TEXT:

‘His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God”’ – John 16:29-30.

THOUGHT:

The Bible records many questions that Jesus was directly asked. Some were trick questions designed to embarrass or entrap, so that His responses could be used in evidence against Him. Yet many were from people wanting to know the truth about Him, God and the way to heaven. We can trust the answers Jesus gave, for He is the Truth!

Today’s Teaching looks at these questions under three main headings; “Who Jesus really is”, “The relationship and responsibilities Christians have with other believers” and “What Jesus is able to do to help us both spiritually and physically”. In this first teaching we will consider “Who Jesus really is”.

This is the essence of Christianity. It is not about a set of rules and practices, it is about a person. “The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” wrote Paul to the Thessalonians. The writer of Hebrews wrote, ‘Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe’ – Hebrews 1:1-2 NLT. Believers have continued to preach and teach about Jesus down through the ages. The Bible offers no hope to anyone claiming to be religious but not including Jesus as the basis for their faith. ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved’ – Acts 16:31.

The crowds said, “Who are you?” Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, “Where are you from? Are you the King of the Jews?” The High Priest demanded an answer to, “Are you the Christ?” Jesus is more than that, He is God the Saviour. He came into our created world from an invisible one. How the angels must have wanted to protect Him as He was mocked and beaten with the rough hands of the religious authorities and Roman soldiers before being crucified on the cross to bring about our salvation. They could only look on in amazement that He was willing to endure such things.

From his prison cell John the Baptist sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus, ‘Are You the coming One or do we look for another?’ – Matthew 11:3. It is easy for doubts to arise about Jesus in difficult times when we experience persecution or ill-health. The devil whispers, “If Jesus is really who He says He is, He would not leave you like this!” In response to John’s question Jesus replied, ‘Go back to John and tell him all you have seen and heard here today: how those who were blind can see. The lame are walking without a limp. The lepers are completely healed. The deaf can hear again. The dead come back to life. And the poor are hearing the Good News. And tell him, “Blessed is the one who does not lose his faith in me”’ – Luke 7:21-23 TLB.

Never become offended by Jesus. At all times He only has your best interests at heart. John never came out of his prison cell yet he could take heart from the reports his disciples brought back to him. John had fearlessly declared Jesus to be, ‘The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ – John 1:29. He later said, ‘He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him’ – John 3:36.

When your vision of Jesus is becoming distorted by doubts and fears, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes once again to see Jesus as He really is.

Jesus asked the man He had just healed of blindness, ‘Do you believe in the Son of God?’ The man replied, ‘Who is He, Lord that I may believe in Him? – John 9:35-36. First his natural eyes were opened, then his spiritual eyes were too, as he said, ‘Lord I believe’ and worshipped Him.

Saul of Tarsus asked, “Who are you Lord?” when Jesus revealed Himself to him on that Damascus road. What a shock it must have been for Saul to discover that what he believed to be a lie, was in fact the truth. He had persecuted and imprisoned Christians for preaching that Jesus was alive, now he was hearing from the risen One himself. Little wonder all he could say while flat on the ground was, “Lord what do You want me to do?”

I believe that everyone will have at least one opportunity to believe in Jesus, whether from a personal encounter like Saul, difficult circumstances or through the witness of a Christian. Reading this teaching may be your opportunity. If you do not believe it is true, why not be still for a while and let God speak to you. You may be surprised to hear yourself saying like Saul, “Lord what do You want me to do?”