“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.”
John 5:25-30
Son of God
It Was Not A Little Baby Who Died On The Cross
And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Matthew 27:39-44
At this time of year all Christendom remembers the birth of a baby boy. He was certainly a very special little boy. This baby boy came with one intention, and that was to glorify His Father, through obedience and going to the cross to die for our sins,
It is seen in Luke chapter two that the religious leaders respected His wisdom for that age of twelve years, and He was teaching them (Luke 2:31-52). The young Man Jesus was respected, but when Jesus grew to His fullness the religious leaders grew in hatred of Him. Jesus was exposing their sin, hypocrisy, and greed, and there lust for power over the people.
The above verses show us how He was treated for being who He said that He is. They reviled Him in blasphemy, and mockery, and saying things like, “He saved others, but cannot save Himself.” They also said, “If You are the Son of God, deliver Yourself.
Jesus came and gave His life for the sins of Adam kind. That Baby in the manger followed His Father’s pathway walking with Him wherever He walked doing all that the Father did. Even going to His death on the cross for the remission of our sins. He was buried, and He rose again, and is alive forever more. Since He has been raised we will be raised up from the grave also; because He lives.
It was not a little baby who died on that cross; it was the full grown Son of Man the Son of God who died. Believe Him.
In The Words Of The Baptist
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:31-36
John the Baptist or Baptizer is the last of the Old Testament prophets, He was sent by God ahead of the Messiah to prepare the hearts of the people to receive their God and King. Who was John speaking of? The answer to that question is; Jesus is the anointed One or the Messiah (the Christ) of God.
John the Baptist calls Him the Son of God, “The Father loves the Son…” He is the One whom God sent.
John also tells us that, “He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that believes not on the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Jesus Christ is the only way to have all your sins forgiven, and forgotten by God. He stood in our place taking the wrath of His Father upon Himself, so that we might be delivered from Almighty God’s wrath. So, the only way to get the wrath of God off of yourself is to trust in God through God’s only begotten Son, by believing in faith that He died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again from the dead on the third day.
In His resurrection He proved that everything He did, every word He spoke, every act of healing He did was true. He is Truth.
Jesus Is The Son Of God
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, ‘After me cometh a Man which is preferred before me:’ for He was before me. And I knew Him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” And John bare record, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, ‘Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 1:29-34
There seems to be a number of people who do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God and since He is the Son of God, that He is also God the Son. I know that sounds odd maybe, but it is the truth.
This is one of those things that will be revealed to you by the Holy Spirit, and no other way. Does it make a difference if you do not believe that? It seems to me that the Bible bears that out quite clearly even with Jesus saying to Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). This was after Jesus had questioned His disciples concerning who people thought He is. Peter said, “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). Most Jewish religious leaders believed the Messiah was coming, but did not recognize Him when He came. They also believed the Messiah to be Deity. This Man Jesus is the Incarnation of God.
That is a hill that I stand on, and die for as well. John the Baptist witnessed the Holy Spirit coming on Jesus as He ascended out of the baptismal waters, in the form of a dove, and heard the Father said from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” So I think it best to believe the word of God over the deniers of the truth of who Jesus really is.
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God; and He is God the Son. This was Peter’s confession, It is also my confession and conviction. What is your confession concerning the Deity of Jesus the Christ of God?
In The Press
And Moses said unto the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
And the LORD said unto Moses, “Wherefore criest thou unto Me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: but lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten Me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exodus 14:13-18
The Israelite people had been freed from bondage in Egypt, They had made it to the Red Sea, when they looked and saw their former captors on the chase after them, and it was not for recapture. The Egyptians had a heart for killing them all.
The people of Israel, many of them, when they saw the Egypt’s army hot on their trail, they were frightened. Moses tells them “Do not fear, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.
Please note what God says to Moses, it sounds something like this, “What are you doing standing here? Tell the people to move forward, stretch out your staff over the sea, and it will divide, and the people will go over on dry ground.”
