Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Month: December 2011 Page 1 of 3

Coronation and Crucifixion

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On December 30, 2011

In Christian, Egypt Enlightenments

During our visit to the Coptic Museum in old Cairo, we came across an 18th century Akhmim style coptic painting that was displayed. It was the painting of Jesus entering Jerusalem as a king, but what caught my attention was that in the description of the artifact, it was written, “On the reverse: the Crucifixion”. The artist had painted the coronation of Jesus Christ as king as he entered Jerusalem and in the reverse painted the Crucifixion, which I first felt amusing. But a little ponderance over this painting quickly surfaced to mind a hidden truth in this art piece.

Jesus entered as a king into the earthly Jerusalem (John 12:12-13) but he entered into the heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21) as KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16) because He willingly offered to die a death on the Cross to pay our ransom and redeem us from death. The Coronation and Crucifixion of Jesus go hand in hand, like two sides of the same coin (or should I say, the same painting).

Points to ponder:
In order for Jesus to be the King of your life, you must first recognize him as your King who was Crucified and raised from the dead by the commandment of God, to be the King of kings and Lord of lords over all.

I can’t wait to die … said my son!

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On December 29, 2011

In Become a Child, Christian, Egypt Enlightenments, Reuben

After our visit to the churches of various martyrs in old Cairo in Egypt, on our way back to the hotel, our beloved five year old son Reuben, engaged us in conversation, as my loving wife explained to him that some of these Christians chose to deny their life for their faith.

Reuben had a plethora of questions such as,  “What happens after death?”, “Does one become an angel?”, “Can angels appear and disappear on earth at will?”, and many more. Trying to explain the concept of being absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8) in glorified heavenly bodies to a five year old was a little challenging, but using scriptural texts, my wife and I struggled to quench Reuben’s inquisitiveness. I said, when one dies before the coming of Jesus Christ, at his coming, the dead shall rise and those who are still alive, who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior, will be caught up and transformed (1 Corinthians 15:40-44, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). For simplicity sake, I answered that I am not sure if they will be transformed to angels, but in the glorified bodies, one can say that we would be heavenly beings like angels are. Regarding the appearing and disappearing on earth at will, if God wills, then they can, as was envisioned by Jacob in the dream (Genesis 28), or Joseph (Matthew 1), or Mary (Luke 1), or Daniel (Daniel) who all saw and some even communicated with angels.

Then Reuben asked me, “Dada, if you die, what will happen to you?” to which I responded, “Since I believe in Jesus Christ, I would go to be with Jesus as well, but when I get to meet him, I will request him to make me your angel for the Bible says that the little ones have angels in heaven who behold the face of God the Father (Matthew 18:10). Then Reuben asked, “Is your dad [who went to be with the Lord on September 30, 1986] an angel?” and questioned “What kind of angel is he; is he a warrior angel in Michael’s troops or a messenger angel in Gabriel’s troop?” to which I responded, I don’t know as my wife shared with him the life and sacrifices of his grandfather (Dr. R.A.C. Paul) for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the tribal hills of Orissa, India.

Then suddenly, Reuben said, “I can’t wait to die!” His expression first caught me off-guard and it brought in me a sense of sadness, but I quickly realized that Reuben was expressing in his own words, the very desire of Apostle Paul from Philippians 1:23. His expression taught me that I must also be like Reuben in my attitude of life. We must live with an expectation of being transformed into glorified bodies to be with Christ Jesus.

Renowned minister, Charles Spurgeon is attributed to have said, “There is an essential difference between the decease of the godly and the death of the ungodly. Death comes to the ungodly man as a penal infliction, but to the righteous as a summons to his Father’s palace. To the sinner it is an execution, to the saint an undressing from his sins and infirmities. Death to the wicked is the King of terrors. Death to the saint is the end of terrors, the commencement of glory.”

To die as a saint (which comes solely by believing in Jesus Christ), either naturally or as a martyr, is the commencement of glory and as our son sagely put it, I chose to live life, each day, with an expectation of being with Jesus in a glorified state. I can’t wait to die! How about you?

