereby establishing His deity.
ADAM: A CONTRAST TO THE SON OF MAN
Romans 5:17-19
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF THE SON OF MAN
Luke 2
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
THE SON OF MAN HAD COMPASSION FOR HUMANITY
- Luke 8: 2 He had compassion for Mary Magdalene
- John 4: 9 He felt compassion for the Samaritans
- Luke 17: 12-14 He had compassion for lepers
- Luke 19: 2 He showed compassion to Zacchaeus
- Luke 23: 43 He had compassion for the their on the cross
- Luke 7: 13-14 Luke 9: 47-48 He had special compassion for women and children
FACTS ABOUT CHRIST FOUND ONLY IN LUKE
Luke 2:8, 16-17 The visit made to the stable by the shepherds
Luke 2: 13-14 The appearance of the angelic chorus
Luke 2: 40 The boyhood of Jesus
Luke 2: 42 His visit to Jerusalem at the feast
Luke 13: 34-35 Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem
Luke 22: 44 He sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane
Luke 22: 50-51 The healing of Malchus’ ear
Luke 14: 15 The walk on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection
Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Jesus the first-born among many (Romans 8: 29) said, “you must be born of the Spirit. (John 3:7)
For your Father in heaven is sprit and truth. (John 4:23)
There is joy in the presence of angels over each new birth (Luke 15:10)
Then you will come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly and the church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus our mediator. (Hebrews 12: 13
