Knowing is more than being introduced...

Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” (John 7:25–31)

In the past few days I’ve heard some unusual statements about the identity of Jesus. In a European country, a Christian told a resident about Him and heard this: “Who is Jesus? Is he a friend of yours?” This person had no knowledge of Him at all.

Another person on a social media site said Jesus is the true God that everyone should worship Him and not Jehovah. He had no idea of the deity of Christ and that He is Jehovah who came in human flesh to save us from our sin.

Many think that this name is just a swear word. They also do not realize the truth of His claim: 

“I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:18–19). . . .  But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:55–58). . . .  I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)

He told them if they did not believe His words, then believe His deeds, but that didn’t convince them either. This is one reason that I believe the identity of Jesus must be revealed by God to the human heart and mind. Otherwise, we don’t get it, at least not in a way that changes our destiny. This is why God says:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Luke 10:22)

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)

The Holy Spirit searches me too. Many times I’ve not realized reasons for my problems, or the puzzles of life, but in seeking Christ, the answers are revealed, mostly in the Bible, sometimes through others, even the odd time in dreams. Key is to keep looking and being open to what God says.

Jesus, You know everything. You are God in human flesh, God who can answer all my problems and meet all my needs. You know what it is like to be human, but without sin. I marvel that Your goal is to transform me to be like You. This can mean being misunderstood, even rejected, yet what a glorious hope. You revealed who You are to me, and that means no turning back or forgetting who You are. Praise Your holy Name! Amen!

 

Good In, Good Out?

 

An app gives me access to library e-books. I started to read one but it began with descriptions of horrible attacks and murders. Within three chapters, I returned it without reading the rest. I’m not sure my mind is like a computer, but I’m not willing to risk that “Garbage In, Garbage Out” maxim.

Aside from the book, we went for an early breakfast because we check-out today. Normally I don’t eat early but we will be a long time in the air. Anyway, on the way for a small bite to eat, we talked to a very friendly young hotel liaison person about how to grow old in a good way. I told him that the main thing we focused on was listening to God and doing what He says. He received that well. Had I read any of that book, thoughts like that may not have entered my head.

Being like Jesus is a daily challenge. Jesus would not have read explicit books, nor would He focus on exercise, health food, or any of the other usual recommendations for a long life. He may have quoted the OT commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12) yet I doubt it. He knew that a long life is not guaranteed by what we do. He may also have quoted Psalm 90 that includes the words: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)

Why listen to Jesus? Some say He was merely a Jewish teacher. Others say He was an idea, like a myth. However, the Bible and His own words declare a most marvelous truth:

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:3)
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 14:10)
I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. (John 12:45)

Jesus is not a mere teacher, a mere wise man with good advice. He is the Creator God, the Word made flesh who came here so we could know what God is like, but so we could also have a relationship with Him through faith, experience forgiveness of sin, and be certain of eternal life as the result.

For all of that and more, I want to do His will, not the will of the world, my old nature, or the devil. 1 John 3 begins with the statement that those who hope in Him purify themselves as He is pure. God’s goal for me is to be like Jesus. I cannot claim the same identity but because of His saving power, I can claim to know God and to advance in purity. Reading a crappy book does nothing toward those realities.

PRAY: Jesus, thanks for giving this book-lover the gumption to toss a book – even one that is part of a series that seems otherwise okay – to instead prefer to read about You and Your incredible goodness. You reveal the Father, holiness, purity and grace so I can occupy my mind with  “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable” and if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, I can think about those things (Philippians 4:8) and share them with others.

Faith is the conviction of things not seen . . .

A Christian cult insists that Jesus is not God. One of their members jumped up and down on my doorsteps yelling that belief at me, as if his repetition would make it so. Had it not been so serious and a matter of eternal destiny, I would have laughed at his actions.

This particular group’s theology changes the Bible so that the reading John 1:1 supports their idea. All other bibles say, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Their change makes it say that Jesus was “a god” — but this cannot be. First, the original language does not have the article ‘a’ so this cannot be inserted there. Second, the Bible continually says God is one, so saying Jesus is a god makes two. That does not work either.

Those who depend on Christ alone for their salvation know that Jesus is God. This knowledge is a faith matter, revealed by the Holy Spirit, but otherwise unseen or a total puzzle to those without faith. Yesterday I said that even those with faith cannot fully understand it; we just know it is true.

Faith is a gift, a revelation from God of Himself through Jesus Christ. When the disciples saw the risen Christ, this gift of faith changed their lives. It happened just after Jesus rose from the dead:

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  . . . .and  breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

These men believed in Jesus before, but not with that saving faith that comes from God. Now they saw the resurrected Christ and were given the Holy Spirit.

However, one of them missed this event:

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:19–31)

Jesus is the Son of God, God the Son, God in human flesh. This is the only way to make sense of verses like these:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23)

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58 cf. Exodus 3:14)

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)

“To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 9:5)

“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16)

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.” (Hebrews 1:8)

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, the Scriptures are plain, at least to those who believe them. Your identity as fully God and fully man came together when You granted the gift of faith so my sinful eyes were opened to see who You are, and to experience Your gracious and loving forgiveness and salvation. Yes, Your identity is not easy to understand, but like lesser blessings (such as electricity, digestion, and  all sorts of other phenomena), I don’t need to understand how everything works to believe that it is true!