Who do you think Jesus is?

Again we are right in the season of Christmas 2017. Every year the season of Christmas challenge each one of us to consider who Jesus was. Some people think Jesus was a good philosopher, others think He was an excellent teacher or a prophet. People in the world think about Jesus in different ways.

The most profound question that one will ever answer.

In fact, do you know this is the most important question that you will ever answer on this side of the eternity while you live on this short life here on this planet called earth? Your answer to the question ‘who Jesus is?’ is definitely going to determine your destiny and final destination. The most profound question you will ever answer.

 

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Peter got the right answer.

Listen the conversation between Jesus and His disciples in Matthew 16:13-17 from Amplified version. Almost all of the verses in this article are quoted from Amplified version.
“Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  And they answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or [just] one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of the living God.”
Then Jesus answered him, “Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, favored by God] are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood (mortal man) did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
Peter answered the question and said, “you are the Christ (the long-awaited Messiah that was prophesied in the old testament section of the Bible hundreds of years ago). Then he added one more sentence, “the Son of the living God.” When Jesus heard Peter, He said it is not a man or man’s intelligence that revealed this truth to Peter. But it is the Father God in heaven who revealed this truth to Peter. The answer to the question ‘who Jesus is?’ is a spiritual question and only God in heaven can reveal this truth to you. In fact, you may be thinking Jesus is another prophet or a great person world had ever seen. But the truth is Jesus is much, much bigger than your imagination.

Let me explain what I meant- The idea of Christmas didn’t begin on the first day of Christmas.

You see the idea of Christmas didn’t begin on the first Christmas day. You may wonder why I said this, right?
Bible says in Philippians 2: 6-11, Jesus existed in the exact essence and form of God way back in the eternity past. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit existed in perfect harmony in the triune Godhead even before the creation of all things. Even before the creation of the earth, the sky, the stars and the mankind, in a counsel in the eternity past God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit entered into an eternal covenant. This covenant is called the eternal covenant of blood (Hebrews 13:20) in which the eternal Son of God agreed that He will come down to this blue planet called earth by incarnation through the womb of a young girl called Mary, live in this world without sin, as fully God and man, and finally die by giving His precious, sinless and holy blood for the redemption and forgiveness of our sin. This agreement was even before the fall of the Adam and Eden in the garden of Eden. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58). God in his foreknowledge knew what is going to happen in the garden of Eden and to the posterity of Adam and Eve. He already had a plan in place for the salvation and redemption of Adam’s race. God the Father agreed in return that He would raise Jesus Christ from the dead and exalt Him and give Him a name above all names and all those are in heaven, on earth and under the earth will bow down to Him and confess His name to the glory of God the Father. Bible says God gave all authority of future judgment is given to Christ. John 5:22-23 says, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”

1. The pre-existence of Christ as the Son of God in heaven.

You see what happened on the first Christmas day in Bethlehem was the implementation of the eternal plan of God.
Bible says in 1 Peter 1:20, “For He (Christ) was foreordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world, but has appeared [publicly] in these last times for your sake.” Christ was in existence way before the first day of Christmas or even before the day of Abraham and the Garden of Eden. He was with God in perfect unity of triune Godhead along with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.
According to the eternal covenant of blood agreed and ratified in the eternity past, Christ, the very God Himself, came into the world in a for-ordained and foreplanned rescue mission for the lost sinners, to reestablish their fellowship back with God.
You see the answers to the questions who Jesus is and why the first Christmas in Bethlehem will determine your final and eternal destiny and destination. You see, Jesus Christ is God and before anything existed there was Christ. Bible confirms the eternal co-existence of Christ with God the Father in John 1:1-4. It says, “In the beginning [before all time] was the Word Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him, and without Him, not even one thing was made that has come into being. In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men.”
Did you see what has said above, before all the time, in the eternity past was the Word (that is Christ) and the Word (Christ) was with God? Not only Christ was with God, but it says Christ (the Word) was God Himself.

John in his epistle chapter 1:1-2 says about Christ like this- “[I am writing about] what existed from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life [the One who existed even before the beginning of the world, Christ]— and the Life [an aspect of His being] was manifested, and we have seen [it as eyewitnesses] and testify and declare to you [the Life], the eternal Life who was [already existing] with the Father and was [actually] made visible to us [His followers]. John says he is wrting about Christ who was from the beginning (eternity past) existed as God. He testifies they have heard, they have seen with their eyes and they have touched Him with their hands. In short, Jesus Christ was God wrapped in flesh.

2. Christ is the exact reflection and image of God.

Bible affirms, God is Spirit and invisible. But how do you and I know about God if He is Spirit and invisible- what He is like, what is His character, His attributes? Look at Jesus Christ and you will know about God because He is the exact image or reflection of God. Bible affirms Christ is the perfect reflection and image of God. Bible says in Colossians 1:15, “He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.” Christ Himself claimed this when He was on this earth in John 14:8-9. Philip said to Him (Jesus Christ), “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ The way Jesus loved, taught people, performed miracles -healed the sick, delivered the demons possessed people from devil and demons, fed more than 5000 people with five loaves and two fishes, stopped the wind and storms in the sea, walked on the water- testifies and proves He was God. The compassion and deep love of Jesus toward the people, His power over the nature, raised people who were dead, His knowledge and understanding of the hearts of the people and finally His victorious accomplishment the purpose of His incarnation by giving Himself as a ransom or price for our sins and on the third day raised according to the eternal covenant of blood which was decreed even before the foundaiton of the world- look at all these things and many more than I described here in the pages of the Bible and you will see the living God in Christ.
Bible says in Colossians 2:9, “For in Him (Christ) all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God.), This states all the fullness of God dwells in bodily form in Christ. In short, to see God, look at Christ.
When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father God in heaven, Jesus replied don’t you recognize me? Anyone who has seen Me (Christ) has seen the Father. In another occasion in John 10:30 Jesus said, “The Father and I are one.”
Bible says in Hebrews 1:3 this truth about Jesus as the exact expression and representation of God the Father. Read what it says, “ The Son (Jesus Christ) is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God [reflecting God’s Shekinah glory, the Light-being, the brilliant light of the divine], and the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence.” You see, it says Jesus Chris is the radiance and only expression of the glory of God and the exact representation and perfect imprint of God the Father.
That is why we can safely say with assurance that those who have seen Jesus Christ physically or through the pages of the Bible have seen and known God intimately.

3. Christ is the creator of all that is in existence.

Bible says about Christ in John 1:3, “All things were made and came into existence through Him (Christ), and without Him (Christ) not even one thing was made that has come into being.” Amazing! right? ‘Without Him, not even one thing was made that has come into being.’ Think about it!
Another passage says in Colossians 1:16, “For by Him (Christ) all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.” All visible and invisible things in heaven and on earth, thrones, dominions, rulers or authorities- all things were created and even exist through Lord Jesus Christ.
Bible says in Genesis 1:1 “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Jews and Christians agree that there is only one God. However, by the use of the Hebrew word “Elohim” even as early as in the first verse of the Bible, Bible suggests though God is one, He is plural. This is something very hard to understand by human intellect or wisdom. El is the singular form and Elohim is the plural form. For some reason from the very beginning of the Scripture, this truth that God as one but the plurality in Godhead is revealed in the scripture. The plurality revealed is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. All three are same in essence and presented three different persons. The son of God is expressed as the ‘Word’ in John 1:1 as we discussed above in this article. It is by the Word of God that God created all in the beginning (read Genesis 1). Bible reveals the ‘Word’ is the Son of God – Christ.
1 Corinthians 8:6 says, “yet for us, there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.” Read the above passage slowly. One God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him. There is one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things and we exist for Him.
The Son is the exact image, radiance, and representation of God the Father and it is by and through Christ all things were made that were made. In other words, Christ is the creator of all things in heaven and earth. All that is visible and invisible are the hand works of Christ Jesus.

4. Now Bible also affirms another truth- Christ holds together and sustains all created things.

Bible says in Colossians 1:16-17 reveals not only by Christ all things were created in heaven and on earth- visible and invisible things- but also all things exist through Him and for Him. It says here, Christ existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Means He controls and He is the force that controls and sustains all things in the universe.
Read what it says, “all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him. And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.” I am not a scientist. But I know it is mind-boggling to think about galaxies and stars all over our head every day. Read about the milky way and the number of stars. Billions and Billions of stars right? Billions of galaxies! How come they are all kept safe from massive breakups and universal dangers? Who does this work? Bible says not only Christ created all things but he holds all together. The secret of the reason why the whole universe working in a cohesive, organized and co-operative way is because of the power of the Son of God – Christ – who keep all together in an orderly fashion by the might of His supernatural power.
Now, do you know there is a day coming in near future it will all end by the same word who created the whole universe and holds it together? Bible says this in 2 Peter 3:7, “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
See if Christ doesn’t hold the universe together by His word, all would explode and collapse. Thank Christ, the Son of God, who sustains and holds it all together. Bible says in Hebrews 1:3, “the Son is ……upholding and maintaining and propelling all things [the entire physical and spiritual universe] by His powerful word [carrying the universe along to its predetermined goal].” Did you notice the Amplified version said “He is sustaining and upholding all together in the universe to its pre-determined goal.” This is the pre-determined agenda from the eternity past – the eternal plan and counsel of God- the everlasting covenant of blood by the sacrificial death of Christ on the Calvary and the safe future of those who accept Christ as their savior and the unimaginable horrible future of those who reject Christ as their savior.

Do you know why He is holding it together in an organized way?

Do you know why Christ is sustaining and upholding all with all caution until He would destroy the current sky and earth by the power of His Word? Bible gives the reason in the same section in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
You see, God’s love for you so deep and wide that He doesn’t really want you to go to that place called ‘hell’, because it is so bad and horrible a place, my friend. He is showing His longsuffering toward you, not willing any should perish. But it is His desire that all should come to repentance and turn to God in and through Lord Jesus Christ.
My friend, may I ask you this question with a heavy concern regarding your eternal destination? Have you called upon Jesus Christ for your salvation as of yet?
You see, Christmas did not really begin on the first day of Christmas on this earth. The ideas of Christmas began way before in the eternity past, in the counsel of the God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is agreed and ratified in the eternity past before the creation of all. God had a plan for you. A good plan to give you a future and safety in heaven with Him. In the eternity past, God knew He would create the earth and the heavens. Then He knew He would create man (Adam) in His own image, He knew He would create a suitable helper for the man (Eve). He knew even though He is going to place them in a perfect environment of innocence, the devil will approach them and upon devil’s temptation, the first man and women would fall into sin. By foreknowing all these things in His omniscience foreknowledge, God had an eternal plan to save Adam’s race provided they would turn to the Savior, Christ Jesus. According to this everlasting covenant of the blood of Christ for the remission of sins, the very God Himself incarnated into this world. Christ, the Son of God, came to this world to accomplish and finish the rescue mission of your salvation. To take you back to God in a loving relationship as a child of God for all eternity future. He regained that which was lost – the fellowship and friendship with God.
This is Christmas is all about! Have you come to this awareness as you celebrate Christmas this year? Bible declares in Romans 10:13, “WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD (IN PRAYER) WILL BE SAVED.”
May this Christmas be a meaningful Christmas for you. What a joy waiting for you if you find this truth? What a joy in heaven in the presence of God’s angels have if you call upon the Lord Jesus today for your salvation. Bible says in John 1:12, “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”.
I sincerely wish and pray you would find the truth in this Christmas season and it will be a matter of true and permanent joy for you. God loves you. Please come to a loving relationship with the almighty God of the universe in and through the name of Jesus Christ today. Bible says your name will be written in the Book of life in heaven, all your sins will be forgiven and you will live in heaven with God eternally at the moment of your death. This is because you believed the truth and trusted in Christ who is the savior of the world –who faithfully fulfilled and finished the covenant of blood (the everlasting covenant) for your salvation.

Prayer time: You can invite Christ as your savior in a small prayer with me now. Pray after me.
“God, I know you love me and has a great plan for my safe future and well being. I admit I am a sinner and I believe Christ came into this world and died for my sins, buried and risen from the dead. I know He paid for my sins fully and completely on the cross. I accept Christ as my savior now. Please save me. Amen.”
If you prayed this prayer, with the authority of the Bible, I invite you to the family of God. You became a child of God now and you are born into God’s family. Bible promises God has erased all your sins and you have everlasting life with God in heaven. Please go to contact/prayer tab and send me a note. I will be thrilled to hear from you. Thank you for doing this.