Jesus on Jesus

Jesus on Jesus
The apostle John records Jesus as saying what amounts to his purpose in coming to earth.
“Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.  
When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.  
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.  
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.  
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.  
I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12:44-50
Jesus states,
“When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.”John 12:44,45.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”  Hebrews 1:3.
Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. The creator of the world who entered His creation to show men the way to heaven. To pay the price for the sins of each person who would believe in him. The apostle John in a later letter noting,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 1John 1:9-10
John then notes in his gospel that Jesus states,
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” John 12:47
Earlier in his gospel John records Jesus referring to himself as stating,
“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.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
Jesus did not come into the world to judge the world. The express purpose for Jesus entering the world is save souls. To point mankind to eternal life with God.
Jesus however does note that people will one day be judged. He states,
“There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.  
For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.
I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”  John 12:48-50
What Jesus is saying here in John 12:44-50 is an incredible statement. He not only equates himself to God but he also states that through faith in Him the individual can get to heaven.
Believers in Christ truly believe that through Jesus, God reached down to show man the way to heaven. That it is by God’s grace we enter heaven not our works. The apostle Paul noting,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
If what Jesus said is untrue, if what Christians believe is false then no one has much to worry about.
On the other hand, if what Christians believe is true, and all that the New Testament says about Jesus is true, then those who do not believe in Jesus have a great deal to fear. For their unbelief has eternal consequences.
Please think about it.

God's Way

God’s Way
In one of my previous blogs I noted how Jesus had become a political liability to the Jewish religious leadership of the day. In this portion of scripture John records Jesus as doing something that most definitely twists the religious leaders the wrong way. John writes, 
“The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.  
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!’” 
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 
“Blessed is the King of Israel!”  
Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 
“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.  
Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.  
So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” John 12:12-19.
Up until this point Jesus had discouraged public expressions of support now however a week before he would be crucified he allowed it.
The crowds welcomed him as a prince. They placed palm branches down before him and called out “Hosanna” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”
John tells us,
“Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.  
Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him.” John 12:17,18.
John notes the reaction of the Pharisees saying,
“So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” 
Up until this point they had taken no physical action against Jesus. They had not arrested him or detained him in any way probably for two reasons.  One the crowd believed in him and they feared the wrath of the crowd. If the crowd rioted the Romans would step in and their positions would be in jeopardy. Also they had no legal grounds to arrest him.
Still however they feared what Jesus may do.
These men were blind to the fact that Jesus was not the conquering Messiah but the suffering Messiah. Even his disciples were blind to this.
After the resurrection of Jesus while he was meeting with His disciples the book of Acts records this conversation,
“So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  Acts 1:6,7.
It would have seemed to any person thinking logically with the wisdom of man that getting yourself crucified as Jesus did was not the way to conquer the world.
The apostle Paul however tells us,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
The apostle Paul when writing to the Romans said,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8.
Jesus tells us,
“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.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
God could have used a mighty army or bring legions of angels to force man to submit to His will but he didn’t. That would not have produced true believers. Many would have believed simply out of fear of what God could do to them.
Napoleon the late French emperor said of Jesus,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”Napoleon Bonaparte.
In Jesus, God reached down in Love to each person offering them eternal life with Him. The apostle Paul noting,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
Salvation and Eternal Life with God is free to all who would believe in Jesus. Thus the choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Devotion

Devotion
John’s Gospel records,
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  
Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.  
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:1-3.
Anointing a guests feet in the time of Jesus was a sign of devotion to the person. Mary however took this one step further. She took a pint of pure nard an expensive perfume that cost almost a years wages for the average person and anointed the feet of Jesus. That’s how much she loved Jesus.
Mary had shown in physical terms, in monetary terms, if you will, how much she loved Jesus.
I wonder how many who call themselves followers of Jesus especially in North America or in the western nations of the world are willing to give up a years wages to show their love of Jesus?
Many believers around the world today in areas that persecute believers in Christ put their life on the line for their faith. They risk not only going to jail for what they believe, but death.
Those of us who live in North America and the western democracies the so called free nations of the world have no such worries.
So the question becomes, if you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ are you willing to give up your material possessions for your faith?
Matthew’s gospel records this incident between Jesus and a wealth man. Matthew records,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Matthew 19:16-22.
True scripture tells us that we are saved by our faith. It is however only when we are willing to give up everything we have materially and for that matter even our life that we demonstrate true faith in Christ.
The disciples of Jesus showed this. All but one died for their faith. Faithful followers of Christ Jesus throughout the centuries since then have shown their willingness to die for their faith.
It is my hope that if you are a true follower of Jesus Christ that you will never be called upon to give up all you have materially, or to give up your life for the furtherance of the kingdom of God. That however being said, if you are a true follower of Jesus you must be willing to do so.
Please think about it.