The King of Egypt, the Pharaoh was not an honest, trust worthy man. He could not be trusted. He thought he was god, and was worshiped by the Egyptian people. The LORD God Almighty had proven that he was not god, but only a man.
The people of Israel had found themselves in a press, or it you will, a stressful situation. When they saw the large army coming after them they saw no way out. The LORD provided a way where there seemed to be no way.
God is the Righteous, Holy and Just Lord of creation. He cannot tolerate sin, and He will not even look upon it. How then, can we please Him? We cannot, but One did. Humanity is in a press concerning our relationship with God. God sent His Son to live a life without sin, an obedient Son who had a strong relationship with God His Father.
The press of sin can defeated now by one calling on the name of the One who died on the cross for our sins, having become sin for us, that we would become the Righteousness of God.
Is the press of sin weighing on you today. Today is the day to move toward Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the way, and there is no other.
The Power Of The Confession of Faith
Confession of faith in Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross.
Then the Spirit said unto Philip, “Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” And he said, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the Scripture which he read was this,
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not his mouth: In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth.”
And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, “I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” And Philip said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 8:29-38
The place where the eunuch was reading was Isaiah 53 and verse 7. He was probably reading the whole book, but at that moment chapter 53.
The man in the chariot was struggling with understanding what he was reading. Philip shows up, and the man asks him to join him in the chariot. Philip does and begins explaining that those Scriptures dealing with Jesus Christ. Most everything written in the Old Testament is about Jesus the Messiah who was going to come. Now He has come, and something happened that no one expected; He died on a cross for our sins. He was buried, and He rose up out of that grave alive forever more.
The eunuch sees a pool of water, and asks Philip, “What is there keeping me from being baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart yo may.” He very quickly responded with, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” That is a powerful confession of faith in Christ Jesus, and Philip and the eunuch got out of the chariot, and both of then went into the water. Philip baptized the man.
In order for a soul, and individual to be delivered from sin and iniquity, and become a child of God, that must be one’s confession; Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Peter’s confession in Matthew 16 and verse 16 was “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Is that your confession today?
This Book and Eternal Life
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.
John 20:30-31
John loved the Lord Jesus. He believed the words Jesus spoke, the life He lived, and he believed in the death of Jesus, His burial, and in His resurrection. After the empty tomb was discovered by Mary Magdalene and the others that were with her, Peter and John raced to the tomb, where John beat Peter to the empty grave John stopped, and Peter went on in, finding the head covering wrapped in a place alone, but the linen burial clothes were like the body of Jesus disappeared within them.
John notes that many other signs and miracles were done by Jesus before His death, but they are not all written in this book. This book is written so that in the reading of it that the reader would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. All four of the Gospel accounts -Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – show His Deity, but none so clearly and powerfully as John.
This is the first one of the Gospels I suggest that a new believer read, study and hear. Do not begin in the Old Testament you will get bogged down, and lose interest. Read John’s Gospel account, and then read First, Second, and Third John. Then you can read the other three Gospel accounts, and the other New Testament book of Acts, all the other Letters [Epistles], and the Revelation. Just a suggestion, but whatever you do if you are new to the faith of Christ Jesus, read the word so you will be empowered and led by the Spirit of God. After this you can read the Old Testament, and be greatly blessed reading Genesis through Malachi.
These words of John were written so that those who believe will have eternal life. Life in and through the Lord Jesus begins the moment you believe Him. Believe Him, and you will live forever with Him.
The Baptizers Testimony of Who Jesus Is
John the Baptizer was the messenger who introduced the Lamb of God, and prepared the way for the Messiah ‘s coming. The Jews and some of John’s disciples were asking John about purification, and then asking him about Jesus also baptizing people as if to cause a rift between John and Jesus. John’s response was who God says He is.
