Who Was (Is) He?

Who Was (Is) He?

by David Brenneman 

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:1-5

"Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 

Luke 1:26-33.

"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”" Luke 2:8-14.

There's no way to suppose that in such a short amount of time any writer could contain all that could be written about who Jesus was or is today.  

To many He’s the bane of their existence. They hate everything to do with the mention of His Name.  They shake a fist at God for they would rather embrace their sins and sinful ways rather than to turn from them.  They either secretly or openly grope around in the darkness that is sin not wanting anything to do with the Light of Christ Jesus.  They've no desire to hear anything about the birth of Jesus Christ or why He came.  No desire to hear of their need for a Savior.  Sadly, many go to their grave in this anger and wake up in Hell still raging at the torment they will now endure for all eternity. Certainly like unreasoning animals they will not in this life or the next realize the truth of God is absolute, not their way of thinking or belief. 

To those who have embraced the Light of Jesus Christ, a new dawning on what life is really about begins.  Regardless of how agonizing life can be, their future is set in stone.  Written in the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ in His Book of Life.  They learn to love as He first loved them. 

I saw a saying yesterday that is extremely profound.  Coming to Christ isn't just about loving Jesus, it's about loving Judas too.  

Those who do embrace the true meaning of Christmas know that the birth of the Savior was foretold centuries earlier in exquisite, finite detail.  

From before His birth to the day He died on that cross...Satan had tried hundreds of times to kill Him.  Satan's minions raged at His very existence.  Should He succeed at His reason for being here on Earth, his failure would be a certainty.  

More than any man who ever lived, Satan wanted Jesus dead. If he couldn't turn Him to himself, he wanted Him dead. Failure wasn't an option for Satan, but oh how failing he did.  The Father’s decree was to give this same Jesus authority to lay down His own life and to be able to take it up again.  

This same Jesus would allow, would indeed welcome, all the sins of all humanity to be heaped upon Him on that cross.  Every single sin that ever has or would happen. 

Who would volunteer for something such as this?  Who would not just jump in front of a train to save someone but every train? Who would leap on not just a grenade but every single one, to save all?  This Jesus would and did.

This same Jesus sits on His Throne, awaiting a day set by His Father to stand and come back once more to receive all who have looked forward to His appearing.  Scripture says that a great global earthquake will accompany this grand event.  My personal opinion is that the joy expressed in Heaven will be so grand and so great it will be the source of this earthquake.  Everyone in His presence right now would know why He’s standing up. 

Who was He?  He was the foretold One to come who would take away the sins of the world.  He was the One who had to be the perfect sacrificial for sin. He was the One who could only be to endure the cross.  He was the One, beloved by His Father, who would love you and I with a love that the world cannot understand. 

Who is He?  Right now He is the fulfillment of every single prophecy concerning Himself.  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is the Intercessor.  He defends His own against all the accusations of Satan that he presents to Him daily.  He is the One who loved every single person who has ever lived, regardless of if they rage at Him or not.

He will honor their choice. In His success at the cross, choice was handed to humanity.  Choice to accept or reject the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.  Choice that isn't without consequences.  

Jesus, this same Jesus, is going to return at an hour you do not expect.  My Dear Reader, if you've believed what you have read so far, keep on believing that as well. 

Jesus is the identity of Believers.  We who are in Christ are being transformed daily, through obedience to God's Word, into His likeness.  We are not who we once were.  The gift of salvation because of Jesus is free to all who would ask.  Our identity isn't in our world's definitions of it. 

Think about that during this Christmas season. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.