Jesus wept . . . One of the most powerful verses in the Bible to me, in John 11:35. Why, did Jesus, The Son of God, cry?
Jesus had been called by Mary and Martha to their home, to care for their brother who was sick. Jesus did not arrive for 4 days at which time, Lazarus was dead. Did Jesus cry because Lazarus was dead? Probably not, because He raised him from the dead, but consider the great Love of our God for His people when He is presented with their grief. Or maybe even the great emotion for His people when He is presented with the after effects of sin. Jesus is Empathetic.
Meet my Jesus.
In Meet My Jesus I shared my personal relationship with The One who has changed my life. In Meet My Jesus 2, we saw how the Israelites of Jesus’ time looked to Him based on Old Testament prophecy. Today I would like to share the New Testament truth of His Life on this earth. . . Who was Jesus, in the flesh?
John the Baptist, sent to pave the way for Jesus tells us:
In the beginning was The Word and The Word was with God and The Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life and that life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1.
For the One whom God has sent speaks the Words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father Loves the Son and has placed everything in His Hands. John 3:34-35
Jesus, Son of God, left Heaven to walk with His People. The Father sent His Son, placing everything in His Hands to shine a light over a dark world. Light shining in the darkness, The One who was with God would become the Light of all mankind. Darkness would never again have dominion over those who choose Him. Jesus is Light.
Meet my Jesus.
In John 6:35, Jesus tells us “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.”
After feeding a crowd of 5000 men with five small barley loaves and two small fish, Jesus shares this truth with His disciples. Jesus is our Provider.
Meet my Jesus.
“…Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declares in John 8:10.
Jesus came to the Mount of Olives, inside the temple courts a group of teachers and Pharisees bring in a woman caught in adultery. Making her stand before Jesus, they ask if she should be stoned based on the law? Jesus bends down, writing on the ground, straightens and says, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her . . . “ He stoops down again, and when looking up finds only the woman remains, He asks “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one Sir . . .” “Then neither do I condemn you.” Jesus is our Great Forgiver.
Meet my Jesus.
“I am the Gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11. Jesus, our Shepherd.
Meet my Jesus
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to The Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that The Father had put all things under his power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. John 13:1-5. “ I have set you an example that You should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than His master, nor is a messenger greater than the One who sent Him. Now that You know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:15-17 Jesus is our Example.
Meet my Jesus
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
After the Last Supper, Jesus is explaining to His disciples where He is going and why. Jesus is our Comforter.
Meet my Jesus
“As The Father has loved Me, so have I Loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down One’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:9-13
Jesus has just expressed that He is the Vine, we are the branches. To have the full life He wants for us, He wants us to remember that Love is the key. Just as The Father loved Him, He loves us, our love in return creates a full circle. And The Greatest Love of all was shown on the cross when He chose to lay down His life for His friends. Jesus is Love.
Meet my Jesus
“Until now you have not asked for anything in My Name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24
Jesus, encourages His disciples by sharing that just as the pain of childbirth turns to joy when seeing a child brought into this world, He will see them (us) again at which time they (we) will rejoice, and no one will take away our joy! In the meantime, “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Jesus is our Encourager
Meet my Jesus
“I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” John 17:21
Jesus knows He is about to die. He has just comforted the disciples sharing with them, “I have told you these things, so that in Me, you may have peace.” (John 16:33) Now, we find Him praying to The Father, knowing He is about to be arrested; praying for US, for those who BELIEVE in Him. Jesus is our High Priest
Meet my Jesus
When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into His home. John 19:26-27
Jesus is hanging on the cross, I can only imagine that Mary is doubled over in pain and grief at seeing her son hanging on a cross, watching the life blood leave Him. Even now, He is thinking not of Himself, but of this beautiful woman who delivered Him and raised Him. Jesus is forever Compassionate.
Meet my Jesus
“It is not for you to know the times or dates The Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when The Holy spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. Acts 1:7-8.
His final Words on this earth. His Gift would come like a wind on His newly appointed Apostles and the first Church is born. He has anointed them to be His Witness and while they did not know, we do not know when the Kingdom will be restored, there is one thing we can be sure, Jesus is ALIVE!
Meet my Jesus
The stories above are a handful of many shared in The Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. There are so many beautiful moments of His Love, teaching, mentoring meant to share with all of God’s Children the amazing Love of God. The Bible is His Great Love Story written to and for us.
So, who is Jesus to you? A fable? A man who lived? A prophet? Or, is He the Son of God sent to save YOU. Writing your name on His heart, covering your sin with His Blood so you would have the chance to be with Him in eternity? Do you know Him?
Would you like to know Him?
Let me introduce you to my Jesus.
