What Do You See?
Sermon: John Loftness
Solid Rock Church
November 23, 2008

When you look at Jesus, what do you see?

Americans have many differing ideas of who Jesus is. 

Here is how Jesus presents himself as recorded in Luke’s gospel.

1. Jesus is the suffering king who rises from the dead (Luke 18:31-34)

2. Jesus is the merciful king who delivers the miserable when they cry out to him (Luke 18:35-43)

3. Jesus is a king who seeks and saves people lost in their sins (Luke 19:1-11)

4. Jesus is the king who rewards faithful servants (Luke 19:11-27)

5. Jesus is king even over his death.  He weeps for those who reject him and invite his royal judgment (Luke 19:28-44)

How should we respond to this passage?

I’ve been challenged by it all week:

• Do I cry out to him for mercy in the miserable state of my sins and in my fallen human weakness?

• Do I respect Jesus as Zacchaeus did and respond with the same extravagant repentance and faith? 

• Do I serve by taking risks for the progress of his kingdom—knowing that he delights in my success and rewards his servants lavishly?

• Am I amazed at how he knew how his death would come and how he willingly embraced dying for me?

I’ve been asking him to make me a person continually amazed at his character and grace.

Another question I need to ask myself: Do I believe in an American Jesus and not the Jesus of the Bible?

• Do I have no anticipation of future judgment?

• Do I see him as a moral teacher, but not the Lord of all?

• Do I accept the center of his life and message—that my sins deserve his punishment and only through his death on my behalf can I escape his wrath—or do I think that my sins are not that big a deal and he’s o.k. with me just as I am?