Let’s continue
to stretch ourselves
toward a broader understanding of the PERSON and WORK of JESUS CHRIST. For the balance of this Lenten season, our
primary focus will be an in-depth examination of the mission, message and ministry
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Above all else, Jesus
Christ is the revelation of God, graciously provided in a means and
manner that humans can relate to and understand. According to the Apostle
Paul, “in Him dwells all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) This is a very significant
and powerful truth.
Philip, one of the twelve disciples, asked Jesus for a
deeper and personal revelation of God: “Lord, show us the Father and it is
sufficient for us.” Jesus’ response was crystal clear: “Have I been with you so
long, and yet you have not known me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say,
‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the
Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak of My own
authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” (John
14:8-10) Wow!
The Apostle John records a similar testimonial concerning
Jesus, The Christ [The Anointed One] of God, set forth by John the Baptist, His
cousin and forerunner:
John 1:15-18 (NKJV)
John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was
He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was
before me.” And of His
fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through
Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only
begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
Indeed, Jesus
Christ represents the “due time” fulfillment of God’s eternal and
“precious promises.” (Romans 5:6 and II Peter 1:4) That is, Jesus Christ is The Living Word that was present with (and in) THE FATHER since eternity past, and HE is the Incarnation of God Who reveals
God’s gracious character, love, Word and glory while bringing salvation to
mankind. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of
grace and truth.” (John 1:1-2 and John 1:14)
The fact that Jesus
Christ is the bodily representation of The Godhead (The
Trinity) is further evident in His promises concerning The Holy
Spirit. In the words of Jesus, “the Spirit
of truth dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) Since
Jesus Christ IS “the way, the truth and
the life,” the Word teaches us that The
Holy Spirit (or Holy
Ghost) is fundamentally (and actually) the Spirit of Christ. (John 14:6) Further proof is
provided in Christ’s assurance of this spiritual endowment to His
disciples. Jesus Christ simply
says, “I will not leave you
orphans; I WILL COME TO YOU.”
(John 14:18)
The indwelling of this spiritual endowment, this Spirit embodiment of Jesus Christ, empowers believers
for effective ministry service, thus magnifying the finished work of the cross via
multiplied millions of earthly ambassadors who represent Him across the ages.
(Acts 1:8) This is the phenomenal result that Jesus referred to when He
advised His disciples that they would be positioned to do “greater
works…because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12) The Holy Spirit enables
and empowers these greater works (quantitatively,
not qualitatively greater), through a vast army of commissioned witnesses.
(Matthew 28:19-20)
In closing, Jesus Christ IS the fullness of the Godhead
bodily, “and of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:16-17) According to Dr. Luke, “the law and the
prophets were until John. Since that
time the Kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.”
(Luke 16:16) As the embodiment of the
Godhead, and the Supreme Teacher in the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ is “the
author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) And we walk with unshakeable “confidence”
that “HE who has begun a good work” in us “will complete it until THE DAY OF
JESUS CHRIST.” (Hebrews 10:35 – Philippians 1:6)
Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please
(above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
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