Philippians 1:23 (KJV)
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

King Tutankhamun vs. King Jesus Christ

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On December 28, 2011

In Become a Child, Christian, Egypt Enlightenments, Reuben

During our visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt, we spent hours looking at the ancient Pharonic antiquities and artifacts on display. One section of the museum is dedicated to housing the varied treasures of the boy king Tutankhamun aka king Tut. King Tut’s artifacts came from his tomb and included over 3500 treasures and affluent items that he supposedly used throughout his life. These artifacts ranged in items made of gold, silver, precious gems, calcite, alabaster, etc., such as golden perfume bottles and amulets, the Wadjet or eye of Horus, canonic chests and shrine, statue of an one horned Oryx, golden scarab necklace, golden buckle depicting a chariot drawn by horses, the gilded throne and statutes, including life-size statues (1 meter 73 cm) of King Tut. Additionally, two of the three sarcophagi in which king Tut was laid to rest as a mummy are on display, with the third outermost (not on display), made of complete gold and weighing 450 kilograms (over 990 pounds), resting today in the Valley of the Kings housing his mummy still. But the highlight of the museum (a must see to all who visit) is king Tut’s funerary mask, which was found placed over the mummified head of the king. It is made of gold and inlaid with precious stones (lapis lazuli, turquoise, and carnelian), weighing 11 kilograms (nearly 25 pounds) and is believed to represent what the king really look like. Suffice it to say, that the king certainly lived an extremely affluent life and an inscription on his tomb door declares the king had “spent his life in fashioning the images of the gods”.

After being flabbergasted by such opulence, my loving wife Sangeetha in levity remarked, “This king must have been a brat (given he was only about 19 when he died), for who in life (or death) really needs such luxuries. Such wealth seems to indicate that the king had subjects who served him and a good king is one who serves his subjects, not the other way round!” To this our beloved five year old son, Reuben questioned, “We must be nice to him, because he is a king, correct?” seeking my support.

Later on, as I pondered over this conversation, it struck me that I personally know of another king, The KING, King Jesus Christ, who in his birth and death was affirmed of his kingship. In his birth, the question was “Where is he who is born THE KING of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2) and even in his death, a promulgation with an inscription on the Titulus, placed over of his head, on the Cross affirmed, that Jesus is King, King of the Jews as it read IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM meaning Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. (Mathew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19). But unlike king Tut, King Jesus Christ, gave up the riches of his glory (Philippians 4:19) to spend his life fashioning the image of his creation, and took the form of a servant in the likeness of man, making himself of no reputation (Philippians 2:6-8). Not only that, King Jesus Christ expressed that as a king, he had not come to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28) and give his life as a ransom for many, and that my dear friends, makes not only a good King, but a GREAT King. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16) and I will leave you to ponder on the same question that our son asked, “We must be nice to him (Jesus), because he is a KING, correct?”

Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 20:28 (NKJV)
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” 

Revelation 19:16 (KJV)
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

A pyramidical mystery revealed

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On December 27, 2011

In Christian, Egypt Enlightenments, Reuben

On our visit to the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, on December 20th, 2011, we were not only awe-struck by the sheer size of the pyramids but also spellbound at the thought that the most prized of all of God’s creation, man, could build such colossal and magnificient structures. On our camel and horse ride to the pyramids, our beloved five year old son, Reuben, asked our guide, Mahmoud, as to how the pyramids were built. Our guide’s response was “No one knows, it is a mystery.” I explained to Reuben that there are several theories that are said regarding the building of the pyramids, ranging from the more plausible Egyptians having techniques and technologies that are now lost to the modern world to the more speculative supernatural extraterrestrials who came to earth and built the pyramids, but no one knows for sure, it is a mystery. However, though the building of the pyramids is a mystery, the fact that remains is that it was built, because you can tangible see the engineering prowess of man.

As I reminisced on the inquisitiveness of my child, I realized that an even far greater (pyramidical) mystery is the one of the Son of God (Jesus Christ) becoming the Son of man so that the sons and daughters of men could become the sons and daughters of God. The Bible in the letter to the church at Ephesus records that God has blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, for before the foundation of the world, he chose us to be holy and blameless before him in love (Ephesians 1:3-4). He not only chose us but predestinated us to be his children by adopting us (Ephesians 1:5). But with the fall of man from grace, on account of his own sinfulness, man rendered himself to be an unacceptable offering for adoption and made himself an enemy of God (James 4:4). But God in his bountiful mercy and abounding love, mysteriously sent forth to us Jesus, his only begotten Son,  (John 3:16) to be born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18), who died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). In the blood of Jesus is the mysterious redemption of God and forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7). This is the mystery of God’s will made known (revealed) to man in Christ Jesus; a pyramidical mystery indeed (Ephesians 1:9).

