140706 Jesus, Always the Same

Hebrews 13:8-9a Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings.

This passage of Scripture is often quoted like a fortune cookie saying. It can lose its entire meaning if we take it by itself outside of its context. We look at what Jesus was like yesterday and we will better understand what he is like today. If we can understand what Jesus is like today we can know what he will be like forever.

The writer of Hebrews connects, “Jesus Christ is the same” to the concept that you might be led away by strange teaching. We need to remember that whatever we do whatever we believe or teach must be focused on Jesus Christ. If we know what he is like we know what to expect from him. Folks, there are a lot of strange teachings out there! Don’t be led away from the simple faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is always the same! A number of times, in the New Testament, we are assured that Jesus, the Christ, existed with the Father.

Jesus was with the Father. In his high priestly prayer Jesus makes reference to that. We find it in John 17:5. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

When he prayed this prayer Jesus understood that he was on his way to the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, illegal trials, and finally, crucifixion. Part of his prayer involved the expectation that he would be glorified by the Father with the same glory that he had with the Father before the world existed. Jesus was eternal, is eternal, and will be eternal, forever. Jesus was not only present with the Father in the beginning he has been with him…

Through all of history. We are given a concise history of the faithful in Chapter 11 of Hebrews. Beginning with the Garden of Eden we are led person by person through the Old Testament accounts. Seeing how many faithful there were the author summarizes the end of faith history in Hebrews 11:32-38.  And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. ³⁵ Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. ³⁶ Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Jesus was with the Father before the creation of the universe. Jesus was there when Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Jesus, the Christ, was present throughout the history of mankind. He saw Enoch who walked with God until he was taken into heaven. He saw Noah, who was grieved by the world around him and his family, who built an ark to save mankind! Jesus, the same yesterday today and forever, saw Abraham as he came to believe God and receive God’s kind of righteousness. The Son of God was with the Father when Abraham separated himself from his earthly family to create a new family of the faithful.

Throughout Hebrews 11 we see Jesus’ hand of guidance and protection on the whole world. We see him making things come to pass in such a way that we would have the opportunity of salvation. Again and again men and women trusted God even though the circumstances seemed to contradict that faith! There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus was the manifestation of God in caring for the faithful throughout history.

Sinclair Ferguson speaks of the people of Israel in his book “In Christ Alone” Their faith always had three dimensions: on the basis of God's Word given yesterday, they lived as His redeemed people in the present, certain that He would keep His promises forever. We can read Hebrews 11 and become aware of how Jesus cared for his people throughout history. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and in that sameness…

When on earth, Jesus had compassion. One characteristic of Jesus that he always displayed, is compassion! It was very hard to choose the passage that best represents this. Early in his ministry Jesus encountered a widow who had endured a great loss. That experience is recorded in Luke 7:11-15. Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. ¹² As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” ¹⁴ Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” ¹⁵ And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Compassion is the feeling that we have when we see another person suffering and want to help them. We “feel” along with them and are moved to do something about the problem.

Everywhere that Jesus went he was confronted by people who were suffering. He cast out demons, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and preached the gospel. His primary purpose on earth was to give life — abundant life — to people who were suffering. Again and again the Gospels tell us that he healed because he cared about the needs of the people.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Just as he cared about the sick while he was on the earth he cares about the sick today! Just as he wanted the hungry to be fed then, he wants the hungry to be fed today. However, giving a lost person a suit of clothes and food is a temporary “fix” for their problems. The greatest gift that Jesus ever gave was to seek and save the lost. In fact, he said that was his purpose!

The widow’s son at Nain was returned to his mother alive and well. He was given a reprieve but, he would die again. I certainly hope, and have every reason to believe, that he put his full faith in Jesus Christ because of what he had experienced that day. How many times he must’ve been told the story in remembrance of what Jesus had done for him. Not only did Jesus have compassion on the people when he was on this earth but also…

When on earth, Jesus prayed for us. We go back to Jesus’ high priestly prayer to find these words in John 17:20-21. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Jesus prayed for his disciples while he was on earth. I am sure he prayed for them many times but this is the only record we have of any lengthy prayer that he prayed. During this prayer he prayed for us! I remember a friend telling me about his experience as a young pastor when he came to visit an elderly member of his church who was approaching the end of his life. In the course of the conversation he asked the man if there was a particular passage of Scripture he would like to have him read. This man was blind and had been unable to read for many years. His reply caused this young pastor to question exactly what he meant. He said, “Preacher, read for me when Jesus prayed for me!” After asking for direction the pastor was guided to Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and the words that I just read for you.

