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“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 RSV)

 

God was undoubtedly a Good Shepherd to His flock, the children of Israel. He sought them in Egypt and delivered them out of the grip of Pharaoh.

When God brought them out, He “went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.” (Exo. 13:21 NKJV).

While they passed through the wilderness, God jealously watched over His flock (Israel) day and night and permitted no one to do them wrong (Psa. 105:13-15). He satisfied them with the bread of heaven and brought water out of the rock for them to drink. Eventually, God settled them in the green pasture, the Promised Land.

Although God was a Good Shepherd to Israel’s house, they constantly strayed from Him. But God would not give up on His strayed sheep. He promised through His prophets to send them another Good Shepherd like Himself who would seek for and restore to Him the lost or strayed sheep of Israel and His other sheep among the Gentiles (Eze. 34:23, 37:24, Isa. 40:11).

The children of Israel were not the only sheep God intended to have, for all men were created to be God’s sheep (1 Pet. 2:25). Therefore, while God was shepherding the flock of Israel under the Old Covenant, He had a more excellent plan and purpose to seek for and bring into His fold His sheep from every nation of the earth so that there will be one fold and one shepherd.

God spoke expressly through the prophets of old, saying, “I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them-My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd.” (Eze. 34:23 NKJV).

The Lord Jesus also confirmed this prophecy, saying, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16 NKJV).

The prophecy that God would at a particular time set over all His flock from every nation of the earth one shepherd called “My servant David” was not referring to King David, but Jesus Christ. David died for about four hundred years when this prophecy was given.

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd God promised to establish over all His flock—whether Jews or Gentiles or circumcised in the flesh. All those who have put their faith in the person and finished the work of Christ for salvation and have confessed Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour are God’s flock.

Peter testifies, “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Pet. 2:25 NKJV).

As God the Father was the Good Shepherd over the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant, so is Jesus Christ today the Good Shepherd over all the born-again believers under the New Covenant.

How did we know that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd God promised to set over His entire flock?

First, when Jesus Christ came into the world, He introduced Himself as the Good Shepherd:

Jesus publicly announced, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NKJV).

“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10:14 NKJV).

Only God is always perfect by all standards.

The Scripture testifies, “No one is good but One, that is, God…” (Matt. 19:17 NKJV).

Jesus Christ is God manifested in the flesh, so He is the only Good Shepherd (1 Tim 3:16).

Second, Jesus Christ entered the sheepfold by the door (John 10:1-2):

By right, Jesus owns us, for we were created through Him.

John reveals, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” (John 1:3 NKJV).

Nevertheless, Jesus did not force Himself upon us but was chosen, appointed, and established as our Shepherd by God the Father.

Jesus said, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” (John 10:29 NKJV).

True shepherds or pastors are those called, chosen, and appointed by God Himself!

Third, Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd because He goes before His sheep:

John writes, “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” (John 10:4 NKJV).

As a Good Shepherd, Jesus has gone ahead of us in everything. He has experienced everything we shall ever experience or encounter in this evil world.

Therefore, He can easily be touched with the feelings of our infirmities or weaknesses, having been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15).

The Scripture states, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” (Heb. 2:18 NKJV).

Before you enter any situation as God’s sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd is already ahead of you!

As God’s sheep, you will never be alone in any situation. “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 NKJV).

Moreover, Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd because He is a perfect example for us in everything. He is the brightness of God’s glory and the express image of His person. “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col. 2:9 NKJV).

Only in Jesus Christ can we perfectly see, know, and understand God’s heart, person, nature, or character. Therefore, He is the only One God the Father has set before us to look up to, listen to, conform to, and imitate in everything (Matt. 17:5).

As a sheep of God, your eyes must be fixed on Jesus, and you must see to it that you follow Him daily, constantly, and closely, abiding in His teachings, walking in His footsteps, and conforming wholly to His example.

Any shepherd or pastor whose lifestyle and teaching do not wholly conform to Christ is a stranger you must not follow (John 10:5).

Fourth, Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd because He knows His sheep intimately:

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” (John 10:14 NKJV).  

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27 NKJV).

Jesus does not need anyone to introduce you to Him, for He is the God who made you. The Scripture testifies that Jesus “had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.” (John 2:25 NKJV).

The Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, knows and understands you deeper and better than you will ever know and understand yourself.

He knows all your inner struggles, weaknesses, infirmities, pains, failures, fears, sorrows, anxieties, or worries that you have perfectly concealed from men. Therefore, Jesus can help you perfectly, completely, or absolutely!

Fifth, Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd because He laid down His life for His sheep:

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 RSV).

Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, bore the punishment for our straying from God.

The Scripture testifies, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6 NKJV).

It cost Jesus His life for us, the lost sheep, to be restored to God. Jesus laid down His life on the cross for us to be reconciled to God, not out of compulsion or a mere sense of obligation, but out of His selfless love for us.

Jesus said, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself…” (John 10:18 NKJV).

No one can ever love you much more than Jesus does!

Sixth, Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd because He gives eternal life to His sheep:

Jesus said, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28 NKJV).

It is only in Christ that you can find eternal life.

The Scripture states, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” (1 John 5:11 NKJV).

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” (John 5:21 NKJV).

Therefore, Jesus Christ is the only Source or Giver of eternal life (John 17:2). Every born-again believer, God’s sheep, has eternal life (God’s kind of life).

The Scripture assures, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12 NKJV).

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36 NKJV).

If you are one of God’s sheep, you already have everything necessary to live a holy, victorious, prosperous, and fulfilled life in this evil world (2 Pet. 1:3).

Lastly, Jesus is the Good Shepherd because no one can snatch His sheep out of His hand:

Jesus never leaves nor forsakes His sheep; He feeds, defends, protects, and preserves His sheep.

Jesus assures all His sheep, saying, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20 NKJV).

Beloved, if you are born again, you are one of God’s sheep, and no evil man, angel, or power can destroy you or pluck you out of God’s hand.

Jesus assures, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” (John 10:29 NKJV).

You are only vulnerable to the enemy’s attack when you willfully ignore the Good Shepherd’s voice and follow a stranger (John 17:12). Therefore, stay in Jesus’ sheepfold, under His guidance and authority.

Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (NKJV).

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for setting Jesus Christ over me as my Good Shepherd. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me daily to recognize, obey, and follow the voice of my Good Shepherd, in Jesus’ name. Amen.  

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51 NKJV)

 

All through the children of Israel’s forty-year journey in the wilderness en route to the Promised Land, they lived on manna, the bread from heaven.

Beyond the immediate purpose of the manna as sustenance for their body, the manna was also intended to serve as a type, copy, or representation of Jesus Christ, the Living Bread.

