JESUS

JESUS

Jesus is the name above all names.  Emmanuel (God with us), Christ (Messiah), Messiah (anointed), Master (ruler), Lord (supreme), Shepherd, Physician, Potter, Truth, Light, Servant, Counselor, Prince of Peace. 

The world has never been the same since Jesus came to earth.  Even the numbering of our years are so calculated by when Jesus was born.  B.C. (before Christ), A.D. (in the year of our Lord).  History tells us that Jesus did live and die.  We can follow His life historically by many sources including the Word of God.  Why do we want to believe in Him and what will we do about it?

Jesus was the Son of God.  Even God Himself testifies to this fact when Jesus was baptized.

Matt 3:17   And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Jesus was also the Son of Man. 

            Matt 16:13,16  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking      His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are            the Christ, the Son of the living God."

How could this be? 

            Matt 1:20-21   But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a        dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because            what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to           give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

This was a miracle.  Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was therefore the Son of God and yet He was born as a baby human being, the Son of Man.  The above verse even gives His purpose.  This wasn’t just so He could be a unique and flashy God/Man but He would be the only one that could bring salvation to the world.  God had so much love for us that He was willing to let His only Son come to earth as a man for this purpose.

            John 3:16   "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever           believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

A person may think, “But I am a good person.  I try to do what is right.”.  That is good  Do you ever say something you wish you had not said?  Maybe at times you loose your temper.  A neighbor might need help which you could give them and you refuse or just don’t want to leave your comfort zone.  Do you harbor any bitterness or lack of forgiveness in your heart?  As we think on and on, we are not perfect.  Jesus was.

            Rom 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We don’t compare ourselves to other people.  We compare ourselves to the Lord.  Therein, we fall very, very short.

            1 John 1:8-10  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we           confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10         If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

It is a serious mistake to think we have no sin.

No good could have been accomplished to save the world if you or I had been crucified on that cross.  Only a perfect man could be that sacrifice—that was Jesus.

            Heb 10:12  12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

Many testified that Jesus had no sin.

Pilate at His trial.

            John 18:38  "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said,      "I find no basis for a charge against him.

Judas who betrayed Him.

            Matt 27:4  "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."

The apostle John, who wrote 5 books of the New Testament.

            1 John 3:5  But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is   no sin

Jesus was willing to die a terrible death that He might take upon Himself the sins of those who accept His gift of salvation.  Think of the shame of being hung naked on the cross in front of throngs of people as well as being crucified as a criminal after He was beaten almost to death.  When we accept Him as our Savior, we take on His righteousness as He takes on our sin.  What a concept!  What a trade!

            2 Cor 5:21  21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become    the righteousness of God.

            Heb 5:9   and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey      him

Isn’t it fair that Jesus would expect something from us for all He did for us?  We show our thankfulness and love for Him by the way we come to Him in obedience.

Jesus didn’t come in riches and honor.  He was born into a poor family in a town that was not popular—maybe the “other side of the tracks”.  He worked in the carpenter shop with His earthly father.  He grew up and had the same hurts and feelings that we experience.

He was tempted as we are tempted. 

            Heb 2:18  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted , he is able to help those who are    being tempted .

            Heb 4:15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,   but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.

Jesus is able to look into our hearts and minds and understand our needs with the love, understanding and compassion that He has for us.  He showed this as He went about healing and restoring many during his ministry.  His first miracle saved embarrassment of a wedding party.  He felt that with them.  Jesus felt the pain of loosing a son as he healed the son of the Roman centurion.  Jesus knew the sorrow that came from loosing a family member as he brought to life Peter’s mother-in-law.  He had compassion on the blind and diseased.  The lepers had no hope of hugging their children and wife once again and yet Jesus healed them so they could.  He wept in sorrow at the death of his friend, Lazarus, and felt the grief of Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus.

Jesus had to withstand those who would speak against Him and wait to try to trap Him.  His own apostles ran away from Him as He was being taken by Roman soldiers.  One of His closest apostles and friend denied that he even knew Jesus.  He was betrayed by one of His own.  Through all of these experiences, Jesus can understand and love us.

Jesus suffered many trials and persecutions just so you and I could have salvation.  We can be thankful, believe, and then accept His gracious offer of salvation. OR we can go on in our own way and deny Him by doing nothing.  It is our choice.  The choice we make is eternal.  We must choose carefully.