“Who Is Jesus?”

Listen!  A virgin will be pregnant, she will give birth to a Son, and He will be known as “Emmanuel,” which means in Hebrew, “God became one of us.” - Matthew 1:23 (TPT)

A number of years ago I met a young man, who was honestly searching for “spiritual truth.”  He had previously explored a number of the “world religions” ~ Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism…  He asked me my opinion on a question he had been grappling with… “Who was Jesus?”

I smiled and answered him… “The better question would be; ‘Who is Jesus?’ ~ because He is ALIVE today!” However… I was reminded of his challenging inquiry recently and it caused me to review and consider who Jesus really was and how I relate to His purpose-filled life. This is the synopsis of that personal reflection...

Around two thousand years ago there was quite a buzz going around Jerusalem and its surrounding towns, villages and neighborhoods… The news spreading like wildfire that there was a young man named Jesus ~ who was an incredible teacher who spoke like no one had ever heard before.  He was reported to have the power of the “prophets” in the past…  He was actually healing the sick, bringing comfort to and hope for the broken hearted, discouraged individuals He met, wherever He went.

Today, we can read about many of Jesus’s messages and encounters in the collection of books called “The Gospels” in our modern day Bibles.

In the first few words of the Gospel written by one of Jesus’s followers named John we get the answer to the question ~ “Who is Jesus?”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men.  And the Light shined in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…   And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of Grace and Truth... Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the Bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” - John 1:1-5…14-18 (KJV)

I love the story of Jesus‘s birth in Matthew 1:23, where the angels shared with Joseph, Mary’s fiancé,  the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 (our text today).  Jesus was Emmanuel… God with us!

As a man, Jesus was filled with the Spirit and Presence of God wherever He went.  As Jesus humbly walked in through the paths of the hillsides, villages and towns, He consciously acknowledged, the Leading of God’s Spirit guiding His paths and daily encounters.  Through this constant connection with His Father ~ God’s Grace and Loving Mercy flowed into the hearts and minds of each individual He met.  Jesus MOVED people. He stirred up an interest and personal revival among the thousands of people who came to hear and see Him.

Before He was “made flesh” He was The Very Essence and Heart of God, “The Word” that MOVED on the void and Created…When mankind fell into rebellion, separating them from God’s Goodness and Fellowship He was the Heart of God that MOVED the hearts of those He Lovingly Created back into the “Purpose-filled Union of His Original Creation.”

The Good News is… Jesus ~ “Emmanuel’s” mission to redeem us was completed when He died on the cross. Was buried in a tomb for "three days" and rose with the assurance that He had "overcome the power of this world's death!"

“But wait, there’s more…” We have His promise that He is going to complete His “Good Work” in us and make us ready for that Great Day when He comes again!  “…the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!” - Philippians 1:6 (TPT)