Do you really know who Jesus is? He’s not some demeaning words written on the bathroom walls, used as a bi-word, or spoken in slander by some reprobate.
Jesus didn’t belittle people or bully them, or call them names, except in the case of the religious pretenders of his day when he called them “Pharisees,, hypocrites. like unto whited sepulchres, (or tombs) which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” Jesus wasn’t a bully nor a pushover. He was kind to people, even if he didn’t agree with them. He didn’t shun people even if he didn’t agree with them or agree with how they appeared or were dressed. Jesus didn’t even teach us that we need to demonstrate how spiritual we are by how high we jump, how fast we run, how loud we shout or even how much we speak in tongues. Jesus gave us an example that we should be like him in every respect.
Jesus was the type of person who would walk up to Buddha or Mahammad or any other religious leader of the day (and today as well) and say, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man can come to the Father but by me.” He would walk up to the average religious zealot of the day and say, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Jesus wasn’t a wimp or sissy, or a pushover either. He went into the temple And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money (extortioners), and overthrew the tables. He even stood in their way so they would not bring any more contraband into the temple to blaspheme and shame his Father’s house. Jesus was a man who withstood beatings and physical abuse like no other has ever done, yes lived through it all only to be nailed to a cross and live for at least 3 hours until he died. And he did it all just to save you and me from an eternal punishment in a lake of fire. Yet Jesus, today, is probably the most hated name in our nation and the world all because he preached against evil and sin and against racism and evil government officials and anyone else or anything else that was and is unlike the Holy nature of the one true God.
In the Book of John, chapter 6, verses 35, 41, and 50, Jesus spoke these words, “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” “ I am the bread which came down from heaven.” “This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.”
Many think they know who Jesus is. The King James Bible describes who Jesus is The Holy Scriptures refer to Him by many names: Alpha and Omega, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, The Good Shepherd, Chief Corner Stone, Bread of Life, Savior of the World, The Light of the World, The Way, The Truth and the Life, Messiah, Wonderful Councilor, Anointed One, The Lord of Glory, The Holy and Righteous One, The Express Image of the Father, The Word Of God, just to name a few!
Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Jesus loves us so much that through His death and resurrection has given us his peace. He has put his peace in us. He is our Salvation that came to save us from the troubles of this world. In this world, there is so much going on but as we fix our eyes on Jesus his peace that is in us will help us to be overcomers.
Jesus said in John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Luke 4:41 lets us know that even the devils know who Jesus really is. It explains it like this. “And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.”
In Matthew 16: 13 -17 we know that the Apostle Peter knew who Jesus was. “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Peter knew who Jesus was!
In the Upper Room, after Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus told doubting Thomas to put his hands in the nail scared hands and side. What did Thomas say? “My Lord and my God!. Thomas knew who Jesus was!
Even Muhammad recognized Jesus for who he was though he didn’t follow him. Muhammad, Islam’s Prophet, believed Jesus was sent by Allah to be the Messiah, miraculously born of the Virgin Mary, who brought the Gospel, who died, and raised from the dead, then ascended into heaven to be with Allah. Jesus would become an everlasting blessing to all mankind! Muhammad even said that “Jesus is a messenger of Allah, who is to be believed” (4:171). He even said, “Allah gave to the world Jesus, exalted him above all others, and supported him with the Holy Spirit as proof of his sovereignty” (2: 253*).
Remember, however, Muhammad is dead and buried in the ground in Medina. Jesus is alive in Heaven with God, our loving Father.
Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, believed Jesus was the Messiah, Allah’s anointed messenger. Allah’s people (Muslims) are told to listen to Allah’s messengers (Koran, 4.171; 5. 111*)..
If Muhammad’s followers really listened to their prophet, studied the Gospels, and gave their heart to Jesus, they would know who Jesus really is.
We need to have a revelation of Jesus Christ! A revelation of Him will transform a person, a family, a marriage, and even a CHURCH! If your church needs to be changed, focus on revealing Jesus Christ! Seeing Him will transform the lives of those that behold Him!
God’s Glory will change the crack addict, the junkie, the pusher, the pimp, the prostitute – and it will transform the believer into an ever increasing image of Jesus Christ! Husbands, wives, and kids need to see it! Our government needs to see it. Our nation needs to see it! And we, the Church, really need to see it! preachers need to see it, teachers need to see it. We all need to see the glory of God – God in His holiness and splendor! Then we can really know who Jesus really is.
That’s the answer to the dilemmas facing the world and the Church. It’s not our preaching, It’s not our our shouting, It’s not our dancing in the Spirit, and it’s not even our speaking in tongues or prophesy. All these things are good if ordered by the Holy Ghost. What we all really need is a supernatural manifestation of the Power and Presence of Almighty God through Jesus Christ! That changes lives.
Jesus is to be worshiped above all others; revered above others. The world is always trying to put others above Jesus; politicians, religious figures such as Mohammed, Bhudia, entertainers and movie stars, the Pope, even many times the Pastor. But when all is said and done, they will all be dead and gone. There’ll be nobody left but Jesus.
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
We can also know who Jesus is NOT. Since Jesus is the express image of God the Father, and He came to do the will of the Father, we can know that He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it. He did not come to condemn but to save. John 3:17 says, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
So, how do you get to know The Way, The Truth, and The Life? The Holy Scriptures tell us in Ephesians 2:8 & 9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Acts 2:38 says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 3:19 tell us, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”