A Political Liability

A Political Liability
In my previous blog I noted that the apostle John in his gospel told of the incident in which Jesus raised Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, a man who had been dead four days back to life. It resulted in many who had seen it believing Jesus was the Messiah. Something that brought on another problem for Jesus. John recording,
“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.  
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs.  
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11:45-48.
The Pharisees at this point had already branded Jesus a heretic for equating himself to God. For calling God his father.
Now according to John they didn’t seem to be as concerned with whether Jesus was a heretic or not but rather their political future.
John notes,
“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs.  
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11:47,48.
John goes on to note,
“So from that day on they plotted to take his life.” John 11:53.
One teacher pointed out to me that it was rather ironic that they plotted to kill a someone who could raise the dead.
It showed that these men had no idea who they were up against. They were just thinking about their political power nothing else.
Today in the twenty-first century there are political leaders and governments all over the world that fear God.
They say Jesus is not the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate.
They say God does not exist. Yet they ban the worship of God. They refuse to let followers of Christ practices their faith.
If God does not exist. If Christ is not the Son of God, The Saviour of mankind, God incarnate then why would they fear Him?
If God dose not exist and Jesus is not all Christians believe He is, then Christian belief amounts to nothing.
If on the other hand God exists and Jesus is all Christians believe Him to be then those who oppose God have a lot to fear. For the Apostle Paul in Athens in a meeting of the Areopagus and said,
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30,31.
Please think about it.

Jesus is the Messiah

Jesus is the Messiah
John’s gospel records this incident in which a friend of Jesus, Lazarus, had died. Not only that he had been dead four days upon the arrival of Jesus.
“On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  
Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,  and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.  
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  
But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.... 
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.  
“Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” John 11:17-27,38-44.
Here again the apostle John notes something that if not true would harm the fledgling Christian movement.
John records Jesus as saying to Martha,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 
“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
Martha truly believed Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.
John does not stop however with Martha’s confession of faith in Jesus. Martha’s brother Lazarus had died. He had been dead four days. Jesus asks to be taken to where he was buried. Where upon Jesus prays saying,
“Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  
With that John records that Lazarus rose from the dead.
Like I have said in my previous blogs if this was not true why would the early believers in Jesus include it in their writings.
Someone has said “fact is often stranger than fiction” this I believe is true when it comes to Jesus.
People in general have preconceived ideas of how things should happen. That includes I believe the way they think God should do things.
However when it comes to God, God does not do things our way.
God especially in the case of Jesus places the events in Jesus life before us and asks us to have faith that they are true.
He asks all people everywhere to have faith that He exists and that Jesus is indeed God in the flesh. The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                    Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                 Hebrews 11:6.

Please think about it.  

Claims to be God

Claims to be God
The Apostle John’s gospel records,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.”
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?
“We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”  John 10:24-33.
There are many in the world today who say Jesus is not God. That he was a good man, a great teacher but he is not God.
The apostle John however testifies in his writings that Jesus is God. Over and over again he quotes Jesus as claiming to be either the Son of God or that He and God the Father are one.
The above quote is a prime example of this. Jesus says,
“I and my Father are one”
Thus the way I see it, those who would read what the apostle John wrote about Jesus have several options.
1/ They can say John is misrepresenting Jesus. That he is lying about Jesus’ claim to be one with God the Father. Which if true is a monumental lie of historic proportions, because John then would have misled billions of believers in Christ throughout history.
2/ The reader can conclude that John reported what he heard Jesus say about himself correctly. If so then Jesus is a fraud who has misled billions throughout history.
3/ The reader can conclude that what John is saying is the truth and Jesus is the Son of God, God Incarnate, the Saviour of mankind.
If then the third option is true then reader has no option other than to bow down and worship him as Saviour and Lord.
The choice dear reader is up to you.
Please think about it.

