Who is Jesus? A good teacher? A prophet? A good man? Is He really the Son of God? Or is He something else? Even the disciples struggled to understand these questions. What about you? Have you answered those questions for yourself? If so, who is Jesus to you?
And if you have settled those questions in your own heart, could you explain your answers to a friend?
Today’s Readings:
2 Samuel 5 & 6
Psalm 63.1-11
Proverbs 16.16-17
John 5.1-23
Do You Really Know? Who is Jesus?
John 5.1-23:
Teacher? Prophet? Good Man? Liar?
Jesus was on a collision path with the Jewish leaders. Healing on the Sabbath was bad enough but now He was calling God His Father:
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
That attitude didn’t end with the Scribes and Pharisees.
So often people who reject the Gospel claim they believe Jesus existed, that He was a good man or a good teacher. They may even call Him a prophet, but they don’t believe He was God.
And they are offended by the exclusive claims of Christianity. They refuse to believe that faith in Christ is the only way to heaven.
But you can’t have it both ways!
After all, Jesus also said:
6 … “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (Jn. 14.6).
Either He is who He says He is or He can’t be a good man or a good teacher. He would be a liar.
So, who is Jesus? More importantly, who is He to you? That’s a question each of us must answer.
If you’re not sure, you might check out one of the following posts:
“Do You Live with a Sense of Guilt?”
“Could You Be a Christian in Name Only?”
And if you’re serious about knowing who Jesus is or getting to know Him better, read slowly through the book of John, the fourth book of the New Testament. If you have questions, you can leave me a comment and I’ll endeavor to answer them.
Today’s Other Readings:
2 Samuel 5 & 6:
Death by Good Intentions
In chapter 6 we have the account of David’s first attempt to bring back the ark of the Covenant after it had been lost in battle. This well-intentioned, but misguided attempt resulted in the death of Uzzah. According to Matthew Henry:
God would hereby teach us that a good intention will not justify a bad action; it will not suffice to say of that which is ill done that it was well meant. He will let us know that he can and will secure his ark, and needs not any man’s sin to help him to do it.
First, the ark was not to be carried on a cart. It was to be carried on the shoulders of the priests and no one but the priests were to touch it. But perhaps Uzzah had allowed familiarity to breed a lack of respect for the holy things of God.
The ark was a picture of Christ. So, if God took Uzzah’s disrespect for the ark so seriously, what should that tell us about taking our relationship with Christ for granted?
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10.29)?
May we never cease to be amazed by and to worship the God who is the Creator of heaven and earth, and yet, condescended to live among us so He could live in us!
Psalm 63.1-11:
When We’re in the Wilderness
David wrote this psalm, according to the title, while he was living in the wilderness.
When we feel like we are “in the wilderness” and we wonder where God is and why He is taking so long to change our circumstances, we need to be faithful to worship and seek after God just as David did.
Proverbs 16.16-17:
Exiting the Highway
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul (v. 17).
We’ve probably all gotten off a highway at some time, either because of traffic or when trying to find a shortcut. Too often, it only gets us lost and frustrated.
Spiritually we can “get off the highway,” as well, and for similar reasons. Sometimes we “don’t like the traffic” of God’s work in our lives and the messiness of relationships with other sinners. Or we want to find a shortcut to our goals or the blessings of God. So we “take an exit” instead of waiting on Him.
But spiritually speaking, at least, the highway is clearly marked and always the safest way to go.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll discuss the cost of losing God’s restraining grace, look at answers to life’s toughest questions, talk about true friendship, and the various reactions to the claims of Christ. We’ll also talk about the question: Are you living in the power of the Holy Spirit?
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.
If you would like to receive a FREE downloadable and printable Bible study through the book of Mark, you can click here for more information.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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