By raining down manna or bread from heaven to sustain the children of Israel in the wilderness, God was preparing their hearts to receive by faith “the Living Bread” He would send in the fullness of time.

The children of Israel had to go out of the camp every morning except on the Sabbath day to gather the manna. God was teaching them to depend absolutely on His Word—wholly trust His gracious provision.

Moses recalled this great lesson when they were at the border of the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 – NKJV

 2 “And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

 3 “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

The bread God gave the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years was physical bread intended primarily for their physical sustenance in the wilderness. The bread only supplied their physical need, not their spiritual need.

However, the Living Bread God has sent down from heaven meets all our needs (spiritual, physical, emotional, or otherwise) today. Therefore, it is infinitely greater and better than the bread the children of Israel ate in the wilderness for forty years and died afterward.

When the Lord Jesus came into the world, He aptly introduced Himself as “the Living Bread.” Jesus publicly announced to the Jews that He was the bread of life.

John 6:48-51 – NKJV

 48 “I am the bread of life.

 49 “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead.

 50 “This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.

 51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Unlike the bread the children of Israel ate in the wilderness, which could only meet their physical needs or sustain their physical well-being for a short while, the Living Bread (the Lord Jesus) that God is offering us freely today could meet all our needs.

The Living Bread is for our complete well-being. He is for our spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional well-being, not only for a while but for eternity.

Jesus assures, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51 NKJV).

Like the physical bread, the Living Bread is also a gracious provision of God. No labor, good work, or righteousness was required for the children of Israel to receive and eat the bread from heaven for their physical nourishment or sustenance in the wilderness.

All that was required of the children of Israel was faith in God’s provision. They went out of the camp every morning in faith to gather the manna, trusting God that the provision would be available.

Similarly, the Living Bread (Jesus Christ) is God’s gracious provision for the salvation of humankind.  God requires no labor, good work, or righteousness for anyone to receive and feed on the Living Bread. All God requires of us is faith in His gracious provision for our salvation!

Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29 NKJV).

Salvation is purely by grace alone through faith alone in God’s gracious provision, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Scripture states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 NKJV).

Along their journey to the Promised Land, the children of Israel detested and rejected the bread from heaven provided by God to sustain them in the wilderness.

The Scripture records that they yielded to an intense craving, weeping and saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? “We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; “but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!” (Num. 11:4-6 NKJV).

Although the children of Israel got what they lusted for after detesting and rejecting God’s bread from heaven, they perished in the wilderness.

The Scripture records, “But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was aroused against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.” (Num. 11:33 NKJV).

What a warning today to all those rejecting Christ, the Living Bread!

There is no substitute for the Living Bread (Jesus Christ) that God has sent from heaven to give us eternal life. Therefore, anyone who detests and rejects Jesus Christ as God’s gracious provision for His salvation will die in his sins and face the wrath of God afterward.

Jesus warns, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24 NKJV).

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:53-54 NKJV).

Beloved, don’t be like the ungrateful and ungodly children of Israel who perished in the wilderness because they despised and rejected the bread from heaven, craving food from the earth.

Choosing not to put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (the Living Bread) for your salvation is simply choosing and embracing eternal death – eternal separation from God in hell fire. Why?

Because Jesus Christ is God’s only Living Bread from heaven to give eternal life to all humanity!

The Scripture states, “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33 NKJV).

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12 NKJV).

You can find eternal life only in Christ Jesus, not in any saints, angels, religions, or religious laws, rules, or rites. Nothing in this world can ultimately sustain or satisfy your entire being except Jesus Christ, the Living Bread from heaven.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35 NKJV).

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:47-48 NKJV).

Friend, feed on Jesus Christ, the Living Bread, today and always!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, as the Living Bread into the world. I acknowledge and receive Jesus Christ today as my Living Bread. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me continually feed on this Living Bread from heaven, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.” (John 9:37-38 NKJV)

 

One of the primary reasons why the spiritually blind but religious fanatics among the Jews hated, rejected, and sought to kill the Lord Jesus was because of His rightful claim to His divinity.

The Scripture records that when Jesus said, “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. “I and My Father are one.” Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.” (John 10:29-31 NKJV).

The ignorant Jews wanted to stone Jesus for blasphemy because He claimed equality with God the Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

They told Jesus, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.” (John 10:32-33 NKJV).

Like the spiritually blind Jews, many ignorant religious folks today are also contending against the divinity of Jesus Christ. While they claim to believe in Jesus Christ, they reject His divinity.

That is a contradiction! 

As pointed out in the first part of this piece, the divinity of Jesus Christ is essential to the Christian faith.

Our salvation depends on this truth. Salvation belongs to God only (Psa. 68:20). Salvation is purely the work of God.

The Psalmist proclaims, “For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” (Psa. 74:12 NKJV).

Therefore, Jesus Christ cannot be your Saviour without being your God!

Anyone who rejects the divinity of Christ has also rejected His salvation. It is impossible to receive salvation through the finished work of Christ without acknowledging, accepting, and confessing that Jesus Christ is indeed the Lord God.

Jesus warned the Jews who rejected His divinity, saying, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24 NKJV).

The Scripture furnishes us with ample evidence to believe and accept the divinity of Jesus Christ. We carefully considered some of these in the first part of this piece.

First, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ was a complete fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies about the Incarnation of God (Isa. 7:14, 9:6, Matt. 1:22-23).

Second, God the Father bore testimony to the divinity of Christ (Psa. 110:1, Heb. 1:8).

The Scripture reveals that God commanded His angels to worship Jesus Christ while He was in the flesh.

The Scripture states, “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Heb. 1:6 NKJV).

Worship belongs to God exclusively!

Third, Jesus Christ Himself bore testimony to His divinity.

He said, “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30 NKJV).

“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58 NKJV).

Besides these powerful divine testimonies to the divinity of Christ, many supernatural works or actions of Jesus Christ while He was in the world bore witness to the truth that Jesus Christ was indeed fully God in the flesh.

Let us consider some of these marvelous works or acts.

First, Jesus Christ forgave sins while in the world:

Sin is the transgression of the law of God, and only God has the prerogative to forgive sins. Jesus Christ demonstrated the power to forgive sins while in the world, showing that He was fully God in the flesh.

The Scripture records that when Jesus said to the paralytic brought to Him by his four friends, “Son, your sins are forgiven you,” some of the scribes sitting there reasoned thus in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:5-10 NKJV).

Jesus forgave the paralytic of his sins and healed him of his paralysis. That undoubtedly proves that Jesus Christ was indeed God manifested in the flesh.

Second, Jesus Christ received worship due to God only:

Worship belongs to God exclusively. No man or angel has the right to receive worship from anyone. Under the Old Covenant, anyone guilty of worshipping other gods must be stoned to death (Deut. 13:1-18).

That was why the spiritually blind religious fanatics among the Jews took up stones to stone Jesus when He claimed equality with God (John 5:18, 10:30-33).

When Satan tempted Jesus to worship him, Jesus sharply rebuked him, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (Luke 4:8 NKJV).

However, Jesus later accepted worship from the man who was born blind after his miraculous healing, proving that He was indeed God in the flesh.

The Scripture records that when Jesus heard that the Jews had cast the man out of the synagogue because of his testimony, He found him and said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.” (John 9:35-38 NKJV).

Moreover, after His glorious resurrection from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ received worship several times from His disciples.

Matthew 28:9-10; 16-17 – NKJV

 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

The Lord Jesus also accepted the testimony of doubting Thomas when he finally believed in the risen Lord and confessed, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 NKJV).

Third, Jesus Christ wielded power over the elements:

Jesus rebuked the wind, and it obeyed Him, and there was a great calmness at once (Lk. 8:24). Jesus also calmed the waves of the raging sea (Mk. 4:39). Jesus walked on the troubled water (Matt. 14:25-26).

Power over the elements belongs to God only. Jesus demonstrated this power, showing He was fully God in the flesh.

Fourth, Jesus Christ demonstrated creative power:

Only God, the Creator, can bring something into being from nothing. Jesus showed that He was God the Creator manifested in the flesh by turning water to wine (John 2:1-11) and feeding thousands of people with only five loaves and two fish (Matt. 14:13-21).

Lastly, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead:

The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof that Jesus’ claim to be equal with God the Father in every respect was not blasphemy.

How and why?

If Jesus’ claim of divinity was false or if Jesus was just a liar, an impostor, or a blasphemer as the Jews accused Him, He would not have resurrected from the dead!

If Jesus indeed blasphemed by claiming that He was God manifested in the flesh, without any doubt, God would have left or abandoned Him in the grave until the day of final judgment to judge, condemn, and send Him to hell fire.

However, the Scripture attests to the truth that His Father raised Jesus from the dead, thereby proving that Jesus’ claim that He was equal with God, His Father, was valid. Hallelujah!

Apostle Peter testified to the Jews after healing the man who was born lame, “But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, “and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:14-15 NKJV).

Apostle Paul also testified, “Consequently, through sharing his death in our baptism, we were buried with him; that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by a manifestation of the Father’s power, so we also may live a new Life.” (Rom. 6:4 TCNT).

Paul also prayed for the Christians at Ephesus that their eyes of understanding may be enlightened to know “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” (Eph. 1:19-21 NKJV).

Beloved, all these truths are presented to you so that you may know, believe, accept, love, worship, serve, and proclaim Jesus Christ as the true God “manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” (1 Tim. 3:16 NKJV).

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31 NKJV).

 

Prayer: My Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I acknowledge, receive, and proclaim You as my Lord and God. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me love, obey, worship, and serve Jesus Christ as God every day of my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)

 

Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man while He lived on earth among us. He was God in the flesh. The virgin birth of Jesus was simply the fulfillment of the prophecies of old that God would come in the flesh to live among mortal men (Isa. 7:14, 9:6-7).

Matthew 1:22-23 – NKJV

 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:

 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  

The Jews vehemently rejected Jesus’ divinity and sought to stone Him for blasphemy (John 5:18).

John 10:31-33 – NKJV

 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

 32 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”

 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

Like the religious but ignorant Jews of those days, many religious folks today still reject Christ’s divinity. They would gladly accept Jesus Christ as a good teacher, a righteous man, a prophet, or a messenger from God, but not as the Almighty God.

Sadly, some believers today also hold the unscriptural view that although Jesus Christ is God, He is somewhat lesser or inferior to the Almighty God.

Why is accepting and believing that Jesus Christ is fully God crucial to the Christian faith?

First, it is the basis of our salvation:

Salvation exclusively belongs to God (Rev. 19:1, Psa. 62:1-2). Only God has the power to forgive sins and save sinners from eternal damnation.

The Scripture clearly states this truth.

“Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah.” (Psa. 3:8 NKJV).

“Our God is the God of salvation; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.” (Psa. 68:20 NKJV).

“For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” (Psa. 74:12 NKJV).

Therefore, if Jesus Christ is not God, He cannot be our Saviour, for only God saves. Faith in the divinity and redemptive work of Christ results in salvation.

Anyone who does not believe and confess that Jesus Christ is indeed God, the Saviour, cannot be saved (Rom. 10:8-10).  

The Lord Jesus sternly warned the Jews who rejected His divinity, saying, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24 NKJV).

Second, accepting the divinity of Christ is essential to Christian worship:

Worship belongs to God exclusively!

God’s first command in the Law was, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exo. 20:3 NKJV).

“For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exo. 34:14 NKJV).

When tempted by Satan, the Lord Jesus sharply rebuked Satan, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (Luke 4:8 NKJV).

It is idolatry to worship anyone or anything that is not God the Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Idolatry is a grievous sin punishable by death under the Law (Deut. 13:1-18).

Therefore, if Jesus Christ is not truly and fully God, all Christians are guilty of idolatry, for only God deserves worship. Believing in Jesus Christ and not worshiping Him as God is contradictory.

Today, many religious folks are not worshipping Jesus Christ because they don’t accept Him as the Almighty God.

How do we know that Jesus Christ is truly and fully God?

First, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ:

In the Old Testament, it was a prevalent theme that God would come to live with us and save us from our sins. Many years before the virgin birth of Jesus, the Holy Spirit had moved several old prophets to prophesy about God’s Incarnation.

Isaiah prophesied, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Isa. 7:14, Matt. 1:22-23 NKJV).

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us, a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:6 NKJV).

The virgin birth of Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about God coming to live among mortal men. Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh.

Paul writes, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” (1 Tim. 3:16 NKJV).

The Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ was in the form of God before He humbled, condescended, or emptied Himself of His privileges as God to take up our human nature so that He could die for our sins and thus save us.

Philippians 2:6-8 – TCNT

 6 Though the divine nature was his from the beginning, yet he did not look upon equality with God as above all things to be clung to,

 7 But impoverished himself by taking the nature of a servant and becoming like men;

 8 He appeared among us as a man, and still further humbled himself by submitting even to death–to death on a cross!  

Furthermore, the Scripture presents Jesus Christ to us as “the Word,” which was with God in the beginning but became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

As the Word, Jesus was present with God in the beginning and actively involved in creating everything (Gen. 1:26).

God created all things through His Word!

John 1:1-3 – NKJV

 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 2 He was in the beginning with God.

 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  

Therefore, Jesus Christ (the Word), being the Creator, is God the Almighty.

