239. JESUS – WHO IS HE?

(The Abundant Life Series – Batch 2)

When people heard of Jesus back in the Bible days and of the mighty miracles he performed such as healing sicknesses, some thought he was John the Baptist risen from the dead, a man who had been greatly used by God but who had been beheaded by king Herod. Some thought that he was Elias, an Old Testament Prophet that was re-manifesting himself in the New Testament times. Others were of the view that he was a Prophet and some even commented that he was “…as one of the Prophets…” (Matthew 4:23; Mark 6:14-16).

No doubt, before Jesus went to Lazarus’ grave (that man who had been dead four days and stinking), many who went along with Mary and Martha to the location, believed that he was John the Baptist or Elias or some Prophet or like the Prophets of old.

Some in that crowd no doubt, even believed that he was a bit loony, due to the sort of bold, authoritative and out-of-this world statements he often made, while others concluded that he was in some sort of arrangement with the devil, which gave him some sort of power to do the mighty works he performed (Matthew 12:24).

Yet, when those people witnessed with their own eyes how Jesus, after publicly praying to God the Father, commanded Lazarus to come forth from the grave and the dead… and he came, many of them shockingly realized that this was no ordinary man. This was no John the Baptist or Elias. This was not just a Prophet or someone that was like a Prophet.

Flabbergasted, they humbly realized that they were in the presence of DEITY itself. Only the CREATOR could raise a rotting corpse back to life again, even after four days of decay! (John 11).

One could only imagine the scene: The deafening silence, the commotion, the shock, the tears of repentance for unbelief. One could only imagine the bowing of the trembling knee, the worship emanating from the hearts and lips of those who once scorned and doubted the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ.

Those who witnessed this miracle of all miracles and finally believed, realized that this man Jesus, was not just Joseph the Carpenter’s son or that man who had his upbringing in Nazareth or whose mother was Mary and whose sisters they knew and whose brothers were James, Joses, Simon and Judas. He was not just the man who walked humbly by each day and made statements that, for some unknown reason, tugged at their hardened hearts and pricked their conscience (Matthew 13:55-57; John 1:46).

No. In that mind-blowing and life changing moment, they realized that Jesus was THE KING OF KINGS and THE LORD OF LORDS. He was the promised Messiah. GOD was in their presence and in the flesh and He was LORD OVER ALL (Matthew 1:23; John 1:14;1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16).

(Written on 24th December, 2018)

ADDENDUM

Dear Reader, how about you?

Before Jesus worked his miracle, he claimed that LIFE was bound up in him and that, as the very SOURCE OF LIFE, he could give it and raise the dead back to life again. He told Martha, “I am THE RESURRECTION, and THE LIFE: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

The question is now posed to you: Believest thou this?

I strongly urge you to read the full story in John 11:1-45 of the Bible, on the story of Lazarus.

Please also take a look at the video I have attached below, which is an excerpt of a movie on the true story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Of course, given that nobody today was alive when Jesus was on the earth and there were no cameras in that time, nobody today knows what he looked like. The person in the video is not him therefore and does not look like him. He is only an actor, also in need of Jesus’ saving grace. I hope though, that something in the video will resonate with you, even as it did with me.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply