Getting to know Jesus

When I first became a Christian, someone told me to read the Gospel of John five times, and the book of Romans twice. I don’t remember who it was, but this was solid advice. Romans explains the major doctrinal truths and how to live them out. John explains who Jesus is and the results of believing in Him.

I can’t remember what I thought about Jesus before He came into my life, but when He did, I knew that this man was God in human flesh. I realize now that the Holy Spirit gave me that understanding and reading John gave me a biblical foundation for this understanding, helping me to know Jesus. He begins with this:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1–3)

God spoke and at His Word all creation came into existence. That Word is Jesus . . .

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)

John shows this is true by the way Jesus talked and lived. This was no mere man, no mere prophet. He said “I AM . . . .” several times, echoing the I AM declared by God the Father when He spoke to Moses at the burning bush. Jesus finished the declaration in seven different ways. With these sayings, He declares His deity. No mere man can say what He said:

1. “I am the bread of life and whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (6:35) The world is filled with people looking for fulfillment in life, for something to satisfy that empty space in their hearts. Jesus does that. He grants me great contentment and joy. He gives meaning to what would have seemed meaningless without Him.

2. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (8:12; 9:5) This is incredibly true. He not only sheds light on life’s perplexities, but He guides me through its mazes, helping me know what to do next, how to find my way when there are no answers from any other sources.

3. “I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.” (10:7, 9) The seeking heart finds only temporary satisfaction in stuff like fame, possessions, popularity, or money. Eventually these become taskmasters even as they pose as the door to satisfaction. Only Jesus offers the way to God and the way to eternal joy. He said no one can come to the Father except by Him. He is the door to abundant life and that safe place of care and protection. Like a sheepfold He keeps me secure in God’s love.

4. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” (10:11) Jesus did exactly that. He gave His life for my sin and because of Him God has forgiven me and gave me all that I need. This good Shepherd takes care of me in every way possible. He knows the dangers and snares as well as where to find still waters and green pastures.

5. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (11:25) Jesus is not dead. He rose from the grave and because I believe in Him, He is my life. I have been crucified with Him, yet I live! One day this body will die but He will give me a new body, totally transformed into His image. I will be like Him and live forever.

6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (14:6) Knowing Jesus means that I also know the Father. Jesus is the way to Him, the truth about Him, His very life in human form that I might know and love Him. God is spirit and invisible; Jesus makes Him known.

7. “I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser.” (15:1) In the language of a vineyard, Jesus explains that we are grafted into the One who says I AM and given His life. As I abide in Him, I am able to live like a child of God, holy and demonstrating that I belong to Him. If I pull away from that, He will prune the errant parts using the Word and circumstances of life to test and purify me.

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Jesus, this I AM, like all the others, describe my experience with You. I know that You are God, first by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, and second by the way You love me and deal with me just as these I AM statements say that You will. Whoever told me to read John five times did a good thing. Since then, I’ve repeated that many more times and one day, when I step into eternity, I will find John and maybe give him a huge hug of gratitude as together we worship You, the I AM who is God.

Faith in a dogmatic Savior

Dogmatic, black and white, firm conviction, no matter what anyone calls it, being certain something is true or false is usually not the most popular character trait. However, those who are firm in their stand for truth yet are able to present their thoughts in love are often said to be ‘refreshing’ — a rare commodity. I am drawn to people like that because they make it known where they stand on many levels, and I never have to guess or suspect them of deviousness.

The dictionary gives these synonyms: opinionated, peremptory, assertive, imperative, insistent, emphatic, adamant, doctrinaire, authoritarian, authoritative, domineering, imperious, high-handed, pontifical, arrogant, overbearing, dictatorial, uncompromising, unyielding, unbending, inflexible, rigid, entrenched, unquestionable, unchallengeable; intolerant, narrow-minded, small-minded, showing the varying reactions to dogmatic people. If I pull out the negatives, that leaves only a few that describe the good side of being dogmatic, such as uncompromising, unquestionable, and unchallengeable. These three describe Jesus, my favorite dogmatic person.