Second, Jesus Christ is God because God the Father called Him God:

The Scripture reveals that God the Father proclaimed Jesus Christ as God.

“But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.” (Heb. 1:8 NKJV).

“The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (Psa. 110:1 NKJV).

In the above scripture (Psa. 110:1), the LORD refers to God the Father, while my Lord refers to Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus referred to this passage in Matt. 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-36, Luke 20:39-44. Apostle Peter also referred to this passage in his sermon at Pentecost.

Therefore, anyone who rejects the divinity of Jesus has rejected the Father’s testimony about His Son, thereby calling God a liar (1 John 5:10).

When the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, God the Father commanded all the angels to worship Him.

Hebrews 1:5-6 – NKJV

 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?

 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Only God deserves to be worshipped. Worship belongs to God exclusively. Therefore, God commanding the angels to worship Jesus Christ while He was in the flesh is a powerful testimony that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh when He was in the world.

Third, Jesus Christ is God because He called Himself God:

Jesus testified to His divinity while He was in the world.

Jesus declared loud and clear, saying, “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30 NKJV).

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14:7 NKJV).

“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58 NKJV).

“And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” (John 17:5 NKJV).

Beloved, the Lord Jesus Christ was not impersonating God or blaspheming by claiming equality with God the Father, for He was God from the beginning (John 1:14). He only condescended to come into the world in the likeness of men so that He may offer Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross and thus redeem and reconcile us to God.

Besides Jesus’ words that He was God, His works also confirmed He was God in the flesh.

What are these works?

Find out in the second part of this piece!

 

Prayer: My Dear Jesus Christ, I acknowledge and confess today that You are the true God, the Creator of all things. I will forever worship, serve, obey, and proclaim that You are the eternal God, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:10 NKJV)

 

We all were born as sinners and thus separated, alienated, or estranged from God due to the sin of the first man, Adam (Rom. 5:12, 19, Psa. 58:3).

We can never deserve or earn God’s love, friendship, acceptance, favor, or blessing by our self-righteousness, performance, or good works. But out of His great love for us, God made a move to reconcile us to Himself through the means of the Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5-6).

As the Mediator between the holy God and the sinful men, the Lord Jesus had abolished the enmity or hostility between God and evil men in His flesh, making peace through the blood of His cross (Rom. 5:10, Eph. 2:13-15).

All things are reconciled or restored to God through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Christ’s propitiation or expiation for our sins is the only basis for our reconciliation with God (2 Cor. 5:18, Col. 1:19-20).

We were brought back into favor and friendship with God through Christ’s death.

Apostle Paul clearly states this truth.

Ephesians 2:13-16 – NKJV

 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Colossians 1:21-22 – NKJV

 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. 

As a result of Christ offering Himself as propitiation or an atoning sacrifice for the world’s sins, God is no longer reckoning, imputing, or counting the world’s sins against them.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 – NKJV

 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (NKJV).

Before the Lord Jesus abolished the hostility between God and sinners in the body of His flesh, the sinners were said to be “children of wrath,” the objects of God’s fierce anger (Eph. 2:3). But not anymore!

Christ’s atonement or propitiation for the world’s sins has restored peace between God and sinners. Sinners are now the objects of God’s love and no longer the objects of God’s wrath.

Does that mean God has changed or lowered His standard of holiness? Not at all!

Does that mean God now accommodates or tolerates sins? Certainly not!

God is forever holy; He will never accommodate, approve of, or co-exist with any sin or iniquity.

The Scripture testifies concerning God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness…” (Hab. 1:13 NKJV).

Then, why are sinners no longer the objects of God’s anger?

Because God has unleashed His anger and judgment upon His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross for all our sins—past, present, and future! God’s fierce anger and judgment that sinners fully deserved were emptied on Jesus Christ on the cross.

The curses, pains, sorrows, poverty, alienation from God, diseases, sicknesses, infirmities, or death that we rightly deserved as sinners were fully experienced, bore, carried, and absorbed in the body of Jesus Christ on the cross (Matt. 8:17, 1 Pet. 2:24, 2 Cor. 5:21, Isa. 53:4-5).

Therefore, the justice of God that demands that sinners must not go unpunished has been fully satisfied. Christ has borne our sins and the wages of our sins in His own body on the cross; therefore, God will be unjust to be angry with sinners, punish sinners for their sins, or put their sins to their accounts.

No more anger, hatred, or hostility is left towards any sinner on God’s side. God’s wrath against sinners had been exhausted on Jesus Christ at the cross. God has no anger left for sinners.

Why will God still judge sinners and cast them into hell after death?

Because they despised, shunned, ignored, and rejected God’s reconciliation or hand of friendship extended to them!

On the great Day of Judgement, God will not judge or punish sinners because of their sins or trespasses, but because they rejected God’s gift of salvation, which was purchased and made available to them at such a huge cost, the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Only the sinners who left this world despising, ignoring, and rejecting Christ’s finished work of reconciliation on the cross will face and fully experience God’s fierce wrath and judgment (John 16:8-9, Heb. 10:26-27).

The Scripture queries, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Heb. 2:3-4 NKJV).

Although God is no longer angry with sinners or seeking to punish sinners for their sins or imputing to sinners their sins because of Christ’s finished work of reconciliation, many sinners are unaware of God’s change of disposition towards them. Why?

Many believers today are not preaching, spreading, or broadcasting the true gospel of the grace of God, the good news, or the message of reconciliation to sinners!

The only ministry Christ has given the believers who have received and experienced His ministry of reconciliation is “the ministry of reconciliation.”

The Scripture clearly states that God “has given us the ministry of reconciliation… and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Cor. 5:18-19 NKJV).

Simply put, God has chosen the born-again believers to be ambassadors for Christ, who can continue to appeal to sinners to be reconciled to Him (2 Cor. 5:20). 

Sadly, the ministry many believers today pursue and fulfill towards sinners is “the ministry of accusation or condemnation.”

We, unlike Paul, are not beseeching or imploring sinners on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God, for God has changed His disposition towards them.

Paul said, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20 NKJV).

Many believers today are completely ignorant of God’s change of disposition towards sinners because of Christ’s perfect and finished work of reconciliation.

Unfortunately, many servants of God today are also ignorant of the enormous impact or effect of Christ’s propitiation or expiation for the world’s sins on God’s disposition or relationship towards sinners.

Due to sheer ignorance of the immense effects or blessings of Christ’s finished work of reconciliation, many children of God today are still unstable or insecure in their relationship with God.

Many believers today still ignorantly think or believe that if or when they sin, they become cut off, separated, estranged, or alienated from God. Many believers still ignorantly expect God to punish them for every sin they commit after being born-again.

What a belittling of Christ’s finished work of reconciliation!

