Where did you meet Jesus?
Dick Schell
Midland SDA Church
August 10, 2013
This morning I will be interviewing people who met Jesus, I hope you will be thinking how you met Jesus.
Shepherd
v I was out in the hills watching my sheep. It was a cold winter night. We were standing around a fire when in the night sky there was a bright light.
v At first it was a frightening experience, then an angel spoke saying “I bring you good tidings” my question, what good tidings? His response there is born a Savior who is Christ the Lord. My next question was where? Then I remembered Micah 5:2 and I knew it was the city of Bethlehem.
v The next thing I knew there wasn’t one angel but multitudes and the night sky was as daylight, an experience I will never forget.
v My next words were, let us go to Bethlehem. When we arrived, all was calm and we had to make it known that this very night the Savior of the world was born. Many marveled at our actions like they didn’t know what we were talking about, that troubled me.
v The next thing I remember looking at a small infant in a manager, and I knew right then that I was looking at the King of the Universe.
v What a privilege was mine to be one of the first persons to meet Jesus.
Rabbi in the temple
v We were conducting school in an apartment connected to the temple.
v In walks this young boy, I would say 12 years old. He seats himself at our feet.
v He was a good listener, and man was he a good questioner, first he wanted to know about prophecy then he moved onto events.
v His questions were not narrow but put before us as a divine lesson and He put truth in a new aspect.
v He wanted to know the meaning of Isaiah’s prophecy.
v After all of this, I thought to gain him as my student.
v He moved my heart, my pride was humbled.
v His words started a train of thought that would never be forgotten.
John the Baptist
v I was preaching at Bethbara not far from where Israel crossed the Jordan and a little distant from Jericho. My preaching had taken the attention of the nation. The demand for confession of sin seemed new and startling to my listeners.
v My preaching was also about the Messiah, the 70 weeks of Daniel’s prophecy was about to end.
v As I looked up I saw this person coming toward me. I immediately recognized Him as Jesus and proclaimed, “behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of he world”.
v I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, I really did not know Him, but peace and joy animated my heat. There was nothing that betoken rank only a face that blended divine compassion with conscious power.
v The next day I saw Him among the people and again exclaimed, “Behold he Lamb of God” He said to me “I need to be baptized” the next event I remember was when He came up from the water and the heavens opened and there was a voice, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. I was deeply moved as I saw Jesus bowed as a suppliant.
v I knew then that I had baptized the world’s Redeemer and I cried again, “Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world”.
Andrew and John
v We were Jesus’ first disciples, moved by an irresistible impulse. His first question was “What do you seek”? And we said Teacher where are you staying and He said “come and see”.
v We remained with Him the whole day. It was our desire to be alone with Him, to sit at His feet and hear His words. His words were full of freshness, truth and beauty.
v I John, saw the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
v I Andrew, sought to impart the joy that filled my heart. I went and found my brother Simon.
v Simon and I shouted “We have found the Messiah”.
Nicodemus
v Well, I was stirred by His teachings and I desired to learn more. I was also concerned about the plotting of the priests that might bring fresh calamities upon our nation.
v So I advised caution and moderation when I learned about the course being pursued.
v There was no doubt in my mind that He was sent of God. And I desired an interview but not openly. I waited until the city settled down and I sought Him at the Mount of Olives.
v In His presence I was timid and my words really expressed unbelief. I really did not want them to come across that way.
v He got right to the point – solemnly yet kindly He said, “Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
v He looked at me and said you need a spiritual regeneration, a new heart.
v I was startled at the thought of a kingdom too pure for me to see in my present state. He did not argue, He just said, “,Verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
v In my perplexed state He used the wind to illustrate His meaning. I was drawn with his explanation of the new birth. When He spoke about lifting up the serpent in the wilderness, I could relate, I needed to look and live.
v When Jesus was lifted up on the cross I remembered that night and the secret interview. I then saw Jesus as the world’s Redeemer.
Woman at the well
I was unconscious of His presence when filling my water pot at Jacob’s well. As I turned to leave, He asked me for a drink and I could not say get your own.
I noticed that He was a Jew, I forgot for a moment the request for water and asked” How is it that You being a Jew asked a drink from a Samaritan woman? His reply, “if you knew who made the request you would have asked for living water”.
Living water, what is that? The well is deep! His response, “this water you will need to drink again, but the water I give you, you will never thirst.”
I just stood there in wondering attention, then said give me this water that I thirst not.
My conscience was awakened when He said “go call your husband” and I replied, I have no husband, and He responded you have had 5 of them and you are living with a man now.
My first words were, You must be a prophet! Then, You are reading the secrets of my heart!
Then some of His friends came and wanted Him to eat. But it was obvious He was more interested in my soul than food.
I was filled with joy and I just left my waterpot and ran to the city. When I arrived, there was a new expression on my face and the people noticed and believed when I told them about my encounter with Christ.
The townspeople came out to the well and persuaded Jesus to stay several days and what a blessing for His disciples, our town and me. That is how I met Jesus.
Woman in crowd
v For 12 years I had suffered with an incurable disease, I had heard of the cures Christ performed.
v Then one day I heard He was going to Jarius’s house for some reason. There was a crowd and I knew it would be difficult to get near Him.
v But I was determined, I followed Him from the house of Levi-Matthew determined to reach Him. I began to despair, but alas He came near to where I was standing.’’
v With the confusion I could not speak to Him nor even get a passing glance.
v But as He passed by I pushed through the crowd and reached forward saying, “If I may but touch His garment I shall be whole.”
v I barely succeeded but in a moment I knew I was healed, pain and feebleness was gone and I felt like a new person.
v Next thing I knew Jesus was saying “ Who touched Me”? I was red faced and somewhat embarrassed but He spoke to me words of comfort that brought a wellspring of joy, He said, “Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith has made thee whole, go in peace.
v That day I knew I had been with Jesus, the Savior of the world. I surely went in peace and comfort.
38 Years of being crippled
v It was the Sabbath day, for 38 years I spent my time around the pool of Bethesda, lying on my mat feeling alone and friendless, feeling like I was shutout of God’s mercy.
v When a tender compassionate face bent over me and a voice said, “wilt thou be made whole”? Those words got my attention, hope welled up in my heart, yet I turned away wearily saying, “I have no one to assist me’.
v That person who I did not know just said, “rise and take up thy bed and walk” my faith grabbed hold of those words, my muscles, nerves thrilled with new life. I sprung to my feet finding myself an active man again.
v I believed this man’s words and acting upon them I received strength. As I stopped to take up my bed, a rug and blanket I was looking for my Deliverer who was lost in the crowd and I feared I would never know Him.
v You talk about a firm free step!!!! and all the while I was praising God!!!!! My story to the Pharisees was met with cold indifference as they listened and their stern question was: Why are you carrying your bed on the Sabbath? That question didn’t go down well with me. I felt no condemnation.
v Then another question: Who did this to you? Dumb question since I did not know.
v As I was bringing a sin offering and a thank offering I met the person who healed me. He Made himself known. He did say to me “Behold thou art made whole, sin no more since a worse thing can come upon me.”
v I was so overjoyed and in my ignorance of the enmity toward Jesus that I told the Pharisees that is was He.
v That is how I met Jesus.
Boy with 5 loaves and 2 fishes
v My mother had packed me a lunch never thinking for a moment that it would feed so many. I was sitting listening to Jesus when two men came and asked if I could share my lunch with the people, sure but I reasoned, how!
v They took my lunch of 5 small loaves (crackers) and two (pickled) fish over to Jesus, He looked up to heaven, blessed it and began breaking it into smaller parts that just seemed to multiply with no end.
v All parties there were feed from my lunch. And there were leftovers that were kept for people needing food that were not there.
v I cannot fathom to this day what was happening but I do know that I was part of a miracle that day. It was exciting to see my humble fare meet the needs of thousands.
v And on top of it all there was 12 baskets remaining that were carefully kept so nothing could be lost. A double blessing was that the remainder was sent home with the throng.
v I left that day knowing that I was in the presence of God for no human could multiply that little food into a repast for all.
v That day I ate bread made by men’s hands that was turned into heavenly food. I gave and it was given unto me.
