"And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him". Mark 1:10
We all know the name of Jesus. Everyone, whether he believes in Him or not has heard about His name. But do we realize who Jesus really was and still is? Do we understand the depth and the magnitude of what He has done for us? Do we understand the power that lies in His name? Do we know what He really has accomplished for us at the cross?
Come with me and let's take a closer look at what the Bible tells us about our wonderful Savior. The Bible gives us a huge source of information about Jesus. It tells us who He was as a human and who He was/is as God. His birth was a miracle in itself. The angel Gabriel (which means messenger) was sent by God to Mary, a virgin to tell her that she was to be the mother of Jesus. She would conceive in her womb the child of God. Interesting enoug, she never doubted what was being said to her. The only question she had was the is 'how' it would be done, for she was still unmarried. Gabriel told her that it would be done through the Holy Spirit.
However, there was a small problem. She was promised to Jospeh, and Mary's concern was that he would dissolve the engagement once he found out she was pregnant. But God in His mighty providence, solved this problem. He spoke to Joseph via a dream. He told him that his wife to be, was carrying God's child according to the prophesy of Isaiah in which it was foretold that a virgin would bear a child whose name was Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel means 'God with us'. The matter was settled.
Very little is know about Jesus' youth, and the Bible is very silent on this topic also. But there are two interesting facts of which the Bible does mention about His youth. The first fact being: In those days it was the tradition to dedicate every firstborn son to God.The Bible put's it this way (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) Mary and Jospeh went therefore according to Jewish tradition to Jerusalem to present Jesus before the Lord (Luke 2:22). Simeon,a just and devout man, who also was full of hte Holy Spirit, was waiting upon the consolaiton of Jerusalem.The Holy Spirit had revealed to Him that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let's read what the Bible says about this: "And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."(Luke 2:31-35)
This was the first interesting happening in Jesus' youth. I wish I could have seen the astonishment of Joseph and Mary at this marvellous event! Let's take a look at the second interesting event in Jesus' youth. This incident happened when Jesus was twelve years of age. Passover, as was the custom in those days, had to celebrated in Jerusalem. Jesus was now allowed to join His parents in the festivities. All went well and it was time to go back home. This was usually done by caravans and Jesus' parents assumed that he was with the group of people going back home. To their great distress they could not find Jesus in teh evening when they were looking for Him. It turned out that Jesus never left Jerusalem. Instead He was found in the Temple discussing with doctors about matters of God. The doctors marvelled at Jesus' wisdom, for he was just twelve years of age! (Luke 2:41-47). This was the second outstanding event in Jesus' youth of which the Bible makes mention.
One thing which amazes me over and over again when I read this passage is the fact that Jesus' was aware that His business was that of Heaven. That His father was indeed God. Amzing isn't it?
But now, let's go further to see who Jesus really is. The Bible tells us that Jesus is:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."John 14:6
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life." (John 6:47-48)
What do these verses really mean? These verses are crucial for they express the very essence and the importance of who Jesus is. The first verse tells us that Jesus is 'the way' to heaven. For the Father resides in heaven. It also states that there is no other way to the Father but through Jesus! This is very important for many doctrines err about this fact. There are false doctrines out there who claim that Jesus is but one way to God.This is not so. The Bible clearly tells us that He is the 'only' way to Heaven.
Jesus is also the bread of life. What does this exactly mean? Bread is still an essential ingredient in our every day diet.Bread is and has been the foremost nutritient in past centuries. No food was served without bread. Bread is still very important today. Just imagine a life without bread. I can't! Jesus says here that He is the bread of life. This means that He is the provider of life, that He gives us life and He does that through bread. Bread is what is also called mannah. Manna was the bread of the Israelites. Our bread, the bread of life, who is Jesus gives us all spiritual things we need in this world.
It is our spiritual food. Jesus is our source of life, the source that sustains our spiritual life. That is what Jesus' meant when He said He was the bread of life. Another important fact that this verse states also, is the fact that Jesus promises us that whomever believes in Him shall have everlasting life. This means and reinforces what He also specified in John 14:6. He is the way to eternal life. Only through Him we will be saved, and through Him we will have eternal life. No saint, nor mother of God nor anybody else will provide this passage to heaven. Only Jesus does! Other Scriptures that corroborate this are:Acts 2:21; John 4: 36; John 5: 24; etc.
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus ."(1 Tim. 2:5)
That's right. There is but one God and but ONE MEDIATOR. This mediator is NOT Mary as the Catholics think (which is unbiblical) but Jesus Christ! What exactly does mediator mean. A mediator is someone who mediates between two parties. In this case it is Jesus, who is mediating for us with God. The Bible also tells us that He intercedes for us with God. Mediator is also called intercessor, for Jesus intercedes for us with the Father: " It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:34)
Jesus is also our High Priest. "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (Heb. 6:20). In order to fully understand the depth of the priesthood of Christ we must explain what a high priest used to be. In the Old Testament a high priest was the one who mediated between his folk and God. This was done once a year, in which the High Priest took offers and offered them before God. This was just one of the many things a High Priest had to do, but for the purpose of explaining the priesthood of Jesus, this short explanation will do. Jesus offererd Himself up as an offering for our sins. Therefore He became a High Priest. He died for our sins, He personally payed the price for our sins. No goat nor sheep nor dove was sufficient but Jesus himself. Only in this way humanity would be redeemed. And Jesus paid the full price. Now, God has appointed Him High Priest in the Order of Melchisedek. Mechisedek was king of Salem and a Priest of the most High God. Jesus is now High Priest in the order of Melchisedek.
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