1. The Face of Jesus
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Cor. 4:6
1. verse
2. If you really want to know something about a person, even to the depth of his character; it isn't necessary to ask that person, just look upon their face.
3. The face of man is the great betrayer; even the inner-most secrets of the heart are betrayed by the expressions of the face.
4. Illustration: A man became angry with his neighbor
5. The bible does not reveal to us any specifics concerning the physical stature of Jesus such as his height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes. But I believe as we study the face of Jesus we may arrive at a greater insight of His characteristics both human and divine.

2. The Face of Jesus

3. The Face of Jesus Baby Face
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Lk. 2:7
Loving – trusting – innocence
Angelic
A BABY FACE
A. According to the scriptures, the first look that we have of the face of Jesus we behold a Baby Face.
B. Luke 2:7 “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
1. What is depicted at the very mention of the word “Baby face”?
2. Loving — trusting — innocence — all that is beautiful — sent from God
3. Angelic — Heavenly, and a million more beautiful combinations wrapped into one.

4. The Face of Jesus Young Man
And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?” Lk. 2:49
Vivid – fully alive – eager – interesting
YOUNG MAN
A. The next time we are permitted to look upon His face he has grown from a baby to a young man of 12.
1. Luke 2:49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?”
2. As we look upon the face of the Master at this early point in his short life what do we behold
a. A face that is vivid and vital and fully alive.
b. A face that was eager, determined, and interesting and interested in others.
3. Little if anything is known of Jesus' activities from the age of 12 until he reaches maturity and begins his personal ministry.
B. At the very outset of His ministry we see a happy face and it is from this disposition of the heart that He gives the Beatitudes to his followers.

5. The Face of Jesus Sad Not for his sins - Heb. 4:15 “without sin”
“who went about doing good” - Acts 10:38
Because of the condition of God’s people and the city of Jerusalem
Sad
A. The next time we look upon the face of Jesus we see a Sad Face.
1. Jesus was not sad because of his own sins.
2. Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
3. This passage plainly teaches that Jesus was sinless, yet because of the sins of the world his face was saddened.
4. Sin always brings sadness upon the sinners and also the ones that love that sinner.
B. Jesus had not harmed anyone: he went about doing good.
1. Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”
2. He healed the sick, made the blind see, the lame walk, fed the hungry, cleansed the lepers, cast out demons, and raised the dead.
3. He loved the sinners, condemned his sins, taught a new and perfect way that leads to eternal life, and gave the woman at the well a living water.
C. The sadness that appeared upon Jesus’ face was because of the prevalent conditions of God’s people and the city of Jerusalem
1. The Pharisees — their outward piety - inward sham
2. The Sadducees — their bone of contention on the resurrection

6. The Face of Jesus Sad When His disciples walked with Him no more
Jn. 6: many of His disciples went back
Tomb of Lazarus - Jn. 11:35 “Jesus Wept”
D. Sadness in his heart registered plainly on his face on various occasions during his ministry.
1. When his disciples walked with him no more. John 6:66-68 “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
2. At the grave of his good friend Lazarus John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”
a. Our Lord never wept because of the death of Lazarus, because here was an opportunity to glorify the Father and help a friend
b. He wept because those he loved were weeping.

7. The Face of Jesus Sad Betrayal kiss of Judas - Lk. 22:45-48
Peter denied him - Lk. 22:61-62
When sinners refuse to obey His will
3. When Judas kissed him at his betrayal
a. Luke 22:45-48 “But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
b. Truly, the sadness of heart must have shadowed the brightness of his glory.
c. This scene is comparable to a son plunging a knife into the heart of his own father
d. Not only sadness appeared, but sadness mixed with doubt that one could stoop so low as to betray the symbol of love and affection and turn it into
the kiss of death.
4. When Peter denied him. Luke 22:61-62 “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So Peter went out and wept bitterly.”
5. He is saddened when sinners refuse to obey His will
a. Many read the sadness in his face but never try to change it to joy by submitting to his will.
b. His Sadness is born out of a real love for the lost sheep of spiritual Israel.

