Who Is Jesus?

What is the greatest miracle of all time?

Some might say it was the creation of the universe and indeed that is a worthy candidate for the title “The Greatest Miracle of All Time.” To make something out of nothing is a concept beyond comprehension. There are no physiological laws to explain it.

However, that isn’t the greatest miracle of all time. That title belongs to the God of all creation transforming Himself into a homo sapien. How could all that He is become as little as we are?

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.”  (Colossians 1: 19)

“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2: 9) The Godhead is a reference to all that constitutes the attributes of God, such as:

God is infinite. Unlike us, God has no limits or boundaries. That’s Jesus.

God is self-existent. Unlike everything else He had no beginning.

God is eternal. He is not bound by the dimension of time. 

God is self-sufficient. All creation relies on God for existence, but He has no need for anything.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1: 15 – 17)

Jesus, “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” (Philippians 2: 6) There are two parts to this. The first part, “being in the form of God,” refers to the nature of the Lord Jesus before His incarnation. The second part, “thought it not robbery to be equal with God,” deals primarily with the attitude that the Lord had when He came in the flesh.

It is said of Jesus He “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 7 – 11 EST)

By emptying Himself is meant He never used His supernatural nature for Himself. However, retaining it He was able to perform miracles for others.

Whose footprints were those in the Judean sands? Jesus.

Whose shadow was that on the streets of Jerusalem? Jesus.

Whose red blood was shed on Calvary? Jesus.

Who is that who promised to meet all your needs? Immanuel, God with us.

That is the greatest miracle of all time.

In the Beginning God…

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1: 16 – 17

Creator! That title is seen to be all the more profound when considering this sampling of what was created.

Our sun has a mass 333,000 times that of earth. Its volume is about 1,300,00 times that of earth. To produce its light it burns 4.2 tons of its substance per second. Every second it throws off more energy than humanity has used in all of history. Its core temperature is 25 million degrees Fahrenheit. It has been calculated that a pinhead size of its matter would emit such heat it would kill a person at a distance of 100 miles.

Jupiter is 1,300 times the size of earth. It is larger than all other members of the solar system combined. It travels at an equatorial speed of 30,000 miles per hour.

Then there is the big boy with the unusual name of Beatle Juice (Betelgeuse). It has a diameter of 250 million miles. That is greater than the earth’s orbit.   

Then consider the other extreme in size, Mercury. It consists of six trillion atoms per ounce.  

Little wonder that the writer of Colossians in speaking of creation refers to things “visible and invisible.” That reference to atoms as being invisible was written long before atoms were even know.  

In light of that the following deserves a little fanfare. 

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen—Even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8: 3 – 9)

The cherry on top: “God so loved the world that whosoever believes in Him might be saved.” What an awesome God.

Thomas, the Twin

“Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples,
‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him'” (John 11:16).

Jesus Christ called Thomas to follow Him. Because of misunderstanding of him he has been stereotyped with a title second only to Judas Iscariot with negative connotations. He is inappropriately known as Doubting Thomas. A closer look will reveal Him to be Devoted Thomas.

His name appears in many translations as Thomas Didymus. The name Didymus is Greek for Twin. In Didymus can be heard the English word Ditto, meaning the same. It isn’t known who his twin was, whether male or female.

Thomas was a pragmatist. He wanted empirical evidence. He was a show me type person. All of his comments recorded in Scripture occurred in the last week of Christ’s life. His questions were not so much born of doubt as to give occasion for insight. Questioning isn’t bad. Doubting is. He was legitimately inquisitive.

Some persons harbor their tired old doubts and pose them as questions anywhere they are reasonably sure they can’t get an answer. They hope by their seemingly unanswerable questions to appear intellectual. Revealed ignorance is a poor way to try to appear to be smart. Thomas asked his questions where he could get answers. The answers were met with his response of devotion.

In His threefold admonition Christ said, “Ask and it shall be revealed to you.” Thomas’ questions got wonderful answers.

I. HE RELATED WORTHILY
Jesus was encamped along the Jordan when news reached Him that His dear friend Lazarus had died. In an act of seemingly indifference Jesus waited two days before responding to the news. In that delay was wisdom. There was a misconception regarding death in that era. It was believed that the spirit stayed in the body for three days after death before departing. Jesus knowing what He was going to do regarding the death of Lazarus wanted to wait until this period had passed before bringing Lazarus back to life so this old superstition could not be credited.

Bethany, Lazarus’ home town, was only about two miles from Jerusalem. The apostles knew what the mood of the religious leaders of Jerusalem was regarding Christ. They knew His life would be in jeopardy if He went to Jerusalem. Not knowing His reason for delaying going they doubtless were relieved by the fact of His delay.

When Jesus said, “Let us go to Judea again,” the disciples responded: “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” (John 11:8).

Jesus knew His hour had come. His death was immanent. The apostles knew this open act of defiance would incur the wrath of the ruling religious Jews. Nevertheless, Thomas responded: “Let us go that we may die with Him” (John 11: 16).

That was a statement revealing great devotion. There was no wavering or equivocation in that self-sacrificing statement. Unfortunately most readers over look it and remember only a later misunderstood statement by Thomas.

Thomas fought with his fears and by faith won.

He had been there earlier in a teaching session and heard Christ say: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

Years lapsed and in recent times missionary Jim Elliot who was martyred by Auqua Indians in South America made a comparable statement: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Thomas was willing to give all and gain all.

Are we willing to pay the price for following Christ?

II. HE REASONED WISELY
On the eve preceding His execution Jesus gathered in an upper room with His apostles and taught them: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know. Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?'” (John 14: 1 – 5).

