The Cross Examined Part 2 I Who Is Jesus Really? I Pastor Mario Hauser I March 8th, 2026

The room filled with worship as a present God drew near when his name was called, and that tangible presence set the tone for the sermon’s movement into Scripture. John 1:1–5 anchors the exposition: the Word existed in the beginning, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Creation flowed through this Word, whose life brings light into darkness that the darkness cannot snuff out. The text reframes origins: Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem; the Son stood over and through creation as the intelligence and power that ordered the cosmos.

Sin explains the brokenness that plagues human life, but the identity of the One who can repair that brokenness matters first. The argument builds from historical context—John writes late in the first century to correct misunderstandings—and then presses the theological claim that Jesus is not merely a prophet or moral teacher but God incarnate. Scripture-language like Logos connects divine speech and creative will: God’s spoken reality became tangible in the person of Jesus.

The incarnation receives careful attention: the Word tabernacled among humanity, taking on a human life that included hunger, sorrow, temptation, and pain, yet remained without sin. This renders Jesus both fully human and fully divine—holiness without arrogance, authority without abuse, power without corruption, and love without condition. Jesus did not stay distant; the Creator drew near and entered history to be the perfect meeting-place between God and people.

Jesus’ actions confirm this identity. Forgiving sins, healing the sick, calming storms, and raising the dead display authority that belongs to God alone; such signs force a decision rather than invite neutral admiration. The cross becomes comprehensible only within this framework: the one who is God took on human form to be the sacrifice, the sinless Lamb who stands between God and humanity. The message culminates in an invitation: respond with worship, choose allegiance, and receive Jesus as Savior, Redeemer, and Keeper. Worship practices on earth rehearse heaven’s sound, preparing hearts to recognize and follow the Lord who is the beginning and the end, the author and finisher of faith, Emmanuel.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Word existed before creation John affirms that the Word predates the universe; origin belongs to the Logos who orders reality by speech. This establishes Jesus as ontologically prior to all things, making any claim about salvation or restoration hinge on his preexistent authority. Recognition of that priority reframes worship and trust—from creaturely attempts to cosmic reliance. [53:24]
• 2. Jesus is fully and truly God John insists the Word was with God and was God, collapsing any neat division between Creator and creature in Christ’s person. This identity means divine prerogatives—like forgiving sins—belong to Jesus, so responding to him carries ultimate consequences. Understanding Jesus as God challenges casual admiration and demands a decisive allegiance grounded in worship. [68:04]
• 3. Incarnation: God tabernacled among us The Word “dwelt” among humanity—literally tabernacled—so divine presence no longer remained distant but took up residence in human life. That presence experienced hunger, sorrow, and temptation without falling into sin, making Jesus uniquely qualified to mediate mercy and judgment. The incarnation locates salvation within history, not merely in idea. [73:37]
• 4. Signs reveal divine authority Forgiveness of sin, healing, calming storms, and raising the dead function as more than compassion; they authenticate identity. Such works compel a decision: either accept Jesus as the Son of God or relegate him to mere human fame. The signs demand that faith move from intellectual assent to worshipful surrender. [78:12]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [36:31] - Worship and God's Presence
• [52:51] - Reading: John 1:1–5
• [56:20] - Sin and the Human Condition
• [58:00] - Who Can Fix Brokenness?
• [63:39] - "In the Beginning": Logos Explained
• [67:22] - Jesus as God
• [71:52] - Incarnation: God With Us
• [78:12] - Authority: Forgiveness and Signs
• [84:26] - Invitation to Respond
• [85:12] - Closing Praise

Based on the sermon summary and transcript provided, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading
John 1:1-5 (ESV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV)
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Observation questions

1. According to John 1:1-2, what three things are true about the "Word" in the beginning?
2. What role did the Word have in creation, according to John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16?
3. The sermon mentioned that the Word "dwelt" among us, which means to "tabernacle" [01:13:37]. What was the purpose of the Old Testament tabernacle?
4. What are some of the specific human experiences Jesus went through, according to the sermon, that show He was truly human? [01:15:34]

Interpretation questions

1. John 1:5 says the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. What does this "darkness" represent in our world today, and how does Jesus' light confront it?
2. The sermon stated that Jesus' miracles were "signs revealing who he really was" and that they "force a decision rather than invite neutral admiration" [01:18:12]. Why do you think seeing Jesus' power through these signs requires a person to move beyond simple admiration to a decision?
3. If Jesus is the one through whom "all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17), what does this imply about the source of true peace, stability, and order in a person's life or in the world?
4. The sermon described Jesus as "holiness without arrogance, authority without abuse, power without corruption, and love without condition" [01:16:16]. How does this description of Jesus contrast with how power and authority are often expressed in our world?

Application questions

1. The reality that the Word existed before creation and holds all things together means our origin and our future belong to Him [53:24]. How does trusting in Jesus as the foundation of reality, rather than your own understanding, change how you face a current uncertainty or fear?
2. Jesus "tabernacled" among us; He didn't stay distant but entered into the mess of human life [01:13:37]. Who in your life needs you to draw near and "tabernacle" with them in their hardship, rather than offering advice from a distance?
3. Jesus' signs, like forgiving sins and healing the sick, were meant to compel a decision about His identity [01:18:12]. Is your faith in Jesus more of an intellectual agreement or a worshipful surrender that impacts your daily choices? What would a more surrendered faith look like for you this week?
4. Because Jesus is fully God, He has the divine authority to forgive sins [01:18:12]. Is there a sin you are still holding onto, acting as if it is too big for His forgiveness, or is there someone you need to forgive because Jesus has forgiven you?
5. Jesus experienced hunger, sorrow, and temptation [01:15:34]. How does knowing that Jesus truly understands your human struggles impact how you bring your needs and temptations to Him in prayer?
6. Worship on earth is a rehearsal for the sound of heaven [51:35]. What is one practical way you can incorporate more personal worship into your daily routine this week, not just as a song, but as a recognition of who Jesus is?