"It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost
in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity... But
while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. Nothing will so enlarge
the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest,
continuing investigation, of the great subject of the Deity of Jesus
Christ" (Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, p. 1).
Scripture plainly teaches that Jesus is one person with 2
natures: 100% God and 100% man (see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/search/label/God%20Revealed).
Jesus is called God by numerous individuals: Isaiah (Isa. 9:6), Paul (Tit.
2:13), Peter (1 Pet. 1:1), Thomas (John 20:28); and John (1 John 5:20). God the
Father even called Jesus God (Heb. 1:8). “For in Him all the fullness of Deity
dwells in bodily form” (Col. 2:9).
Jesus Himself claimed to be God. In Biblical cultures for a
person to be “a son of” makes Him “equal to.” In John 5:17b-18 Jesus says, “My
Father is working until now, and I Myself am working. For this reason therefore
the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was
breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself
equal with God.” (See also John 10:30-33)
As God, Jesus is all powerful. The wind and the waves obey
Him (Matt. 6:26). He walks above the raging seas ((Matt. 14:22-33). Therefore,
when the storms of life overcome us and we start to sink in the waters of
despair, Jesus can lift us up and calm the storms (Matt. 14:31).
At times making a living can seem impossible. We look at all
our bills and wonder how we could possibly survive with the little that we
have. Yet Jesus, our all powerful God, took the little which a young boy had,
blessed it and multiplied it to feed the multitude with extra to spare (Mark
6:33-44). God wants to provide for you, but will you give Him all that you
have, allowing Him to bless and multiply it like He did with that young boy?
Jesus has the power of life and death in His hands. He caused
the blind to see (John 9) and He enabled the mute to speak (Matt. 9:33). He
enabled the crippled to walk (Mark 2). And He caused the dead to rise to life
again (John 11). I don’t know what physical aliment you are currently suffering
from, but our God, Jesus Christ is able to deliver you. On the other hand,
maybe His deliverance will be to give
you the strength as you rely upon Him to see you through (Heb. 13:5; Jam.
1:2-4).
Jesus has the authority to do things which only God can do.
It is foolish to believe that a man can forgive our sins. Mankind doesn’t have
the authority. Yet Jesus does (Luke 5:20-24). And He wants to forgive us of
ours. Regardless of what we may have done in the past, forgiveness is
available. We don’t have to live with regret, guilt or shame any longer; Jesus
offers you a new life (2 Cor. 5:17; Rev.
21:6).
Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of life (John 1:3). It is
amazing to consider that even when Jesus became a man in the form of a little
baby, lying in a manger, He held the universe together in His hands. Thus,
Jesus has the power to create anything and everything for us as Christians.
With Him all things are possible (Luke 1:37).
Jesus claimed to be Yahweh/Jehovah. This is seen on several
occasions when Jesus called Himself the “IAM” (John 4:26; 8:24, 58-59; 13:19;
18:4; Greek Matt. 14:27; Mark 6:50; Luke 24:39).
This is a clear reference to Yahweh/Jehovah in the Old
Testament (Ex. 3:14). His intention of claiming this can easily be proven by
the response of those who heard Him. “At this they picked up stones to kill
Him” for claiming to be God (John 8:59).
The title Yahweh/Jehovah points to His eternal and unchanging
nature (Mic. 5:2; Heb. 13:8). The world around us is constantly changing yet
Jesus remains the same.
When your work seems to be shaky, unemployment lurks in the
future, or you are having a difficult time providing for your family, God’s got
your back. He will provide for those who trust in Him. He will grant you
guidance to see in the dark. He offers you grace and truth to overcome your
past. When you go through moments of delight or seasons of distress God remains
the same. Even when the whole world seems to be crumbling around you, He will
not crumble. Nothing can separate you from His love. He is still on His throne.
That is the greatness of our God, Jesus Christ. What better
place to entrust our lives to than in the loving hands of Jesus!
More of Him, less of me,
Matt
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