IDEA: How we picture Jesus Christ may have repercussions in the way we live.
TEXT: "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left" (Matthew 25:31-33).
PURPOSE: To have listeners think of Christ in His glory.
If I ask you to tell me about one of your children, what would you tell me?
If I ask you to tell me about Jesus, how would you describe Him?
I. We often describe Jesus in terms of His earthly life and ministry, a period of 33 years and a ministry of 3 years.
What do we know about God because of what we know about Jesus' earthly ministry?
Until Jesus came, people thought about God in somewhat abstract terms. When Jesus came, they saw God in flesh and blood.
He changed the image of God in people's minds, for better and for worse.
II. We often fail to think of Jesus as He is today.
"Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: 'Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was' "
(John 17:1-5).
Do you think the Father answered Jesus' prayer? Why?
What was the "glory" that He had and that He has now?
He will have that glory when men and women see Him again (Matthew 25:31-32).
What was the situation in His lifetime on earth, at the time Jesus spoke these words?
III. If you look only at His earthly ministry, you do not see His glory.
As Christians, we need to look at His glory now and in the future. In the light of that, look at His earthly ministry.
What difference can that make in our lives