Romans 5:8-10 – NKJV

 8 But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Beloved, if God loved you so much when you were still a sinner and an enemy to Him that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for your sins on the cross and thus reconciled you to Himself; is it, not sheer foolishness to now think that God will be angry with you, hate you, or forsake you if or when you fall into sin?

If your sins did not stop God from reaching out in love to you when you were still God’s enemy and entirely far away from God, how dare you now think that your sins will cut you off, separate or estrange you from God now that you have been brought near to God by the blood of Jesus?

Nothing can ever separate born-again believers from God’s love in Christ.

Absolutely nothing!

Apostle Paul states this pivotal truth.

Romans 8:38-39 – NKJV

 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Friend, if you have the revelation knowledge of the profound effects of Christ’s finished work of reconciliation, you will be secure in God’s love for you.

If you truly know and understand that Christ has abolished the hostility between God and you, and He is now seated at the right hand of God, not as your Judge but as your High Priest, making intercession for you, you will always have great confidence toward God.

Understanding this truth, Paul writes, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom. 5:8-10 NKJV).

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” (Rom. 8:31-33 NKJV).

Beloved, nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God will never stop loving and blessing you. You are entirely and eternally accepted by God in Christ, not based on your actions but on your faith in the person of Jesus and His finished work of reconciliation.

Christ’s finished work of reconciliation forever changes God’s disposition towards you. God has sworn never to be angry with you nor condemn you. You are no longer an enemy to God but a son of His love (Gal. 4:4-7).

The Scripture reveals that God has sworn not to be angry with you nor remove His kindness from you.

Isaiah 54:9-10 – NKJV

 9 “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; For as I have sworn That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, So have I sworn That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.

 10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,” Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for granting me an understanding of the enormous effect of Christ’s finished work of reconciliation. Help me, Lord, never forget that You are always for me, will never be angry with me, and will never abandon or forsake me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (Colossians 1:21-22 NKJV)

 

In a word, the ministry of Jesus could be described as the ministry of “reconciliation.” The Lord Jesus came down to reconcile or restore all things to God, whether on earth or in heaven.

Colossians 1:18-22 – NKJV

 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. 

Why did all things need to be reconciled to God?

Because all things were corrupted, alienated, or estranged from God through Adam’s disobedience!

Through Adam, sin entered the world; through sin, corruption and death entered the world and spread to the entire creation. In Adam, we all became corrupted, dead, alienated, or estranged from God (Rom. 5:12, 8:19-23, 1 Cor. 15:21-22).

All men were born dead in trespasses and sins. From birth, we begin to walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, conducting ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and so are by nature children of wrath (Eph. 2:1-3, Col. 1:21).

Although we were sinners and enemies of God by nature and thus estranged from God, God made a move to reconcile or restore us to Himself out of His great love for us.

How did God reconcile sinful men to Himself?

Through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross!

Romans 5:8-10 – NKJV

 8 But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

 10 For if we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Colossians 1:21-22 – NKJV

 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 – NKJV

 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

The Lord Jesus came into the world primarily to fulfill the ministry of reconciliation, which His Father had given Him to do (John 17:4).

We sinners were enemies of God and estranged from His holy presence. We were also the objects of God’s wrath, for the Justice of God demands the punishment of sinners. This is why the Scripture refers to sinners as “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3 NKJV).  

Not only did our sins separate, alienate, or estrange us from God, but they also qualified us for the fierce wrath of God. Our sins brought on us double tragedies!

There is absolutely nothing that we can do on our own to be reconciled to God. But out of His great love for us, though we were sinners and enemies to God, God sent His Son to be a Mediator between the holy God and the sinful men.

The unique work of the Mediator is to abolish the enmity or hostility between God and men, remove the sin barrier between the holy God and the sinful men, bring the estranged wicked men to the holy God, and restore the fallen men into favor with God.

The only means the Mediator could fulfill His ministry of reconciliation is by giving Himself as a ransom or an offering for the sinful men. Why?

Because the Justice of God to punish sinners must be satisfied!

Therefore, the Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, was offered as an atoning sacrifice or propitiation for our sins on the cross. Only on this basis can sinful men be reconciled to God.

Paul writes, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1 Tim. 2:5-6 NKJV).

“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (Col. 1:21-22 NKJV).

Christ’s propitiation or atonement for our sins is the only basis for our reconciliation with God. The finished work of Christ satisfied the demand of God’s justice to punish sinners and the demand of God’s mercy to forgive and justify sinners.

At the cross of Christ, God’s justice kissed God’s mercy; both were fully expressed and fully satisfied. Hallelujah!

The Lord Jesus abolished the enmity or hostility between the holy God and the sinful men in His flesh (Eph. 2:15). He made peace between God and men through the blood of His cross (Col. 1:20).

Ephesians 2:13-16 – NKJV

 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.  

Having offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice or propitiation for our sins on the cross, the Lord Jesus had completed His work as the Mediator between God and men. He fulfilled His ministry of reconciliation (John 17:4).

That is why before Christ yielded up His Spirit on the cross, He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30 NKJV). Glory!

Beloved, Christ has reconciled you to God, having abolished the hostility between God and you in His flesh through His death. Therefore, your sins can no longer separate, alienate, or estrange you from God.

God is no longer far from you; you have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ. God is no longer your enemy; He is now your friend. God is no longer angry or mad at you. God no longer sees you as His enemy. You are no longer the object of God’s wrath!

What, then, should you do?

Be reconciled to God!

Receive God’s hand of friendship extended to you! How?

By receiving Jesus Christ, who gave Himself as a ransom for you to be reconciled to God!

By putting your faith in Christ and His finished work of reconciliation and confessing Him as your personal Lord and Saviour!

Having been reconciled to God, don’t keep the good news to yourself; instead, spread the message of reconciliation to others. God has given you the ministry of reconciliation!

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 – NKJV

 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Find out more about the blessing of the Ministry of Jesus in the second part of this piece!

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making a move to reconcile me to yourself through the Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for me. I put my whole trust in Christ today and confess Him as my Lord and Saviour, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:11 NKJV)

 

In his gospel account, John the Beloved chose to refer to the miracles, wonders, or supernatural works performed by the Lord Jesus Christ as “signs.” That is very significant!

By choosing the word “signs,” John wanted us to know that every miracle or wonder performed by Christ pointed to something more profound, higher, and greater than themselves. They signified or indicated something more important than the actual miraculous works.

Therefore, if all that you seek and receive is a miracle from the Lord Jesus but fail to perceive or receive the revelation of the Lord Jesus that the miracle is intended to unveil and convey to you, you have missed something far greater, deeper, and better than the miracle itself.

The next day, after miraculously feeding five thousand men (besides women and children) with five barley loaves and two small fish, the people sought everywhere for Jesus until they found Him in Capernaum.