He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all. And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:30-36
Notice, that John is not envious about Jesus baptizing others. “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Then he says that Jesus has given testimony of what He has seen and heard, and no one receives His testimony, and that those who do receive Him seals the proof that God is true.
Jesus speaks the word of because He cannot do otherwise, because He Himself is Truth.
John testifies that Jesus is the Son of God, that the Father loves the Son, and has put all things in His hand. “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not everything made that is made.” John 1:3.
John gives us the testimony also that; the ones who believe on the Son has everlasting life, and that those who do not believe on the Son shall not see life. Those who do not believe on the Son have the wrath of God abiding on them.
When we believe the Father, we believe the Son; when we believe the Son we believe the Father (1 John 2:23-24). Jesus Himself tells us, “I and My Father are One” John 10:30.
Who do you say Jesus Christ is ? Your answer matters for where you will spend eternity.
Going Up To Jerusalem
I have heard froAnd Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”
Matthew 20:17-19
m Bible scholars, and teachers, many of whom have been to Jerusalem; that no matter from which we you are coming to Jerusalem, you are always going up to Jerusalem.
The Lord Jesus had His eyes set on the one day that He would go to the city one final time, and He would give His life that the world might be saved.
Hear what Jesus says,
And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”
Matthew 20:17-19
Though, it is not written as the words of Jesus chapter 16:21 tells us that Jesus told them that He was going to Jerusalem, suffer and die, and that He would rise again. It never seemed to sink into their understanding. Then He tells them once again in chapter 17:22-23 and they still do not get it. They believed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-19).
The twelve disciples were blinded by their own understanding of what the Messiah was supposed to do. They were possibly come to understand, and believe that the Messiah was only a Savior for the Jew, and not the Gentile. They did not understand the meanings of the prophecies of His first coming, they were thinking the Christ was coming to conquer Rome and deliver Israel and set up His kingdom on earth. They were wrong, and soon found that out.
Every prophecy concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in the coming of Christ as a suffering Servant, and He was faithful, even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8).
As we are getting near the end of the Gospel according to Matthew, we know that what Jesus spoke was true, and is still true; Christ Jesus died for our sins. It is not the best way of salvation; it is the only way of salvation. No one will be saved by keeping the law, or by living by the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection is the only way.
According To The Pattern
“…And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it…”
Exodus 25:8-9
According to what pattern? The pattern from that which is in the presence of God in glory.
God has told Moses to receive an offering from the people in the wilderness. Those offerings are to consist of gold, silver, brass, precious stones, special materials, such as blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen. It was also to include certain animal skins, oil, spices, and incense. As well as a few other items and a certain wood.
What is all of this about? It is God’s plan of salvation for His people. The plan has included blood sacrifices, of goats, and lambs, and bulls; even a red heifer. It comes from God’s pattern in glory. The earthly tabernacle was for God’s desire to dwell among His people. All of these shadows, types, and pictures are only likenesses of the true, which is in heaven. They all point to a Savior who will come several centuries later, and His name is Jesus.
The blood of goats, lambs, bulls, nor a red heifer can take away sin. The reason for daily sacrifices shows that, and the annual sacrifice on the day of Atonement needed repeated again and again, because they were still guilty of sin.
When Jesus came, sent from the Father as the “Only begotten Son of God,” then God was dwelling among His people. The religious leaders rejected Him; many of them did, and that led to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His one sacrifice is sufficient to save all who will call on His name.
Hear what the writer of Hebrews says,
“Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, “See,” saith He, “that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” Hebrews 8:5
Christ Jesus is the One and only who can take away our sins. He has paid the sin debt that was owed to God the Father. The debt has been paid, and Jesus paid it with His life, giving His blood for our redemption.
Only one sacrifice. Only One Savior. His name is Jesus who is the Son of the Living God. Call on His name today and be delivered from the bondage of sin and darkness.
