A. HE IS THE “WORD”
- The Pre-Existent Word
He existed from all eternity, from before the foundation of this universe.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Joh 1:1)
- The Creating Word
He spoke forth the words by which the Father created everything. This was discussed in more detail in chapter 4.
All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. (Joh 1:3).
- The incarnated Word
And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. … (Joh 1:14).
- The basis for most of the written Word.
When we read the Word in humility and faith, we are fellowshipping with Jesus, sitting at his feet like Mary and being taught by him.
B. HE IS THE “ANGEL OF THE LORD”
He interacted with man in the Old Testament as the “Angel of the Lord”.
And the Angel of Jehovah called to him from the heavens and said, Abraham! Abraham! And he said, Here am I. (Abraham). (Gen 22:11).
And the Angel of Jehovah appeared to him in a flame of fire, out of the midst of a thorn bush. And he looked. And behold! The thorn bush burned with fire! And the thorn bush was not burned up. (Moses). (Exo 3:2).
In the Old Testament, the Lord Jesus was referred to as “The Angel of the Lord” and many instances are recorded where He was involved with mankind.
In many other instances where He is not expressly so named, clearly it was He that was involved.
We must conclude that from the very beginning, having created the heavens and the earth, it was our dear Saviour, that fellowshipped with Adam and Eve and that was involved through all the ages in working out the salvation of mankind.
It is not as if, after creating man, He was absent for centuries and then suddenly reappeared in the New Testament. He loved us from the beginning, kept on loving us for 6000 years, then died for us, rose again and will keep on loving us and continue to enjoy having fellowship with his bride/children/ people/brothers and sisters for all eternity.
C. HE IS THE BELOVED OF THE FATHER
And lo, a voice from Heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Mat 3:17).
While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold a voice out of the cloud which said, This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear Him. (Mat 17:5).
D. HE IS …
- The Lion from the tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5).
- The Root of David (Rev 5:5).
- The bright Morning Star (Rev 22:16).
- The Lamb that was slain (Rev 5:12).
- The Lamb that takes away the sin of the world (Joh 1;29).
- The Rider on the white horse (Rev 19:11).
- The Lord our righteousness (Jer 23:6)
E. HIS NAME, “JESUS”, MEANS “DELIVERER
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Mat 1:21).
F. THE “I AM’S” PERTAINING TO JESUS.
- I am the Bread of Life (Joh 6:35).
- I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (Joh 14:36).
- I am the True Vine (Joh 15:1).
- I am the Good Shepherd (Joh 10:11).
- I am the Light of the world (Joh 8:12).
- I am the Door of the sheep (Joh 10:7).
- I am the Son of God (Joh 10:36).
- I am the Resurrection and the Life (Joh 11:25).
- Before Abraham was, I am (Joh 8:58).
(You would do well to write a paragraph of about 100 words on each of the abovementioned topics. In so doing you will give the Holy Spirit the opportunity of revealing the depth of who Jesus is to you.)
G. HE NEVER CHANGES
Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever
H. HE SUBMITS TO THE FATHER
Then Jesus answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He sees the Father do. For whatever things He does, these also the Son does likewise. (Joh 5:19).
You have heard how I said to you, I go away and I am coming to you again. If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, I go to the Father, for My Father is greater than I. (Joh 14:28).
For He put all things under His feet. But when He says that all things have been put under His feet, it is plain that it excepts Him who has put all things under Him. But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subject to Him who has subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all things in all. (Col 15:27,28).
I. HIS MAIN FUNCTIONS WHILE ON EARTH
He did two things on our behalf:
- He fulfilled the Law of God on our behalf by living a perfectly Holy life.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:3, 4).
It is not his sinless life that is the basis for our reconciliation with God, but His death on the cross. His sinless life however qualified Him to be the spotless Lamb of God Who could take our sins upon Him. Once we are declared righteous, we begin to walk in the Spirit as He did and can the Law of love begin to grow within us.
- He bore the punishment due to us in his own body on the cross so that we may be declared as pure as if we had never sinned.
He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. (1Pe 2:24).
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23).
In this way He opened the door for us to be reconciled to God and receive eternal life as a gift.
J. WHAT IS HE NOW DOING FOR US IN HEAVEN?
- He is interceding for us while seated at the right hand of the Father.
Who is he condemning? It is Christ who has died, but rather also who is raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. (Rom 8:34).
- He is preparing a place for us.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also. (Joh 14:3).
- He is directing the flow of events in heaven and on earth that will culminate in his second coming, his coming for his bride and what follows thereafter up to the creation of a new heaven and earth.
See the Book of Revelation.
K. WHY SO LITTLE ABOUT HIM IN THIS COURSE?
We will say no more about the life, miracles, suffering, death, resurrection, etc. of the Lord, for that has been dealt with in the three previous courses, especially in course two on the Gospel of Luke.