The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 1:18,
"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."
Some say Jesus Christ was the greatest ethical teacher the world has ever known, a great religious leader. Some call him a Jewish preacher or rabbi. Some call him a prophet.
While all these things may be true, they all pale in comparison with what John 1:18 says about him, Jesus "is himself God". While the Scriptures call him many things, they are all consistent in identifying Jesus Christ as God. This gospel begins with that claim, "In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1.
C.S. Lewis claimed, "Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that open to us." He has not left that open to us because he himself claimed to be God, "'We [Jesus' Jewish opponents] are not stoning you for any good work,' they replied, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.'" John 10:33.
Some other places in Scripture where Jesus Christ is identified as God:
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8.
"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20.
"Theirs [the people of Israel] are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!" Romans 9:5.
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..." Titus 2:11-13.
"But about the Son [Jesus Christ] he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.'" Hebrews 1:8-9, (quoting Psalm 45:6,7.)
If Jesus Christ is God, what he says has to be important!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."
Some say Jesus Christ was the greatest ethical teacher the world has ever known, a great religious leader. Some call him a Jewish preacher or rabbi. Some call him a prophet.
While all these things may be true, they all pale in comparison with what John 1:18 says about him, Jesus "is himself God". While the Scriptures call him many things, they are all consistent in identifying Jesus Christ as God. This gospel begins with that claim, "In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1.
C.S. Lewis claimed, "Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that open to us." He has not left that open to us because he himself claimed to be God, "'We [Jesus' Jewish opponents] are not stoning you for any good work,' they replied, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.'" John 10:33.
Some other places in Scripture where Jesus Christ is identified as God:
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:5-8.
"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20.
"Theirs [the people of Israel] are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!" Romans 9:5.
"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..." Titus 2:11-13.
"But about the Son [Jesus Christ] he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.'" Hebrews 1:8-9, (quoting Psalm 45:6,7.)
If Jesus Christ is God, what he says has to be important!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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