While on earth Jesus had compassion on the people, he prayed for his disciples and for us. And his prayer was simple. He prayed that the Father would guide us all to be one in the same way that he and the Father are one. I don’t know all that this includes but I do know that it includes our treating other Christians with respect even when we don’t agree with them! Jesus’ goal in that request was that the world would believe because we are loving, kind and respectful towards other believers. When the world sees that quality in us they will believe in him.

Not only did Jesus have compassion on people while he was on this earth but…

After his ascension Jesus cared for his followers. Jesus’ concern for his disciples continued after he had ascended into heaven. Listen while I read the words of Stephen found in Acts 7:56-60. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. ⁵⁸ Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen defended himself with a lengthy description of God’s concern for his people throughout history. However, as he came to the end he charged them with having killed Jesus. The people were angry at what he said. Then, as he was facing death by stoning, he saw Jesus! The same one who had cared for his people while he was on the earth continues to care for his people from heaven.

Most of the time Jesus is represented as having been seated at the right hand of power in heaven. In this instance Stephen saw him standing. In exactly the same way we might stand to greet a friend or family member as they come into our presence, Jesus stood to welcome his faithful servant, Stephen.

Jesus continues to care for us in the same way. In fact…

Jesus is our mediator. Paul writes to Timothy, his son in the faith, to urge him to pray for all people. After all, listen to 1 Timothy 2:5. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, has always been with all his people throughout history. He not only came to bear our sins in his own body on the cross, he covered our sin with his own blood and continues to care for his people. A part of that caring is his standing between us and God the Father as a mediator!

Job, in the depth of his misery, cried out for someone to stand between him and God! By faith he said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, stands before the Father and enters a plea of “Not guilty” because he has taken our guilt and bore our shame. He doesn’t just plead our case in heaven…

Jesus is our guarantor. When a person has to have a loan, and they do not have sufficient credit, they need someone to guarantee repayment. Listen while I read Hebrews 7:20-25 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, ²¹ but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” ²² This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. ²³ The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever, is able to save anyone who comes to God through him. Jesus has replaced the earthly priests, who were temporary, because he lives forever.

In our day-to-day living a co-signer only has to pay if the person they guarantee does not. In our spiritual life our co-signer simply paid the debt in the beginning! He ever lives and intercedes for us and guarantees salvation for all that the Father brings to him. Since he is our mediator and our guarantee then…

Nothing can keep his people from him. I feel sorry for those people who believe, because they have been taught to believe it, that they can never know that they are truly saved! That being the case, they can never know spiritual security. I am here today to tell you that if you are born again you cannot be taken from him. Listen while I read Romans 8:31-39. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus said while he was on earth that his sheep know his voice and will follow him. He promised to give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one could snatch them out of his hand. He and the Father are one guaranteeing that we have secure salvation. Paul writes to the Romans asking how we could doubt our security when it is God who gave his own Son to provide it.

This Son died for us, he was raised by the power of God from the dead, and sits at the right hand of God in heaven interceding for us insuring the guarantee. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus!

He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Throughout history he preserved his people. Again and again he protected his people in the past and will continue to do so today. We can look forward to continued protection in the future. He is our guarantee! It is not by works of righteousness that we have done that we are secure. It is by the works of righteousness that he did on the cross, and in the tomb, that we have security. He is faithful! He will do it! Praise God for our security!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. He has, in himself, all the attributes of God. He exists eternally. He is all knowing, unchanging and filled with compassion. We can cast all of our cares on him because he cares for us. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. He is with us always and will provide for all of our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Jesus is our loving, compassionate, protector. And he will not turn away anyone who comes to him. Have you put your faith in him? Please, don’t turn Jesus away. Today is the day of salvation.

All scripture quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.