Throughout December, we’ve been discussing the kingdom. Last week, we focused on our King, Jesus, God in the flesh. Jesus became incarnate to redeem us, fulfilling God’s promises of salvation. His coming represents the climactic point in God’s plan of redemption—inaugurating the kingdom of God in the hearts of his people. The I AM is a redeemer near His people, pouring out His blessings on them. Our King is the One who Saves.
I. Jesus’ Power Over Sin
A. Mark 2: Four men have brought a paralytic to Jesus. Jesus sees their faith.
Mark 2:5: Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are
.” Astounding. Mark 2:9: Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?
Mark 2:11: “I tell you:
, take your mat, and go home.” B. By proving His power to heal, Jesus also proved He had the authority to forgive sins, because both require divine power.
II. Jesus’ Power Over Spirits
A. In Luke 4, he confronts a demon.
Luke 4:34: “Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the
!” The demon knows exactly who Jesus of Nazareth is
Luke 4:35: But Jesus
him and said, “Be silent and come out of him!” And throwing him down before them, the demon came out of him without hurting him at all. a) And just like that, the demon is gone. No one else could do this. This is our King!
III. Jesus’ Power Over Satan
A. John 14:30: The ruler of the world is coming. He has
over me.
Not one single valid accusation against me of any wrong thought, word, or deed.
The fatal blow was coming … the cross was in view.
B. Luke 22:53: But this is your hour—and the
of darkness.
- Let him come. No vulnerability. No weakness. No sin.
C. And that’s why he says:
John 14:31: Get up; let’s leave this place. Let’s go. Where? to the cross.
Hebrews 2:14: He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render
him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
IV. Jesus’ Power Over Death
A. John 2:19: “Destroy this temple, and I will
in three days.” B. You can kill my body, Jesus says, but it will come out of the grave because Satan can’t hold me.
C. John 10:17: This is why the Father loves me, because I
my life so that I may take it up again. I will die and I will live again. He volunteered to do this and this is why the Father loves him.
V. As We Close…
A. What will be your response?
Jesus is in the garden. The mob has come to arrest him.
John 18:4: “Who is it that you’re seeking?”
John 18:5: “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “
he,” John 18:6: When Jesus told them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.
B. The proper response to I AM — to fall down — in reverence, fear, but ultimately worship.
C. How will you respond to Jesus, you King?