Sermon Title: The Uniqueness of Jesus
Sermon Notes: 5 March 2023
Big Idea of the Series
This series is for all of us who are constantly being challenged in our faith by messages in our culture that leaves us wrestling with our own questions about Jesus and the validity of our faith.
This series will equip us and help us begin to build a strong theological foundation for our faith.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT)
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.
15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus is the unique Son of God in human flesh.
The uniqueness of Jesus can be seen in His:
1. Deity and Humanity
John 1:1 (NKJV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 (NKJV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
| Jesus as God | Jesus as Man |
| He is worshipped (Matt. 2:2, 11, 14:33). | He worshipped the Father (John 17). |
| He is prayed to (Acts 7:59). | He prayed to the Father (John 17). |
| He is sinless (1 Pet. 2:22, Heb. 4:15). | He was tempted (Matt. 4:1). |
| He knows all things (John 21:17). | He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52). |
| He gives eternal life (John 10:28). | He died (Rom. 5:8). |
| All the fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9). | He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39). |
2. Messianic Prophecies
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever.
3. Conception
Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
4. Life
John 21:25 (NKJV)
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Matthew 11:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
5. Death
John 10:18
I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.
6. Resurrection
Revelation 1:17-18 (NKJV)
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.
John 2:18-22 (NKJV)
18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
7. Ascension
Acts 1:4-11 (NKJV)
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Mark 14:62 (NLT)
Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
8 Sinlessness
Hebrews 14:15 (NKJV)
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Who is Jesus to you?