Cananitish Woman
v I was considered an idolater and despised by the Jews.
v But my daughter was vexed with a devil and I was in no position to worry about barriers.
v I cried out “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David, you see I had heard of His wonderful works and hope sprang up in my heart, You see I had implicit faith.
v He did not respond immediately to my request but I did no lose faith, I just followed Him and continued my supplication.
v I bowed at His feet and cried, “Lord help me.”
v He said something like, “it is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to the dogs.
v Yet I saw compassion in His face and I answered “yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the master’s table.
v He turned to me and said, “O woman great is thy faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt.”
v That very hour my daughter was made whole, the demon troubled here no more.
v I trusted the Lord’s love and I realized that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Zacchaeus
v There was a deep interest stirring the people of Jericho and they were eager to pay Him homage. Knowing that recently He raised Lazarus from the grave.
v I was there as a collector of customs and not too well liked.
v Yes, rank & wealth were mine but my heart was longing for a better life.
v I had heard from John the Baptist the call to repentance, I knew my practice was wrong! Especially when he said, “exact no more than that which is appointed you”.
v I felt like I was a sinner before God and I needed to make restitution to those whom I had wronged.
v Then news sounded through-out Jericho that Jesus was entering, I longed to look upon His face.
v The streets were crowded and being short I was at a disadvantage to see Him as He passed. Using my ingenuity I climbed up into a fig tree and seated myself amongst the branches to see the one figure I longed to see.
v As the procession passed underneath I heard these words, “Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today I must abide at thy house”.
v Wow!! I was overwhelmed, amazed and silenced. At that very moment I made a public confession, ½ of my goods to the poor; and anyone wronged I would restore four-fold.
v And Jesus said, “This day is salvation come to my house”.
v That is how I met Jesus not merely as a passing guest, but One who abides in the soul temple.
The Centurion
v My servant had been stricken with palsy and lay at the point of death.
v I was tenderly attached to my servant and greatly desired his recovery.
v I believed that Jesus could heal him.
v I had not seen the Savior but the reports I heard inspired me with faith.
v Feeling unworthy to come into the presence of Jesus so I appealed to the Jewish elders to make a request for the healing of my servant, I thought they would know how to approach Him.
v When He was in Capernaum and I heard he was, the elders told Him of my desire.
v Then I heard He was coming to my house, in my self distrust I sent Him a message that read, “Lord trouble not Thyself for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof.
v At last I ventured to approach Him completing my message by saying, “neither thought I my self worthy to come unto Thee, but speak the word only and my servant shall be healed.
v I knew He could summon His heavenly Messengers and they would impart healing virtue.
v Jesus marveled at me and said, “ I have not found so great faith no, not in Israel.
v Then He turned to me and said, “As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.
v And my servant was healed in that self same hour.
v Although from far off. I discerned the glory of the Son of God!
Thief on the Cross
v In my youth I got into the wrong associations.
v I had seen and heard of Jesus and was convicted but was turned away from Him by the priests and rulers.
v Stifling conviction I plunged deeper and deeper into sin until one day I was arrested, condemned tried and condemned to die on the cross.
v I was in the company of Jesus in the judgment hall and on the way to Calvary.
v I heard Pilate declare, “I find no fault in Him.”
v I noticed His god-like bearing and His pitying forgiveness of His tormentors.
v I saw the wagging heads and heard the upbraiding speech by my companion.
v Conviction came back to me when I heard passers-by telling of His works and the repeating out His words.
v That pressed upon me the conviction that there is a God to fear, a future to cause me to tremble!
v This is the Christ! I try to convince my companion that our life history is about to close.
v Then tender thoughts sprang up in my mind.
v I call to memory what I had heard how He had healed and pardoned sin. I saw the title above His head. My mind was illuminated by the Holy Spirit and the chain of evidence was joined together. I see the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.
v My hope was mingled with anguish and in my helpless voice I cried out. “LORD REMEMBER ME WHEN THOU COMEST INTO THY KINGDOM.”
v An answer came quickly, soft ,melodious, full of love, compassion and power. He said “ VERILY I SAY UNTO THEE TODAY, THOU SHALT BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”
v I was saved at the 11th hour, perfect peace of acceptance with God came into my heart.
v Those words of pardon spoken to me kindled a light that shines to earth’s remotest bounds.
v I heard Him say “it is finished.” a light encircled the cross and the face of Jesus shone with glory like the sun. He then bowed His head upon His breast and died.
v That is how I met Jesus.
How did you meet Jesus? Remember He sent the Holy Spirit as His representative to enlighten, to bring one closer to Jesus,
Here is an opportunity to share that moment. We will take a few moments to listen to your story, it will bring joy and memories both for you and the church family. Who will be first? I have not asked anyone in advance, this is spontaneous and not rehearsed.
Please try to keep your story concise.