8. The Face of Jesus Angry Not because someone crossed His path
Man’s greed, lust for money, disrespect for God
“My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.” Matt. 21:13
“Be angry, and sin not.” Eph. 4:26
AN ANGRY FACE
A. The next face of Jesus that we see is unexpected from the Son of God
1. Not because:
a. Someone crossed His path
b. He had made a mistake
2. But it was because of man’s greed, lust for money and disrespect for the house of God.
B. Our Lord had gone into Jerusalem to the temple to worship God and the things he saw there made him angry and I doubt if Jesus was smiling when He cast them out.
1. Matthew 21:13 “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.”
2. Even in his moment of anger he sinned not. Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry, and sin not”

9. The Face of Jesus Shining
Matt. 17:1-5 “His face did shine as the sun”
God declared His Son to have preeminence
A SHINING FACE
A. Matthew 17:1-5 “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
1. This is not to be related with just an ordinary expression of joy that brought radiance to his face; but his face shined as a divine manifestation of the sonship of Jesus Christ to the delight of the Father in Heaven.
2. God declared His son to have preeminence of Moses and Elijah in the eyes of three witnesses.
B. God has declared his Son to be first in command

10. The Face of Jesus Shining
2 Cor. 4:6
- Light to shine out of darkness
- Shined in our hearts
- To give light of the knowledge
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119:105
1. The Gospel is his words of truth, and it brings light to the faces of all men
2. The truth did shine in the face of Jesus and it brings joy and light in the face of all believers in his word.
3. The gospel is the light of the glory of God 2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
4. Psalms 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

11. The Face of Jesus Smitten
Lk. 22:64 “And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”
Jn. 19:3 “smote Him with their hands”
Matt. 26:67 “Then did they spit in His face…”
SMITTEN FACE
A. The next time we see him we see a SMITTEN FACE - CRUCIFIXION
1. At this great scene we are not permitted to look upon the face of Jesus, to see
the pain and agony of the heart as they smote him on the face.
2. Luke 22:64 “And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”
3. Being blindfolded Jesus could not see that calloused hand that struck his face, but could read that calloused heart that owned it.
4. The pain that he endured, as strong men's knuckles smote his face were insignificant compared to the inward pain because of their hardened heart.
B. It seems as though every one passed by took a slap at his smitten face.
1. John 19:3 “And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.”
2. Matthew 26:67 “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,”
3. The pains of crucifixion did not hurt him as did the slaps of hate.

12. The Face of Jesus Stained
With His own blood
Matt. 27:29 “crown of thorns”
With His tears
Great pain brings tears
Isa. 50:6 “I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.”
A STAINED FACE
A. In the next scene we find our Lord nailed upon that old rugged cross, hanging not by nails of steel but by our sins. As he dies the Ignominious death
B. The face of Jesus on the cross has many expressions but it is stained his own blood
1. Matthew 27:29 “When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!”
2. The nails driven through his hands were more bearable;
3. The thorns that pierced his head were less painful and the blood that stained his face was less humiliating because he loved us so.
4. Yes, the blood stained face of Jesus, should ever be before us reminding us, that without the shedding of blood there would have been no forgiveness of sins.
C. Tears stained his face as he looked down from that old rugged cross into the eyes of those who once had claimed to be his friends.
1. Sweat stained his face because of the great pain he experienced. When a person suffers great and intense pain perspiration flows freely.
2. Spittle [spit] stained his face; to add to his humiliation they spit in his face
3. Isaiah 50:6 “I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.”
D. Their souls were stained with the murder of the Son of God.

13. The Face of Jesus Looks upon us in pity Shows us mercy
If we will be obedient the face of Jesus will be shining
Jn. 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
1. His face now looks upon us in pity; we are pitiable.
2. His face now shows us mercy; when we showed no mercy to Him.
3. His loving face is not hid from us if we come looking for it's brightness and glory
4. If we will be obedient the face of Jesus will be shining.
5. John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

14. The Face of Jesus Hear John 12:48 Believe John 8:24 Repent Luke 13:3
Confess Matt. 10:32
Baptized Mark 16:16
Faithful Matt. 24:13