Revealing the Children of God
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:7-10
Laborers In The Harvest
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
“And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be Mine; because all the firstborn are Mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto Me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: Mine shall they be: I am the LORD.”
Numbers 3:11-13
Then saith He unto His disciples,
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:37-38
And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Acts 9:19-20
The Son of Man – The Son of God Coming Again
“…But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven…”
Mark 13:24-27
Jesus Christ; Crucified Only Once
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.
For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Hebrews 6:4-8
Jesus Christ – The Eternal One
There are a lot of voices today saying things concerning Jesus; and many of them don’t know the real Jesus. To many Jesus was only a good teacher, a prophet, a good man, or a good example to follow. To others he never really existed; he is kind of like the legend of king Arthur; leaving a question or questions of like, “Did he really exist, or is he just folklore and legend?”
According to many scholars, historians, archeologists and others there is more evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, His life, death, burial, and resurrection; than there is for the existence of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. The purpose of this message is not to present these evidences, but to just take what John the apostle wrote as fact, and present it as truth, the truth of God; and let God speak for Himself.
Purpose – To introduce Jesus Christ to us in the beginning of John’s Gospel as the Word – to see what God is like; God’s communication of Himself to bring us to Himself.
INTRODUCTION –
The writer of the notes in the PILGRIM STUDY BIBLE says, “Words reveal thoughts and character; and just so the Lord Jesus expressed God’s thought and showed us what God is like.”
Jesus is introduced to us in the beginning of John’s Gospel as the Word. We are told by John that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” In chapter 12:20-21 there were some Greeks who had come to a feast of Israel. They came to Phillip and said, “Sir, we would see Jesus.” That is what I pray we get from this message from the Gospel of John.
If the world could get a clear picture of Jesus, and follow Him, it would help us all. The following story gives us the wisdom of a child;
“One day a father was sitting in his easy chair enjoying reading the daily paper. His young daughter came up to him saying, ‘Daddy will you play house with me?’ He would say, ‘Not now sweetheart. I am reading the paper rightenow. Please go a play without me.’ His daughter was persistent, though and kept coming back. Finally, after seveal approaches by the girl the father took a page of the peaper with a picture of the world on it, tore it into several pieces and gave it to her saying, ‘Here, see how long it takes you to put the pieces of the world together like a puzzle.’ She took that page and was gone a very short time, and returned to her father, and said, ‘Daddy, I got it all put together.’ He looked at the page, and asked her, ‘You finished so quickly. How did you do that?’ Her response was one that really should have an influence on us all. ‘Daddy’, she said, ‘There is a picture of Jesus on the back of the page, and when I got Jesus together the world came together too.”
John has some favorite words – “Life”, “love”, “witness”, “believe”, “truth, “know”, “light”, “darkness”, “world”, and “flesh”. you will notice these words in the reading of the gospel and his other writings.
“Jesus Christ as the Eternal Word is a revelation of God to man.” KJV BIBLE COMMENTARY
None of the Gospels are more clear on the Deity of Jesus Christ than is John’s Gospel.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:1-5 (KJV)
OUTLINE:
I. JESUS IS THE IMAGE AND REPRESENTATION OF GOD (v. 1; Hebrews 1:3).
II. JESUS IS THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD (v. 2; Colossians 2:9).
III. JESUS IS THE LIFE AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD (v. 3-4, 3:19; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:1-3).
IV. JESUS IS THAT LIGHT WHICH DISPELS THE DARKNESS (v. 5; 8:12; 12:46; Ephesians 5:8)
JESUS IS THE IMAGE OF AND REPRESENTATION OF GOD.
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 1:3 (KJV)
He as the Living Word was creating from the beginning of all things (Genesis 1:1). A person’s words reveal their character, their hearts, their thoughts. You can trust God’s Word. In God’s case His Word is His character.
Jesus as the Living Word is revealed seven times in the first chapter of Genesis. In verses 3, 6, 9, 14, 20, 24, and 26 it reads, “And God said…”. What God said was His Word was going forth creating. All things that are were made by His Word – the Word who “was made flesh”.