Points to ponder:
Just as the physical presence of the Great Pyramids is a testament to the fact that these supersize structures were made, even though, how it was made remains a mystery, the Spiritual presence of the Great Providence in Jesus Christ is a testament to the fact that a supernatural provision of a Savior was made by God, even though how His righteousness is imputed on us by mere belief continues to remain a mystery. You and I were made to be holy and blameless and to have fellowship with God; all we have to do is put our trust in Jesus and BELIEVE in Him. Only in Jesus you see the tangible expression of God’s love.

Ephesians 1:3-9 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

 

True meaning of Christmas – You can sacrifice me!

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On December 26, 2011

In Become a Child, Christian, Egypt Enlightenments, Reuben

As a family, my beloved wife Sangeetha, cherished son Reuben and I, got to spend 2011 Christmas in Egypt and were blessed to visit the colossal and spellbinding Pyramids of Giza, the magnificent Egyptian museum, the Citadel and its museums, sail the Nile and visit Old Cairo with its beautiful Coptic museum, the Babylon Fortress, the Hanging Church and various churches of early Christian martyrs. During our visit to the Coptic museum, on December 23, 2011, amongst many ancient artifacts, in the Christian painting section of the museum, was an incomplete ancient Coptic painting that depicted the faithful act of Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac.

As we were describing the artifacts to our five year old, Reuben, my wife and I explained to Reuben the story of Abraham and his test of faith by God. I told Reuben, “Abraham was a friend of God, but God wanted to test Abraham and see if he loved God more than he loved his son, Isaac, his only son (whom he loved a lot). So God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son as a test. Abraham believed God and passed the test, and God provided a ram to be sacrificed in the place of his son.” Reuben listened to that account, attentively and carefully and after I had finished telling him the account, he inquisitively asked, “Dada, if God asked you to sacrifice me, what would you do?” The question caught me off-guard and succumbed me into an emotional roller coaster, as I pondered as to what life would be without our son; it would break my heart and it would be unbearable, to say the least. So I responded, by saying, “I would plead and cry and ask God to take my life instead of requiring yours; I would sacrifice myself for you. In this matter I would disobey God.” To this, Reuben responded, “Dada, you can say okay to God” and as I was being surprised by his expression, his next statement struck me in awestruck wonder and left me spellbound, for he said “You can sacrifice me, for even if you do, God can raise me up from the dead.” My wife and I were touched at such a simple yet profound faith. To obey is better than sacrifice.

As we waited in the Mar Girgis metro station to board the train to the Sofitel hotel in Gezirah (Opera metro), I realized that the true meaning of Christmas had been implicitly communicated to me, through our beloved son. While we think of Christmas, mostly as the birth of Jesus Christ, on his created earth, and wish one another “Merry Christmas”, I wondered if the conversation in the tribunal in heaven, prior to Jesus’ birth, was similar to the conversation, my son and I had, where Jesus willingly offered to be sacrificed. I wondered if the conversation in heaven was as follows:
Father God: What can I do, for man, our most precious created being, has sinned and fallen short of our glory? (Romans 3:23) What can I do to bring man back to me?
Holy Spirit: The perfect sacrifice, not made of human hands! (Hebrews 9:11-12, Hebrews 10:14)
Father God: Now where can I get the perfect sacrifice, one who is without blemish; sinless and guileless! (1 Peter 2:22)
Holy Spirit: Only in your Only begotten Son! (John 3:16)
Father God: Oh no, that would break my heart and it would be unbearable.
Holy Spirit: But there is no other way – for only Jesus is The Way, and that is The Truth and only in him is The Life! (John 14:6)
God the Son: Father God, You can sacrifice me, for even if you do, you can raise me up from the dead. I willingly offer my life to be the sacrificial lamb of God, for the redemption of mankind. (John 10:16-17)
Father God: I wish there was another way, my beloved son, but since there is none, when the fullness of time comes (Galatians 4:4), you shall be conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, in a manger, in the town of Bethlehem, and be named Jesus, for you shall save our people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
This day shall they call Christmas, in memory of your birth, but in essence, it was the manifestation of your offer to be sacrificed, for you said, “You can sacrifice me!“

Points to ponder:
Merry Christmas everyone or should we say, “God, we lay our lives to you as a living sacrifice as did your Son Jesus” and that I have learned from my five year old son, is the true meaning of Christmas.

Galatians 4:4-5 (KJV)
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Matthew 1:20-21 (KJV)
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 10:15-18 (KJV)
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Jesus in the NT :: 1st Timothy

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On December 23, 2011

In Christian

The book of 1st Timothy gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the  New Testament (N.T).

