Why did the eternal Son of God come into our world in the humble appearance of a slave? (See Med. 4). We can read about that in the biblical account of John 6,38: “I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.”
His human appearance as “God’s humble slave” is however not the end of the story. It continues by telling us that he humbled himself even further as he willfully died the brutal death of a Roman convict: “And in human form (as a slave) he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.” (Philippians 2,8)
It is a staggering and bewildering report. Why would God the Son come to our earth to eventually die the undeserved death of a criminal? The prophet Isaiah had already foretold this event 700 years before. He also interpreted it with the following words:
“But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!
All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.
From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins-- that he was suffering their punishment?
He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal ...
But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief.” (Isaiah 53,5-10)
The apostle Paul reflects on this brutal event with the following words: “God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5,21)
The apostle Peter points out that “Christ ... died for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners that he might bring us safely home to God.” (1 Peter 3,18)
As we have just read, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ - Son of God and Son of Man - died for us ‘as a scapegoat’ to lead us back to God. But is his death the end of the story? Bear with me until next time!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
4. JESUS CHRIST: TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN (c)
In Meditation 3 we saw that the Bible shows us how God the Father created the universe and everything in it through his Son Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, we are reading in John 3,16 about God’s unfathomable love for our world: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Philippians 2,5-7 shows us what happened to God’s Son since he was willing to be ‘given’ sacrificially to our world, in loving obedience to his Father.
First we are reminded about the divinity of Jesus Christ: “He was God”.
Then we read about his willingness to renounce his divine rights and power claims: “He did not demand and cling to his rights as God.”
Consequently, we see how he gave up his honour and high reputation: “He made himself nothing.”
Next we read that he arrived on our earth as a human being and, after 2,000 years, we are still trying to grasp the meaning of his deliberate transformation into the lowest of the low in first century society: “He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.”
Someone wrote, “Christ came down from the height of power and splendour to the abyss of weakness and lowliness proper to a slave, and herein is revealed ... the inner nature of the Redeemer ... He did not consider Himself; He set before the eyes of those who believe in Him the example of forgetfulness of His own ego.”
It is in this humble and self-denying appearance as a human being that he calls himself ‘the Son of Man’: “For ... the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10,45)
Furthermore, we are reading in John 3,16 about God’s unfathomable love for our world: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Philippians 2,5-7 shows us what happened to God’s Son since he was willing to be ‘given’ sacrificially to our world, in loving obedience to his Father.
First we are reminded about the divinity of Jesus Christ: “He was God”.
Then we read about his willingness to renounce his divine rights and power claims: “He did not demand and cling to his rights as God.”
Consequently, we see how he gave up his honour and high reputation: “He made himself nothing.”
Next we read that he arrived on our earth as a human being and, after 2,000 years, we are still trying to grasp the meaning of his deliberate transformation into the lowest of the low in first century society: “He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.”
Someone wrote, “Christ came down from the height of power and splendour to the abyss of weakness and lowliness proper to a slave, and herein is revealed ... the inner nature of the Redeemer ... He did not consider Himself; He set before the eyes of those who believe in Him the example of forgetfulness of His own ego.”
It is in this humble and self-denying appearance as a human being that he calls himself ‘the Son of Man’: “For ... the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10,45)
Friday, January 15, 2010
3. JESUS CHRIST: TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN (b)
The Bible speaks a lot about Jesus Christ’s divine Sonship even before he came as a baby into our world 2,000 years ago. Here are two powerful examples.
The first we find in Colossians 1,16-17: “Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see ... Everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.”
The second example we find in Hebrews 1,2-3: “Now in these final days, he (i.e. God) has spoken to us through his Son. ... through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command.”
Yet, the Bible does not only testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but also that he is the Son of Man. What that second title means, we will see next time.
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’.
The first we find in Colossians 1,16-17: “Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see ... Everything has been created through him and for him. He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.”
The second example we find in Hebrews 1,2-3: “Now in these final days, he (i.e. God) has spoken to us through his Son. ... through the Son he made the universe and everything in it. The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly. He sustains the universe by the mighty power of his command.”
Yet, the Bible does not only testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but also that he is the Son of Man. What that second title means, we will see next time.
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’.
Friday, January 8, 2010
2. JESUS CHRIST: TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN (a)
The first question we have to ask the Bible is: who is Jesus? The answer is truly astonishing: Jesus is God himself in human form! We read that in Matthew 1,23: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).”
Or take Philippians 2,6-7: “Though he (i.e. Jesus Christ) was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.”
Furthermore we read in John 1,1: “In the beginning was the Word (i.e. Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And in verse 14: “So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.” That leads us to his divine title ‘Son of God’...
One of the authors of the Bible, Mark, starts his story about Jesus with these words: “Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” (Mark 1,1)
In other words, as someone once said, if I had met Jesus 2,000 years ago during his walk on earth, I would have looked God in the eye. What an astounding thought!
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’, except John 1,1 (‘New International Version’).
Or take Philippians 2,6-7: “Though he (i.e. Jesus Christ) was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.”
Furthermore we read in John 1,1: “In the beginning was the Word (i.e. Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And in verse 14: “So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.” That leads us to his divine title ‘Son of God’...
One of the authors of the Bible, Mark, starts his story about Jesus with these words: “Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” (Mark 1,1)
In other words, as someone once said, if I had met Jesus 2,000 years ago during his walk on earth, I would have looked God in the eye. What an astounding thought!
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’, except John 1,1 (‘New International Version’).
Friday, January 1, 2010
1. INTRODUCTION
How exciting to know that God wants to change us in such a way that we become ever more like his one and only Son Jesus Christ! That is what we read in the biblical text of 2 Corinthians 3,18: “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.”
So, who is Jesus Christ? How does he look like? Why does God want to change us into his likeness? How does that change take place? We want to consider these and many other questions in this blog, so, hold on!
The Bible verse is quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’.
So, who is Jesus Christ? How does he look like? Why does God want to change us into his likeness? How does that change take place? We want to consider these and many other questions in this blog, so, hold on!
The Bible verse is quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’.
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