Attitudes Toward Jesus

Introduction

Jesus said, I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. These words are found in the Gospel of John in chapter 6 at verse 35. Of course, this is not literal. This is figurative. Jesus says he satisfies spiritual thirst as well as spiritual hunger. And of course, this is one of the ways that the Bible teaches. It helps us to understand the Bible more plainly. And sometimes it helps us with a little bit of memory. When we think about Jesus being the bread of life, just like Jesus himself was being tempted by the devil, Jesus says, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

We need bread to sustain us. And simply put, just like Brother Hawkwriter said, we need Jesus. If we’re going to survive, we got to eat, we got to drink. In order to survive physically, we need Jesus Christ. And of course, this is one of the seven I am statements in the Gospel of John. John’s gospel, of course, is unique in the synoptics of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And John writes from a perspective to help us to understand our need for Jesus Christ. Through these seven signs of Jesus, we can see not only his power, but how relationship with Jesus Christ can in fact sustain us. Again, Jesus says, I am the bread of life, John 6, 35 and 48. Jesus says, I am the light of the world.

John chapter 8, verse 12, and John chapter 9, verse 5. Jesus says, I am the door. John chapter 10, verses 79. Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. John chapter 10, verses 11 and 14. Jesus says, I am the resurrection and the life. John chapter 11, verse 25. Jesus says, I am the way, the truth of the life. John chapter 14, verse 6. Jesus says, I am the true vine. John chapter 15, verse 1 through 5. And of course, we know that there are many signs Jesus did. John reveals these seven signs in addition to these seven I am statements to help us to understand our need for Jesus and the fact that we need to have faith in him. Remember, John wrote at the very conclusion of his book.

John says, and many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written why? That you might believe. And believing you might have life in his name. I got to tell you, but if we just read the life of Jesus Christ from all four perspectives, if you will, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We can come away with the right kind of faith, knowing that we need Jesus Christ. But I know that there’s a lot of people who have different attitudes towards Jesus Christ. Even when Jesus himself was living. Remember in one occasion, Jesus said, Who do men say that I the Son of Man am? And of course, there were various responses. But I want you to go back to the book of John in chapter 7.

I want you to see recorded different attitudes about Jesus. John in chapter 7. And look at verse 5. The record says his brothers did not believe in him. Look at verse 12. The Bible says there was much murmur among the people concerning him, for some said he is a good man. Others said, Nay, but he deceived the people. Look, if you will at verse 15. The Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters having never learned or having never studied? He didn’t go to the universities, but how come he knows all these things? Well, Jesus, Bible said the common people heard him gladly. He taught as one having authority and not like those others. Where did he get all this from? Look at verse 20, if you will.

The record says the people said, You have a devil or a demon who goeth about to kill thee. Look at verse 25. Then said some of them of Jerusalem, is not this he whom they want to kill? Look at verse 31. And many of the people believed on him and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done? Yes. Many believed on the Christ then. The word Christ, of course, in the Greek. We’re talking about the Messiah, Hebrew, the anointed one, the chosen one of God. And of course, this morning we talked about faith. The Hebrew writer said, God had prophets of old. Jesus is a prophet. And we’re going to see this morning. Jesus, of course, is priest and king.

Prophet, priest, and king. That’s what the word Christ means. In the old testament, you know, when the prophet was chosen by God, oftentimes oil was pointed over his head, so people would know publicly that this was the man that God had chosen as a prophet or as a king or as a priest. Jesus, of course, is all of these. But notice in verse 40, almost the same. He says, Many of the people therefore, when they heard this, said of the truth, this is the prophet. Now I’ve got a Bible help you because I got the word prophet capitalized. That’s a reference to deity. Talking about the Messiah. And then, of course, in verse 41, again, speaking of the Christ. This is the Christ. But some says, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?

And then look at verse 46. The officers answered, never man spake like this man, like Jesus. No, nobody. There were different attitudes concerning Jesus back in those days. And of course, there are different attitudes towards Jesus today. And that’s the subject of our lesson this morning. But I must pause. And I must acknowledge my gratitude to Almighty God. Because the Bible tells me in the book of 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 3, according as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue. Whereby giving us exceeding great and precious promises. That we might become partakers of his divine nature. And we can escape the corruption that is in this world through lust.

