Today we want to complete our short exploration of the prominent stages in the life and ministry of God’s Spirit-anointed Messiah (see also Med. 9 - 11).
f) He will return to our world in majesty and establish God’s worldwide and eternal dominion:
Jesus Christ spoke already before his death and resurrection about his future majestic return to Earth: “And then at last, the sign of the coming of the Son of Man will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the nations of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30)
When Jesus returned to heaven after his resurrection, God’s messengers said to his followers: “Why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!” (Acts 1:11)
The apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Thessalonica saying that many people in their part of the world are speaking about their faith in Jesus Christ and “how you are looking forward to the coming of God's Son from heaven-- Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
The apostle John opens his famous end-time prophesy called ‘Revelation’ with the announcement: “Look! He (i.e. Jesus the Messiah) comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him-- even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the earth will weep because of him.” (Revelation 1:7)
Furthermore, John writes in ‘Revelation’ about heavenly voices, proclaiming God’s worldwide and eternal dominion: “… The whole world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ (his Messiah), and he will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)
Jesus Christ has the messianic titles ‘Son of God’ and ‘Son of Man’
During the introduction to our theme ‘Meditations on Christlike Maturity’ (Med. 1 - 12), we saw in the biblical texts that Jesus Christ, God’s Spirit-anointed Messiah, is also the Son of God and the Son of Man.
It is Jesus himself who testified to that fact on the night before his death. As he stood trial before the highest Jewish Court, the president of the Court asked him: “… I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63).
In his reply, Jesus mentions his other messianic title: “Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God's right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64).
The apostle John writes at the end of his Gospel (i.e. Good News): “Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.” (John 20:30-31).
Do you believe this?
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
11. JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S PROMISED MESSIAH (c)
Today we want to continue our exploration of the prominent stages in the life and ministry of God’s Spirit-anointed Messiah (see also Med.9 and 10):
d) He is the divine Sacrifice for everyone’s sins:
On the day of his resurrection, Jesus reminded his followers that the prophets of Old Testament times had foreseen his sacrificial death: “Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory? Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.” (Luke 24:25-27).
The apostle Paul explains later in his letter to the Christians in Rome why Jesus had to die and rise again: “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.” (Romans 4:25).
And before, he wrote in the same letter: “... Christ Jesus ... has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us.” (Romans 3:24). See also Med. 5.
e) He will be the divine Judge of the living and the dead:
The apostle Peter explained to his listeners in Caesarea, a town in the north of Israel: “God ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the Judge of all-- the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42).
The apostle Paul declared to the people of Athens: “God has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31).
In his letter to the Christians in Rome the apostle Paul wrote: “The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ, will judge everyone's secret life. This is my message.” (Romans 2:16).
And in a letter to his co-worker Timothy he stressed the point that “... Christ Jesus ... will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:1).
How comforting is Jesus’ promise that all who trust him for forgiveness will not be condemned.
Even before he would bear the punishment for our sins, he already declared: “I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24).
Next week we will complete our exploration of Jesus’ messianic mission.
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’.
d) He is the divine Sacrifice for everyone’s sins:
On the day of his resurrection, Jesus reminded his followers that the prophets of Old Testament times had foreseen his sacrificial death: “Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory? Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.” (Luke 24:25-27).
The apostle Paul explains later in his letter to the Christians in Rome why Jesus had to die and rise again: “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.” (Romans 4:25).
And before, he wrote in the same letter: “... Christ Jesus ... has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us.” (Romans 3:24). See also Med. 5.
e) He will be the divine Judge of the living and the dead:
The apostle Peter explained to his listeners in Caesarea, a town in the north of Israel: “God ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is ordained of God to be the Judge of all-- the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42).
The apostle Paul declared to the people of Athens: “God has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31).
In his letter to the Christians in Rome the apostle Paul wrote: “The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ, will judge everyone's secret life. This is my message.” (Romans 2:16).
And in a letter to his co-worker Timothy he stressed the point that “... Christ Jesus ... will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom.” (2 Timothy 4:1).