Thomas wanted to know “where” and “how.” Jesus answered He was the “way.”

A missionary in Africa contracted with a native guide to lead him to a certain remote village. Armed only with his machete the guide lead the way. They traveled through tall brush and thick jungle. During one of their rest stops the missionary commented, “There is not path. How do you know the way?” The native answered, “I am the way. I know where to go. Follow me.”

Jesus is personally the way. If we follow Him we get where we should be.

III. HE RESPONDED WORSHIPFULLY
After Christ’s resurrection the apostles were gathered in an upper room. For whatever reason Thomas wasn’t there. Let’s let John relate what happened.

“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'” (John 20: 24 – 29).

Thomas had such faith in Christ he had learned to doubt his doubts. We must do the same.

Thomas was our proxy in questioning in order that we might not have reason to doubt. He questioned the word of his fellow apostles but he did not doubt the Lord Himself.

We need to employ the technique used by Thomas to deal with doubts. He went where there were people of faith; where the unseen Lord was likely to make Himself known. We need to seek such environments also.

In response to Christ’s invitation to touch His wounds Thomas responds: “My Lord, and my God!” The sullen skeptic glows with shining faith. There is no indication he touched the wounds of Christ, but his faith embraced the truth shown.

Jesus then included us in His response. “Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'” (John 20:29).

We are challenged to walk by faith not by sight.

Everything we say we know and believe, everything, we first accepted by faith. 2 X 2 = 4. We believe by faith. We accepted that long before we could prove it. It is a faith principle. We live by faith. It is just a matter of what the object of that faith is. Let it be Jesus. We not only receive Him by faith but those who reject Him reject Him by faith.

IV. HE REPORTED WILLINGLY
Immediately after His resurrection Jesus gave instruction to the witnessing women to tell the apostles He was going to Galilee. Immediately they went to Galilee. They wanted to be where He was. This was in effect reporting for duty. This warm interchange was a prelude to the last encounter the apostles would have with the resurrected Christ.

On the Mount of Olives as Christ was departing He commissioned His church: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28: 19 – 20).

Thomas took Him at His word. Secular records reveal Thomas went east establishing the Assyrian Church, the Nestorian Church and others. He is considered the founder of the Church in India. There still exists the church known as “The Christians of St. Thomas,” said to have been established by him in 49 AD.

He is said to have suffered much persecution and eventual martyrdom in India. While praying soldiers of King Mizdi allegedly thrust a lance through him.

In giving his all he gained everything.

Don’t Give Up – Part Three

Let this profound thought ruminate mentally.

All that the Father was to the Son —
the Son wants to be to you.

Once you trust the Son
as the Son trusted the Father, then 
He becomes to you what the Father was to Him.

Once this happens then the believer has an internal, eternal supply of extraordinary strength.

Everyone faces three foreboding opposing giants that must be confronted.

First, is insecurity. Feeling our own personal limits we tend to think so does everyone else. Unchecked it grows to the point we feel we have a sign hung around our neck listing our liabilities. In reality nobody knows your liabilities like you.   

Strange as it may seem they don’t care. Being preoccupied with your liabilities you put greater limitations on yourself. Break the bonds of your limitations. Remember, “… God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and a sound mind.” (II Timothy 1: 7)

Competition is the second giant confronted. Expect competition. Let it motivate you to be and become your very best. Don’t let your competition set your standards. Be the genuine you, the one and only you. Don’t be a cheap blurred copy of someone else. 

Disapproval is Goliath, the foremost giant. No one likes it, everyone gets it sooner or later. Most often sooner than later. Be candid, if you deserve it learn from it. If you don’t deserve it, learn to love more because of it. Don’t let the fear of it freeze you into inactivity. If you fear to try you have because of the fear of failure you have cast yourself into an inoperative role.

Understood and properly responded to, it can be one of the best things to happen to you.

An older administrator said to a younger staff member he didn’t know a thing about administration and if he didn’t learn he wasn’t going to make it. Years later he related how he went back to his office, pounded the desk, and said, “That man, that man …. was right.”

He related this in his office. Turning to the bookshelves behind him he said these are books on administration. He had grown to be known as the dean of his profession …. and a very good one. He was smart enough to learn from criticism.

Learn to never let criticism defeat you. Let it nudge you to better performance.  “Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)

Don’t Give Up – Part Two

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3: 23, 24)

You, too, can be productive. You can enjoy the euphoria of knowing what you have done you did to the best of your ability. Most failure is not caused by a lack of ability but because of distractions resulting in giving up before finishing. Don’t allow yourself the luxury of being distracted before finishing a project.

Most people who give up, give up on themselves before they give up on the project.

It was said of Joan of Arc, “She set her course and went down it like a bolt of lightning.” First, she set her course. She planned and strategized before acting.

Prayerfully plan your activities and once a specific course of action is decided on, commit yourself to it without reservations.        

Former President Calvin Coolidge wisely encouraged, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Education will not, the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” He is saying persistence is more important than talent or education. Not everyone has talent and education, but anyone can manifest persistence and determination.   

That is code language for will power. Don’t tolerate yourself with the excuse, “I could have done it if I had wanted to.”                                                    

Choose for yourself a project manager, a supervisor. Having chosen the Lord for this role, do what you do “as to the Lord.” Seek to please Him, not others, not even yourself.

After complying with these concepts and you still fail at a task, you can know you did it heartily. Therein is gratification.

Post these truths on your job site.

“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” (II Thessalonians 3: 13)

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6: 9)

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10: 36)

Keep the faith factor fresh in your mind for “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”