Exploring Jesus: The Personal Teacher and Redeemer

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus' Teachings Are Deeply Personal

Jesus' teachings were not just for the crowds but also deeply personal, addressing individual needs and hearts. He demonstrated that His message of salvation is for everyone, regardless of their past or status. Jesus often spoke to large groups, but He also took time for personal interactions, showing that His message was meant for each person individually. This personal approach is evident in His encounters with people like Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, and the rich young ruler. Each of these interactions reveals how Jesus addressed the unique needs and circumstances of individuals, offering them a path to spiritual transformation and salvation. His teachings remind us that no matter who we are or where we come from, Jesus' message is for us. [24:17]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt personally addressed by Jesus' teachings. How did it impact your life, and how can you apply that lesson today?

Day 2: Spiritual Rebirth Is Essential

Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus shows that spiritual rebirth is essential for entering the kingdom of God. Jesus sees beyond our facades and addresses our true needs, pointing us to the cross and the necessity of faith. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus seeking answers, and Jesus responded by emphasizing the need for a spiritual rebirth. This encounter highlights the importance of moving beyond mere religious observance to a genuine transformation of the heart. Jesus' message to Nicodemus is a reminder that true faith requires a personal commitment to follow Him and embrace the new life He offers. [31:48]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to experience a spiritual rebirth? How can you invite Jesus to transform those areas today?

Day 3: Grace Comes First

Zacchaeus' story illustrates that grace comes first. Jesus calls us by name, offering transformation and salvation, regardless of how far we have strayed. Zacchaeus, a tax collector, was despised by many, yet Jesus reached out to him, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of God's love. This encounter led to Zacchaeus' repentance and transformation, showing that grace precedes change. Jesus' willingness to engage with Zacchaeus reminds us that God's grace is available to all, and it is this grace that empowers us to change and grow. [37:38]

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God's grace through you? How can you extend grace to them today, even if they seem far from deserving it?

Day 4: Confronting Hidden Idols

The rich young ruler's encounter with Jesus highlights the danger of hidden idols. Salvation requires putting Jesus first, above all else. We must be willing to let go of anything that comes between us and God. The rich young ruler approached Jesus seeking eternal life, but Jesus challenged him to let go of his wealth, which had become an idol in his life. This story serves as a reminder that anything we prioritize over our relationship with God can hinder our spiritual growth. Jesus calls us to examine our lives and remove any obstacles that prevent us from fully following Him. [46:56]

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one hidden idol in your life that you need to confront? How can you begin to let go of it and prioritize your relationship with Jesus?

Day 5: Jesus' Personal Invitation

Jesus' mission is to redeem mankind, both collectively and individually. He cares for each of us personally, inviting us to experience His transformative love and salvation. Everyone who calls on His name will be saved. Jesus' interactions with individuals like Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, and the rich young ruler demonstrate His personal concern for each person. He invites us to respond to His call and experience the life-changing power of His love. As we approach Easter, we are reminded that Jesus' invitation is open to all, and He desires a personal relationship with each of us. [53:44]

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you respond to Jesus' personal invitation today? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him and experience His transformative love?

Sermon Summary

As we gather today, we embark on a journey leading up to Easter, a time to reflect on the profound question: "Who is Jesus?" Over the next four weeks, we will explore this question, starting with Jesus as our great teacher. Jesus' teachings were not just for the masses; they were deeply personal, reaching into individual lives and hearts. He spoke to crowds from mountaintops and boats, but He also took time for one-on-one interactions, demonstrating that His message was for everyone, regardless of their status or past.

Today, we examined three encounters that highlight Jesus' personal approach. First, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus at night, seeking answers. Jesus saw beyond his religious facade and addressed his true need: a spiritual rebirth. He told Nicodemus, "You must be born again," pointing him to the cross and the necessity of a new life through faith.

Next, we looked at Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector. Jesus called him by name, demonstrating that grace comes first. Zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus led to a transformation, as he repented and made restitution, showing that no one is too far gone for God's love.

Finally, we considered the rich young ruler, who asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus exposed his hidden idol—wealth—and challenged him to let go of it to follow Him. This encounter reminds us that nothing should come between us and God.

These stories illustrate that Jesus' mission is to redeem mankind, both collectively and individually. He preached to the multitudes but also stopped for random strangers, showing that He cares for each of us personally. As we approach Easter, let us remember that salvation is available to all who call on His name. Whether you are like Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, or the rich young ruler, Jesus knows your name and invites you to experience His transformative love.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus' teachings were not just for the crowds but also deeply personal, addressing individual needs and hearts. He demonstrated that His message of salvation is for everyone, regardless of their past or status. [24:17]
2. Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus shows that spiritual rebirth is essential for entering the kingdom of God. Jesus sees beyond our facades and addresses our true needs, pointing us to the cross and the necessity of faith. [31:48]
3. Zacchaeus' story illustrates that grace comes first. Jesus calls us by name, offering transformation and salvation, regardless of how far we have strayed. No one is too far gone for God's love. [37:38]
4. The rich young ruler's encounter with Jesus highlights the danger of hidden idols. Salvation requires putting Jesus first, above all else. We must be willing to let go of anything that comes between us and God. [46:56]
5. Jesus' mission is to redeem mankind, both collectively and individually. He cares for each of us personally, inviting us to experience His transformative love and salvation. Everyone who calls on His name will be saved. [53:44]
** [53:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Easter Invitations and Announcements
[02:00] - Opening Prayer
[03:30] - Introduction to the Series: Who is Jesus?
[05:00] - Jesus as Our Great Teacher
[07:00] - Jesus' Teachings to the Crowds
[10:00] - The Importance of One-on-One Encounters
[12:00] - Nicodemus: A Lesson on Spiritual Rebirth
[15:00] - Zacchaeus: Grace and Transformation
[18:00] - The Rich Young Ruler: Confronting Hidden Idols
[21:00] - Jesus' Mission to Redeem Mankind
[23:00] - Invitation to Respond
[25:00] - Closing Prayer and Song
[27:00] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Sermon Clips

"We all have their teeth in place and are ready to go this morning. And we are glad to have you all here so we can celebrate together to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A quick couple things to bring your attention to. If you notice on the ends of your pews, there are a bunch of Easter invites. I want to make sure that you pass some of those down to folks on your pew. If you don't have any, they've already run out. Look on the edges of the pews going up and down the rows." [00:02:09]

"I thank you, Father God, that you have provided a way for us to have salvation and forgiveness and be redeemed in our relationship with you. You do not leave mankind stuck in our sins to our own devices, Lord, but you stepped out of heaven and made a way for us. We ask you for... Father God, today to make that very real to us at our hearts over the next several weeks as we look forward to the cross, look forward to Easter, look forward to death and then life." [00:04:09]

"So we as a church have an opportunity to correct sometimes an understanding that the world thinks they have of who this Savior is that we worship. We come together every Sunday and we open up the Word of God. We sing songs and we lift up our hands and we praise Him and we come together and we pray together. We eat together. We fellowship. We do stuff together. But who is this Jesus?" [00:23:49]

"Today we're going to talk about Jesus as our great teacher. Next week, we'll talk about Him. Is He a Lord or liar? Who is He really? And we're going to talk about Him as He's the King. And then last week, He's the answer. As we think of Him as the teacher, those words that came on the video earlier, He spoke a lot of words in the New Testament. If you have time to read through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you read a lot of words in red, right?" [00:24:28]