Timothy is a young pastor of the Church at Ephesus. It is this the church that is mentioned in Revelation as the church that had FORGOTTEN its First Love and FORSAKEN its Fervent Labor. The counsel that is given to this Church is to REMEMBER what it had forgotten, REPENT, and RESTORE (do) what it had forsaken (first works). Paul a seasoned veteran warns Timothy to be on guard, watch out lest your youth becomes a liability, instead of an asset for the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

From 1st Timothy, we learn that Jesus is Immortal, invisible, God only wise (1:17). He is the savior of ALL sinners (1:15; 2:3,4) by paying the RANSOM for all (2:6). Jesus paid the price, implying He is the PURCHASER, our POSSESSOR, but while his shed blood was the element of TRANSACTION, his willingness to lay down his life so that we may live for him was the TERMS of that agreement.

Jesus is the MEDIATOR between God and man, the man, Jesus Christ (2:5). Who is a mediator? A mediator is one who brings to agreement/peace – two parties in variance.

Not only is Jesus THE Savior, THE MEDIATOR, but He is also THE King; the King ETERNAL (1:17) and more importantly The King of kings and Lord of lords (6:15).

Note
– In Jesus’ BIRTH: the question “Where is he who is born the King of the Jews?” was posed.
– In His DEATH: The Titulus (inscription) on the Cross read Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. and
– In His RESURRECTION: He is exalted by God to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords

In 1 Timothy, He is the Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise, The savior of the chief of sinners, of all sinners, the Mediator MAN, the King eternal and the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Jesus in the NT :: 2nd Thessalonians

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On December 22, 2011

In Christian

The book of 2 Thessalonians gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the  New Testament (N.T).

 The 2nd book to the Thessalonians is essentially a book that clarifies some misunderstanding and questions that people had about the second coming of Christ, a.k.a. The day of the Lord. Some people felt that, that day had come and gone, which means for those who remained there was no hope. Paul quickly and deftly avers that the Day of the Lord is yet to be.

What is the day of the Lord? 1st Thessalonians talks about Rapture (caught up). 2nd Thessalonians is about his return (Second coming).  These are two distinct events.

The day of the Lord, When is it?
Let’s not get caught in that trap – Warren Wiersbe (a famous Bible commentator) I think aptly put it when he said that the PURPOSE of Bible PROPHECY is for us to build Character and Not a Calendar, as date-setters are up-setters.

The day of the Lord, What happens?
The day of the Lord is the second coming of Jesus Christ to reign on earth with his saints. It is the time frame when the anti-Christ will be vanquished and destroyed. Jesus Christ is the THE CONSUMER and DESTROYER OF THE WICKED ONE, THE LAWLESS ONE (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Anti-Christ, the man of lawlessness, the Wicked One who opposeth God will be destroyed. But the Lord will destroy the destroyer of peace as he is the Lord of peace.

Jesus is the LORD OF PEACE (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Jesus is the LORD OF PEACE that can give us peace. He won’t have to make peace, because He is peace. He gives peace to all who believe in Him.

But then Apostle Paul shifts aptly from our focus on the day of the Lord to our focus on to the duty for the Lord. 1st Thessalonians counsels us to WAIT for the Lord while 2nd Thessalonians counsels us to WORK  for the Lord (until His return).

In 2 Thessalonians, Jesus is the one revealed from heaven who is coming to earth to be glorified and admired, who is the Lord of Peace, the PEACE GIVER.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 (KJV)
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (KJV)
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Jesus in the NT :: 1st Thessalonians

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On December 21, 2011

In Christian

The book of 1st Thessalonians gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the  New Testament (N.T).

The book of 1 Thessalonians is essentially an instruction booklet of how a fledgling church needs to grow in the Lord, by REJOICING, PRAYING and GIVING THANKS ALWAYS as they wait for his return. In fact, the 1st book to the Thessalonians has 2 of the shortest verses in Bible – Rejoice evermore (5:16) and Pray without ceasing (5:17).

The Apostle Paul in this book expresses Not WHEN but How the Lord with return; descending from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first – 4:16) but he does not go on to tell us when. This means that all those who are dead or alive still have hope and that we all need to WAIT for the Lord’s return.

So as we look at Christ in the Scriptures, in the N.T., in the book of 1st Thessalonians, one sees Christ as the Lord who will return, but before we delve into that, we must first acknowledge and believe that Jesus is  the SOURCE of Salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:9). See obtaining salvation is our appointment; obtaining SONSHIP is our adoption (1 John 3:1).

