The Incomparable Jesus

Date: April 7, 2002-P.M.
Speaker: John Phillis
Main Scripture: Matthew 16:13-16

Let me ask you a question. Who comes to mind when you think of, or someone asks you about, a well-known personality? Perhaps each one of us would come up with a different picture in our mind—a different name. Of course, our mental picture would depend, too, on what area of life, what category, we might be thinking about.

If the category were “world leaders” or “politicians” or “statesmen,” our good President might come to mind. He is, after all, the leader of the most powerful nation in the world. He is, of course, very much in the news, on our minds and, I’m sure, in our prayers these days because of the world’s situation. If the subject or the topic is “sports,” we might think of some well-known sports figures, like Michael Jordan, or Tiger Woods. Not only are they at the top of their respective sports, but they, like many sports figures, are seen everywhere because they endorse many products. We see their pictures on everything from cereal boxes to billboards. If we are thinking of the entertainment world, we might think of a well-known movie star, or perhaps a singer, or an artist of some sort. And so the names that come to mind of well-known personalities would vary from person to person.

But overall, end to end, when all is said and done, who is the GREATEST? Who is the most influential? Who is the best known personality to have ever lived? Well, that One was born and raised in obscurity as the son of a carpenter. That’s right — His Name is JESUS CHRIST. He is the world’s best-known and most influential person who has ever lived. He’s better known, He’s more powerful and He has had greater effect and more influence on this world in which we live than all of the politicians, statesmen, athletes, and entertainers combined! YES, this One named JESUS is greater than all others.

As we think about Jesus, His life and His impact on the world, I want to read to you a very-well-written description of Him and of this impact that He has made on the world. This familiar passage is an adaptation of the original writing, and was written by a man named Phillips Brooks. I’m sure that you have probably heard this before. It is a text which is often times read or recited around the Christmas holiday season of the year, because it so thoroughly and so appropriately describes the influence and the power and the impact that Jesus has had upon the world. But I think it’s worth hearing again, so let me read this adaptation, which was written by Phillip Brooks. I’m not exactly sure when, but it was written quite some time ago. [NOTE FROM EDITOR: Please see the end of this sermon for details on the original author of the following adaptation, and read the original passage.] Listen to this and see if you don’t think that this is, indeed, an apt description. It goes like this:

“Here is a man who was born in an obscure village. The child of a peasant woman, He grew up in another obscure village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was 30. And then for three years, He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He had nothing to do with the world except the power of His divine manhood. While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed on a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property that He had while He was on the earth—that was His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. And on the third day He rose from the dead. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all of the armies that ever marched, all of the navies that have ever sailed, all of the parliaments that have ever sat, all the kings that have ever reigned, all put together have not affected the life of man on earth as powerfully as has this one solitary life. The explanation—He is the Son of God, the risen Savior.”

Well, that says it, doesn’t it! Very powerfully stated, very well put, very succinct in what he says.

Yes, JESUS — He is God’s only Son — He is the Savior of the world. While He was here on earth, during that period of about three years that we refer to as His ministry, He was a Preacher and He was a Teacher, the likes of which the world had never seen before, and the likes of which the world will never see again.

Jesus was the Greatest Preacher Who ever preached—bar none [without exception, the best]. And Matthew records the Greatest Sermon that was ever preached. It’s contained in Matthew, chapters 5, 6 & 7. We call it “The Sermon on the Mount.” In that great sermon, Jesus spoke of everything from what constitutes true happiness, to salt, to light, to murder, to adultery. He preached about loving your enemies. He preached about giving to the needy. He preached about the dangers of judging others. He preached about the problems of worry.

Jesus, in addition to being the Greatest Preacher Who ever preached and the Greatest Teacher Who ever taught, is also referred to as the Master Teacher. Jesus was masterful in His teaching methods, His teaching techniques.