Let’s hear what Jesus said of Himself;
Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, “Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also.” John 8:19 (KJV)
Then said the Jews unto Him, “Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?” Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:57-58 (KJV),
and who is “I Am”?
“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Exodus 3:13-14 (KJV)
JESUS IS THE FULNESS OF ALL THE GODHEAD – SO HE WAS WITH HIM AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN WITH HIM.
“For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9).
The Scriptures tell us that “God is Spirit” meaning, basically, that we cannot see God. “God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)
God in His love revealed Himself to us through His Son Jesus who is the Living Word. When we see Jesus we see the Father. When we hear the words of Jesus we hear the words of the Father. When we trust Jesus we trust the Father.
JESUS IS THE LIFE AND LIGHT TO THE WORLD. The implication is that the world is in darkness and in need of light. In the beginning God gave light for the earth. Where did the light come from? God is the light of the world. Jesus later said, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5) The light was divided from darkness. One thing we must realize is, that, where there is light there is no darkness at all.
Darkness is a way of hiding all that is evil and evil evidently does not realize that nothing is hid from God.
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19 (KJV)
Jesus is the light that shines in darkness, and darkness cannot overcome His light. The world and the devil may think He is defeated. We hear reports of Christianity slipping in growth, yet those who genuinely trust Jesus Christ are growing and the Body of Christ is still strong, and growing in faith; knowing that the return of Jesus Christ is soon.
The devil, that ole serpent, knows he has been defeated; but has many convinced that the battle has not yet been decided. Anyone believing that is a fool, and pawn of evil. The cross of Christ and His resurrection is the sure sign that the battle for the souls of men, has been won, and Jesus Christ is the Victor. Light has overcome the darkness.
JESUS IS THAT LIGHT WHICH DISPELLS DARKNESS – HE DRIVES IT AWAY. Who ever follows Jesus will not walk in darkness, but in the light.
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12 (KJV)
People who walk with Jesus will not abide in darkness – we are of the light, because He is the Light.
“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46 (KJV)
When you are trusting Jesus, walking with Him, He drives all the darkness away; or will walk with you through it (Psalm 23:4). If you are having a dark moment in your life, just look to Jesus, the One who endured the darkness of the cross for all our sin. Paul tells us to walk as children of the light.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light…” Ephesians 5:8 (KJV)
SUMMARY –
i. To see God just look upon Jesus.
ii. Everything God is; Jesus is: Everything Jesus is God is.
iii. Where Jesus is there is no darkness at all.
iv. In the presence of Jesus there is no need for fear, unless you are on the wrong end of his judgment.
They said That He was Making Himself God
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them,
“Many good works have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do ye stone Me?”
The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God.” John 10:31-33
There are religious cults who say that Jesus Christ was not God. One even goes so far as to change what they call their version of the scriptures to read that He was “a god,” they would be saying that He was making a false claim about Himself.
One way to properly interpret what the Bible says, and what Jesus says is to study the culture of the time we are studying and the teaching, in this case of the religious leaders.
The Jewish leaders of Jesus’s day knew what Jesus was saying when He said, “I and My Father are One” (John 10:30); and there are many other references in John 8 through 10; as well as other verses in other chapters of the gospels; where Jesus clearly calls Himself Deity.
Jesus tells us in John 8:24 “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” The words Jesus spoke in this verse are clearly of deity. For Him to say that they would die in their sins if the did not believe that He is who He says He is will be their death in their sins; their damnation eternally.
Dear friends, will You receive Jesus Christ for who He says He is? He is the Christ – the Messiah – the Son of God, and the Incarnation of God, God the Son who came to die on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and He came out of the grave with a flesh and bone body (Luke 24:39), and is eternal.