You ought to mock that in your Bibles, brethren. 2 Peter chapter 1, verses 3 and 4. God has given us everything we need. And I got to tell you, I’m grateful. I’m truly grateful. I’m grateful for the redemption that is in Jesus, the forgiveness of sins through his blood, according to the riches of God’s grace. I’m grateful for the Holy Spirit for God’s presence in us and in our lives. I’m grateful for the wonderful fellowship that we share and that we enjoy. Grateful for the church in every place, the saints that meet here at Bumby. The eldership for the kind invitation for me to come and the work and the worship with you in this special series of lessons. Grateful for you, brother, and all the work you’ve done, the prayers that have been offered.

Yea, even answered. We’ve arrived safely. Appreciate the accommodations. Appreciate you and your presence. Appreciate our time together this morning. I appreciate all of you who are visiting with us this morning. I want you to know that you’re a welcome guest. Glad that you’re accepted the invitation from someone to come. Want you to know that we’re just the people of God. Trying to live by faith, trying to walk by faith, trying to do things in Bible ways so that we can be pleasing to our God. God has revealed to us in his word what he expects of us. We simply strive to live by his word. We began a series of lessons this morning talking about attitudes. And in that lesson, I define what attitudes are. An attitude is a mindset.

An attitude is a disposition. It’s the way you think and it’s how you feel. And attitudes are important because they motivate us. We do what we do because of our attitudes towards certain things or towards certain people. And we’ve already seen that there are different attitudes towards Jesus. You know, there’s a lot of people who think that they know who Jesus Christ is. You know, most of the world perceive themselves as being religious. It’s not uncommon to see people wearing jewelry, any image of a cross, or some clothing with some religious statement. And of course, I think you know that the marketing of religion is big business. And a lot of people go to church. A lot of people talk about how much they love Jesus.

A lot of people have so-called pictures of Jesus. And yet the Bible is solid as far as a detailed description of Jesus is concerned, about his appearance. But there are in fact some things that we can know. I mean, first of all, Jesus was a Hebrew. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah. And most of the Jews were dark complexioned, and they would have had dark hair and eyes. And I think it appears from the book of Isaiah in chapter 50 at verse 6 that Jesus had a beard. Isaiah in chapter 53 at verse 2, Isaiah tells us that Jesus didn’t have any native beauty that would attract people. And he probably didn’t have long hair. Since Paul said in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 14, that it was a shame for a man to have long hair.

The only exception, of course, was the Nazarene vow. And I could see that John took such a vow, but I don’t read where Jesus did. Now, of course, that reminds me of this young man. This young man still living at home. He comes to his dad, he said, Dad, I’d like for you to buy me a car. Would you please? Dad said, Well, now let me see. He said, What you really need to do is you need to get your grades up. He said, and you need to keep your room straight. He said, and you need to get a haircut. He said, and if you do that, I’ll think about buying your car. Well, a couple of months pass by. The young man comes back to his dad.

He said, Well, Dad, I want you to check my room. I’ve been trying to keep my room straight. Now let me tell you something, young folks. If you got the right attitude, mom and dad wouldn’t have to stay on you to keep your room straight. You’d automatically do that. But he said, My room straight. He said, Dad, and I got my grades up. And let me tell you something, folks. You shouldn’t have to get mom and dad to pry you all the time to get you. You ought to do that anyway. If you got a right attitude. He said, My grandson came up. And dad looked at him and said, Well, son, I told you to get a haircut. You didn’t get a haircut. He said, Well, Jesus had long hair.

He said, Well, yeah, Jesus walked everywhere he went to. Let me tell you something, folks. Jesus knew who he was. He knew where he had come from. He knew for what purpose he had come. The I am statements of Jesus revealed to us. That’s evidence. Jesus knew who he was. Many people had wrong or incorrect opinions and understandings and perceptions and attitudes toward Jesus. Let me tell you something, folks. There are forces at work today to discredit Jesus as the only begotten Son of God. Which is destroying the confidence of men in the Bible as the inspired, inerrant word of God. And a renewed commitment to Jesus is a renewed commitment to the Bible. For the integrity of Jesus gives credibility to the Bible. In spite of what the Bible reveals, the religious world holds diverse views in regards to Jesus.

