Brothers :
The Holy Spirit
and Jesus
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8. Holy Jesus Christ
Servant's Hands Washing
When the holy Christ asks the disciples who they think he is, Simon Peter answers in Matthew 16.16, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." The holy Christ establishes his close association with the Holy Spirit and the Heavenly Father in Luke 3.22, which says, "and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.'" We see Jesus' role at the beginning of Creation in John 1.1, which states quite clearly, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In response to his initial doubting, Saint Thomas, one of the Apostles, says to Jesus in John 20.28, "My Lord and my God!" ✞
Overseers of Flock
The holy Jesus Christ is instructing his disciples about their future ministries in Acts 20.28, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his blood." Note that the phrase "be shepherds of the church of God" may be translated as "be shepherds of the Lord." The words "with his blood" mean "with the blood of his Son." ✞
The Messiah
In Romans 9.5, Saint Paul anguishes over Israel, "Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them, we trace the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!" The phrase "messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!" may be translated as "messiah, who is over all. Praise God forever!" or even as "messiah, God who is over all forever praised!" The holy Christ, according to Saint Paul, is God over all and worthy of all praise. ✞
God Becomes Man
Jesus Christ is with God before the universe began and chooses to become a human being. Philippians 2.6-7 explains this, "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his advantage. Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." Note that the phrase "very nature of God" may be equally rendered as "in the form of God." ✞
Obedient to Death
Philippians 2.8-11 continues, "And being found in appearance as a man, he (Jesus) humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." What a glorious climax for the holy Christ! The claims of the sacred Jesus Christ astonish his listeners but encourage his disciples. Saint Paul writes in Colossians 2.9-10, "For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ, he brings you to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority." ✞
Completeness of Jesus
Saint Paul advises Titus, an early Christian missionary and church leader, a companion, and disciple of Paul's mentioned in several epistles, including the Epistle to Titus. In Titus 2.13, Saint Paul writes, "while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," thus confirming the completeness of Jesus as "our great God and Savior." The writer of Hebrews 1.8 adds, "But about the Son, he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.'" Jesus is called "your throne, O God." Saint John writes in 1 John 5.20, "We also know 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." Again, Jesus shines forth as "the true God and eternal life." ✞
Fully God
At his trial in Matthew 26.63-64, when his critics deny Jesus' deity, Jesus remains silent. "The high priest said to him, 'I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.' 'You have said so,' Jesus replied. 'But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the Mighty One's right hand and coming on heaven's clouds.'" Interestingly, both the Psalmist and Daniel refer to someone sitting at the right hand of God. Psalm 110.1 reads, "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" ✞
Leaders Pressed
The prophet Daniel writes in Daniel 7.13, "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and came into his presence." Note here that the name "a son of man" comes from the Aramaic "bar enash," meaning "human being." The term "son of man" is retained purposely here because of its use in the New Testament as Jesus' title. The reaction to the claims of Jesus' deity is typical. "Then the high priest tore his clothes and said" in Matthew 26.65b-66, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?' 'He is worthy of death,' they answered." Jesus goes to the cross, not for anything he has done but because he claimed to be God, which is the truth and nothing but the truth! ✞
Jesus Fully Divine
The proof that the holy Christ is fully divine is seen in Jesus at God's right hand in glory. Luke 22.66-71 reads, "At daybreak, the people's elders council, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus led before them. 'If you are the Messiah,' they said, 'tell us.' Jesus answered, 'If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.' They all asked, 'Are you then the Son of God?' He replied, 'You say that I am.' Then they said, 'Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his lips.'" They interrogate Jesus about his claims of divinity. Jesus responded, 'If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.' Jesus is not avoiding whether he is divine, but stating it again in different words so that the religious and civic leaders can fully grasp the truth of what he is saying and who he is. ✞
Leaders Pressed
The Jewish leaders all ask, "Are you then the Son of God?" Jesus replies, "You are right in saying I am." The holy Jesus Christ here uses the sacred "I AM," name of God of himself. This phrase affirms his deity. The Jewish leaders then are convinced, 'Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his lips.'" They also press Jesus in John 19.7 about his claim of divinity and insist, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God." For them, it is a definite conclusion. It is, however, what Jesus wanted for the divine plan to find completion! ✞
"Holy Jesus Christ"
by Ron Meacock © 2021
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