Division Over Who Jesus Is
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, “Of a truth this is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Shall Christ come out of Galilee?” Hath not the Scripture said, “That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
So there was a division among the people because of Him. And some of them would have taken Him; but no man laid hands on Him. John 7:40-44
In 2021 there is probably more division over the identity of who Jesus is than in any time in history. The evidence of who Jesus is is best found in the Scriptures of the Bible of the Old and the New Testaments. The Law of Genesis through Deuteronomy. The Historical books of Judges through Esther. The books of Poetry of Job through the Song of Solomon, and you could include the Lamentations of the prophet Jeremiah. There is proof in reading the Prophets Isaiah through Malachi. Then, of course the Gospels which are about the coming, life, death, burial, resurrection and second coming of Jesus. The book of Acts which shows the work of the Holy Spirit’s coming of His Church – the body of Christ. The writings of the apostle Paul, the apostle Peter, and the brothers of Jesus James and Jude, and the last book The Revelation of Jesus Christ as given to John by Jesus Himself.
Get to know Jesus. Not by what you hear from others, but from what the Book of books says about Him. Read it for yourself with the guidance of the Holy Spirit you will come to the conclusion of the Scripture. Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God; and He is God the Living Son.
He Was, He Is, and Forever Shall Be
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:1-5
It is the week of Christmas. The day set aside for the remembrance of the birth of our Lord and Savior. How many of us really realize and know who He is. He is often spoken of in the past tense in ways like, “He was a good man” or “He was a good teacher”, and even some who profess Jesus and faith in Him say, “He was the Christ of God.” He was all those things, and He is all those things, and He forever shall be those things.
That Incarnation of God; God becoming Man; throws some people into a hissy theological fit, because they cannot grasp God becoming Man. That is exactly who Jesus is. When Jesus came as the God-Man it was as a Babe in the stable, laid in a manger for a crib. He cried like all babies, yet this baby grew and never sinned. At the age of 12 He was found in the temple teaching the Bible scholars, and growing in the wisdom and knowledge of God.
It is that same Boy who grew to be a Man, called disciples to follow Him and He taught them, and many others for three years. He performed many miracles, including raising dead people to life, touching and healing lepers and giving sight to a man born blind.
He came from His position in Glory with the Father to go to the cross to die, and in His death take all the sins of the world upon Himself, taking the wrath of God Himself for our sins. He died, was buried, and He rose from the grave and to never die again. He was our Lord and Savior, and He is our Lord and Savior, and He will forever be our God, Lord and Savior.
Do you know this One who was, who is, and forever shall be? You can make this Christmas a very Merry Christmas by calling on the name of Jesus Christ the Son of God who is God the Son.
When the Whole City Came Out to Meet Jesus
And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?” And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought Him, saying, “If Thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.” And He said unto them,
“Go.”
And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw Him, they besought that He would depart out of their coasts. Matthew 8:28-34
Not by Bread Alone
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” But He answered and said,
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:1-4
It has been said by many people, “I will do whatever it takes to survive.” I have, sadly, at times lived that way. Is that, however, the response of Jesus as He was tempted in the wilderness; to survive at any cost?
The tempter, who was Satan, trying to get Jesus to take the easy way, challenged Him, by questioning His position with His Father, and questioning His ability to make it to the cross without sinning. Yes! It would have been a sin for Jesus to turn stones into bread.
To do so He would have been falling for the temptation of the “Lust of the flesh”, and would have failed.
Take a note on His answer to the tempter. Jesus used the words of God from Moses’s writings (Deuteronomy 8:3), and noted that His survival would be due to the truth of the word of God; doing the godly and right thing.
Jesus teaches us later in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” These words have much more power and authority to us when we see how Jesus handled His temptation in the wilderness.
Let us commit to Him to live by His word, trusting Him only for life’s needs. Warning: this is not implying sitting back and not working.
Lord Of The Elements
And when even was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea, and entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But He saith unto them,
“It is I; be not afraid.”