1. Jesus Is the Creator

But when we open up our Bibles, and that’s what we’re going to do this morning, we’re going to see who Jesus really is. What I’d like for you to do is open up your Bibles, first of all, to the Gospel of John in chapter one. The very beginning of John’s gospel. John in chapter one. And we’re going to begin at verse 1. And I heard this in our Bible study this morning. And I told the folks then, like I do wherever I preach, even back at Rockdale. When I call Bible passage, you hear Bible pages turn. I got to tell you something. Even the young people are turning Bible passage. And I got to tell you, young people, you ought to be commended. You’re like the Berea’s.

You’re searching the scriptures to make sure those things are so. And you parents are to be commended for teaching your children. And you are to be commended yourselves. All those pages turn. And Brother Hawkbiter will tell you, that’s sweet music to my ears. I like to hear Bible pages turn. John in chapter 1. And I’m reading from the King James Version. In the beginning was the Word. I got the Bible help. The word Word is capitalized. That’s a reference to deity. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. Now I think you can see very clearly here.

John’s account reveals to us that Jesus Christ is the Creator. Let me tell you something, folks. The Jehovah’s Witness, who also claim that there is one God, but state that his name is Jehovah, and that Jesus is just the first of Jehovah’s Creation. As a matter of fact, the New World’s translation, which is published by the Watchtower Bible and Tracks Society of the Jehovah’s Witness, have changed the original language. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew. The New Testament was written in Greek. Let me show you again what the Bible very plainly says. In the beginning was the Word, the Logos, the one that came from heaven and communicated to us. Verse 18. No man has seen God at any time. But the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

He took on human flesh and communicated to us by his life and what he said and taught who God is. The beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. The New World’s Translation changes that and says the word was a God. Let me tell you what, folks, that is not true. You can pick up the King James Version, you can pick up the New King James Version, you can pick up the American Standard Version, you can pick up the New American Standard Bible, four reliable translations, and you will find the very same thing. That Jesus Christ is the creator. Look at verse 14. And the word become flesh and dwell among us. And we beheld his glory. The glory is the only begotten, full of grace and truth.

We’re talking about Jesus. You want to know who Jesus is? Jesus is the creator. And you know what? When you study with Jehovah’s Witness and you bring that to their attention, and they don’t like to do that. They don’t want to talk about who Jesus is. You bring them to Colossians in chapter 1. Look at Colossians in chapter 1. Interesting. I want you to notice how a response was made even to this. Colossians in chapter 1. I hear those pages turning. Colossians in chapter 1, and look at verse 16. Well, let me go back up to verse 15. Who is the image of the invisible God, Jesus, the firstborn of every creature? For by him, Jesus were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him.

And he is before all things.

And by him all things consist. Do you see that? The Bible is very plainly telling us that Jesus Christ is the creator. Now, a little bit of logic here. If Jesus was created by God or the firstborn of God’s creation, this text tells us that Jesus created all things. Did he create himself? Could he create himself? Well, logic would tell us no. He is, in fact, the creator. And I might emphasize the creator of all good things. I know sometimes we say that God created all things, but God didn’t create evil. That’s where the devil comes in at. God didn’t create the sorrow and the pain. That’s a result of sin. But in the very good, in the very beginning, remember the Bible says at the very last verse of chapter 1.

And everything that God had made was what? Was good. He is the creator of all good things. And we can go to the book of Genesis in chapter 1. Again, this just reflects upon what we read in John in chapter 1. Look at Genesis chapter 1 and look at verse 1. The Bible says, in the beginning. That’s what the book of Genesis is about. It’s about beginnings. The origin of things, if you will. We talked this morning about this cosmos. We know where this cosmos came from. Hebrews 11 3 says, by faith we understand that the world were framed. God. God did that. How did he do that? In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Now notice the Hebrew word. Again, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew.

God created the heaven and the earth. When we create something, we take things and we make them. But not God. This word, this Hebrew word, bara. God created things. You say, well, how did he do it? At least ten times you find in Genesis chapter 1, the Bible says, and God said, and it was so. Let me tell you what the implications are. It leaves no room for organic evolution. Living things come from living things. Because God set that in motion. Seed will reproduce after its own kind. Let me tell you something else. It leaves no room for theistic evolution. That God got things started and things evolved over eons and eons of time. And sometimes people say, well, if that’s my opinion, what difference does it make?

