Welcome to PowerPoint with Jack Graham. When we say Jesus is the prophet, We're not suggesting that he is a prophet in the line of succession of other prophets. Jesus is. V. Profit.
On today's PowerPoint, Dr. Graham brings a message about how Jesus Christ saves you and the whole world.
Now here's doctor Graham with his message. The Christ of Christmas Past. Hebrews 13:8, one of my favorite verses in all of the Bible, says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the contemporary Christ, the unchanging, immutable Savior. The same yesterday, today, and forever.
So many things have changed since that. Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem so long ago. Our own lives have changed since we first began to celebrate Christmas as children. And We grow through the years in Christmas and in our Christmas celebrations, but he is a Savior, Jesus, for all seasons, the same yesterday, today, and forever. And the celebration of The birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem will be Observed throughout the world by millions, if not billions, of people around.
the globe. And of course, it is that time when we remember. who Jesus is and why Jesus came to this world. that he was born of a virgin. in Bethlehem.
That he was raised in Nazareth, his boyhood home. That he ministered as a young man age 30. Around the Sea of Galilee, in the Galilee, and performed miracles and worked wonders and spoke words. that changed the world. And then on to Jerusalem, where he laid down his life on the cross.
to die for the sins of the world and all who would believe. and trust in him. To be raised from the death on the third day. And that is the gospel. The death and the burial.
Resurrection. Of Jesus and then to ascend on high. But remember, Without the incarnation, the birth of Jesus, clearly, obviously. There would have been no crucifixion, death on the cross for our sins. There would have been no resurrection and ascension.
So critical. to our gospel. Is this good news announced by angels? I bring you good tidings, good news of great joy, which shall be. to all the people.
So Jesus came, he lived and died. as Savior and Lord, and in this confused and chaotic world. This is the one message of hope. This is the one life-giving message: light in the darkness. And if it is Christian...
It is Christ-centered. And if it is Christmas, it is Christ-centered.
So, in Hebrews chapter 9, if you'll just peel back a few pages, and I want you to help me watch for three usage of the word appear in your Bibles. Verse 24 chapter 9 says, Has entered not into the holy place made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself.
Now, to, there it is, appear. In the presence of God. in our behalf.
So circle that word up here in verse 24. That's his appearance as priest in the presence of God. Verse 25, nor was it to offer himself repeatedly as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own. For then he would have to suffer repeatedly, since. The foundation of the world.
But as it is, he has appeared once. Circle that again, that word appeared, appeared once for all. At the end of the ages, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. That's the second appearance of Jesus talked about in these verses. And this is his appearance as prophet or Messiah.
Savior. Verse 27. Here's an important verse. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, And after that comes the judgment.
So Christ Having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear, there it is again. A second time. Not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.
So that is his appearance as king. Profit Priest And key. We see his incarnation, that's prophet. We see his intercession, that's mediator or priest, and we see his exaltation, that is his character. kingdom or his majesty he is king Today's focus in these three messages is Jesus The prophet.
His appearance first to deal with sin and bring salvation to all.
Now the Old Testament prophets Are powerful personalities that we meet in the scripture. And the prophet in the Bible. Was certainly a foreteller, often speaking into the future, and the Bible writes history pre-written.
So, one of the reasons we believe the Bible, the words of the prophets, they spoke accurately. Totally and completely. When it came to speaking of the future. And so there's a future tense. But in reality, the prophet was more a force teller, force teller.
That's a foreteller. In other words, the prophets in the Bible came delivering, anointed and appointed by God to deliver the word of God. And so God chose and called prophets in the Old Testament. In order to be in succession, a line of prophets beginning with Moses, the first primary and greatest of the prophets, beginning with Moses and this succession of prophets that weave their way through the Old Testament and many of the books, of course. Of the Old Testament are prophetic books, messages declaring.
The greatness of God, the glory of God, also calling for repentance and faith to believe in God and restoration and social justice and all the rest. This was the work of the prophet, whether a major prophet like Jeremiah or Isaiah, major in the sense of the length of their books, Daniel, Ezekiel, or the minor prophets.
So a prophet is a truth. Tell her. And for a prophet to be a true prophet in their Were many false prophets back in the day, and there are still false prophets. Preachers preaching false doctrines. and untruths in the world today.
So you have to be able to know the difference between a true prophet and a false prophet. And in the Bible The way you could tell a true prophet from a false prophet was this. The true prophet was right 1,000% of the time. And there are many false prophets today. They're fortune tellers, and soothsayers, and stargazers, and We're warned about that in the Bible to stay away from that because you're often dancing with demons and demonize religion.
When you engage in this kind of behavior. But Be that as it may. In this line of succession of true prophets, They spoke of the one who was coming. As a matter of fact, Moses spoke. of the prophet who was coming.
In Acts chapter 3, turn to your Bibles to Acts chapter 3. Peter is bringing a message. A great miracle had taken place. A man who had been. Uh lame from birth.
Was raised miraculously in the name of Jesus. Peter, always ready at this point, full of the Holy Spirit, began to to bring a message about what had happened and why it happened because of Jesus. And He began to quote from the Old Testament. and in particular the words of Moses. Let's begin at verse 19.
Repent. Therefore, and turn back, that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed to you, Jesus. He's talking about the first coming of Jesus. And He said, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring of all things.
Now he reflects on the coming of Christ in the future, about which God spoke by the mouth of the holy prophets long ago. And then he quotes Moses in verse 22. Very important. Moses said, The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. Moses be As I noted, the first prophet, the primary prophet, and considered by the Jewish people the greatest.
of the patriarchs and the prophets. Said that God is going to raise up a prophet like me. From the blood of Israel, from the people, from the family. of Israel from the brothers. And you shall listen to him.
Whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.
So Peter Reminds us of the Old Testament prophet that is promised. The one who is coming.
Now, we have already learned in the book of Hebrews. That Jesus is greater than the prophets. We have learned that he is superior to Moses. And even superior to the angels, Christ. Above all, None greater than him.
So when we say Jesus is the prophet, We're not suggesting that he is a prophet in the line of succession of other prophets. He's not just another prophet. He is not just another Old Testament prophet. He's certainly not a false prophet. Muhammad claims to be or claimed to be a prophet.
And others have come along and said they were prophets. Jesus said in the last days there will be many rise up, false prophets in the world.
So Jesus is not. A prophet. Jesus is the Profit. This is a synonym or Messiah. The one who is promised.
The promised one. This is prophet with a capital. P. You are listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message The Christ of Christmas Past. We're excited to share that we have a new way for you to connect with us.
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Now let's get back to today's message, the Christ of Christmas Past. The Bible says that Jesus Is The key to understanding prophecy. Revelation chapter 19, verse 10: the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
So, who Jesus is and what Jesus said is the spirit of prophecy. He said, I've not come to destroy the law of the prophets, but to fulfill it. He is everything. The Bible promised. In the coming of the Messiah, the prophet, the prophet, into the world.
When Jesus was walking with those disciples after the resurrection on the road to Emmaus. It says that he began with Moses and the prophets. and showed them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Jesus is throughout the Bible. And all the prophecies, all the testimonies, all the words of the Bible point.
to the profit.
So let's focus on that. How is Jesus the prophet? He fulfilled Prophecy. And that's why in verse 26 of Hebrews 9, as we read it earlier, note it again. Underscore it in your Bibles.
He came to put away sin. By the sacrifice of himself. This is the first coming. This is why Jesus came. Later on in verse 28, It says that he came as an offering, the gift.
He came as an offering to bear the sins of many. You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. He is the sin-bearer. And his purpose as prophet, as Messiah, was not a military victory for Israel, but a spiritual salvation victory for the whole world. That includes you and me.
So he is the prophet. And he came and he lived and died. When he was born at Bethlehem, even the cradle. touches the cross. and ultimately the crown.
Jesus lived. Under the shadow of the cross. From his boyhood upwards. Speaking prophetically, the psalmist said, I was afflicted from my youth. Jesus was afflicted with death and suffering even from his youth.
Isaiah the prophet said he was a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. Imagine that, his entire life. He saw a rosebush, he saw the thorns. He saw crucifixions along the side of the road. He knew that one day that would be him.
I mean, it's one thing to know that we're all going to die as appointed and a man wants to die, but I mean, to know how and when. Jesus did. And he bore that suffering and that pain, that emotional burden, the physical pain of the cross. No use today describing the agony of the cross, what Christ did in dying on the cross, the pain, the suffering. But the fact is, the cup of suffering, the cross was always before Jesus, never out of his mind, because you.
We're never out of his mind. He came for you. And the cross, of course, stands as a perpetual reminder of his blood and his body that is given for us. The scripture says, You have prepared a body for me. And the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, prepared in the womb of Mary, was given as a sacrifice, the pure lamb of God on the cross.
That's the role of the Messiah, the prophet, not as a conquering king yet. But as a suffering Serve it. Shows us the seriousness of our sin, and he is the sin bearer. He's also the Satan slayer. Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 9.
Hebrews chapter 2, verse 9. We're in Hebrews. I hope you're loving it as much as I am. Let's go back and look at these verses. But we see him, Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels.
That's his humanity, namely Jesus.
Now crowned with glory and honor because of Why? The suffering of death.
So that by the grace of God he may taste death for everyone. What was in that cup that he drank? The bitter dregs of man's sinfulness. He tasted death for you and me, he suffered and died for all of us. And then in verse 14.
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things. That through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil. He's sin-bearer. He is Satan slayer. He is the prophet.
of God, the Messiah who has come. He fulfilled the prophets. Jesus the Messiah. But how could we speak of Jesus the prophet? without speaking of His words.
