Questions...When the fullness of the times had come, God sent forth His Son...
Luke, chapter 20 records some of the final conflicts between Israel’s authorities and the Incarnate Son of the Living God. "And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor." (Luke 20:19-20, NKJV)
The chief priests and scribes sought to either excite government intervention or a popular rejection by laying before Jesus the landmine questions of their day:
~How are we to behave towards the Roman occupation? Pay their taxes or not? Is it religiously lawful? Answer ‘yes’; lose popularity. Answer ‘no’; be arrested.
~Why would any intelligent person believe in a resurrection? It isn’t reasonable; Moses didn’t teach it. With this question they hoped to portray Jesus as a fool before the crowds. Jesus, our Lord, deftly swept away their most clever challenges, exposing their false piety, false intellectualism, and their stubborn disbelief.
Although they were greatly concerned with the questions of politics and intellectual integrity, they were scarcely concerned with the most important question both in their day and in ours—who is the Christ, just a man or Lord of all? Jesus asked them, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?" (Matthew 22:42-44, NKJV)
So who is the Christ--just a man or the Lord of all? Answer correctly by faith; inherit eternal life. Fail to answer; spend eternity in hell. Tragically they could not or would not answer that question...WILL YOU?
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Monday, January 11, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Recognizing Jesus
Recognizing Jesus for who He is...
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” Jesus asked this question in Luke 9:18. The answer to His question illustrates the fact that most people did not understand who Jesus Christ was. Even the apostles did not understand who Jesus was. Though Peter confessed Him as the Christ, when Jesus spoke of His own suffering and death, Peter was not willing to hear Him and began rebuking Jesus for His words. In all that they had come to understand about their Lord who healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on waves, silenced storms, and raised the dead, the first declaration of Jesus identity, “Behold the Lamb of God,” had been lost to them. Though Jesus spoke of His death repeatedly, their ears were closed to His message. Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, and He is the awesome God, the Ancient of Days, who dwells in unapproachable light, He is the only sacrifice for sin, and the righteous judge of the world. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the Bread of Life, the Exalted Head and the one who touches us and says, “don’t be afraid,” “love one another as I have loved you,” “Father, forgive,” “go and sin no more.” When Jesus took James, John, and Peter up on a mountain “and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:2, NKJV) Peter responded with His self-made action plan, but Peter’s ideas were not what was needed. Only one response was required by God who spoke from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, HEAR HIM!”
When we recognize Jesus Christ, the Son the Living God, for who He is, what must our response be? HEAR HIM!
Now, where is my Bible?
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” Jesus asked this question in Luke 9:18. The answer to His question illustrates the fact that most people did not understand who Jesus Christ was. Even the apostles did not understand who Jesus was. Though Peter confessed Him as the Christ, when Jesus spoke of His own suffering and death, Peter was not willing to hear Him and began rebuking Jesus for His words. In all that they had come to understand about their Lord who healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on waves, silenced storms, and raised the dead, the first declaration of Jesus identity, “Behold the Lamb of God,” had been lost to them. Though Jesus spoke of His death repeatedly, their ears were closed to His message. Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, and He is the awesome God, the Ancient of Days, who dwells in unapproachable light, He is the only sacrifice for sin, and the righteous judge of the world. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the Bread of Life, the Exalted Head and the one who touches us and says, “don’t be afraid,” “love one another as I have loved you,” “Father, forgive,” “go and sin no more.” When Jesus took James, John, and Peter up on a mountain “and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:2, NKJV) Peter responded with His self-made action plan, but Peter’s ideas were not what was needed. Only one response was required by God who spoke from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, HEAR HIM!”
When we recognize Jesus Christ, the Son the Living God, for who He is, what must our response be? HEAR HIM!
Now, where is my Bible?
The Rocks Cry out
This Wednesday night we were confronted by several compelling questions concerning truth. What is truth? What is reality? Do you believe that what you believe is really real? This filters down into how we think (Prov. 23:7, Rom. 8:5), how we feel (Phil. 4:6), and what we do(Luke 6:46, Rom. 6:12, James 2:26 and all the rest of the Epistles).
As the Passion Week began, Jesus came as King, riding upon a donkey. The leaders of Israel were so blind to the truth of who Jesus was that upon hearing Jesus’ disciples praising God and hailing Jesus as King, they demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples. But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40 (NKJV) Even the lifeless hard stones were more aware of the truth than those devout men of religious learning. With all their study they had missed the truth! It is then no wonder that Jesus’ next words as He saw the city and wept over it were, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:42-44 (NKJV) Though we spend much time studying the scriptures we must not be dumber than a stone and miss the essential truth--Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords is coming again! In light of that reality, what are you going to do tomorrow?
As the Passion Week began, Jesus came as King, riding upon a donkey. The leaders of Israel were so blind to the truth of who Jesus was that upon hearing Jesus’ disciples praising God and hailing Jesus as King, they demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples. But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40 (NKJV) Even the lifeless hard stones were more aware of the truth than those devout men of religious learning. With all their study they had missed the truth! It is then no wonder that Jesus’ next words as He saw the city and wept over it were, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:42-44 (NKJV) Though we spend much time studying the scriptures we must not be dumber than a stone and miss the essential truth--Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords is coming again! In light of that reality, what are you going to do tomorrow?
Vanity or Significance?
Harod the Great and Joseph of Nazareth.
Both men were entrusted with positions of influence in their world. 1 Cor. 4:2 states “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Each man had the potential to be used of God in a rewarding and significant way.
Which one lived a life of significance?
Joseph was involved in the construction of several buildings. Herod directed the building of entire cities, fortresses, and even a magnificent temple of God in Jerusalem. Herod was also full of self-seeking, envy, pride, and injustice. He is remembered for many heinous acts including his attempted murder of Jesus and the mass slaughter of Bethlehem children. Joseph was called a just man (Matt. 1:19), and obeyed God’s direction. Joseph is remembered as the man entrusted with the protection and nurture of the child, Jesus Christ.
All that Herod achieved lies in ruins. Joseph’s sacrificial obedience in service to God will be remembered forever.
God has entrusted gifts, abilities, influence, and resources to each of us. Let us seek His kingdom and His righteousness before all else in the use of all that He gives, so that our potential may be used by God in rewarding and significant ways! (2 Tim. 2:20-21)
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”(NKJV)
All else is vanity!
Both men were entrusted with positions of influence in their world. 1 Cor. 4:2 states “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Each man had the potential to be used of God in a rewarding and significant way.
Which one lived a life of significance?
Joseph was involved in the construction of several buildings. Herod directed the building of entire cities, fortresses, and even a magnificent temple of God in Jerusalem. Herod was also full of self-seeking, envy, pride, and injustice. He is remembered for many heinous acts including his attempted murder of Jesus and the mass slaughter of Bethlehem children. Joseph was called a just man (Matt. 1:19), and obeyed God’s direction. Joseph is remembered as the man entrusted with the protection and nurture of the child, Jesus Christ.
All that Herod achieved lies in ruins. Joseph’s sacrificial obedience in service to God will be remembered forever.
God has entrusted gifts, abilities, influence, and resources to each of us. Let us seek His kingdom and His righteousness before all else in the use of all that He gives, so that our potential may be used by God in rewarding and significant ways! (2 Tim. 2:20-21)
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”(NKJV)
All else is vanity!
In the Beginning Was the Word
Holy, holy, holy…
A.W. Tozer said, “What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.”
John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The WORD (Gk. logos) is God, above and beyond His creation, exalted (transcendent), present, and powerful in His entire creation (immanent), having all power (omnipotent): totally good. 1 John 1:5 states, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (James 1:17, Heb. 6:18) God is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable. (Isaiah 57:15) God is personal, all wise, truthful, loving, just, all-knowing, and merciful. All of His glorious attributes summed up… God is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.
