Not only does Jesus love his heavenly Father in wholehearted and self-sacrificing obedience, as we saw in Meditation 15 but the Bible also shows us how much the Father loves his devout Son.
Already 700 years before Jesus’ first arrival in our world, God had indicated the future messianic ministry of his Son. He announced by his prophet Isaiah: "Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, and I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1 and Matthew 12:18. See also Meditation 9).
After Jesus’ baptism and anointing with God’s Spirit - before the start of his Earthly ministry - a voice from heaven said to him: “You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you” (Luke 3:22).
In a remarkable message, John the Baptist speaks about Jesus and explains to his followers: “He (i.e. Jesus) has come from above and is greater than anyone else. I am of the earth, and my understanding is limited to the things of earth, but he has come from heaven. He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Those who believe him discover that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon him without measure or limit. The Father loves his Son, and he has given him authority over everything” (John 3:31-35).
During Jesus’ 'transfiguration', not long before his eventual suffering and sacrificial death, a voice from heaven speaks again of Jesus, saying: “This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him. Listen to him” (Matthew 17:5).
During his earthly ministry, Jesus discloses to the Jewish religious leaders how intimate is the loving relationship between himself and his heavenly Father: "I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and tells him everything he is doing...” (John 5:19-20).
On the evening before his death, Jesus professes his love to his friends. He assures them that his love for them is the same divine love which the Father has for him: "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love” (John 15:9-10. See also Meditation 13).
That night Jesus assures his heavenly Father that he will continue to demonstrate God’s love for his friends: “I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them...” (John 17:26).
So, if we live as Jesus lived, and if we love God as Jesus did, we will experience God’s love as Jesus experienced it. That is Jesus’ promise!
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
15. LOOKING INTO JESUS’ HEART : HIS LOVE FOR GOD
The first thing that strikes us when we look at Jesus, is that he embodies the way God wants us to live. (See meditation 13).
He summarises the divine criteria for human life as follows: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets (i.e. the Old Testament) hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
True and pure love is the essence of Jesus’ life, and it is in that way that he reflects the heart of his heavenly Father for “God is love...” (1 John 4:16).
The apostle John tells us that Jesus’ first coming into the world is the greatest demonstration of God’s love: “God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)
In his earthly life and sacrificial death, Jesus showed us how true and pure love is displayed in practice.
In our meditation today we want to look at God’s first commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” ( Matthew 22:37-38).
How did Jesus live up to that commandment?
Jesus said of himself: “... I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.” (John 14:31).
He told the listening crowd: “... I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.” (John 6:38)
To his disciples Jesus openly explained what drove him: “My food ... is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34). In meditation 5 we saw what that meant in practice.
In his wholehearted and self-sacrificing obedience to his heavenly Father, Jesus showed us how we should love God “with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind.” That is the life God created us for.
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’, except Matthew 22:37-40 and John 4:34 (‘New International Version’).
He summarises the divine criteria for human life as follows: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets (i.e. the Old Testament) hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
True and pure love is the essence of Jesus’ life, and it is in that way that he reflects the heart of his heavenly Father for “God is love...” (1 John 4:16).
The apostle John tells us that Jesus’ first coming into the world is the greatest demonstration of God’s love: “God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)
In his earthly life and sacrificial death, Jesus showed us how true and pure love is displayed in practice.
In our meditation today we want to look at God’s first commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” ( Matthew 22:37-38).
How did Jesus live up to that commandment?
Jesus said of himself: “... I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.” (John 14:31).
He told the listening crowd: “... I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want.” (John 6:38)
To his disciples Jesus openly explained what drove him: “My food ... is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34). In meditation 5 we saw what that meant in practice.
In his wholehearted and self-sacrificing obedience to his heavenly Father, Jesus showed us how we should love God “with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind.” That is the life God created us for.
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’, except Matthew 22:37-40 and John 4:34 (‘New International Version’).
Friday, April 9, 2010
14. JESUS CHRIST RESEMBLES HIS FATHER !
The Bible is clear about the fact that, apart from Jesus Christ, “no one has ever seen God...” (John 1:18). It is Jesus himself who, during his life on earth, told us a lot about his Father in heaven. The apostle John continues by saying: “... but his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.” (John 1:18).
Jesus has not only spoken extensively about his heavenly Father (see the Gospels). Being God’s Son, he also looks like his Father! He has the character of his Father! Jesus said: “The Father and I are one.” (John 10:30). Furthermore, he explained: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” (John 14:9).
The apostle Paul reveals in his letter to the Christians in Colossae that “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15).
Speaking about Jesus Christ, the anonymous ‘Letter to the Hebrews’ starts with the declaration: “The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being...” (Hebrews 1:3).