How comforting is Jesus’ promise that all who trust him for forgiveness will not be condemned.
Even before he would bear the punishment for our sins, he already declared: “I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24).
Next week we will complete our exploration of Jesus’ messianic mission.
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’.
Friday, March 12, 2010
10. JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S PROMISED MESSIAH (b)
The Bible recounts the prominent stages in the life and ministry of God’s Spirit-annointed Messiah (see Med.9):
a) He comes into our world through his miraculous birth as a Jew in Israel:
Matthew tells us about that miraculous birth: “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).” (Matthew 1:23).
With regard to his birth as a Jewish child, the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome: “Christ, the Messiah, himself was a Jew as far as his human nature is concerned.” (Romans 9:5).
The angels proclaimed to shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth: “The Saviour-- yes, the Messiah, the Lord-- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of (king) David!” (Luke 2:11).
Jesus Himself, speaking about his earthly life and saving ministry, states that “... salvation comes through the Jews.” (John 4:22)
b) He is the divine ‘Shepherd’ who compassionately reaches out to everyone who calls on him:
Matthew tells us the story of John the Baptist’s disciples who came to Jesus with the following question: “Are you really the Messiah we've been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him about what you have heard and seen-- the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11:3-5).
The apostle Peter explains the ministry of God’s Spirit-anointed Messiah as follows: “No doubt you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38).
c) He is the divine Saviour of his people Israel and of the entire world:
God the Father speaks about his Son through the prophet Isaiah ca. 700 years before Jesus’ birth, saying: “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the nations, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6 ).
The apostle John writes: “We have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.” ( 1 John 4:14).
Already before Jesus’ birth, an angel said in a dream to Joseph: “She (i.e. Mary, Joseph’s fiancée) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).
The name Jesus means: ‘God saves’.
The prophet Isaiah prophesied about this promised Messiah: “His name will be the hope of all the world.” (Matthew 12:21).
As we just read, the Bible assures us that our world will not end in doom and gloom as many fear. The Bible reassures us that God’s Messiah will save our world. He stands surety for a hopeful future.
Next time we will continue our exploration of Jesus’ messianic mission.
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’, except Matthew 1:21 (‘New International Version’).
a) He comes into our world through his miraculous birth as a Jew in Israel:
Matthew tells us about that miraculous birth: “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).” (Matthew 1:23).
With regard to his birth as a Jewish child, the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome: “Christ, the Messiah, himself was a Jew as far as his human nature is concerned.” (Romans 9:5).
The angels proclaimed to shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth: “The Saviour-- yes, the Messiah, the Lord-- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of (king) David!” (Luke 2:11).
Jesus Himself, speaking about his earthly life and saving ministry, states that “... salvation comes through the Jews.” (John 4:22)
b) He is the divine ‘Shepherd’ who compassionately reaches out to everyone who calls on him:
Matthew tells us the story of John the Baptist’s disciples who came to Jesus with the following question: “Are you really the Messiah we've been waiting for, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him about what you have heard and seen-- the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11:3-5).
The apostle Peter explains the ministry of God’s Spirit-anointed Messiah as follows: “No doubt you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38).
c) He is the divine Saviour of his people Israel and of the entire world:
God the Father speaks about his Son through the prophet Isaiah ca. 700 years before Jesus’ birth, saying: “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the nations, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6 ).
The apostle John writes: “We have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.” ( 1 John 4:14).
Already before Jesus’ birth, an angel said in a dream to Joseph: “She (i.e. Mary, Joseph’s fiancée) will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).
The name Jesus means: ‘God saves’.
The prophet Isaiah prophesied about this promised Messiah: “His name will be the hope of all the world.” (Matthew 12:21).
As we just read, the Bible assures us that our world will not end in doom and gloom as many fear. The Bible reassures us that God’s Messiah will save our world. He stands surety for a hopeful future.
Next time we will continue our exploration of Jesus’ messianic mission.
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’, except Matthew 1:21 (‘New International Version’).
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