He spoke with authority on many subjects, including the truth about His own identity. “I AM the bread of life, the light of the world, the door, the good shepherd.” Here are three more statements that many critics would call dogmatic, only because they don’t agree with Him or believe what He claims. The first one is about Him being eternal life for all who believe:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (John 11:25)

This is a strong promise. It blesses those whose lives are threatened or who have lost loved ones. If faith is part of their lives, then this is assurance of life beyond death, a great comfort. It also puts this life in perspective. Our time here is a small dot compared to eternity, and Jesus promises to give me eternity.

Jesus also speaks of Himself as the way to God and the reasons why that is so:

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)

I get to God the Father by trusting Jesus. I know truth by listening to Jesus. I have eternal life by putting my faith in Jesus. Dogmatic? Sure, but He said it first. Without knowing His statement is true, I would be left wandering in the wilderness of my sin and maybe not even realizing how lost I am without Him.

Once I believed, trusting Jesus is still the priority. It is not a life of dogmatic rules and ‘thou shalt not’s but a life of abiding in Christ. He uses a figure of speech to describe what this is like:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. (John 15:1–4)

Living a fruitful life is about staying close to Jesus, trusting Him in every way and for every situation, even in those circumstances He uses to prune me. This means cutting sin out of my life, an often painful process and yet releasing me into greater ability to be more like Him. The fruit He talks about are attitudes and actions, starting with these:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22–25)

Abiding is walking in His will, doing what He says, putting away my sinful selfishness and letting the Spirit have His way in my heart. This is not living by rules but by the inner prompting of God, a nudge that lines up with the external voice I hear when I read His Word.

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Jesus, this is an exciting way to live. Thank You for being uncompromising, unquestionable, and unchallengeable yet at the same time loving me so much that You do not walk all over me. You are also patient, kind, good, gentle, full of love, joy and peace, and faithful in caring for me. When I grow up, I want to be just like You.

The Way Out

Imagine being in a burning building, confused by smoke and not knowing the way out. Someone comes up and says, “I’ve worked for six years here in this building. We go up and left. Follow me.”

Right then, another person approaches. He says, “I designed and built this building. The only way out is down and to the right. Follow me.”

Many religious systems claim to be the right one or the only one. Some are classified as a sect that deviates from a more traditional form. These may call themselves Christian but have abandoned traditional Christian beliefs, even the Bible as their final authority. 

I’m not sure about the basis for those exclusive claims. A group comes to mind that claims their founder had a vision. Another is told that their organization provides the only way to God seemingly because their leaders find this helps them have a good hold on their fearful adherents. Whatever the reasons, I’ve always been told to watch out for those religions that claim they are the only true way to God. 

Yet I’ve learned that those who say there are many ways to God are just as dangerous. Even logic says that two opposite views cannot both be correct (unless they come from two blind men both describing what they can touch on the opposite ends of an elephant). Even if they sound good or are obviously faulting, all these claims can be confusing.

From examining the voices out there, my decision about the way to God is not based on any teaching from others or the claims that they might make. I follow Jesus He made the building. He created the universe. He did what no man can do — besides miracles of healing and turning water into wine, He died for the sins of the world, was buried, and after three days rose again. Not only that, it was not His followers but Jesus who made the claim . . .

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

Jesus also made promises. One of them is that those who believe would experience conviction of sin, confession, repentance, and then forgiveness, freedom from guilt, and ever-increasing victory over sin. He also said that His followers would receive answers to prayer, peace with God, and fullness of joy.

He kept all those promises giving me reason to doubt that He will keep this one about being the way (not a way) to the Father. 

Christians have been accused of being dogmatically exclusive, yet it isn’t our idea. Jesus made this “no one except” statement. He claimed to be the way, the only way. Yet He made another one that takes the exclusive out of faith in Him. He said,

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. (John 11:25)

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Lord, I’ve been particularly amazed this week that You save anyone. We are sinners stumbling around in the smoke of our self-centeredness and sin. By ourselves, there is no way out. Many simple will follow the first person that comes along making a claim that sounds good. Yet like the creator of a burning building, You know more about our need regarding sin than we do, and certainly more about the way out. In fact, You simply invite us to take hold of Your nail-scarred hands and You become the Way for us.

(Clip art source)