Then they willingly received Him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. John 6:16-21
Walking on water. Only one Man ever accomplished doing that with success. There is the gospel account where Jesus bids Peter to come to Him, Peter gets out of the boat and does for a moment, but when he sees the waves, the rough sea around him, he sinks calling for the Lord to help him (Matthew 14:26-31).
So who has the authority to take control over the elements, and to command others to even do so, but God? No one.
We must recognize who Jesus Christ is. He is in fact the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, the Sent One by God. He is in fact the Son of God, the Son of Man, the God-Man who is fully God and fully Man. He is Man, yet without sin. He can walk on water. He can calm the storms.
He can also heal the sick, cause the cripple to walk and leap about, open the eyes of those born blind, open the ears of the deaf, and the mouth of the mute. He still went to the cross bearing the sins of the world, dying; and He was buried taking away all our sin, shame, guilt and condemnation; and He arose and came out of that grave, and forever lives seated by the Father’s right hand.
Repent of your sins, believe Him and be saved.
An Already Condemned World, Loved By God
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but He that believeth not is condemned already, because He hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:17-21
There are many who believe that God in the Old Testament, and God in the New Testament are two separate persons. That, however, comes from an ignorance of the Old Testament.
God in the Old Testament is a God of love too. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, it was God’s love that provided covering for their sin and nakedness. It was His love that saved Noah and his family to redeem Adam’s race.
Because of Adam’s sin in the garden we were all born into sin. Born with a sin nature, separated from God, condemned for eternity. This message is prevalent through out Scripture. It is also clearly seen that God loves the race of Adam – that is people from every tribe, tongue and nation.
In His love God sent His only begotten Son to be our Redeemer, so that through Him we might have everlasting life.
There are many who love their sin and darkness more that they do the light, glory and forgiveness of God. They love darkness rather than light. They love their own way rather than God’s way; therefore, they continue in their condemnation.
The answer for Adam’s race is hear the words of Jesus Christ, call on His name, repenting of your sin, believing Him and He will hear you and give you life eternal.
See Romans 8:1.
“Lord, I Believe”
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said unto him,
“Dost thou believe on the Son of God?”
He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I might believe on Him?” And Jesus said unto him,
“Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee.”
And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshipped Him. John 9:35-38
The man behind the story was born blind. No one had ever heard or known of anyone having their sight given to them who had been born blind. Yet Jesus applied clay to the man’s eyes, then told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. He did, and then the Jews cast him out of the temple; meaning that he could no longer worship there.
Jesus found him later, having heard he had been “cast out”, and ask him if he believed in the Son of God. Jesus reveals Himself to the man, and the man believes Him, then worships Him.
My eyes have been opened to the seeing of the Lord Jesus. As I grow older I realize more and more who Jesus is. The closer I get to Him the more I realize I need Him, and that am a sinner saved solely by His grace. There is nothing in me worthy of His presence or of heaven, but the new birth of the spirit in me, and the presence of the Holy Spirit of God who confirms my salvation.
He died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. Have your eyes been opened to who He is? Is He calling You. Believe Him today.
Jesus and His Father
Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8
But Jesus answered them,
“My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:17-18
One of the beliefs of the true Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Son of Man; the God-Man. He is fully God and fully Man. Any departure from this is not Christian belief.
Even the Jews in verse 18 above knew what Jesus was saying, and they did not misinterpret His words, but were correct in what they said. Yet, they did not receive the message of Him or His word.
When we come to the realization of who Jesus genuinely and truly is, then we will either reject Him flat out, or we will trust Him completely.
I have received Him for who He really is; and He is calling You to Himself to receive cleansing and forgiveness of sin, and when You see Him for who He is He will save You and give You eternal life.
They Came Out of Their Graves, After His Resurrection
Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Matthew 27:50-54
These are the “First fruits” of His resurrection. So shall the rest of those be who die in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Fire and Hammer 