Who is this man?

What did he do? Why does it matter?

Who did Jesus think he was? 1.A prophet 2.His prophetic message - announcing the Kingdom of God. 3.God’s anointed one – the Messiah; the long awaited King. Defeat the enemy Cleanse the temple

4.His Messianic movement - taking on the full force of evil; fulfilment of prophecy. 5.The son of God – but not the God they were expecting. Not lofty and detached but with his feet on the ground.

We don’t get to decide who Jesus is. He is who HE says he is. Radical – much of church history has been to make Jesus fit in our current box.

We are committed to knowing Jesus and making him known. We seek him; we don’t create him. We conform to him. Not God in our image, but us in his image.

Jesus as prophet A prophet – someone who teaches the authority of God. Many will accept Jesus’ historical life His credentials as a teacher Others’ faith – it’s ok for you…

Do we take him seriously as prophet? Speaking as the voice and authority of God. Not just his birth, life and death. Not just salvation. But a prophetic voice speaking into our lives for today.

This is different from a formulaic belief – it’s a way to live. What happens when we take his teaching seriously? We begin to experience his goodness as we respond to the prophetic voice of God.

John 7: Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” 20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come

from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

Jesus argued with religious leaders. They were an echo of God – but their power is lost. Jesus: I am exactly who I claim to be.

Test it out… Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

Four things we learn 1.We don’t do it. 2.We can’t do it. 3.We don’t want to do it. Not just sickness in our will but also in our desire. 4.We want others to think we are doing it! We generally want people to believe we are better than we are.

Without God we can’t become the people we want to be. We are driven to Jesus. Vital choice for us right there…

Jesus brings transformation. He promises to change our will and our desires. This prophetic wisdom of Jesus stands above all other moral teaching because it has transforming power.

Being in the presence of the famous…!

Jesus isn’t just famous. Power & Authority emanate from him.

There is power in the presence of Jesus. Evil can’t stand against him. He brings healing, transformation, resurrection.

Jesus died for a purpose. To do for us what we can’t do for ourselves.

Describe Jesus in 3 mins…

Next week: Who is this man? Jesus: Making all things new

Next week: Who is this man? Jesus: Making all things new