John 1:14 declares, “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.” The WORD is Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1, Rev. 19:13) Hebrews 1:3 calls Jesus, “…the brightness of His [God’s] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” He is distinct as the Son, yet one in substance with the Father and Spirit, Very God of Very God. All praise to Him! 2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
A.W. Tozer said, “What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.”
John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The WORD (Gk. logos) is God, above and beyond His creation, exalted (transcendent), present, and powerful in His entire creation (immanent), having all power (omnipotent): totally good. 1 John 1:5 states, “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (James 1:17, Heb. 6:18) God is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable. (Isaiah 57:15) God is personal, all wise, truthful, loving, just, all-knowing, and merciful. All of His glorious attributes summed up… God is HOLY, HOLY, HOLY.
John 1:14 declares, “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.” The WORD is Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1, Rev. 19:13) Hebrews 1:3 calls Jesus, “…the brightness of His [God’s] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” He is distinct as the Son, yet one in substance with the Father and Spirit, Very God of Very God. All praise to Him! 2 Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”
When the Fullness of Time Had Come
When the Fullness of the Time Had Come, God Sent Forth His Son
In the first year of Darius the Mede, during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews (Daniel ch. 9), Daniel was praying, confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel, when the angel Gabriel was sent to give Daniel “skill to understand.” Gabriel then related the prophecy of the “seventy weeks” (Daniel 9:24-27). At the heart of the prophecy is the revelation of the time until God would send Messiah. Daniel 9:25a “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.” (NKJV)
In Ezra ch. 1, King Cyrus commands the restoration of Jerusalem and its temple. From that time forward, the time of Messiah’s coming could be calculated. Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (NKJV)
When the time was full, right on time, Jesus, Messiah, came. In the fullness of time, He will come again. Luke 12:37a “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.” (NKJV)
In the last two verses of Revelation, our Lord says, “‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21 NKJV)
In the first year of Darius the Mede, during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews (Daniel ch. 9), Daniel was praying, confessing his sin and the sin of his people Israel, when the angel Gabriel was sent to give Daniel “skill to understand.” Gabriel then related the prophecy of the “seventy weeks” (Daniel 9:24-27). At the heart of the prophecy is the revelation of the time until God would send Messiah. Daniel 9:25a “Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.” (NKJV)
In Ezra ch. 1, King Cyrus commands the restoration of Jerusalem and its temple. From that time forward, the time of Messiah’s coming could be calculated. Galatians 4:4-5 “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (NKJV)
When the time was full, right on time, Jesus, Messiah, came. In the fullness of time, He will come again. Luke 12:37a “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching.” (NKJV)
In the last two verses of Revelation, our Lord says, “‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:20-21 NKJV)
I AM
Exodus 3:13-14 “Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Jesus Christ is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person. (Hebrews 1:3) In Exodus God revealed to Moses His sacred name, “I AM”, by which He was to be known, YAHWE. When Jesus Christ, the Eternal God in the flesh, used “I AM”, referring to Himself, it was with complete authority. During His arrest, at His simple answer identifying Himself, “I AM” (John 18:6), the soldiers “drew back and fell to the ground.” As Christ Jesus revealed the nature of God throughout the gospel of John He made seven explicit, “I AM” statements.
I AM the bread of life… (John 6:35)
I AM the light of the world… (John 8:12)
…before Abraham was, I AM… (John 8:58)
I AM the good shepherd… (John 10:11)
I AM the resurrection and the life… (John 11:25)
I AM the way, the truth, and the life… (John 14:6)
I AM the true vine… (John 15:1)
Jesus Christ, the great “I AM.” He is the brightness of God’s glory, the express image of His person. All praise and glory to Him!
I AM the bread of life… (John 6:35)
I AM the light of the world… (John 8:12)
…before Abraham was, I AM… (John 8:58)
I AM the good shepherd… (John 10:11)
I AM the resurrection and the life… (John 11:25)
I AM the way, the truth, and the life… (John 14:6)
I AM the true vine… (John 15:1)
Jesus Christ, the great “I AM.” He is the brightness of God’s glory, the express image of His person. All praise and glory to Him!
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