Men of Steel 3-3-25

Brother Brian Hill led the men this evening in a message on the personhood and Godhood of Jesus. We looked at how people like Nicodemus and the people He healed saw Jesus and contrasted those perspectives on how the Pharisees saw Jesus. Jesus was a man born in flesh and knew temptation the same as us, but he was also the Son of and One with the Almighty God sent to redeem the world.

John 1:1-14
1. In the beginning the Word already existed.  The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. He existed in the beginning with God.
3. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
4. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

6. God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7. to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.  8. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.  9. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.  11. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  12. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  13. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:18
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

John 3:1-21
1. There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.  2. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

3. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4. “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

5. Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.  6. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.  7. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’  8. The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

9. “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

10. Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?  11. I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony.  12. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?  13. No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.  14. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,  15. so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

16. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  17. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

18. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.  19. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.  20. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  21. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

John 5:35-37
35. John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.  36. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.  37. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face."

John 8:12-59
12. Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

13. The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”

14. Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me.  15. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone.  16. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me.  17. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact.  18. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”

19. “Where is your father?” they asked.

Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.”  20. Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.

21. Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”

22. The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”

23. Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not.  24. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”

25. “Who are you?” they demanded.

Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be.  26. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.”  27. But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.

28. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he.  I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.  29. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”  30. Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.

31. Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  32. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33. “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”

34. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.  35. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.  36. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  37. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message.  38. I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”

39. “Our father is Abraham!” they declared.

“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.  40. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.  41. No, you are imitating your real father.”

They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”

42. Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.  43. Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!  44. For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.  45. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!  46. Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?  47. Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”

48. The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”

49. “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me.  50. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge.  51. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”

52. The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’  53. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54. Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ 55. but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him.  56. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”

57. The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”

58. Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!”  59. At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

John 9:5
"But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 14:9
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?"