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Tag: Jesus the Savior

Jesus in the NT :: Luke

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On December 7, 2011

In Christian

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

It is written by Luke, a physician by profession, who writes about Jesus, THE PHYSICIAN.

Jesus healed
– the possessed to show that those who are in bondage can be made free and he/she whom Jesus makes free is free indeed (John 8:36)
– the blind to show that darkness is dispelled by the Light (of the World)
– the deaf to show that the good news can be heard
– the mute to show that even the dumb can proclaim the good news
– the paralytics to show that that invalid can be made valid
– the lepers to show the unclean can be made clean
– the shriveled hand to show that the withered can be made whole/stretched to serve
– the lame to show that one can no longer have a lame excuse to not walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4)
and even
– the dead to show that In him is life, life abundant and those who believe in Him, though they are dead yet shall they live (John 11:25).

The one verse summarization of who Jesus is, as portrayed by Luke can be found in the story of Zacchaeus (the seeker) that is recorded in Luke 19:10 which reads “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that  which was lost.” Not only does this verse inform us of the PERSONALITY of Jesus Christ, but it also informs us of His PURPOSE and POSITION. Jesus’ personality is a SEEKING personality for He is the Good Shepherd that will go after even the One who is lost (Matthew 18:12) so that His purpose, which is to SAVE all  (2 Peter 3:9) who believe is fulfilled and even though He is the Son of God, He took on the form of man, as the Son of man to SEEK and to SAVE.

In Luke, Jesus is portrayed as the Son of man, but what does that title mean. Before we delve into exploring what the title “the Son of man” means, it is interesting to note that the book of Luke is the only gospel that records the childhood of Jesus and gives us a model of how our own children should be raised. The two verses that speak of Jesus’ childhood are Luke 2:40 and Luke 2:52. Luke 2:40 informs us that as Jesus grew, he grew strong in Spirit and was filled with wisdom (the reverence/fear of the Lord) and God’s grace was upon him. Luke 2:52 lays down the four-fold development model as to how we should raise our own children. It states, And Jesus increased in wisdom (mentally) and stature (physical), and in favour with God (spiritually) and man (socially).  We must raise our children in the fear of the Lord as well so that they can grow mentally, physically, spiritually loving God and socially loving their neighbor as themselves.

So what does the title “the Son of man” mean? To answer this question, we need to go to the Book of Daniel. Recorded in Daniel 7:13-14 in a vision which gives us a clue. Daniel 7:13-14 reads
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven (Mark 14:62), and came to the Ancient of days (Psalm 90:2), and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory (a Name above all names – Philippians 2), and a kingdom (the King of the Jews), that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him (all knees should bow to Jesus and confess that He is God): his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom (the kingdom of the King of kings) that which shall not be destroyed.

In Luke, Jesus is the Son of man, which means He is the King of kings, with an indomitable indestructible kingdom, who first came to SEEK and to SAVE (heal) all who are lost (dead without God), and who will come with the clouds of heaven to be SERVED.

Points to ponder:
The sheep that refuses to fall into the seeking hands of the Good Shepherd cannot be saved. Jesus is seeking you! Have you placed your life in his hand by believing in Him. If you do, he will place you on his shoulders (Luke 15:5) and lift you up out of the horrible pit/abyss and place your foot on a strong and sure foundation (Psalm 40:2), which is Himself.

And for those who have been Saved by His Grace, are we practicing to serve Him here on earth, for we certainly will be serving him in heaven, when He returns and it may be a good idea to get some practice now.

Jesus in the NT :: Mark

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On December 6, 2011

In Christian, Movie Motions

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

Attributed to be written by John whose surname was Mark (Latin Marcus) (Acts 12:25), the book of Mark has a dual focus on the work of Jesus; His SERVICE and SACRIFICE. The crux of the message of Mark can be found in one verse, in Mark 10:45, which reads “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark portrays Jesus to be the Servant and the Savior.

In the vision that Ezekiel had, one of the faces of the creatures with four faces is that of an Ox (Ezekiel 1:10). For those who have been raised in India, the sight of oxen being yoked with one another and plowing the field in servitude is a common sight. Jesus said I am the Father are one (John 10:30), meaning that he was One (yoked) with God (1 Timothy 2:5), in God’s mission of reconciliation of man to Himself and He came to serve unto Salvation (1 Timothy 2:6). In other words, Jesus was yoked and serving God.

