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Just who and what is Jesus, Anyway?
I don't think that it is possible to live very long in
America, especially in the United States without hearing or reading a
reference to Jesus Christ. There are preachers on TV and radio, magazine
articles, sitcom comments, comedian routines, documentary programs, mentions
in movies, speeches, and the list goes on. Not to mention the use of Jesus'
name in oaths, quick prayers and cries for help, and in arguments.
But as to exactly who and what Jesus is, now that is a whole different
thing. There is no universal agreement on the nature of His Person or even
whether or not He ever lived as a truly historical human being.
Men and women who know God and walk with Him do not have a problem
recognizing Jesus for exactly who and what He is. Like the ancient
Samaritans once exclaimed, after spending a couple of days with the Lord,
"Now we believe... for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is
indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world." (John 4:42, NKJV)
It is impossible to truly walk with God in a close relationship without
knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. That's what the Bible itself says. I believe
that with all my heart. But like C.S. Lewis and others, I must admit that
not everything in every human life is always what it first appears on the
surface. The Lord has a path of eternal life for every soul that responds in
faith and love to His Holy Spirit.
Who is Jesus? He is, the Bible says, the very Word of God. He is the mind
and expression of God, the Eternal Son, the Creator and Sustainer of the
Universe, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the great I AM in
human flesh. I have no doubt that Jesus Christ is the great God YHWH
(Jehovah) in human flesh. The Gospel of John certainly makes it clear that
Jesus is the Eternal Word in human flesh.
So, one thing we know: Jesus was and is a human being. Not a sham or
human-like costume or disguise hastily pulled over deity, but a real human
being, born of a virgin. The Bible makes all of this clear. And while some
who cannot stomach spiritual truth or supernatural explanations for anything
(including God Himself!) will protest, the only logical and meaningful
explanation for the "Jesus of History" is that He is exactly who and what
the Bible’s New Testament claims Him to be.
Jesus entered the world as a baby, born into the village of Bethlehem to a
young girl named Mary (or Miriam) who had come out of Nazareth with her
espoused husband, Joseph. The child grew up as children do, and was mostly
unheard of until He began His public ministry at about the age of 30. That's
when everything began to happen.
Jesus demonstrated great compassion for people from all walks of life. He
spent much of His time with common people, poor people, and children. He was
also very powerful. Jesus was able to heal any kind of disease or crippling
injury, and even brought people back from the dead. Amazingly, He did these
things instantly. People were not cured of their infirmity over a long
period of time, but instantly healed and restored. Even withered limbs that
had been useless for decades would suddenly be restored to health and full
functionality. Broken bodies were literally transformed by a touch or word
from Jesus Christ.
Jesus was also able to dispel demonic spirits. We tend not to talk a lot
about evil spirits in our day. Even sincere and believing Christians are
often unsure just what to say or think about them. But the New Testament
mentions them fairly often, and always makes it clear that Jesus Christ is
superior in power and authority over them all. Not even the devil, Satan,
was able to overpower the Lord Jesus Christ.
Yet Jesus died. A big question for lots of folks is: "If Jesus was somehow
God and all powerful, then why was He so easy to kill?" Death does seem to
be the universal equalizer of human beings, after all.
To know the Bible, including those portions of Scripture written many
centuries before Jesus was born, is to know that God had a plan that
involved sacrifice and suffering and death for His own Son. The very first
book of the Bible, Genesis, talks about a conflict that was come.
For example, when speaking to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, God says,
"I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her
Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." (Genesis
3:15, NKJV)
All alone, this text might be taken in any number of ways. After all, is it
not like a proverb, putting into words the daily relationship between common
snakes and human beings? That is certainly one way to see it.
However, nothing in Scripture, and especially in the words of God spoken in
Scripture, is void of meaning and purpose. This passage begins a long line
of promises, predictions, and foretelling that build on each other, all
pointing to the great Savior, the Messiah of God, the Deliverer and Redeemer
who would rescue the human race from the terrible hold Satan had gained back
in the Garden, when Adam and Even disobeyed God's voice.
Even a casual student of Scripture will begin to recognize them before long.
Only a person determined to universally reject the supernatural will be
compelled to ignore them all. Take a look at some of them for yourself and
see what you think.
Here is a listing of some Old Testament passages that predict the birth,
life and death of Jesus Christ.
The significance of Jesus for you and me? He is the Savior we need, the One
who truly and completely reconciles us with God. He takes away our sin, our
enmity or warfare with the holy character of God. That’s of the highest
importance because even if we feel no anger toward God, our fallen nature
resists God's holy character and truth. This inherent resistance or
rebellion keeps us from truly knowing and walking with the Lord, even if we
want to be right with Him.
Jesus is the light and truth and power of God's salvation, coming down to
earth in human form. He came to speak, to answer, to help, to instruct and
to act on our behalf. He did not leave anything undone that is necessary for
our rescue and redemption. His death on the cross is eternally significant
in that it removes the barriers once and for all time (and for all eternity)
for every human soul that truly longs to be right with God.
There is much more. But I cannot tell it all here. Look how long this
article is already. I suggest you find a good church (one that believes in
Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord He claims to be), and that you get
involved there. You’ll want to get and read a good Bible. And you should
begin the whole process by talking these things over with the Lord.
God's best to you as you surrender your heart, mind and soul to the Lord God
of heaven and earth.
Jim
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