A man who was born blind received the precious gift of sight from Jesus in the ninth chapter of the Gospel According to John. The Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath and declared him to be a sinner. Because the man who had been healed would not agree with the Pharisees, they cast him out of the synagogue. Then we read in John 9:35-38, "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.' Then he said, 'Lord, I believe!' And he worshiped Him."
Though this man ultimately came to faith in Jesus, his question in verse 36 shows that many people do not know who Jesus Christ is. Some people have a vague, sentimental notion about Jesus. Others are confused. Still others have been deceived just as Jesus warned in Matthew 24:4-5, And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many." Who is Jesus Christ?
It was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." The events of Jesus’ birth are recorded in Matthew 1 where we are told in verses 22-23, "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us.'" The doctrine of the Incarnation declares that Jesus is, in fact, God in the flesh! We read in John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Even Jesus’ enemies understood this and wanted to kill him for it. John 5:17-18, "But Jesus answered them, 'My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.' Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." However, this equality with the Father did not keep Jesus from fulfilling the Father’s will. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5-8, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."
Over and over Jesus was recognized as the Son of God. Although he was trying to plant seeds of doubt in Jesus’ mind, even the Devil recognized this (Matthew 4:3, 6). The demons acknowledged it (Matthew 8:29). The disciples worshiped him as the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). Jesus acknowledged under oath that he was the Son of God (Matthew 26:63-64). The Roman soldier at the cross, the apostle John, and Martha declared this truth (Matthew 27:54; John 1:34; 11:27). When “doubting Thomas” was convinced he fell at Jesus feet saying, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). The whole purpose of Jesus’ miracles was to prove that he is truly the Son of God. John 20:30-31, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." Paul said that we are to be, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).
“The Son of Man” was Jesus’ own most personal and most deliberately chosen title for himself. It is found eighty-two times in the New Testament. All of the occurrences are found the Gospels except Acts 7:56. The phrase is always on the lips of Jesus except in John 12:34. This title is not found in any of Paul’s letters or the General Epistles. It was Jesus’ unique title for himself. While “Son of Man” is definitely a messianic title, Jesus used it to emphasize his humanity.
Hebrews 4:15, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." Paul emphasized Jesus’ manhood when he said in 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."
Jesus exhibited all of the human characteristics including the need for sleep (Luke 8:24); hunger (Matthew 4:2); thirst (John 19:28); weariness (John 4:6); and pain (Luke 22:44). He also displayed human emotions in being filled with sorrow (John 11:33); crying (John 11:35); anger (Mark 3:5); and love (John 21:20).
The compassion of Jesus knew no bounds. He had compassion for the lost. Matthew 9:36-38, "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'"
At least twice Jesus had compassion on the multitude because they were hungry (Matthew 14:14; 15:32). In a great demonstration of power he fed thousands with bread and fish. Jesus had compassion on two blind men and restored their sight (Matthew 20:34). Jesus’ compassion broke all conventions when he reached out, touched a leper, and healed him (Mark 1:41). He had compassion on a man who was infested with a legion of demons and cast them out of him (Mark 5:19). Once Jesus approached a village and met a funeral procession. The grieving woman was a widow who was now burying her only son. Jesus had compassion on her and told her not to weep. Then he proceeded to raise the young man from the dead (Luke 7:11-15)!
Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi in Philippians 4:19, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Jesus promised to meet our physical needs when he said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Jesus promised to meet our emotional needs when he said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Jesus promised to meet our spiritual needs when he said in John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
Jesus loved children. This may come as a surprise to some since Jesus was a bachelor and extremely busy. Certainly his disciples did not think he wanted to be bothered with children. Matthew 19:13-15, "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' And He laid His hands on them and departed from there." I get the impression that...
It has been my experience that wherever I have gone throughout the world children are the same. They are friendly, trusting, and loving. It is no wonder that Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." Many parents have been reached for Christ through their children.
Earlier, in discussing the deity of Jesus we noticed Philippians 2:5-8. There we saw how Jesus left the splendor of heaven to come down to this sin cursed world. Usually when we think of the sacrifice of Jesus we naturally think of the cross. But...
Once a year, the Jews celebrated the Passover. They had to offer a lamb without blemish and without spot. This took place on the Day of Atonement, and their sins were forgotten until the next year when they had to do it all over again. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:7b, "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." This was a once-and-for-all-time sacrifice that never needs to be repeated. Hebrews 10:12, "But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God." Peter calls for a life of holiness on the part of God’s people, "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
This is who Jesus Christ is! In the words of Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Am I honoring him with my time, money, and ability? Do I take seriously his commission to take the gospel to the world? Or, do I rationalize that is just for preachers and missionaries? Why not this day turn your life over to the Lord and let him use it for his glory?
-- Dale Foster, 249 Church of Christ (posted with permission) --
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