Having found Jesus, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” (John 6:25-26 NKJV).

According to the Lord Jesus, although these people received, experienced, and enjoyed the miracle He performed, they missed what it was intended to reveal. They saw the actual miraculous work Jesus performed, but they didn’t see the revelation of Jesus behind it.

Regrettably, many believers today are just like them. They only care about the miracles and not the spiritual significance behind them!

After His baptism, the first public miracle the Lord Jesus performed was at a Cana of Galilee wedding, where He miraculously turned water into wine.

John puts it this way, “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” (John 2:11 NKJV).

John wanted us to know that this miraculous work of Jesus was the first of Jesus’ signs. As a sign, it was intended to unveil and convey something spiritual and more significant than the actual miracle.

Understanding what Jesus intended to reveal to us about Himself through His miracle is of greater significance than the actual miracle itself. Therefore, let us look beyond the real sign to see and understand its spiritual implications.

First, it is essential to understand that the ultimate purpose of every sign or miracle performed by Jesus was for the people to believe in Him and thus receive the eternal life He came into the world to give to all men.

John 20:30-31 – NKJV

 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;

 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.  

Jesus came into the world primarily to give us life!

Jesus clearly states, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV).

What kind of life?

The same life that He has in Himself!

The very life of God the Father!

John 5:25-26 – NKJV

 25 “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.

 26 “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.

John 17:1-3 – NKJV

 1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,

 2 “as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.

 3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Jesus turning water into wine at a Cana of Galilee wedding symbolized His ultimate mission in the world. Jesus did not come into the world to fix the inherent faults or weaknesses in “the old or natural life” or the Old Covenant God established with the Jews (Heb. 7:17-19, 8:7-13).

Instead, Jesus came to give us an entirely “new, supernatural or eternal life” and to establish the New Covenant in the place of the Old Covenant.

Hebrews 8:7-13 – NKJV

 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah–

 9 “not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD.

 10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

 11 “None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.

 12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

 13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The first wine exhausted or consumed at the wedding symbolized the Old Covenant (the Law) or the life the Jews inherited from their fathers (1 Pet. 1:18, Heb. 7:18).

Just as the first wine could not last till the end of the wedding ceremony or bring the wedding to its consummation, so was the Old Covenant and the life passed down to the Jews.

Nobody could attain perfection under the Old Covenant or the Law!

The Law could not bring the people into spiritual union or intimacy with God. They could not become one spirit with the Lord Jesus with their natural, earthly, or sinful life inherited from their fathers.

Therefore, there was a need for a new and better wine representing the grace, the New Covenant, and the eternal life that came through Christ Jesus (John 1:17).

Hebrews 7:18-19 – NKJV

 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

After tasting the new wine, the master of the feast at the wedding testified to its superiority or better quality than the former wine.

He told the bridegroom, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” (John 2:10 NKJV).

The man was not saying that the first wine was not good but that the last wine was far better. The Law God gave the Jews through Moses is undoubtedly good, but the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ are far better.

Paul testifies, “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” (Rom. 7:12 NKJV).

The first wine was not set aside because it was not good but because it had been consumed and thus had served its purpose.

Similarly, the Law was not set aside because it was not good but because it had served its purpose.

What is the purpose of the Law?

Is it to make people holy or perfect? No!

Is it to save or redeem people? No!

Is it to justify people before God? Certainly Not!

What, then, is the purpose of the Law?

The Law exposes sin and man’s utter sinfulness, corruption, and bankruptcy!

The Law is intended to humble man, stop his boasting, and bring him under condemnation!

The Law is given to restrain man or keep man under guard!

The Law serves as a tutor or guide to bring man to Christ to be justified and saved by faith!

The Scripture amply affirms these truths.

Romans 3:19-20 – NKJV

 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:7-9 – NKJV

 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

Galatians 3:19-24 – NKJV

 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.

 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Beloved, the first wine (the Law), has fulfilled its intended divine purpose. It was not designed to last till the consummation of the wedding; it was only meant to last for a short while.

The Law was not intended to be everlasting. It was not designed to give you eternal or everlasting life, which is intimacy with God.

God has prepared an infinitely better wine (grace) for humankind. This is what Jesus came into the world to offer freely to all humanity. Although the Jews enjoyed the miraculous wine (the water made into wine), they rejected the new and better covenant and eternal life that Jesus offered them.

Jesus said of them, “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John 5:40 NKJV).

Sadly, many people today still ignorantly drink and get drunk with the old wine (religious rites, laws, traditions, and customs), which cannot make them perfect or bring them into spiritual union or intimacy with God.

Friend, the Lord Jesus invites you today to come to Him to drink freely and be drunk with the new and supernatural wine He came into the world to offer humankind.

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psa. 34:8 NKJV).

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for offering me grace and truth in the place of law. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me daily to drink freely and be drunk with grace and truth that only Jesus gives, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29 NKJV)

 

Man was created in God’s image, crowned with glory and honor, and made to have dominion over the works of God’s hands.

Psalms 8:4-6 – NKJV

 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.

But when sin set in, man became so distorted, depraved, and corrupted that it grieved God to His heart that He had made man on the earth.

Genesis 6:5-8 – NKJV

 5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

 7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”

 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Consequently, God destroyed all living beings from the face of the earth by the flood except Noah, his family, and some animals. However, as the sons of Noah multiplied, iniquities, wickedness, and corruption also multiplied.

Romans 3:10-12 – NKJV

 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;

 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.

 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

The devastating effects of sin on a man’s spirit, soul, and body cannot be washed off, cured, or reversed by any man, angel, ritual, institution, or religion.

The sacrificial system instituted under the Law given to the nation of Israel through Moses was just a shadow of the good things to come. None of those sacrifices was intended to take away sins or to make sinners righteous, but to cover the people’s sins until the appointed time when God would provide a perfect sacrifice for sins.

Hebrews 10:1-4 – NKJV

 1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

But when the fullness of time came, God presented to humankind His perfect sacrifice for sins and His divine antidote to the poison of sin flowing in man’s veins.

The angels and all the hosts of heaven rose and gazed in amazement as Jesus Christ – God’s perfect sacrifice for sins was born in the manger.

After about 30 years of dwelling among us, perfectly revealing God’s true person, nature, and character, and teaching and demonstrating to us how God intended us to live and reign on earth, Jesus was offered on the cross as a perfect offering or propitiation for our past, present, and future sins.

1 John 4:9-10 – NKJV

 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God has no other sacrifice for sins for anyone who rejects Jesus Christ—God’s perfect sacrifice for sins, who was once and for all offered on the cross.

The Scripture warns that “there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Heb. 10:26-27 NKJV).