In Mark, Jesus is The Servant of God, who came to SERVE and to SAVE. He is THE perfect Servant, with whom God was well pleased (Mark 1:11) for His great faithfulness in finishing the work of Salvation that God has ordained unto Him (John 19:30).

In Mark, Jesus is The Servant-Savior!

Points to ponder:
We have to be yoked in carrying the Cross with Christ and and we must serve Him. I believe the account of Simon the Cyrene carrying the Cross with Christ, along via dolorosa (the way of suffering) is to demonstrate to us that we are to share in the suffering of Christ and carry the Cross with Him. Simon the Cyrene, in the recorded account is said to have been compelled (forced) to carry the Cross (Mark 15:21). In the movie, The Passion of the Christ, the actor who played the part of Simon the Cyrene says the following words, when he is forced to carry the Cross of Christ: “Let everyone know that I am an innocent man forced to carry the Cross of a condemned man.” How ironic? It is we (and Simon the Cyrene) who are all condemned, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but it was Jesus Christ, an innocent man (2 Corinthians 5:21) who carried our Cross, not the other way around. We are the condemned and our Cross was carried by an innocent sinless man.

Now the turn is ours to repay that kindness and grace as we are called/commissioned, not compelled, to carry our Cross and follow Jesus. (Mark 8:34)

There are many Christians who want to serve, but not carry the Cross. As Christians, i.e., followers of Christ, the cross should be on our shoulders as we are co-laborers with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9) plowing the field to receive the seed and be fruitful, i.e., preparing the hearts of those who hear the good news of Jesus, the Servant-Savior. We are called to SERVE Christ as he served and become his voice to SAVE others from condemnation by sharing the good news of Jesus’ SERVICE and SACRIFICE.

Our duty is to be yoked with Jesus Christ and be a faithful servant of The Perfect Servant so we can receive the accolade “Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:23) when the Lord returns.

Jesus in the NT :: Matthew

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On December 5, 2011

In Christian

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

The silence between the old testament (O.T) and the N.T, is broken by the voice of God through his angel, in a dream, to Joseph and God’s words were “Fear Not”.  (Matthew 1:20). Notice how the last words of God in the O.T. is about the possibility of the earth being smitten with a curse, a reason to be afraid (Malachi 4:6), but the first words of God in the N.T. to man is “Do not be afraid” i.e., “fear not” (Matthew 1:20). Why because a child shall be born (signifying the humanity of Jesus Christ), and a son will be given (signifying the divinity of Jesus Christ; For God so loved the world that he GAVE). His name will be called JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins. Jesus is THE SAVIOR.

Matthew is the story of a Jew to the Jews about a Jew, one who will hail from the line of David, the tribe of Judah. In Revelation 5:5 we see the account of the elder who sees that the one worthy to open the scroll and break its seals is Jesus Christ, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David. Why is this important? Because the Jews were prophesied to, that the Messiah will come from David’s line. Matthew is establishing the fact that Jesus is indeed the Messiah they seek, the fulfillment of the O.T. prophecies.

Jesus is not just the Savior from the line of David, but he is a King; The Lion of the tribe of Judah. he is not just an ordinary king, but He is the the King of kings, THE SOVEREIGN KING. In fact, the book of Matthew establishes this fact that Jesus is King. In the first coming, Jesus came as a Savior (Matthew 1:21). In the second coming, Jesus will come as the King. Remember his first ministerial words, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is near” (Matthew 4:17). Also interesting is the fact that the first question posed upon the birth of Jesus, by those deemed wise was “Where is he who is born the King of the Jews? (Matthew 2:2) and in his death, upon the Cross, the accusation (actually the affirmation) was IESVS NAZARENVS REX IVDAEORVM which meant Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews (Matthew 27:37). In both his birth and in his death, Jesus was recognized as a King.

In the plaque that hung on the top of Jesus’ head, as he hung on the Cross, dying in our stead, for our sins, being innocent, the affirmation was that He is SAVIOR (aka Jesus) and KING (aka Rex Ivdaeorvm).

In Matthew, Jesus is The Savior-King; the Sovereign King of kings.

Points to ponder:
Do you know Jesus as your Savior? If not, ask Him to be by saying, “Lord, I am a sinner and I can’t save myself from God’s just judgment, but I believe that you are the Son of God and you took upon my punishment and died in my stead, I believe. Be my Savior! Amen”.
Now, if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, do you allow Him to be your King?

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