Who is Jesus? “No one has ever seen God. But GOD, the ONE and ONLY SON, is at THE FATHER’S SIDE. He has shown us what God is like.” (John 1:18) “In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was WITH GOD, and the WORD WAS GOD (GOD THE SON) …And the WORD became 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.” (John 1:1, 14)
“Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him… When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw THE SPIRIT OF GOD (GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT) descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven (GOD THE FATHER), saying, “This is My BELOVED SON, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13, 16-17) John sees the Spirit of God descending like a dove upon Jesus and they hear God’s voice from heaven say “This is My BELOVED SON, in whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus following His baptism. This was a sign that Jesus’ ministry was EMPOWERED BY THE SPIRIT and would usher in PEACE between humankind and God. As Jesus rose from the water, God the Father spoke monumental words about who Jesus was, which left no question that Jesus was indeed the ANTICIPATED MESSIAH and beloved SON OF GOD.
The prophet Zechariah wrote: “Behold, YOUR KING COMES TO YOU, triumphant and victorious. He is humble and riding on an donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.” (Zech 9:9) Jesus fulfilled this prophecy but He came as a KING OF PEACE. His choice of a donkey conveyed a message of HUMILITY AND PEACE. The Jews were hoping for a CONQUERING KING who would OVERTHROW Roman rule, but Jesus emphasized a different kind of kingship at this coming—one rooted in PEACE and SALVATION. “On account of Jesus raising Lazareth from the dead, many of the Jews were FOLLOWING JESUS and believing in Him. The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “BLESSED IS THE KING OF ISRAEL!” (John 12:11-13)
Just a few days later it was discovered that Jesus was NOT GOING TO OVERTHROW the Roman Government. Not at this coming, which would happen much later. So now when Pilate asked them, “WHAT THEN SHALL I DO WITH JESUS who is called Christ?” They ALL SAID to him, “LET HIM BE CRUCIFIED!” (Matthew 27:22)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham