Who Is Jesus?

"No one has seen God at any time; the only Begotten God Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him."  (From today's Gospel reading, John 1:18, NASB)

The Word for, "explained," can mean, "declare, show the way, unfold."

The Bible teaches us that Jesus' is called, "Emmanuel, God with us....The Word became flesh and dwelt among us....All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father....For in Him dwells all of the fullness of the Godhead bodily."  Hebrews 1 tells us that Father God says to God the Son, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever." 

When, "The Word of God," tells us that, "No one has seen God at any time," He is telling us that the Godhead has been "kept secret" from the "beginning" of man's creation.  Now we know that, "The Word of God," manifested Himself, "became flesh," for some moments throughout history, as recorded in the Old Testament.  Our Lord Jesus affirms this reality when He tells us, "Your father, Abraham, rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."  Furthermore, when the Old Testament speaks of, "The Angel of the Lord," He is referring to Jesus.  No, Jesus is not an "angel" as most think of "angel," a created being with wings.  The Word means, "messenger."  A great revelation of this is found in Isaiah 63:9, "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them."  Who Else can this be, "....The Messenger of His Presence..," but our Lord Jesus Christ?  Then there is that, "fourth," Man in the fire with Daniel's friends, Who caused the king, in his pagan way, to say that He looks like, "a son of the gods." 

Theology?  Well, maybe.  But I can tell you that if you and I, if the Church in the earth do not, "honor the Son just as they honor the Father," foolish statements such as, "The Jewish God, the Christian God, and Allah are the same," will continue to invade Christendom, confusing, leading away from the centrality of the Cross of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jesus, the Ascension of Jesus, and the Second Appearing of Jesus, and leading to destruction of all who do not know Jesus.  If the Name of Jesus is not frequent in our speaking, our singing, our worship, our praying, our witness, then the one whom Jesus called, "the father of lies," will continue to work his lying deception and destruction.  It is imperative, therefore, that the Church continue in our journey in this present age, "Looking unto Jesus."  Remember; no matter the fire, Jesus, "the Messenger of His Presence," is right there, in the midst of the fire, with and in you and me.

Father, in Jesus' Name, Thank You so much for clearing up the confusion of humanity as to Who You Are in Jesus.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"They...Did Not Find The Body...."

"Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."  (Luke 24:3, From today's Gospel reading)

Upon this statement rests the whole of what you and I believe.  If this is not true, there is just nothing else in our brief existence on this planet which matters.  "We are of all men most miserable."

Now do I believe this with my mind?  No------- and neither do you.  You and I and no one of our species who has ever lived or will ever live can comprehend the Godhead, nor anything which He has done, right up to this moment, and all moments to come in this age.  What and how I do believe is, "....that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written...."  If you and I attempt to, "....think beyond what is written...," we are literally "out of our league."  I can say for myself that if I try, "....to think beyond what is written...," I then I become as a fool, just as those fools whom we all observe, not only many of those who are around us in our daily existence, but also those fools with their degrees, their "expertise," and "foremost authority" status.  Fools all, that is, if they live a life style of, "...think beyond what is written...."

I believe Jesus is alive, present here with and in me, because, "God-Breathed," Words tell me that, "Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."  Think about it, try to "feel" it, and you will get lost.  Accept it, and we are of the Redeemed, the saved, those described by our Lord Jesus, "If any man serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also."  I don't understand first, then follow.  I follow first, "....they...did not find the body...," then, and only then, whatever understanding I need, Jesus' gives.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I am glad, "....they...did not find the body...."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"I Have A Message From God...."

"I have a message from God concerning the wicked:...  In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin....Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, Your justice like the great deep." (Psalm 36, NIV)

David does a lot of this.  He observes the maladies of life, then follows with great praise.  Would that you and I can always do this, and, making very, very sure the latter dominates our lives.

Flattery makes us blind to sin, our weaknesses, and our need for adjustment/correction.  Webster's defines flattery as, "insincere or excessive praise," or, "a pleasing self-deception."  Flattery is for the wicked; they love and walk mostly in "self-deception.  Yet, even too much complimenting, believe it or not, can also be dangerous.  Proud specimens that we are, we all need to be very careful to give and accept it in "measured amount" and much circumspection.  Beware when too much praise comes your way.  It just may be a blinder, "to detect or hate...sin."  May our Lord Jesus always help us in the giving and receiving of appreciation, compliments and affirmations.

But then the Psalmist turns his attention to Jesus, and away from, "the wicked," who, "flatter themselves."  After our text, he goes on, "How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!  People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  They feast on the abundance of Your house....For with You is the fountain of life in Your light we see light."  Maybe we have a "key to life" here.  Every day you and I see much wickedness.  Yet, the example of David, not only in our text, but also elsewhere, is to not dwell on, "the wicked."  Rather, dwell on and in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior and King.  "....Take refuge in the shadow of [Jesus'] wings....Feast on the abundance of [Jesus'] house....Drink from [Jesus'] river of delights."

Father, in Jesus' Name, "....Priceless is Your unfailing love."  Amen.

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Fall, 2017, Mission:  October 28-November 15

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"My Times...."

"My times are in Your hand...." (Psalm 31:15a)

As I read and listened to these Words this morning, there was such joy and peace.  There is probably no greater realization in life, and, no greater peace than when one comes to this conclusion.  In essence, Here is my life; it's Yours, Lord Jesus.

Without this "break through," our times are in our own hands.  We plan, we worry, we scheme.  Maybe it's the reason American culture has medications today which our parents and grandparents never heard or thought of.  Most live:  "My times are in my hands."  What a terrible alone-ness this must bring.

"My times":  When one continually surrenders his/her life to Jesus, "My times," in reality becomes, Your times.  I no longer consider my life my own, mine to governed, mine to control.  Jesus, You are Lord, King, the Master of my will, my life.  Every decision, every worry, every uncertainty are Yours, Lord Jesus.

Can I encourage you today to just repeat our text with me, to repeat and pray for its realization in our lives?  "My times are in Your hand."

Father, in Jesus' Name, Amen.   

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....Take Heed To Yourselves"

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly."  (Luke 21:34)

Notice that sin weighs the heart down.  And, "....hearts...weighed down with...cares of this life," will not only miss what our Lord Jesus Christ is doing in the earth now, but find, "that Day come on you unexpectedly."

Today's Gospel reading was in Luke 21.  Our Lord Jesus gives us some "details" of, "the end of the age," yet the specifics, which we want and which some in our day have delved into and come up with, are just not there.  Perhaps to an impatient and needing-to-know-details generation, the most important thing to keep in mind is our text, "But take heed to yourselves...."  When one of Jesus' disciples asked about what would happen to one of his fellow disciples, Jesus did not tell him.  Jesus told him, in essence, "....Take heed to yoursel[f]....You follow me." 

Near the conclusion of His discourse, our Lord Jesus commands us to, "Watch therefore, and pray always...."  Could we sum up by saying, "Watch...and pray," while you, "take heed to yourselves"?  Or, "Yes, I know you are very busy serving Me, and doing many projects in the Kingdom, but never forget in it all to always,"....take heed to yourselves."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I repent of and ask for forgiveness of those times I, "take heed," to others more than myself.  Amen.
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Berlin/Wittenberg Mission: October 28-November 15.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2