Besides God sending Jesus Christ as a perfect Lamb or sacrifice to atone for our sins and deliver us from their terrible consequences, God also sent the Lord Jesus as His firstborn to reveal His true person, nature, and character to us and also to model for us how God intended His children to live, reign and operate on the earth (Col. 1:15, Heb. 1:6).

The Scripture amply affirms this truth.

Romans 8:28-30 – NKJV

 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Colossians 1:13-15 – NKJV

 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Hebrews 2:9-12 – NKJV

 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

 12 saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”

Therefore, it is not enough to acknowledge or receive Jesus Christ as God’s perfect sacrifice for your sins; you must also recognize or receive Him as your Elder Brother and obey, follow, and imitate Him in everything as God’s perfect example or model for you.

It is only Jesus’ lifestyle that was well-pleasing to God the Father. God has commanded us to obey, follow, and imitate Jesus Christ!

Matthew 17:1-5 – NKJV

 1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;

 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

Ephesians 5:1-4 – NKJV

 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Jesus Christ is our perfect example in everything: love, holiness, humility, longsuffering, self-control, faith, wisdom, power, or service. He is God’s perfect standard for us in everything!

No other man, living or dead, is perfect and worthy of being obeyed, followed, and imitated in everything. God only permits you to imitate or follow a spiritual leader as He also imitates or follows the Lord Jesus.

Paul cautions, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1 NKJV).

Therefore, you must be careful not to imitate any man of God when and where he is not obeying, following, or imitating the Lord Jesus Christ.

When you become born again through faith in the person and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, you have become one with Christ in the spirit, wholly conformed to His image in your born-again or recreated spirit.

Paul writes, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Cor. 6:17 NKJV).

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Rom. 8:29 NKJV).

“For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Heb. 2:11 NKJV).

While it is true that the born-again believers are the brethren of Jesus Christ, having become one with Him in our born-again spirits through the New Birth, God wants us also to become wholly conformed to Jesus Christ, our Eldest Brother, in our minds, will, emotions, actions, character or lifestyle.

It is God’s ultimate purpose and expectation for those of us adopted as sons into God’s family through the new birth to grow up to “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” (Eph. 4:13-15 NKJV).

Beloved, God wants you to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the Firstborn, the Eldest Brother in His family. You are expected to listen to Him, obey Him, follow Him, and walk in His footsteps.

Jesus Christ is God’s Firstborn sent to be a perfect example or model to all God’s children adopted into God’s family. Therefore, be careful not to follow anyone in God’s family, not following Christ, the Firstborn.

The Scripture amply admonishes:

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philip. 2:5 NKJV).

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” (1 Pet. 2:21 NKJV).

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6 NKJV).

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Firstborn in God’s family, is saying to you today, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:29 NKJV).

“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:15 NKJV).

“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matt. 12:50 NKJV).

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I receive Christ Jesus today, not just as a perfect sacrifice for my sins, but also as my Eldest Brother – a Perfect Example or Model of all that You want me to be, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“No man has ever yet seen God; God the Only Son, who is ever with the Father–He has revealed him.” (John 1:18 TCNT)

 

Every creation of God is undoubtedly a witness for God. God’s creation testifies to God’s existence, wisdom, glory, majesty, and power.

Psalms 19:1-3 – NKJV

 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.

 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.

Romans 1:20-21 – NKJV

 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Anyone who looks at the creation of God and still concludes that there is no God is nothing but a complete fool.

Psalms 14:1 – NKJV

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “a witness” as “one who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced; one who furnishes evidence.”

While it is true that everything God has made is a witness for God, in their present state, none of the creations is a perfect witness for God. Why?

The disobedience and consequent fall of the first man, Adam, resulted in the corruption of the entire human race and the corruption of the whole creation of God!

Therefore, no creation in its fallen state perfectly reflects God’s true glory, nature, person, or character.

Paul clearly states this truth in his epistle to the Romans.

Romans 8:20-22 – NKJV

 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

None of the saints, patriarchs, and prophets of old could be regarded as a perfect witness for God or an express image of God’s person. None accurately represented God’s person, nature, and character.

Though the prophets of old were God’s messengers, their character was not a complete reflection of God’s character.

This is why the Lord Jesus sharply rebuked His disciples when they sought His permission to command fire to come down from heaven, like Prophet Elijah did, to consume the Samaritans who rejected Jesus.

Elijah was a renowned prophet and messenger of God. He was very popular for calling down fire from heaven to consume his adversaries. However, as Elijah did, Jesus would not allow His disciples to call down fire to destroy people. 

Luke 9:51-56 – NKJV

 51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,

 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.

 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.

 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”

 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.

 56 “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.

The disciples of Jesus thought Elijah was expressing God’s true character in calling down fire to consume the soldiers sent to arrest him (2 Kings 1:9-15). But Jesus rebuked them, showing that Elijah’s action did not perfectly reflect God’s true character.

Sadly, many ignorant ministers and believers today still model their lives and ministries after Elijah.

Similarly, the Mosaic Law was not a perfect witness for God or a perfect representation of God’s person, though it revealed God’s moral standards and displeasure against sins.

The Lord Jesus revealed that the Mosaic Law was not the very expression of God’s person, nature, or character by stopping the Jews from executing the verdict of the law on the woman who was caught in the act of adultery.

John 8:3-5 – NKJV

 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,

 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

 5 “Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

While the law pronounces death upon sinners, Jesus freely and abundantly offers mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life to sinners who turn to Him and put their faith in Him for salvation.

While the law spoke condemnation and death to the woman, Jesus spoke justification and life. Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:11 NKJV).

Jesus did not condone or approve of her sin. But Jesus’ action, in this case, revealed God’s heart. It showed that God loves sinners and takes no delight in the death of any sinner (1 John 3:16-17, 1 Tim. 2:4, 2 Pet. 3:9).

The Scripture amply attests to the truth that only the Lord Jesus Christ was the perfect witness of God the Father in the world. No one knew God’s heart as Jesus did, for He was with God from the beginning (John 1:1-3).

John writes, “No man has ever yet seen God; God the Only Son, who is ever with the Father–He has revealed him.” (John 1:18 TCNT).

The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9 NKJV).

Only Jesus’ testimony or revelation of God is complete and perfect!

Jesus Christ was the only person who lived in the world whose thoughts, words, actions, conduct, or character ultimately revealed God’s person, nature, or character to us.

The Mosaic Law did not perfectly express God’s person, nature, love, or character; neither did the patriarchs nor prophets of old.

No creation will ever reveal God’s perfect person, nature, or character like Jesus Christ did when He came into the world.

The Scripture affirms this truth.

