In all my need, Jesus

Yesterday was moving day. We are weary and face a mountain-sized to-do list to sort and settle. This morning, the Lord gave me a simple yet profound Word to start the day with great joy. It began with praise for all that Jesus has done:

“As we look at the life of Christ and listen to His words, we can hear God saying, “I am rest for the weary…” With that, the Spirit led me to verses that verify that truth, then the remaining italicized truths from the reading:

Come to me, all 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. (Matthew 11:28–30)

I am peace for the storm-tossed;

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

I am strength for the powerless;

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I am wisdom for the foolish… righteousness for the sinful;

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (1 Corinthians 1:30)

I am all that the neediest soul on earth can want;

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

I am exceeding abundantly beyond all you can ask or think,

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9)

of blessing and help and care.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6–7)

PRAY: Jesus, what is left for me to say except praise to You and great gratitude. Your timing also, for this is what I need to remember this busy day!.

Jesus is God’s full and final revelation

What goes on in my life and in the world is often a puzzle that raises the question, “What is God doing?” However, most of the time the answer is found by taking another look at Jesus. For instance, the mess that is happening in Israel and Gaza is awful. God, what are You doing? Then I think about Jesus. He is God the Son, innocent of all sin, light and truth, yet He was brutally crucified. That seems the worst thing that could ever happen, yet God made it the best thing that ever happened. The death of Jesus meant wrath on sin was satisfied and that forgiveness is available to all of humanity. Since God can do that, and since He is sovereign, the mess in any part of the world cannot limit the power of God.

This Jesus answers my questions. He is God’s full and final revelation, waited for by generations. Even a sinful woman from Samaria who met Him at a well knew that God would send Him. She didn’t know yet that the man who talked to her was the Messiah when she said to Him: “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” (John 4:25)

The expectation of that time, even among the Samaritans, was that the Messiah would bring to them the full and final revelation of God. This is affirmed in the NT:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1–2)

The OT revealed God in bits and pieces, each part true but not clear because the revelation was incomplete. Jesus came and the puzzle came together, yet His people didn’t expect what they saw. Their messianic hope had been cherished for centuries, but had a political foundation. However, He came to save them from their sin, not from those oppressors who ruled over them.

Nevertheless, Jesus fulfilled the OT promises and is God’s final revelation of Himself. “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Two of my favorite Bible verses are about the identity of Jesus and the reason He came:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18)

Jesus is God in human flesh, like us yet not like us, amazing in power and humility, sinless yet greatly concerned for sinners. Paul also wrote: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)

It seems late in my Christian life to finally realize the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. He is the fullness of divine revelation, meaning I need nothing more, not only for being able to trust Him in a world gone haywire, but for what He has done in my life. These personalized verses tell it all:

I am complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:10)

His divine power has granted to me all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called me to His own glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:3)

Someday, when He appears and I see Him as He is, I will be like Him. (2 John 3:2)

PRAY: Jesus, starting the day with You and in worship is making such a difference in my life, not only in the practical ways that chores and so on go smoothly, but in my innermost being. You give me a peace that passes understanding and a calmness of heart during challenges that once kept me upset and anxious. The more You reveal God to me, the more I experience that incredible grace and truth that is setting me free. Thank You.

PONDER: How can I rely more fully on all that Jesus is and does, and in faith bring Him the glory that is due?

 

 

Jesus is all I need, part 2 . . .

Yesterday’s assignment told me to review the names and titles of Jesus from the book of John. I found many and had to stop at the end of chapter 8. The rest of the book repeats most of those plus a few new ones . . .

Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:7-11)

Jesus is the entrance to the sheepfold. Any that go in do so because of Him. They are saved and safe in His care because He laid down His life for those who believe — that we might have eternal life.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14–15)

Jesus also knows us intimately and we have a personal relationship with Him. He laid down His life for us that this relationship could be possible.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26)

Jesus asked this question of a woman whose brother just died. He asks it of everyone who can say yes to these major truths: God exists and God rewards those who seek Him; we are sinners and we need a Savior.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:14–16)

Jesus is our example of how to love and serve one another. He is both master and servant!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Jesus uses “the way . . . .” not “a way . . . .” to show that He is God’s exclusive way of salvation. There is no other way to be saved however, God’s way includes all who will believe.

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. (John 14:9–10)

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. (John 14:11)

Christ and the Father are one yet Jesus obeys the Father and the Father works through Him.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. . . . Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1; 4–5)

Jesus is our life and the source of all good things we can do. The Father is the One who cares for and purifies our lives so we can be like Jesus. I cannot do anything without Him.

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, what Thomas said is the declaration given by all who believe. You are our Lord, our God. No one else. Nothing else. Everything we need is in You. Everything I need is in You.