Minds Made Up

Minds Made Up
The apostle John’s gospel records this incident between a man whom Jesus healed of blindness and the Pharisees.
John records,
“They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.  
Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.  Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided. 
Finally they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 
The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents.  
“Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 
“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.”  
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.  
That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,’” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 
He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” 
Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 
He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 
Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses!  
We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 
The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.  
We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.  
Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.  
If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.” John 9:13-34.
I believe it was clear here that no matter what Jesus did to prove He was from God the Pharisees would not acknowledge that He was from God. John notes,
“...Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.”
Here Jesus had done not just a good work, but performed a great miracle, he had given a man born blind his sight. Yet the Pharisees refuse to acknowledge that it was from God.
They say to the man,
“We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
To which the man replies, 
“The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.  
We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.  
Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind.  
If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 
Unhappy with the man’s reply the Pharisees accused him of being a sinner and threw him out of their presence.
The Jewish leaders like many today who are confronted with Jesus were playing politics. They were set in their ways. They were convinced that they were right in all their beliefs and practices. Anyone contradicting them was seen as a threat to them.
Thus when a person presents to them the facts about Jesus, as in the case of the blind man, they accuse the person of lying, ridicule them, and dismiss the person from their presence. Having nothing more to do with them.
The fact however remains Jesus speaking to His disciples said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
On another occasion Jesus speaking of His relationship to God the Father states,
“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30.
If what Jesus said about himself is untrue then those who do not believe in Him have nothing to fear. If on the other hand it is true then anyone presented with Jesus has at the very least, a lot to think about.
As C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

Jesus is God

Jesus is God

John’s gospel records this incident between Jesus and the Jewish leaders of his day,
“The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 
“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.  
I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.  
I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 
At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.  
Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.  
Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.  
Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 
“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”  
At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.”John 8:48-59. 
Here we have a what one pastor I know said was “a rather heated discussion between Jesus and the Jewish leadership.
The Jewish leadership here claims Jesus to be a Samaritan, a group of people whom the Jews believed to be heretics and would have nothing to do with. They also said Jesus was demon possessed. To which Jesus replies,
“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.  
I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge.  
I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” John 8:49-51.
The Jews however took exception to what Jesus said. They didn’t understand what Jesus was saying. He didn’t say he would stop physical death. But rather that He is offering eternal life to all who would believe in Him.
They asked Jesus if he was greater than Abraham and the prophets who died a physical death. To which Jesus replied,
Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.  
Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word.  
Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. John 8:54-56.
This it seems made the Jewish leadership more upset. Jesus had accused them of not knowing God and saying that He himself was the Son of God. Not only that Jesus went on to make one other important statement, The apostle John recording,
“You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:57-58.
Jesus uses the phrase “I am”
This statement goes back to the Septuagint, ( the Greek Old Testament) where it translates Exodus 3:6,14 in which God identifies Himself as “I AM WHO I AM” 
In using this phrase Jesus is saying He is God.
Upon hearing this John records,
“At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.”John 8:59.
Here yet again is a place in the New Testament that shows both sides of the argument for Jesus. It also shows how dangerous it was for Jesus to claim he was the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
As C. S. Lewis puts it in his book Mere Christianity,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Thus the choice is yours. Is Jesus demon possessed, a lunatic, or is He God incarnate, the Saviour of Mankind?
The Choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Both Sides