The magnificent, powerful words. Not only his work. That was finished at the cross, but his words that are enduring to this generation and beyond. Even when he was a youth, 12 years of age. In the temple.
When he spoke, his words astounded the scholars and the scribes and the priests. in the temple. And then his words. That the common people, people like you and me, heard gladly. There was something so winsome about His words and the way he communicated, people came from everywhere just to get a glimpse of him, just to touch the hem of his garment, and yes, just to hear his words, because he came preaching the words of the kingdom of God, the prophet.
The Capital P. Profit. His first recorded words of his ministry We'll repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Common people heard him gladly, little children. gathered up around him.
Crawled around his His robe and looked into his eyes because even the words of Jesus to a child, a child can understand them. And yet, a hardened Roman soldier at the end, when Christ was dying on the cross, looked at Jesus as he died and said, Surely this man was the Son of God, because no one has spoken like him. The words. of Jesus. A man by the name of Solomon Ash said this about Jesus' words.
Jesus Christ is the outstanding personality of all time. No other teacher, Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Muhammadan, is still a teacher whose teaching is such a guidepost to the world we live in. Other teachers may have something basic for an Oriental, an Arab, or an Occidental. But every act and word of Jesus has value for all of us. He became The light.
of the world. The words Of Jesus. One thing you might consider doing at this Christmas season. is read the red. And when you read the red, as I'm doing at this Christmas season, some of the verses, of course, some of the words of Jesus, how long has it been since you just read the words of Jesus?
Sermon on the Mount. Lord's Prayer. Matthew 24, the ends of times and the end of the ages. But just think about these words. Can you imagine a world in which the Word of God, the words of Jesus, were never recorded?
He spoke them, but the Holy Spirit preserved them. They were written down and given to us. Thank God. For the red. John 3:16.
Words in red. Jesus said, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life. And in that same chapter 3, Written in red. You must be born. Again, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he's born again.
The Baptists didn't make that up. Billy Graham didn't make it up. To be born again, Jesus said, it's in the red. You must be born again. He said in John chapter 10, verse 10: The devil comes to kill and steal and destroy, but I have come.
He tells us unequivocally why he came, that you might have life and have it more abundantly, life with a capital L. It's in the red. At the graveside of one of his dearest friends, Lazarus, he gave these words in John chapter 11: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he be dead, yet shall he live. Written in red.
He taught us to pray, Our Father who art in heaven. He said in Matthew 11, 26, Come unto me. Come to me. All you that labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest. Hear him speaking to you today.
It's in the red. Jesus is saying, Come to me, I will give you rest. Rest. for yourselves. How do we know the words of Jesus are Are real?
How do we know? That they're not just red, but they're real. What did Jesus say about his own words? He claimed divine authority. He said, I'm not making this stuff up.
I'm not quoting the prophets. I'm speaking with divine authority. I speak the words that the Father has given me. He said, Jesus said, you can read the red because my words lead to eternal life.
Now, if someone tells me that my words lead to eternal life, I'm all ears. Jesus said that. And he also said, My words, he said, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. He declared his word would never pass away. He also commanded that his words would be delivered and declared to the ends of the earth.
Always at all times. He challenged his disciples. He commanded all of us to go into all the world and preach the gospel and teach them to observe all these things that I've commanded you, all these words. We are his witnesses. We are to take his words.
The gospel is in the red. You know, the gospel is good news, but it's only good news if it gets there on time.
Now's the time. We have an opportunity to take the gospel to our neighbors and to the nations.
So he commanded his words would be proclaimed throughout the earth. And then he said, The destiny of the human soul, your destiny and mine, is dependent upon what you do with my words. Whether you believe them Receive them. or reject them. You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message: The Christ of Christmas past.
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As you've been listening today, The Spirit of God has taken the Word of God and you are ready. You are responsive. In receiving Christ as your Lord and as your Savior, I want to give you an opportunity right now. It's really why we do what we do, and that is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. And because Jesus lived and died for you and rose again, you can have eternal life.
You can know that your sins are forgiven, that He paid the price on the cross to deliver you from your sin and deliver you from judgment which is to come without Him. And right now, if you would put your faith and trust in Jesus by calling on His name, Romans 10, If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
So, will you confess Him as your Lord and Savior today? Will you receive Him into your life? If so, pray a prayer like this. Lord, I know that I have sinned. And I need you to be my Savior.
I believe you died on the cross for me and rose again to give me eternal life. I turn from my sin and trust in you. Come into my life, Lord Jesus. Take control of my life. Be my Lord, my Savior, my Master, and my Friend.
Amen. If you prayed and invited Christ into your life, Then welcome to the family of God. Today, if you prayed that prayer with Dr. Graham and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, we'd love to hear from you so we can help you begin your new life with Christ. Please text the word Jesus to 59789.
That's Jesus to 59789. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about how Jesus pleads your case before the throne of God. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.
