Who is Jesus Christ and What Does He Mean To Us?

In the gospel of John, in chapter 17, we are given an in-depth view of the heart of Jesus just before he was arrested. He prayed for his disciples:

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. John 17:14-18

There was definitely a reaction to the ministry of Jesus during that day and time. The 'world' did not greet him with open arms just as the 'world' still does not today. 

The next few verses of his prayer include you and me. Yes, Jesus Christ prayed for us:

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:20-26

Jesus looked forward to the future. He is resurrected, ascended and is 'set down at the right hand of God'.  This is a figure of speech. God is spirit and is everywhere. 'The right hand of God' refers to the authority of God given to Jesus Christ as head of his church.  It is not a place. It is his function. For a long time I thought of it as a place. If that is true, we might ask "What does he do all day?". Having the authority of God to carry on God's business to his church, he is very busy!

Take a look at this verse:

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2:4-6

What does that indicate about your own life? On the day of Pentecost, Jesus Christ by the authority of God, poured out the gift of holy spirit for all who believe. With this gift believers have all the enablements to carry out God's word and works on this earth.

In the Epistle of 1st John we see this come into fruition. This what the church is now:

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. I John 1:3-4

No one can stand between you and God, Jesus Christ and any believer who walks in God's light. We have a lot to be thankful for. This was God's ultimate goal from the beginning of time. So what if the world philosophies don't agree, we have the tools to handle it! The best thing you can do in any situation is go straight to God and expect help and guidance, not to mention comfort, peace and joy. It is all in the package! Read John 14:11-20!

 

 

 

 

 

Religion causes even greater divides and much of it centers on the who and why of Jesus Christ. 

 

Tempt God?

The world sometimes seems like it is spinning out of control. We have periods of prosperity and well-being and then along comes something we can't quite figure out. If we look back into Old Testament times there are plenty of examples of this happening to learn from. The Hebrews trekking across the wildness is a great one.  God supplied the Hebrew's needs time and time again, and yet when something went awry, they threw up their arms in desperation and complained and argued with God. Moses asked them why they were tempting God? If we think of how we use the word 'tempt', we might not understand and we might ask: "How do we tempt God?"

When Jesus was confronted by some formidable situations in the wilderness, the enemy challenged him several times to get him to doubt God. The devil wanted Jesus to worship him. Jesus answered with God's word. Slyly, the adversary responded by challenging him with scripture. 

4 But he  (Jesus) 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. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee (to keep thee in all thy ways): and in their hands they shall bear thee up, , lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:4-7

Satan quoted this scripture from Psalm 91:10-13.

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Psalm 91:10-13

He omitted the words 'to keep thee in all thy ways'  and he added the words 'at any time' to Psalm 91:6. Not only did the adversary misquote God's word, he changed the meaning slightly especially when he tried to cast doubt using the word 'IF' to start with and the last verse 91:13 he did not quote. 

He tried to provoke Jesus into testing God out. Jesus zeroed in on the enemy's basic problem of challenging God! Tempting, testing and proving God biblically is questioning "Is the Lord among us or not?" (Exodus 17:7) Jesus knew and believed His Father had his back. He did not have to prove it to the devil!

We can do the same in the current crazy times.  We can endure having fear pushed at us by keeping God and his faithfulness in the forefront of our minds.