I’ll tell you what difference it makes. Because the Bible says God created the heavens and the earth. And if you read Genesis chapter 1, you will see that he did it in six literal 24-hour days. And not only that. Notice, if you will, verse 2. The Bible tells me that the Spirit of God was there. We’re talking about the Godhead. Who is the Godhead? The Godhead is God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit of God. The Spirit of God was there. Jesus was there as well. You say, well, how do you know? Remember, he is before all things. Colossians 1, 16, 17. Remember John 1. In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, and the word was God. But not only that, you know how I know?

Look at verse 26. Genesis 1 26. And God said, this is plural. Even though we look it in the Hebrew, this is a plural word, Elohim, speaking of God. And God said, let us. See, that’s how I know it’s plural. This plural pronoun is a reference to God. And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our own likeness. So what that tells me is in the beginning, God the Father was there, God the Son was there, God the Holy Spirit was there. And the simple point that I’m making is we’re talking about who Jesus is. Now the Bible speaks about the preexistence of Christ, and that’s what we’re reading about. Jesus existed from eternity past, and he always will, because he is eternal.

2. Jesus Is Also the Savior

Now, not only that, Jesus is also the Savior. Now, while the Bible speaks about the pre existence of Christ, when we see Jesus Christ come into this world, we see what he is named. And isn’t that what happens? When a baby is born, what do you do? You give a baby a name. Is that right? Open your Bibles in the book of Matthew in chapter one. I see some of you already ahead. The scripture was announced, and I heard those pages turn. Matthew in chapter 1. Matthew’s account in chapter 1. Look at verse 21.

And she shall bring forth the Son. And thou shall call his name Jesus. Now some of you may have a marginal reference that will tell you what the name Jesus means. God saves, or Jehovah saves, or God is Savior. So if anybody ever asks you, you know what is the name Jesus means? It means Savior. You see. And if anybody asks you, what does Christ mean? Well, it means the anointed one of God, the chosen one of God. And as I’ve already mentioned, he is prophet, priest, and king. So he was the one that was chosen by God. Chosen by God for what? To be the Savior of the world. You shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Don’t you like it when the Bible interprets for you?

Don’t you like that? I mean, you don’t have to wonder what his name is. Look a little bit further, if you will. Now, all this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth the son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which is being interpreted, is God with us. That’s God. That’s God in the flesh. And Jesus did not come to this world, friends, to make this world a better place or to simply raise the standard of man’s moral concepts. Jesus came to save people from their sins and to deliver us from the horrors of hell. That’s why he was born. That’s why he took on human flesh.

If you look in your Bibles, in the book of 1 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 15, the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Look at 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 16. The apostle Paul says, Great is the mystery of godliness. God manifest in the flesh. What is this mystery of godliness? Well, our brother prayed earlier about this plan that God had in his mind. That’s what the apostle Paul is speaking about in the book of Ephesians in chapter 3. He calls it God’s eternal purpose or God’s wisdom. The scheme of redemption. This plan that God had in his mind. Look at Ephesians 3 6. He succinctly tells us what it was. That the Gentiles would be fellow heirs of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus by the gospel.

What does that mean? That means that Jesus took on human flesh. He was born of the Virgin Mary. He came to this world so that he could be the Savior of the world, that he could save us from our sins. Who is Jesus? He’s the Son of God. He is the one that God has chosen. Thanks be to God. That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. And again, Ephesians 1 7. In him we have redemption. The forgiveness of sins through his blood according to the riches of God’s grace. And our brother mentioned it this morning, and I sure appreciate that. It certainly helps. When we are preparing our minds to partake of the Lord’s Supper, that someone reads for us and helps us to take our minds back to Calvary.

And such was done this morning with the book of Hebrews, chapter 5. Jesus, though he were a son. Yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. And being perfected and become the author of eternal salvation. But remember, he talked about how we’re supposed to feel. I want you to go back in your Bibles. Now we could read from all four accounts. Time, of course, does not allow us, but each one of the gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John reveal the scene of the crucifixion. But what I want to do is read Mark’s account. And I know it’s going to be hard, but I’m going to try to reveal read it without comment. Mark’s account, Mark in chapter 15, and I want you to notice at verse 15 beginning.

Talking about who Jesus is. And so Pilate, whether in the content or to gratify or to satisfy the people, released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus when he had scourged him to be crucified. And the soldiers led him away into the hall called Praetoria. And they called together the whole band. And they clothed them with purple and plaid of crown.