The Heartbeat of “The GIFT”

December 17, 2023

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”  John 14:6-7.” (NRSV)

Who is Jesus to you? If this question was asked to a group of people, I  am sure you would get a variety of answers even among Christians.  After taking a class in world religions years ago, one of the things I learned is that what most non-Christian groups, had in common is they do not accept the divinity of Jesus.

Many world religions or cults often have differing beliefs about Jesus compared to mainstream Christian theology. While there can be significant variations among their beliefs, many emphasize His humanity to the exclusion of His divinity. In our study of the book of John in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), the same thing was going on in Jesus’ day. The book of John is evangelistic and has a unique place in the Canon of Scripture.  John’s Gospel affords enough meat and milk of the Word for a lifetime of study and meditation and contains the best-known verse in the NT, and is what Martin Luther called “the Gospel in a nutshell,” John 3:16.

Also, in our upcoming lesson in John chapter 9, Jesus gives sight to a man born blind and not only his physical blindness but his spiritual blindness.  It points out also “we cannot know God’s ways, think His thoughts, or walk His path until He opens our spiritual eyes.” Spiritual blindness can prevent people from recognizing the truth about Jesus.  2 Corinthians 4:4, says “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

In biblical theology, Jesus is considered the central figure and the foundation of our Christian faith! He is believed to be the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. The Bible, particularly in the New Testament, provides the primary source of information about Jesus and His identity. Let’s look at some common variations from traditional Christian beliefs regarding who Jesus is!

According to the Word of God, the Bible, Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior, the Word, Immanuel (God with us), and embodies various other titles and metaphors that emphasize His divine nature, mission, and significance in the Christian faith. Christians believe that through faith in Jesus, individuals can have forgiveness of sins and eternal life with God.

Who is Jesus? The Word of God provides us with a clear description and message of Jesus.  Let’s see what the Bible says about who Jesus is!

JESUS IS:

The Son of God: The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God, and this is a fundamental aspect of His identity. In the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Jesus is referred to as the “Son of God” multiple 

times. For example, in the Gospel of Matthew, when Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus affirms this confession in Matthew chapter 16 verses 15-17.

1. Messiah/Christ: The term “Christ” or “Messiah” means “anointed one” and refers to the promised Savior and King in the Old Testament. Believers in Christ believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of these Old Testament prophecies and that He was anointed by God for His mission to save humanity.
2. Savior: Jesus is often described as the Savior of the world, meaning that those of the Christian faith believe He came to Earth to save people from their sins and provide a way for them to have a reconciled relationship with God. In the Gospel of Matthew, an angel tells Joseph that Mary will give birth to a son, and he is to be called Jesus because he will save his people from their sins, Matthew 1:21.
3. The Word: In the Gospel of John, Jesus is referred to as the Word. John 1:1-14 states that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This passage of Scripture emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus and his role in creation.
4. The Light of the World: and the Creator of life. This was our study last week in BSF.  Jesus’s life brings light, and we can see ourselves as we really are. When we allow Christ to guide our lives, and we will never need to stumble in darkness.
5. Immanuel: In the book of Isaiah, there is a prophecy that a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he will be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” This prophecy is understood by Christians as pointing to the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ Isaiah 7:14.
6. The Bread of Life: In John 6:35, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” This statement emphasizes that Jesus provides spiritual nourishment and sustenance.
7. The Way, the Truth, and the Life: In John 14:6, Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This statement underscores his role as the exclusive path to God and eternal life.
8. The Resurrection and the Life: In John 11:25, Jesus proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.” This statement highlights his power over life and death.
9. The Lamb of God: In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” noted in John 1:29. This symbolizes Jesus’ sacrificial role in atoning for the sins of humanity.
10. The Good Shepherd: In the Gospel of John, Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for his sheep in John 10:11 . This metaphor highlights his care, guidance, and sacrificial love for his followers.
11. Jesus is Both Human and Divine and a Member of the Trinity: By Jesus becoming human, Christ became, the perfect teacher in Jesus’ life we see how God thinks and, therefore, how we should think as noted in Philippians 2:5-11.  He is the perfect example and as a model of what we are to become, he shows us how to live and gives us the power to live that way in 1 Peter 2:21.  Jesus is the perfect sacrifice and He came as a sacrifice for all sins, and His death satisfied God’s requirements for the removal of sin noted in Colossians 1:15-23. A voice came from heaven saying, “You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you.” Mark 1:11.

HEART CHALLENGE:  The Bible gives us a glimpse into why many people miss Jesus, not just in Jesus’ time, but all throughout history many have missed recognizing who He truly is, that He truly is as the Son of God our Messiah! Let’s look at some biblical reasons:

Some people in Jesus’ day expected a different Messiah one to be a conquering king who would liberate Israel from Roman rule. Jesus’ message was of a spiritual kingdom and His willingness to suffer and die for humanity’s sins did not align with these expectations, causing many to reject Him.  Also, the religious leaders of the time, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, often opposed Jesus and His teachings. They saw Him as a threat to their religious authority and were instrumental in influencing others to reject Him.  There was a misunderstanding of Jesus’ Parables: Jesus frequently used parables to teach spiritual truths. However, some people misunderstood these parables or took them too literally, missing the deeper spiritual lessons they contained.

As previously noted, there was spiritual blindness and those having hardened hearts, which means being resistant to God’s message. In Mark 6:52, after Jesus performed a miracle, it is said that the hearts of the people were hardened, and they did not understand. A hardened heart can make it difficult for someone to accept Jesus as the Savior.

There was the love of worldly things noted in 1 John 2:15-16, it is warned, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The distractions and allure of worldly pursuits can lead people away from recognizing the importance of Jesus and His message. Also noted is Pride and Self-Righteousness The Pharisees are often portrayed in the Gospels as self-righteous and proud. This attitude of self-sufficiency can prevent people from recognizing their need for a Savior and accepting Jesus’ offer of salvation through grace.

Fear of Persecution noted in John 12:42-43, it is mentioned that some believed in Jesus but did not confess Him openly because they feared being put out of the synagogue. Fear of social or religious persecution can prevent people from openly acknowledging their faith in Jesus. The Cultural and Societal Influences norms of the time often clashed with Jesus’ teachings and people may have been influenced by the prevailing attitudes and customs of their society, making it challenging to fully embrace Jesus’ message.

Lastly, the Bible teaches Divine Sovereignty, that ultimately that God is sovereign, and He reveals Himself to those whom He chooses as noted in Matthew 11:25-27. While God desires all to come to repentance and faith, not everyone will respond positively to the message of Jesus.

AN INFORMED HEART: True Believers in Christ are informed by the true Word of God.  They do not ascribe to a work-based salvation, a humanizing of Jesus and not recognizing His divinity, as well as false prophecies, or their own (new) Scriptures or revelation. The true Word of God proves that  Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior, the Word, Immanuel (God with us).

FATHER GOD, Thank You Father for Your Word that definitively proves who JESUS is and gives us clear instructions on how we can know Him as the Messiah and our Personal Lord and Savior.  Thank you for demonstrating His human nature by dying for us, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen