Was Jesus Christ a good man, an exemplary teacher
whose simplicity and humility the world would do well to emulate? No He wasn’t.
Surprised? He IS a good man, and an exemplary teacher; but much more than these.
If that is all you know Him as you are deficient. As Jesus was
setting out again, a man ran up to him, knelt down in front of him, and asked
him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus
looked at him and loved him. Then he told him, "You're missing one thing…”Mk 10:17, 21(ISV).
Is Jesus a mighty prophet, filled with the true
message from the Almighty God, accurately presenting God’s views, promises and
judgments to a lost world? Should his messages rule our hearts today and
always? This was the limited view of some who followed Him at that time. “Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was
a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief
priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they
crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem
Israel.” Luke 24:19-21 (NIV). Perhaps that is all you know of Him. He is
much more than a prophet.
Can we say that He was a man filled with the spirit of
the messiah at baptism, the son of Joseph and Mary destined for the throne of
David? "We have found the
one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote —
Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Jn 1:45(NIV). Wrong.
Jesus Christ is
not like any other man of God. He is not like the world’s prophets either. There
have been many religious figures. Mohammed was given a message by spirit
beings, but he was born a product of a man and woman. He began from
conception. Buddha was an exemplary
teacher in many people’s opinion. He was also a man with a beginning. Jesus
however is from eternity. "As for you,
Bethlehem of Ephrathah … the one who rules in Israel for me will emerge from
you. His existence has been from antiquity, even from eternity Mic 5:2(ISV). He is not a man possessed by the spirit of
God. He is God born as man: the incarnate one. God, the eternal spirit, took up
a body formed in the womb of the virgin to save us from sin. Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since
I am a virgin?" And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore
the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. Lk 1:34-35(ESV) He says to those that see Him as a good
teacher, "Why do you call me
good?" Jesus asked him. "Nobody is good except for one—God” Mk 10:18(ISV). In short “I am
God”. Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"Jn
20:28(ESV). Perhaps you have been following without knowing who He is. In the New
Year I wish you more than a teacher and an example; much more than a prophet in
great power and anointing. Receive Emmanuel – God with us. He that goes before
you is more than you have known Him to be.