"Jesus didn't come just to whisper in a corner right i heard that said this week i was like that is so true he didn't come and just hang out down here and whisper into the corner between two walls and that's all he spoke he didn't whisper he didn't teach in the quietness oftentimes he did speak to the crowds he took him up in the sermon on the mount he spoke preached for three chapters on the sermon on the mount now it's only my uh my father -in -law is preaching on the sermon on the mount this morning and his church down in alabama he's doing the all three chapters all 111 verses and he's reading them that morning 111 verses this morning right now actually as we speak he's preaching jesus did that in one setting as well preached that sermon he proclaimed his message to the kingdom to the crowds let them know there is a better way to live on the mountainside he declared repent the kingdom of heaven is at hand thousands heard him say in john 6 i am the bread of life whoever comes to me shall not hunger whoever believes in me shall not thirst the crowds heard him say any of these things that sometimes they were baffled by the sayings he taught differently than other rabbis he wasn't normal he was as i like to say about the body of christ he was different and because we are his followers we also are different his words weren't just a bunch of wise sayings like in the proverbs they were the power of god unto salvation when he came and proclaimed the kingdom of god it touched people's hearts and because we are his followers" [00:26:48]

"When he fed the 5 ,000, he showed that he could meet every single one of their needs. But then he also taught them the real issue, that their souls were starving for him. They came because they had their bellies filled. But he said, the real problem is that you are empty inside. In parables like the lost sheep and the sower, he shouted the truth that God loves sinners and he is seeking them out. The message was clear through all that he did with the crowds. Salvation is available to all who will hear and turn to him. Very simple. It's available to all." [00:28:39]

"Yes, the crowd time was important. Yes, the getting together time was important. But it was the individual one -on -one time that really sometimes seemed to make a difference. He took the 12 disciples with him for three years as they traveled together. He poured into their lives. And beyond that 12, he took the three. And he poured into their lives. Even deeper, even greater. That one -on -time was important." [00:30:07]

"See, Nicodemus here, he was a religious leader. He was a Pharisee. He supposedly had it all together. He had religion, but Jesus saw beyond his question, Jesus saw beyond the robes, he saw that Nicodemus had a need. His heart needed changing. It wasn't just about head knowledge. The Pharisees had all the head knowledge. They understood all the laws, and they could quote to you all 632 laws in the Old Testament of Moses. But having head knowledge does not equate to having a heart that follows God." [00:31:48]

"Jesus didn't give him a lecture for the crowds. He didn't just give him a lecture that he would have normally given to all the crowds. He gave him the gospel one on one. You must be born again. Let me get to the heart of the matter. And in John 3 .16, a few verses down, he says, For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus points to the cross to Nicodemus' real need. Not the need he thought he had but the real need that he did have. Jesus points to the cross." [00:34:56]

"Zacchaeus was a tax collector he was a cheat a sinner he was the one that the crowds hated he worked for the Romans he worked for the very ones who the who were collecting and taxes and robbing and cheating his own people he didn't just go and collect the 10 percent like the IRS is supposed to or the 15 percent he would say your bill is 15 percent but I'm gonna charge you 20 your bill is 20 percent I'm gonna charge you 25 and the extra 5 percent you know where it went right in his pocket that's what was allowed by Roman law he had a quota he had to meet as a tax collector he had to turn in a certain amount of money but anything he collected above and beyond that amount he'd go to the Bahamas on he'd go on the Mediterranean cruise and because of that he was hated the Jews had no recourse but to pay it they had no recourse they couldn't go to the Romans and say your tax collector is cheating me because it was totally within the law set up by Rome for them to do that but when Jesus walked by he looked up in that tree did he see a tax collector a cheat" [00:36:34]

"Jesus didn't wait for Zacchaeus to clean up his act you see that Jesus didn't wait for Zacchaeus to to go to the temple offer sacrifices to pay his dues pay his tithes and then now Zacchaeus you're worthy I can now go to your house he took Zacchaeus right where he was right as he was because Zacchaeus's heart needed transformation and Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus's house showing us that first of all grace comes first grace comes first as Jesus looked up at his heart he didn't he didn't there was no transformation yet but Jesus offered grace to Zacchaeus he offered grace to us as well to find cleansing at his feet and in his presence see when Jesus got to the house he didn't just go there with the intention of eating he went through the intention of bringing salvation to that house to bring change true change and transformation to that house the crowd out" [00:41:23]

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