First Baptist Church

Fairbanks, Alaska

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A Study of Who Jesus Said He Was 

Revelation 1:8 

Mark Howdeshell (November 18, 2007)

Rev 1:8   "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." 

Introduction

What do you see when you look in the mirror?  On the back of your bulletin is a space for you to write just 3 words describing yourself.  Go ahead and write the 3 words you would use if I asked you, “Who are you?”   What are some of those words? 

This morning I want to explore Jesus’ answer to the same question.  We know that He asked the apostles, the age old question what we’re called to answer even today. “ “But what about you,?”  he asked.  “Who do you say I am?”” (LUKE 9:20)  Our answer to that question, one in which every person on this earth has to answer, literally means the difference between life and death.  

How else does Jesus describe Himself?  Why is it important anyway?  It is important because if we’re called to be like Christ in every way, if we’re to claim the name of Christ as a Christian, then we need to know what/ how we’re supposed to be!! 

Heart of the Matter 

I’d venture a guess that most of us really don’t know exactly how we’re supposed to act and live as a Christian.  Sure, we know most of it, we’ve seen others in the church, we’ve read the Word when it says we’re to do ______________, but do we really know the Jesus whose name we claim?  We will know Him better and better the longer we’re with Him.  We’re with Him when we study His Word, speak with Him in prayer, and fellowship with His people.  Continue to do these things and the insights of Jesus will come more alive for you in the days to come. 

The Meat of the Message 

There are many references for today’s message.  Instead of giving each one as I speak, I’ll tell you that they are listed in the outline located on the website.  I can also give you a copy of the sermon notes if you’d like.  Rest assured, everything that I’m talking about comes from the New Testament as Jesus was describing Himself to others.

1. Jesus ties Himself to all of the previous scripture in the Old Testament when He says that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  This is done while the Saducees were trying to “trip Him up” with their question about the dying of the 7 brothers and the wife to them all.  (Matthew 22)  Jesus refers to a quote by God that says, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.  I am not the God of the dead but the God of the living.”  By associating Himself with this quote of God, He has validated all of the prophecies and scripture from the beginning of time and ties in His ministry with those writings.

2. Further ties the whole scripture together in Revelation 22 when He says that He is the Root and offspring of David.
1. Root:  The shoot from which the Messianic line came from.
2. Offspring:  Child of the Messianic line.
3. Jesus is both the origin and the result of God’s plan.  He is the reason for the line of David, and He is the result of the line of David. 
4. Further illustrates that God is omniscient and omnipresent.

3. Also in Revelation 22, He refers to Himself as the “Bright Morning Star.”  This signifies His welcoming a new day just as a bright morning star is something to behold in the dawning of each new day.  Jesus is the dawning of a new day in each of our lives. 

4. Turn to John, Chapter 10. This is what brought me to this message this morning.  In John 10, Jesus talks about the sheep, the shepherd, and the gate.  I’ve studied Jesus as the shepherd and we as His sheep for years.  What jumped out at me this time was when Jesus said that He is also the gate.  I knew that He was the narrow path, the only way into Heaven, the high road……..I never pictured Him as the gate.

John 10:7-10

7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

a.  A gate keeps things in, but also keeps things out.

                                          i.    Will allow His sheep into the pasture

                                         ii.    Won’t allow the thief to enter

                                        iii.    Won’t allow the sheep to escape

                                       iv.    Allows the shepherd access in and out

b.  Jesus is the ONLY gate into the pasture of Heaven

John 10:11-17

11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again.

3. Jesus is the Good Shepherd willing to die for His sheep.  Not only for the sheep in the pen, but for the sheep not of the sheep pen at the time.  (Gentiles)

5. Many other “I AM…..s”
   1. The Light of the World                                    John 8 & 9
   2. Living Bread and the Bread of Life                 John 6
   3. Resurrection and the Life                               John 11
   4. The Way, the Truth, and the Life                    John 14
   5. True Vine                                                        John 15
   6. Alpha and the Omega                                     Rev 1

                                          i.    Who is

                                         ii.    Who was

                                        iii.    Who is to come

7. The Almighty                                                   Rev 1
8. First and the Last                                            Rev 1
9. Living One                                                       Rev 1
10. Beginning and the End                                    Rev 21

6. These have all been other names for Jesus.  The scripture has these listed as “I am the…”  Now I want to briefly look at the adjectives…the descriptions of Jesus as told by Him.  These are the “I am….s”
   1. Gentle and humble                                         Matt 11                                               
   2. Generous                                                        Matt 20
   3. Man of authority                                              Matt 21/ Mark 11/ Luke 20
   4. With you always to the end of the age           Matt 28
   5. Willing                                                              Matt 8/ Mark 1/ Luke 5
   6. Not of this world                                              John 8 & 17
   7. From above                                                    John 8
   8. Not seeking glory for Himself                         John 8
   9. God’s Son                                                       John 10
   10. Fair                                                                  Matt 20
   11. In my Father and in you                                  John 14

7. I want to finish with this.

John 14:15-21

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father , and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." 

1. Jesus speaks of a very special day.  It is the day that the ultimate in “I am…s” comes to light. 

                                          i.    This is the realization of who Jesus is in your life.

                                         ii.    This is the highlight in His mission in your life.

                                        iii.    This is the gate by which you may enter into the pasture.

2. When you can see Jesus in this light, then you will see all of the other “I am…s” much more clearly.  You will also be able to emulate Him as you grow in His footsteps….much like a son or daughter grows in the footsteps of their parents.

The Bottom Line   Who do you see when you look into the mirror?  Do you see that someone special that God made?  Do you see glimpses of Jesus?  Do you like what you see?  Jesus was secure in His position with God.  He wants us to be just as secure in our position with Him.  Look at exactly who Jesus said that He was to see exactly who you should strive to become.  If you do so, you will be blessed and Jesus will be glorified.

INVITATION

Look into your heart this morning and evaluate what you see of yourself.  It doesn’t matter what others see if you can’t honestly evaluate yourself.  The true nature of you lies deep within your heart.  If that true nature doesn’t reflect the nature of Jesus, then others cannot see Jesus in you.  Open your heart before Christ this morning and submit your all to Him. 

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Last modified: 11/30/08