Hebrews 1:1-3 – NKJV

 1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Beloved, whatever anyone says, teaches, or reveals about God must be examined and judged in the light of what the Lord Jesus has said, taught, or revealed about God, for He alone is the perfect witness of God. His teaching about everything is God’s perfect mind revealed to us.

Only Jesus Christ is “the radiance of the Glory of God and the very expression of his Being.” (Heb. 1:3 TCNT).

Therefore, only Jesus’ revelation, testimony, or teaching is accurate, correct, or perfect.

Therefore, God has commanded all to listen to Jesus Christ, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matt. 17:5 RSV).

Friend, are you listening to Jesus Christ – the perfect witness of the Father?

  

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to reveal Your true heart, nature, or character to me. I receive and believe the testimony of Christ above that of anyone else, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Heb. 1:3 NIV)

 

When the Lord Jesus Christ was physically present in the world, He did not merely radiate or manifest God’s glory, nature, or character; He was the brightness or radiance of God’s glory and the express image of God’s person.

Hebrews 1:3 – NIV

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Jesus was God manifested in the flesh. While Jesus was in the world, He was no less than God, except He was God veiled in the flesh.

Jesus said, “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30 NKJV).

Apostle Paul writes, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” (1 Tim. 3:16 NKJV).                                                                                  

Jesus Christ is the ultimate or supreme revelation of God to humankind. “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col. 2:9 NKJV).

Undoubtedly, the patriarchs, saints, or prophets of old manifested or reflected God’s glory in varying degrees. God manifested Himself in and through them in diverse and undeniable ways.

When Moses returned from God’s presence after spending forty days and forty nights with God on Mount Sinai, the skin of his face shone, reflecting God’s glory (Exo. 34:29). But that glory never continued throughout his life; it gradually diminished and vanished after some time.

Whatever glory, character, wisdom, or power of God the patriarchs or prophets of old manifested is infinitely minute compared to Himself manifested to us in the flesh, in the person of Jesus Christ.

Unlike the saints or prophets of old, Jesus Christ did not just manifest God’s glory and character; He was the glory and person of God manifested to us.

The Scripture refers to Jesus as “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” (Heb. 1:3 NIV).

Only in and through Christ Jesus was God’s glory perfectly revealed to us!

Similarly, Jesus Christ did not simply manifest God’s power and wisdom to us; He was the power and wisdom of God manifested to us.

The Scripture states that to “those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:24 NKJV).

Moreover, Jesus Christ did not just manifest God’s grace to us; He was the grace of God that brought salvation to all men (Tit. 2:11). It was only in and through Jesus Christ that all the fullness of the Godhead was made known to us.

While in the world, everything that Jesus Christ said, taught, or did was a perfect revelation of God’s person, mind, will, nature, or character. That cannot be said of any of the patriarchs, prophets, or saints of old.

All the supernatural manifestations of God seen in the lives of the saints of old or the ministries of the prophets of old are infinitely or immeasurably small compared to Jesus Christ, the very image of God’s substance, person, or essence.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate or supreme revelation of God’s love, glory, wisdom, truth, power, nature, or character to humankind. His lifestyle, mindsets, values, attitudes, words, or teachings are God’s perfect standard for us.

No one else, living or dead, is God’s perfect standard or example for us to measure up to or follow in everything!

Therefore, you must not mindlessly follow any religious or church leader. Whatever any leader says, teaches, or does that is inconsistent with Christ’s must be vehemently rejected.

The Scripture admonishes you to withdraw from a heretical and rebellious person or people.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 – NKJV

 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

2 John 1:9-10 – NKJV

 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him.

While it is true that every scripture, whether in the Old Testament or New Testament, is inspired by God and undoubtedly profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, there is a significant difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The difference is much more than a blank page that separates them in your Bible. Unfortunately, many believers and preachers today still don’t recognize the remarkable differences between the Old and New Testaments.

The Old Testament is the true Word of God. All it reveals or teaches about God is the truth, but not the final, complete, perfect, supreme, or ultimate truth and revelation of God.

Until Jesus Christ came, we did not have a perfect or complete revelation of God’s nature, person, mind, will, and truth to humankind.

John 1:18 – NKJV

 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

None of the saints or prophets of old had a complete revelation of God. All they had and documented for us was a partial revelation of God.

Luke 10:22 – NKJV

 22 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

This does not discredit the Old Testament or diminish the validity or authority of any of the Old Testament scriptures. However, it calls for caution in interpreting and applying the Old Testament.

Knowing that the Old Testament is not a complete, final, or supreme revelation of God’s person, glory, power, wisdom, nature, or character, you must be careful not to practice, adopt, follow, or abide in any of the teachings or truths written in the Old Testament if it does not totally, perfectly or entirely conform to that taught by Jesus Christ and His early apostles written in the New Testament.

As a New Testament believer, you are called to abide in Christ’s word, teaching, or doctrine and not that of any patriarchs, prophets, or saints in the Old Testament.

Jesus told those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” (John 8:31 NKJV).

While there are many good lessons from the patriarchs, prophets, or saints of old, they are not God’s perfect standard, model, or example for you, for they are not God’s perfect or supreme revelation.

Jesus Christ is the only supreme revelation or manifestation of God to humankind. Therefore, He is the only true standard, model, or example to follow.

The entire body of teaching taught and delivered personally by Christ or through the Holy Spirit to the early apostles of Christ is the divine, authoritative, perfect, supreme, ultimate, or final truth about everything. It is God’s mind perfectly revealed to us on every issue or subject!

While it is true that God in times past has spoken to us in various ways, by multiple prophets or saints of old, in these last days, God has spoken to us by Jesus Christ, His Son, who was the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.

Hebrews 1:1-2 – BBE

 1 In times past the word of God came to our fathers through the prophets, in different parts and in different ways;

 2 But now, at the end of these days, it has come to us through his Son, to whom he has given all things for a heritage, and through whom he made the order of the generations.

The word or teaching of Jesus Christ on every issue or subject is the final, supreme, or ultimate truth or authority on the matter or topic.

Therefore, whatever truths about God that Moses or any of the great prophets of old had and taught which were written in the Old Testament must be examined or judged by Christ’s character, word, or teaching. They must be cast aside when contradicting Christ’s character, word, or teaching.

Beloved, why would you still want to hold fast to or seek to conform to the imperfect truth when Christ has brought you God’s perfect truth or revelation?

Paul writes, “But when that which is complete is come, then that which is in part will be no longer necessary.” (1 Cor. 13:10 BBE).

John warns, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9 NKJV).

If you are holding to, following, or abiding in any teaching or doctrine that is different to or not fully conformed to Christ, you don’t know God or have God.

 

Prayer: My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to constantly and continuously behold the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ name. Amen.