It’s Only Jesus
Mt 18:20
I’ve invited a special guest to come and minister to us tonight, and He has promised He will be here. If you have other plans, go ahead with your plans. Don’t make a special trip. Or if you’re too tired, or something good is on TV, then go ahead and stay home. That’s okay. Our special guest will understand. It’s only Jesus!
Only Jesus?! That’s the way some people act. If I promised that Benny Hinn would be here tonight, or Rod Parsley, we’d be overpacked. But, if ‘only Jesus’ is going to be here, well, no big deal.
After all, He’s just a regular here anyway. Right? He’s always here. Why get all excited?
How do I know He’s here? Well, I can’t always tell from a subjective point of view. I never see Him. And sometimes I don’t feel Him. But I’m sure He’s here, because He said He would be.
Mt 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Jesus never lies. I trust Him. People are known by their word. There are certain ones who, if they tell me they will be somewhere or do something, I know I can count on it. There are others who, if they tell me they will be there or do it, I can count on the fact that they might do it, or that they will forget, of that they will drag their feet, or just simply not do it.
You see, people establish patterns. Jesus has established a pattern. He always does what He promises.
Irreverence
"Are you coming to church tonight? We have a special guest coming."
"Oh, who is it?"
"Only Jesus."
"What? What do you mean, "only Jesus"? How can you be so irreverent? How dare you disrespect the Lord like that! Do you realize that He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the valley, the bright and morning star, the way the truth and the life? Do you realize that He is God incarnate? How can you say, "only Jesus"?
"Oh! Sorry. So you’re going to be there?
"No! I have other plans."
WOW!
Jesus is coming
Somebody is always predicting the Second Coming. I’ll guarantee you, there will be thousands who will show up in Jerusalem on January 1, 2000. Maybe millions! But many of those people will not show up for church tonight.
Isn’t that something? They will travel halfway around the world to Jerusalem on a speculation that Jesus might possibly show up, but they won’t cross the street to church on a guarantee that Jesus will be there.
When Jesus traveled around Israel, crowds thronged him. They pressed in trying to get near Him. They trampled one another to get to him. Blind men yelled out his name in case He might hear them. Men carried friends on their beds to him. People brought the possessed, the afflicted, the aged, the children.
But in Nazareth, no big deal! It’s only Jesus! You know, the kid from down the street. Could it be that we have lost the sense of awe and wonder and majesty of His Presence?
He is the Son of God – God incarnate – God manifest in the flesh. He is the ruler of the universe – the Lord of creation.
Only Jesus?!
Do you realize the privilege extended to us? Jesus has promised that if we gather in His name, He will show up. He will be here with us. If you knew that company was coming, you’d stay home to meet them. If you had an appointment to see a doctor, or a lawyer, or some other important person, you’d make a point to be there. God forbid that we should find something more important to do than show up where Jesus is!
Those Nazarenes missed out because they didn’t put much stock in Him.
Mt 13:58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
They didn’t take Him seriously! How dare they? But don’t we do the same thing. We come to church part time – half-hearted – barely awake – careless with our faith and attitudes. We sit through the preaching of His Word – which He has promised to bless –
Ps 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
You can sit in this sanctuary and sit through dozens of services and never see Jesus because you didn’t expect to. You must come with a sense of expectation – an attitude of faith. You must come ready to give to Him and to receive from Him.
Now
Who is here this morning? Only Jesus!
Who will be here tonight? Only Jesus!
Who can save you? Only Jesus!
Who can heal you? Only Jesus!
Who can deliver you? Only Jesus!
What is the ultimate answer to man’s problems and needs?
Only Jesus!
Only Jesus can satisfy the soul!
"What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!"
Only Jesus! There is no other name by which we might be saved. There is no other savior. No other mediator.
Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
What is the answer to your heart’s cry? Only Jesus!
Who can give you peace? Only Jesus!
Who can take you to heaven? Only Jesus!
Who can keep His every promise? Only Jesus!
Who is going to be here at church tonight? Jesus will, but it won’t be "only" Jesus. If He is here, I plan to be here. I want to be where Jesus is. Will you?