Both sides
I’ve always found it interesting that while the New Testament was written by believers in Christ Jesus. It shows both sides of the argument as to who Jesus is. John’s gospel records,
“But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 
Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do.  
No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”  
For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 
Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.  
The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.  
You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.”  
Having said this, he stayed in Galilee. 
However, after his brothers had left for the Feast, he went also, not publicly, but in secret.  Now at the Feast the Jews were watching for him and asking, “Where is that man?” 
Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”  
But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the Jews. John 7:2-13.
The brothers referred to in this portion of scripture are the half brothers of Jesus other children of Mary and Joseph who at the time doubted his divinity.
John also notes that at the feast of Tabernacles, which was a major feast, people were looking for him and that there was a debate as to who he was. John noting,
“Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” John 7:12.
The way I see it the purpose of the New Testament is two fold.
1. It instructs believers in Christ Jesus how to live their lives in a way that is acceptable to God.
2. It presents to all who would read it, the argument that Jesus is indeed the Son of God the Saviour of mankind.
At the same time it hides nothing. It admits that even in when Jesus walked on this earth there was a debate as to who He was.
Ultimately the New Testament writers however leave it up to the reader to decide for themselves who Jesus is.
Thus I would ask you the reader, if you do not believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, to read what the New Testament has to say about Jesus and decide for yourself who he is.
Please think about it.

The Suffering Messiah

The Suffering Messiah
John’s gospel (John 6:1-13) tells of the Miraculous feeding of the five thousand noting,
“After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” John 6:14.
John then notes,
“Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.” John 6:15.
According to various commentators I’ve read, at the time Jesus fed the five thousand He was at the height of His popularity.
One commentator noting that the crowd might have thought that just as Moses brought the Israelites out of Egypt so to would Jesus bring Israel out from under the oppression of the Romans.
The crowd however did not understand that Jesus was the suffering Messiah referred to in Isaiah 53 that states,
“By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. 
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 
Yet it was the LORD'S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life  and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” Isaiah 53:8-12.
Jesus never intended to lead an army. He never espoused violence in any way. He realized He was in this world to pay the penalty for the sins of all who would believe in Him.
The apostle Paul telling us,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11.
I know especially if someone is not a believer in Christ, this is something that is hard to understand. But our ways are not God’s ways.
It would have been easy for God to send Jesus in a miraculous fashion. To send Him as a conqueror.
To show His power by sending Jesus with legions of angels or in other miraculous ways would not have produced true followers. Many would have said they believe in Jesus because they feared what he could do to them. God did not want that.
In speaking to the Samaritan woman Jesus said,
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23,24.
God want’s people to believe in Him through faith.
Those who believe in something by faith are the truest of believers and will endure anything for that faith.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

 and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                            Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                 Hebrews 11:6.

The Apostle Paul writes,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ” Ephesians 2:8.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind?
Please think about it. 

Equal to God

Equal to God
John’s gospel records that Jesus was preforming miracles on the Sabbath. Which was considered work by the religious leaders of his day and thus by their way of thinking wrong. John then notes this incident in which Jesus clearly states He is God’s Son. John states,
“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him.  
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”  
For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 
Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:16-19
Jesus never shied away from the fact that He was the Son of God. The fact that Jesus is the Son of God is the corner stone of Christian belief.
For Jesus to say He was the Son of God was to take his life in his hands. C.S. Lewis points out in his book Mere Christianity
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
All who are presented with Jesus must make up their own mind as to who Jesus is. There is no middle ground with Jesus.
Henry Ward Beecher said of Jesus,
“If Christ is not divine, every impulse of the Christian world falls to a lower octave, and light and love and hope decline.”  Henry Ward Beecher.
Thus the question becomes, Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it.

Many Believed

Many believed
I post this blog with the intentions of making those who claim to be followers of Christ think.
In my previous blog post I wrote about Jesus encountering the Samaritan woman. In the time of Jesus Samaritans and Jews did not associate with one another. Jesus however had no such problem.
In speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well he broke the social norm of his day. In doing so Jesus showed his followers that they should do the same.
Jesus in forgetting about the social norm of the day and speaking to the Samaritan woman resulted in many in the village coming to believe that He indeed was the Messiah. John’s gospel recording,
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”  
So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.  
And because of his words many more became believers. 
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:39-42.
As believers in Christ Jesus today in the twenty-first century we need to follow what Jesus did. We need to put aside our “social norms” and associate with all people.
It should not matter whether we agree with their beliefs, or their lifestyle we should be opening a dialogue with them.
Jesus did not look on the lifestyle or the beliefs of this Samaritan woman he simply presented the good news of Salvation to her. As a result many others believed in Him.
Question,
Are you willing to meet people where they are at, or are you prevented from reaching people for Christ because of their lifestyle or beliefs?
Please think about it.