JESUS MADE A DIFFERENCE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   A little over two thousand years ago, Jesus was born in a very humble way in the city of Bethlehem to Joseph and Mary.

 

B.   For thirty years, He grew up and lived in the despised city of Nazareth.

 

C.   His ministry only lasted between 3 to 3-1/2 years.

 

D.   He died at the young age of 33.

 

E.   Yet, Jesus made a difference.  In this lesson, we want look at some of the differences that Jesus made.

 

I.             HE SHOWED GOD TO MAN

 

A.   Prior to Jesus’ coming, man had never seen God.

1.    John 1:18

 

No man hath seen God at any time…

 

2.    The reason is simple.  God is a Spirit (John 4:24).

3.    Jesus came to reveal God to mankind.

a.    John 1:18

 

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

 

b.    John 14:9

 

…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…

 

c.    Hebrews 1:2

 

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person…

 

B.   When we watch Jesus, we are watching God the Father

1.    Performing miracles

2.    Cleansing the temple

3.    Forgiving the woman in adultery

4.    Suffering upon the cross

5.    Washing the disciples’ feet

 

C.   When we study the events in the life of Christ, we need to ask ourselves:  “What do I learn about God the Father from Jesus in this event?”

 

II.           HE SHOWED MAN HOW TO LIVE

 

A.   Jesus came to earth and lived among men.

1.    “He was in the world…” (John 1:10).

2.    “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14).

3.    “…and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23).

 

B.   Jesus experienced the same type of things that all human beings experience.

1.    He was born.

2.    He was raised by two parents.

3.    He worshiped in the synagogue.

4.    He hungered and thirsted.

5.    He had friends.

6.    He had enemies.

7.    He was betrayed.

8.    He suffered injustice.

9.    He died and was buried.

 

C.   Jesus teaches us many things about how to live.

1.    Submission to God.

2.    Resisting sin

3.    Depending upon God

4.    Speaking the truth

5.    Standing against enemies of the truth

6.    Service to others

7.    Suffering for God

 

III.         HE SAVED MAN FROM HIS SINS

 

A.   This is probably the biggest difference that Jesus came to make in the world.

1.    Man fell in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:6)

2.    The Law of Moses could not take away sin (Heb. 10:1-4).

3.    Man needed the perfect sacrifice in order to have his sins removed (Heb. 9:22).

 

B.   Jesus came to remove sins from the souls of the lost.

1.    Matthew 1:21

 

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:  for he shall save his people from their sins.

 

2.    John 1:29

 

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.

 

3.    Hebrews 9:28

 

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many…

 

C.   NOTE:  This might be the biggest difference that few will take advantage of. 

1.    Luke 13:23-24

 

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?  And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate:  for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

 

2.    Some reasons:

a.    Man does not think sin is really sin.

b.    Man often relishes his sin.

c.    Man ignores his sin problem.

d.    Man does not really believe that sin will condemn him in the last day.

e.    Man had perverted the plan whereby he can be cleansed by Jesus’ blood.

3.    The disbelief, the hurt, the anguish, the regret that so many will have at the last day cannot truly be described.  The lost will have missed out on the one thing that could have saved them, the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

 

IV.         HE GAVE MEN HOPE BY THE RESURRECTION

 

A.   Death is the enemy of man (1 Cor. 15:26).

1.    The body lies before us cold and lifeless.

2.    The individual ceases to exist in an animated form on this earth.

3.    We leave the quietness of the cemetery saying:  “Good bye.”

4.    Hearts hurt, tears flow, and the body aches.

 

B.   Death, however, is not the end.

1.    1 Corinthians 15:26

 

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

 

2.    When Jesus rose on the third day, He conquered death.

a.    Hebrews 2:14-15

 

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

b.    Jesus accomplished this by being victorious over death Himself. 

1)    The third day He rose as He promised (Matt. 20:19).

2)    The angels proclaimed:  “He is not here, for he is risen” (Matt. 28:6).

3)    Hundreds of individuals were witnesses of the resurrection, including all of the apostles (1 Cor. 15:5-8).

 

V.           HE ASCENDED TO KEEP MEN ATTACHED TO HEAVEN

 

A.   When Jesus left earth to return to heaven, it was as if heaven was leaving man.  However, Jesus had every intention of keeping heaven attached to the humanity He had just visited.

 

B.   Three things that attach men to heaven.

1.    He sent the Holy Ghost (John 16:7).

 

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:  for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 

a.  The Holy Spirit revealed Christ’s teachings to the apostles.

b.  The Holy Spirit enabled these men to confirm their words with miracles.

c.  The Holy Spirit enpowered these men to pass on miraculous gifts to new

Christians in the first century.

 

2.    He received a kingdom.

a.    Daniel prophecied that one like unto the Son of man would come unto the Ancient of Days and receive a kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14).

b.    Jesus had told Peter that he would be given the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:19).

c.    He used those keys on Pentecost and opened the doors of the kingdom to the Jews (Acts 2:22, 36-38, 41, 47).  He used them again in Acts 10 and opened the doors of the kingdom to the Gentiles (Acts 10:47-48).

d.    The kingdom is not a future event.  It is a present reality (Col. 1:13).

3.    He makes intercession.

a.    Jesus sits at the right hand of God and makes intercession to the Father on our behalf.

b.    1 John 2:1

 

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

 

c.    Jesus pleads our case and has our sins forgiven based on the blood He shed at Calvary.  Our sins are cleansed.  They do not separate us from our fellowship with God.

 

VI.         HE PROMISED TO COME BACK TO UPHOLD JUSTICE

 

A.   Jesus will come again.

1.    John 14:3

 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

2.    Acts 1:11

 

Which also said, ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

B.   There are three things He will do when He returns.

1.    He will defeat all of His enemies (1 Cor. 15:25-26)

2.    He will reward the saved (Matt. 25:34).

3.    He will condemn the lost (Matt. 25:41).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Jesus made a difference.

 

B.   As His followers, we have been called to make a difference as well.

 

C.   NOTE:  We do not have to be Jesus.  In His Word, He has given us the means to make a difference in our world. We talked about some of these in our first lesson this morning.