Dear Christian friends:
Yesterday evening as I was driving home from church
Northern States Power, NSP announced this ad: Do you
need more house power? When the washer starts do your
lights dim? Do you have octopus like extension cords?
If you do then you need more house power.
When I heard that ad it gave me a good idea. I thought
I should ask our members if they needed more power, not
house power, but spiritual power. Do you need more
spiritual power? When you have extra problems and troubles
does your smile change to a frown? Do you complain about
all the work and problems that come to you each day?
If you do, you need more spiritual power. And if you are
honest you will confess that you do. Our Wednesday Lenten
Services should give us some extra power. One of the
teachings in the Bible about Jesus the person is very
important for our faith. It is basic. If you don't believe
right about Jesus the person (Who is He?) all your faith
is worthless. But if you know who He is then your faith
is built on solid rock.
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
(Hymn, On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand)
In our text the Jews ask Jesus who He is:
Art Thou Then The Son of God?
Tonight we consider the question and Jesus' answer.
The Jews asked it not because they intended
to learn. They had already many times heard Jesus say that
He was the Bread of Life which came down from heaven. Last
Sunday's Gospel lesson we read, "I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
So the Jews here had plenty of proof. They didn't ask Jesus
with open minds. They came with closed minds and prejudice
(decided before that He was not the Son of God) but only
a Man, Son of Mary and Joseph the carpenter of Nazareth.
Well about now perhaps you say, well, so what. Everybody
today believes that Jesus is the Son of God. No, they don't
and I can give you a long list of churches and persons who
do not. That lie of Satan's is still very much with us
today.
Then many people say that Jesus is the Son of God but in
their heart they don't have the power of it. If you really
and strongly believed that Jesus was the Son of God, you
would not be so lazy and indifferent nor complain about
serving Him with your worship, work and money.
When Jesus asked Peter, "Whom say ye that I the Son of Man
am?" he answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God." Jesus replied, "That thou art Peter, and upon this
rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:15-16,18)
Christ builds His church on that one teaching, that He
the Son of Man is also the Son of God. That is the solid
rock which supports all faith. If your faith is established
in that rock it will not fail, though all the powers of
hell storm and blow against you.
Why is it so important? It is the wisdom and secret of
God to give salvation to all who believe. Foolishness to
man, but wisdom of God and power of God for all that
believe.
We are so very bad nobody could save us except the might of
God Himself. "None of them can by any means redeem his
brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the
redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth
for ever:) (Psalm 49:7-8)
1 Peter 1:18-19, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradition from
your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
Nobody else could save me or you. I can't save you and you
can't save me. Even Lincoln or Washington or Ike can't save
my soul. All the money in the world can't, only God Himself.
I'm so bad and far gone in sin there's no hope in all the
world for me, but my help comes from the Lord who made
heaven and earth.
He humbles Himself and hides His great glory and power in
a small babe and lives a perfect life for me and then shed
His blood also to free me from punishment and condemnation
of sin. So now I need not doubt or fear. Through my
conscience blames me, though Satan accuses me, though
trouble and death seem to conquer me I will not fear or
doubt. The Son of God Himself has lived and died for me
and has arisen.
If we really believe this we ought to get new power and
spirit to worship and serve our great Redeemer, Jesus no
matter what troubles we face.
Amen.