To the Christians in the Greek town of Corinth the apostle Paul writes: “... Christ is the exact likeness of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
What all these biblical texts are saying is that, when we look at Jesus’ character we begin to understand more about who God is.
And thinking of Meditation 13, it starts to dawn on us that looking at Jesus’ character helps us discover how he wants us to live. So then, let us start our journey of discovery!
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’, except Hebrews 1:3 (‘New International Version’).
Jesus has not only spoken extensively about his heavenly Father (see the Gospels). Being God’s Son, he also looks like his Father! He has the character of his Father! Jesus said: “The Father and I are one.” (John 10:30). Furthermore, he explained: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” (John 14:9).
The apostle Paul reveals in his letter to the Christians in Colossae that “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15).
Speaking about Jesus Christ, the anonymous ‘Letter to the Hebrews’ starts with the declaration: “The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being...” (Hebrews 1:3).
To the Christians in the Greek town of Corinth the apostle Paul writes: “... Christ is the exact likeness of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
What all these biblical texts are saying is that, when we look at Jesus’ character we begin to understand more about who God is.
And thinking of Meditation 13, it starts to dawn on us that looking at Jesus’ character helps us discover how he wants us to live. So then, let us start our journey of discovery!
All Bible verses are quoted from the ‘New Living Translation’, except Hebrews 1:3 (‘New International Version’).
Friday, April 2, 2010
13. LIVE LIKE JESUS, ACT LIKE JESUS !
In the first 12 meditations we saw a little of what the Bible tells us about Jesus. After our short exploration of his life and ministry, we might wonder what the Bible wants us to do with this knowledge.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the Greek town of Philippi: “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.” – Philippians 2:5 (*). In other words, they should think and act like Jesus.
Paul encourages the church in Ephesus with the following words: “Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.” – Ephesians 5:2 (*)
For the Christian community in Rome the apostle Paul desires: “May God ... help you live in complete harmony with each other-- each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.” – Romans 15:5 (*)
The apostle Peter writes to Christians who suffer persecution: “This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:21 (*)
The apostle Paul encourages Christians to live the way he lives: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 11:1 (**)
Jesus himself invites us to learn from him how to live: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:29 (**). In Jesus’ days, “taking someone’s yoke upon you”, meant accepting someone being your teacher.
In his story of Jesus’ life and ministry, the apostle John takes us to the Passover celebration in Jerusalem on the evening before Jesus’ death. At the start of the meal, Jesus voluntarily does the work which a slave in those days would have done: he humbly washes away the dirt from his friends’ feet. Afterwards he encourages them by saying: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.” – John 13:14 (**)
Years later, the same John declares in his first letter: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.” – 1 John 2:6 (*).
All these biblical texts leave us with questions such as:
- If I should live and act like Jesus, how did Jesus live?
- Is there any chance whatever that I could live and act like Jesus?
- If yes, then how could I learn to live like him?
- How could our church or Christian community learn to live and act like Jesus?
Let’s look into these and other questions in the forthcoming meditations.
Biblical quotations: (*) New Living Translation, (**) New International Version.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in the Greek town of Philippi: “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.” – Philippians 2:5 (*). In other words, they should think and act like Jesus.
Paul encourages the church in Ephesus with the following words: “Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.” – Ephesians 5:2 (*)
For the Christian community in Rome the apostle Paul desires: “May God ... help you live in complete harmony with each other-- each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other.” – Romans 15:5 (*)
The apostle Peter writes to Christians who suffer persecution: “This suffering is all part of what God has called you to. Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:21 (*)
The apostle Paul encourages Christians to live the way he lives: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
– 1 Corinthians 11:1 (**)
Jesus himself invites us to learn from him how to live: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:29 (**). In Jesus’ days, “taking someone’s yoke upon you”, meant accepting someone being your teacher.
In his story of Jesus’ life and ministry, the apostle John takes us to the Passover celebration in Jerusalem on the evening before Jesus’ death. At the start of the meal, Jesus voluntarily does the work which a slave in those days would have done: he humbly washes away the dirt from his friends’ feet. Afterwards he encourages them by saying: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.” – John 13:14 (**)
Years later, the same John declares in his first letter: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did.” – 1 John 2:6 (*).
All these biblical texts leave us with questions such as:
- If I should live and act like Jesus, how did Jesus live?
- Is there any chance whatever that I could live and act like Jesus?
- If yes, then how could I learn to live like him?
- How could our church or Christian community learn to live and act like Jesus?
Let’s look into these and other questions in the forthcoming meditations.
Biblical quotations: (*) New Living Translation, (**) New International Version.
Friday, March 26, 2010
12. JESUS CHRIST: GOD’S PROMISED MESSIAH (d)
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’.
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 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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