"WE HAVE FOUND THE CHRIST"

Jno. 1:29-51.

INTRO:

1 There have been many thrilling discoveries during the history of man upon this earth.

A. Columbus discovered America.

B. Lewis and Clark discovered the Northwest Passage.

C. The discovery of the Gulf Stream.

D. Electricity.

E. X-rays.

F. The many wonder drugs, space, etc.

2. But there is no other discovery in history to compare with the one announced by Andrew in our text.

A. "We have found the Christ."

3. More than the discovery of a great man, or a great truth, it was the climax of man's history and his very purpose upon this earth.

4. Now, let us note what is really involved in the discovery and statement of Andrew.

I. JESUS OF NAZARETH: THE CHRIST OF PROPHECY.

A. The Jews had long awaited the "Messiah".

B. Prophecy had foretold much about the coming of God's "Anointed One".

1. In some places simply called, "The hope of Israel." Acts 28:20.

C. God told Moses, that this would be a prophet like him. Deut. 18:18; Acts 3:22-26.

1. Jesus later used these words to apply to Himself. Jno. 12:48-50.

2. So did Stephen use them to apply to Christ. Acts 7:37.

D. Jesus was also to be king, of the lineage of David. Psa. 89:3,4.

1. A similar prophecy is found in Jer. 23:5,6, where is added that He will bring salvation to Israel.

a. Paul, in 1 Tim. 6:15, calls Jesus "King of kings and Lord of lords."

E. There are many prophecies that foretold His life on earth. Mic. 5:2; Isa. 7:14; 9:6.

1. These prophecies graphically show that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of a virgin.

2. But another outstanding prophecy concerning His life is recorded in the 53rd chapter of Isaiah.

F. His death is prophesied in much detail in Psa. 22. 1. In Zech. 11:12,13, is foretold His betrayal for "thirty pieces of silver." Which was later used to purchase a potter's field. Mt. 27:5-9.

G. The prophet Isaiah tells of the Lord in Isa. 61:1,2.

1. When Jesus read this, in the synagogue at Nazareth, He said: "Today is this fulfilled in your ears." Lk. 4:21.

H. In Isa. 42:1-7; Jer. 23:5,6; Dan. 7:13,14; Psa. 110:4, and three hundred other prophecies are told the life, work and offices of "The Christ."

1. So, for a Jew, such as Andrew, to proclaim, "We have found the Christ", would immediately cause the mind of any Jew to center on the Messianic prophecies.

II. JESUS OF NAZARETH: CHRIST, THE SON OF MAN.

A. Prophecies foretold that "the Christ" would be called "the Son of man", Psa. 8:4; Dan. 7:13.

1. This was one of the favorite terms by which Jesus referred to Himself.

2. Now, let us take note of what is said about this in Gal. 4:4; Heb. 2: 14,17.

B. The problems common to man were also His. Mt. 8:20.

1. He was rejected of his own people. Jno. 1:11.

2. There was nothing about His physical appearance that separated Him from other men. Isa. 53:1-3.

a. His own people said of Him, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses, and Judah, and of Simon?" Mk. 6:3.

3. So far as His appearance, His family, His surroundings were concerned, to the people of His day, Jesus was "just a man" like other men.

C. Appearance, however, does not reveal all the truth.

1. Jesus was much different from other men.

a. He "went about doing good", Acts 10:38, "seeking the lost", Lk. 19: 10, because "He had compassion on them." Mt. 9:36.

2. So, when John's disciples asked, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Mt. 11:3.

a. Jesus answered by pointing to the works He did. vss 4,5.

3. As a man, He was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin", Heb. 4:15.

4. As a man, He gave us a pattern for living. "That ye should follow his steps," 1 Pet. 2:21.

III. JESUSOF NAZARETH: CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.

A. The world was lost, but "God so loved the world..." Jno. 3:16.

B. Peter confessed to Christ, "Thou are the Christ..." Mt. 16:16.

C. Even the Roman centurion, at the foot of the cross, said, "Truly this was the Son of God." Mt. 27:54.

D. The teaching that He did showed that He was more than just a man. Mt. 7:29.

E. The rulers of the Jews sent guards to arrest Jesus, but they returned empty-handed, saying: "Never man spake like this man," Jno. 7:46.

F. The lofty teaching in the sermon on the mount, as is recorded in Mt. 5,6,7, could not have been devised by mere man.

G. His constant emphasis on spiritual things, as contrasted to the material view that then prevailed, shows Him to be from God. Mt. 16:26; 6:33.

H. When Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus, he said: Jno. 3:2.

I. Whenever we look at the miracles of Jesus, through the eye of faith, we also must say: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Mt. 16:16. Also note, Jno. 20:30,31.

IV. JESUS OF NAZARETH: CHRIST, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

A. Why was He born? Why did He live upon this earth? and Why did He die?

1. The answer to these questions is the same: Heb. 2:9,14; Titus 2: 14; 1 Tim. 1:15.

B. The apostle Paul wrote in Col. 1:18 of Jesus.

1. From this, we see that He doesn't share billing with any other man.

a. This is further borne out in Jno. 14:6.

1) This statement is very exclusive. There is no other means of access to God.

a) This is the reason for the statement in Acts 4:12.

C. Jesus is Lord, He is Christ, He is Savior.

D. The salvation which was eternally purposed by God Himself, Eph. 3:8-11, and for which Christ died on the cross, Rom. 4:25, is offered freely to all men, Mk. 16:15,16; Titus 2:11-14.

E. Jesus offered His wonderful invitation that excluded no one. Mt. 11: 28-30.

F. Whenever the first sermon was preached after the resurrection, the summary of it was, Acts 2:36.

G. When the people heard this, they were pricked in their heart, or believed, so they asked a question.

1. The question was : "....what shall we do?' Acts 2:37.

a. God's answer through Peter is found in Acts 2:38.

b. The result of such is found in Acts 2:41, 47.

2. When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch was baptized and "went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:39.

3. The Philippian jailor, hearing the gospel, "was baptized, he and all his, straightway...and rejoiced" because he, as Andrew, those on Pentecost, and the eunuch, had "found the Christ!".

CONCLUSION:

1. A lost and dying world today gropes in the darkness of materialism, immorality and selfishness.

2. But Jesus, "The light of the world", Jno. 8:12, calls us to leave the world behind and live for Him.

3. Millions have not yet "found the Christ".

4. But Paul shows our purpose in Acts 17:27, "That ye should seek after God."

5. So, we plead with you today to come to Him in loving obedience.

6. Then, you can proclaim the "good news" to your relatives, friends, and neighbors: "I have found the Christ!"

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