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Subject: Who is Jesus
Replies: 4 Views: 435
jayc08 23.07.08 - 05:16am
IMAGINE how excited a young Jew named Andrew must have been when he first listened to the words of Jesus of Nazareth! The Bible states that Andrew rushed to his brother and said: We have found the Messiah [or, Christ]. (John 1:41) In the Hebrew and Greek languages, the words usually translated Messiah and Christ mean Anointed One. Jesus was the Anointed One, or the Chosen One of Godthe promised Leader. (Isaiah 55:4) The Scriptures contained prophecies concerning him, and the Jews at the time were in expectation of him.Luke 3:15.
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jayc08 23.07.08 - 05:17am
How do we know that Jesus really was Gods Chosen One? Well, consider what happened in the year 29 C.E. when Jesus was 30 years of age. He went to John the Baptizer to be baptized by him in the waters of the Jordan River. The Bible states: After being baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water; and, look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw descending like a dove Gods spirit coming upon him. Look! Also, there was a voice from the heavens that said: This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved. (Matthew 3:16, 17) After hearing those words of approval, could John have had any doubt that Jesus was Gods Chosen One? By pouring out His holy spirit on Jesus, Jehovah God anointed him, or appointed him, to be the King of His coming Kingdom. Thus, Jesus became Jesus Christ, or Jesus the Anointed One. In what way, though, was Jesus Gods Son? What was his origin?
His Origin Was From Early Times
Jesus life course might be divided into three stages. The first began long before his human birth. His origin was from early times, from the days of time indefinite, says Micah 5:2. Jesus himself said: I am from the realms abovethat is, from heaven. (John 8:23) He had been in heaven as a mighty spirit person.
Since all created things had a beginning, there was a time when God was alone. Countless ages ago, however, God became a Creator. Who was his first creation? The last book of the Bible identifies Jesus as the beginning of the creation by God. (Revelation 3:14) Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. That is so because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible. (Colossians 1:15, 16) Yes, Jesus was the only one directly created by God himself. Therefore, he is called Gods only-begotten Son. (John 3:16) The firstborn Son also bears the title the Word. (John 1:14) Why? Because before being born as a human, he served in heaven as one who spoke for God.
The Word was with Jehovah God in the beginning, when the heavens and the earth were created. He was the one to whom God said: Let us make man in our image. (John 1:1; Genesis 1:1, 26) Jehovahs firstborn Son was there at his Fathers side, actively working with him. At Proverbs 8:22-31, he is represented as saying: I came to be beside [the Creator] as a master worker, and I came to be the one he was specially fond of day by day, I being glad before him all the time.
How intimately Jehovah God and his only-begotten Son must have come to know each other as they worked side by side! That close association with Jehovah for untold ages deeply affected Gods Son. This obedient Son came to be just like his Father, Jehovah. In fact, Colossians 1:15 calls Jesus the image of the invisible God. This is one reason why knowledge about Jesus is vital in satisfying our spiritual need and our natural desire to know God. Everything Jesus did while on earth is exactly what Jehovah expected him to do. Hence, getting to know Jesus also means increasing our knowledge of Jehovah. (John 8:28; 14:8-10) But how did Jesus come to be on earth?
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jayc08 23.07.08 - 05:17am
His Life as a Man
The second stage of Jesus life course began when God sent his Son to the earth. Jehovah did this by miraculously transferring the life of Jesus from heaven to the womb of a faithful Jewish virgin named Mary. Jesus inherited no imperfections because he did not have a human father. Jehovahs holy spirit, or active force, came upon Mary, and his power overshadowed her, miraculously causing her to become pregnant. (Luke 1:34, 35) Mary therefore gave birth to a perfect child. As the adopted son of the carpenter Joseph, he was brought up in a humble home and was the first of several children in the family.Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22, 23; Mark 6:3.
Little is known about Jesus childhood, but one incident is noteworthy. When Jesus was 12 years old, his parents took him on their annual visit to Jerusalem for the Passover. While there, he spent quite some time at the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and questioning them. Moreover, all those listening to him were in constant amazement at his understanding and his answers. Yes, young Jesus could not only ask thought-provoking, spiritually oriented questions but also give intelligent answers that amazed others. (Luke 2:41-50) As he grew up in the city of Nazareth, he learned to be a carpenter, undoubtedly from his adoptive father, Joseph.Matthew 13:55.
Jesus lived in Nazareth until he was 30 years old. Then he went to John to be baptized. Following his baptism, Jesus embarked on his dynamic ministry. For three and a half years, he traveled throughout his homeland declaring the good news of Gods Kingdom. He gave evidence that he had been sent by God. How? By performing many miraclespowerful works that were beyond human ability.Matthew 4:17; Luke 19:37, 38.
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jayc08 23.07.08 - 05:18am
Jesus was also a man of tender warmth and deep feelings. His tenderness was especially evident in the way he viewed and treated others. Because Jesus was approachable and kind, people were attracted to him. Even children felt at ease in his presence. (Mark 10:13-16) Jesus treated women with respect, even though some in his day looked down on them. (John 4:9, 27) He helped the poor and oppressed to find refreshment for their souls. (Matthew 11:28-30) His manner of teaching was clear, simple, and practical. And what he taught reflected his heartfelt desire to acquaint his listeners with the true God, Jehovah.John 17:6-8.
Using Gods holy spirit to perform miracles, Jesus compassionately healed the sick and the afflicted. (Matthew 15:30, 31) For example, a person with leprosy came to him and said: If you just want to, you can make me clean. What did Jesus do? He stretched out his hand and touched the man, saying to him: I want to. Be made clean. And the sick man was healed!Matthew 8:2-4.
Consider, too, an occasion when a crowd who came to Jesus stayed with him for three days with nothing to eat. He felt pity for the people and miraculously fed the four thousand men, besides women and young children. (Matthew 15:32-38) On another occasion, Jesus calmed a storm that threatened the safety of his friends. (Mark 4:37-39) He resurrected, or brought back to life, those who had died.* (Luke 7:22; John 11:43, 44) Jesus even willingly gave his perfect human life so that imperfect mankind would have a hope for the future. What profound love Jesus had for people!
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jayc08 23.07.08 - 05:18am
Where Is Jesus Today?
Jesus died on a torture stake at the age of 33 1/2. But death was not the end of his life course. The third stage of his life began about three days later when Jehovah God resurrected his Son as a spirit person. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to hundreds of people living in the first century C.E. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) Thereafter, he sat down at the right hand of God and waited to receive kingly power. (Hebrews 10:12, 13) When that time came, Jesus began ruling as King. So how should we imagine Jesus today? Should we think of him as a suffering man being put to death? Or should we view him as someone to be worshipped? Jesus today is neither a man nor God Almighty. Rather, he is a mighty spirit creature, a reigning King. Very soon now, he will manifest his rulership over our troubled earth.
Using symbolic language, Revelation 19:11-16 describes Jesus Christ as a king seated upon a white horse and coming to judge and carry on war in righteousness. He has a sharp long sword, that he may strike the nations with it. Yes, Jesus will use his great power to destroy the wicked. And what about those who strive to follow the example he set while on earth? (1 Peter 2:21) He and his Father will preserve them through the upcoming war of the great day of God the Almightyoften called Armageddonso that they can live forever as earthly subjects of Gods heavenly Kingdom.Revelation 7:9, 14; 16:14, 16; 21:3, 4.
During his reign of peace, what miracles Jesus will perform in behalf of all mankind! (Isaiah 9:6, 7; 11:1-10) He will cure sickness and bring an end to death. Jesus will be used by God to resurrect billions, giving them an opportunity to live forever on earth. (John 5:28, 29) We cannot even imagine how wonderful our lives will be under Kingdom rule. It is important, then, that we continue to take in Bible knowledge and become better acquainted with Jesus Christ.
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* The miracles that Jesus performed were common knowledge. Even Jesus enemies acknowledged that he performed many signs.John 11:47, 48.
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