Friday, August 29, 2014
WORLD VS. CHRIST (5)
THE WORLD SAYS ...
Jesus was wrongfully called the "Christ." At best, Jesus was a messenger from god, but wasn't god himself. He was a rebellious man who led people to revolt against the tyrannical Romans who treated the Jews harshly. He had some wise sayings, but did nothing to gain heaven for us. In fact, there are many in the world today that believe we can become our own Christ and our own god in this world, similar to the way this man Jesus lived and acted.
THE BIBLE SAYS ...
Jesus is THE CHRIST. But what does that mean? The Greek word "Christ" is the same word for the Hebrew word "Messiah," which both mean "the anointed one." Many Jews in Jesus' day, even Jesus' own disciples on occasion, mistakenly thought that Jesus had come to conquer the Romans and establish a new kingdom here on this earth. But Jesus spoke about paying taxes (Matthew 22:21), not being rebellious (Mark 14:48-49), that His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36; Acts 1:6), and even fled when threatened to be made king by force (John 6:15). Therefore, who anointed Jesus as the Christ, and what was He anointed for? Jesus specifically spoke why He had come saying, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Luke 5:32, Matthew 1:21). Likewise, Jesus spoke openly in the temple that He was the Anointed, the Christ of God, just as His disciples believed (Matthew 16:16) and as the Bible records in the Gospel of Luke:
"And [Jesus] was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 'The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.' Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, 'Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing'" (Luke 4:17-21).
WITH BELIEVING HEARTS WE PRAY ...
Lord Jesus, my Savior and King, You made my salvation the focus of Your redeeming work. Help me to focus my faith and life on Your kingship -- here in time and forever in eternity! Amen.