And until Jesus Christ’s return to reign, He is the PRESERVER and PRESENTER of each of us to be HOLISTICALLY HOLY a.k.a., whole spirit and soul and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23) and he is faithful to do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

We see in the scripture that He will return once at his appointed time to reign, but before his second coming, there will be the rapture, where the saints and all who believe in Jesus will be caught up in the air. So who are those who will be caught up in the air in secret, a.k.a., who are the ones who will be raptured. Only those who are caught up with the Lord in public, here in Gattis School.

So let us not forget and earnestly wait for his coming, with the request as that of the thief on the cross “Lord remember me”. A thief recognized that Jesus Christ will come like a thief in the night. One needs to be sober, watching and waiting. We are to keep watching always for the one who always watches us.

In 1 Thessalonians, Jesus Christ is the source of salvation, the soon coming Faithful King, the one who preserves us and presents us as being Holistically Holy, in spirit, soul and body.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (KJV)
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus in the NT :: Colossians

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On December 20, 2011

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The book of Colossians gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the  New Testament (N.T).

While the book of  Ephesians talks about the Church of Christ, the book of Colossians talks about the Christ of the Church. The book of Colossians is divided into two main parts; the 1st half (chapter 1 and 2)  is primarily doctrinal in nature, while the 2nd half (chapters 3 and 4) is practical.

The main theme in this book of Colossians is that Christ is Head of the body (the Church) (Colossians 1:18), and the  Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27). He is
– not only FIRST, He is the FOREMOST;
– not only the PRIORITY, He is the PREEMINENT;
– not only FROM THE BEGINNING, but HE is the BEGINNING (Colossians 1:18)
– not only the AGENT of creation, but the REASON for creation (Colossians 1:16)
– not only the IMAGE of the Invisible God, but the FULLNESS of Godhead bodily (Colossians 1:15)

How do you see something that is invisible? What makes something invisible? The light emitted from the source is not detectable to the human eye. Light travels in the form of a wave and reaches the receptors in the eye that our brain interprets visually. God is spirit and in our humanness we cannot see him unless we have the specialized receptor in us, who is Christ.

When you want to write a secret, you can write with lemon juice and hold the paper behind a light source to read. God has written his love in all of Creation, in our lives, etc. We cannot see his inscription, unless we hold a light source behind his inscription and that light source is Jesus Christ – none other. Jesus said, I am the LIGHT of the World (John 14:6). We can discern the love story of God and his story by holding the Scripture in front of Christ Jesus.

In Colossians, Jesus Christ is the Head of the body, the Hope of Glory, the image of the invisible God.

Colossians 1:12-22 (KJV)
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
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 might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Jesus in the NT :: Philippians

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On December 19, 2011

In Christian

The book of Philippians gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the  New Testament (N.T).

And as we explore Christ in the Scripture, from the book of Philippians, we learn that Jesus Christ is the EXALTED ONE. The Apostle Paul writes in this book, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being God, thought it robbery to be equal with God and made himself of no reputation.”

See God became a Servant to a man to a dead man, but not a dead God.  The April 8, 1966 Time Magazine frontpage cover read “Is God Dead?” and the article began with the statement – Is God Dead? It is a question that tantalizes both believers, who perhaps secretly fear that he is, and atheists, who possibly suspect that the answer is no. but sadly, the very last statement in this article read as follows – Perhaps today the Christians can do no better than to echo the prayer of the worried father who pleaded with Christ to heal his spirit possessed son. “I believe, help my unbelief”

A legal term, res ipsa loquitor (reez ip-suh loh-kwi-ter) in Latin means – the thing itself speaks. Now if God was dead, there is no reason for the world to prove that he is, is there? The fact that people are so caught up in proving that God is dead is res ipsa loquitur that He isn’t and more importantly it is evidence that those who try to prove their case are themselves dead and blind to the truth.

So God became a dead man, but He did not remain there. He rose again and is now Exalted because of His humility to be above all. He is exalted with a Name that is above all names, that at the name of Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is God. Jesus did not find it right to rob God or claim his sonship for our sake, so that he could rob us, the sons and daughters of men, from the bondage of death and the grave.  Petra’s song ‘Grave Robber’ beautifully expresses this.

In Philippians, Jesus is the HUMBLE one who is EXALTED over all other names; Jesus is a robber God.

Points to ponder:
You have heard of pride goes before a fall, but the inverse is true as well. If pride goes before a fall, then humility goes before exaltation. How humble are you and me? Has Jesus Christ robbed your heart to be his.

Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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