“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:4,5 (NLT)
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (NIV)
Any historical investigation will reveal how utterly unique was Jesus in the whole of human history. His miraculous power, profound wisdom and exemplary character remains unmatched to this day.
His favourite disciple John described Jesus as the light that shone beautifully in our world, demonstrating a life “full of grace and truth”. Yet he was the most unpredictable, complex and uncompromising of all prophets and teachers.
The gospels are 4 accounts of the story of Jesus’ life as told by 4 of his followers, 2 of whom were among his closest friends. These accounts are completely authentic, fair-minded, and incredibly brief. Three gospels have much overlap as one would expect from having reliable witnesses recounting the same events with some minor variance, but no contradction.
The fourth gospel by John was written later, and adds material not seen in the others and contains longer discourses. But it is also more interpretive of Jesus’ events and teachings by including many explanations and employing metaphors such as light, bread, blood and water. Moreover, it shows the development in theology of the early Christian church. By the time of writing, Jesus was understood as God who had come in the flesh, and came to infiltrate the earth with a spiritual kingdom.
The other 3 gospels only hinted at these grand claims. First, we see the top archangel Gabriel who announced Jesus’ birth to his virgin mother-to-be Mary, Mary’s fiancé Joseph reassured of this assignment in a vivid dream, and the day of his birth heralded by an angelic choir to a small group of shepherds nearby. We read that clear astronomical signs of a powerful king’s birth was observed by astrologers in Asia who were so excited they travelled a huge distance to pay him homage.
It was pointed out that these and many other of Jesus’ life events were foretold by Jewish prophecy spanning the whole of the Old Testament. On one occasion the audible voice of God confirmed his identity to those who stood around him, and another time his body was transformed into an ethereal bright state, surrounded by Elijah and Moses. He spoke to a storm and immediately restored calm to the sea, procured a gold coin out of a fish to pay an unjust tax and multiplied bread and fish to feed crowds of thousands at the end of his rural speaking events.
He never failed to perform whatever miracle for healing was needed by anyone who approached him. He opened blind eyes, restored deaf ears, healed the crippled and diseased and raised dead persons back to life. He lived modestly, worked tirelessly and was miraculously protected from both environmental and human threats to his life. He betrayed no one, committed no sin and never acted upon any selfish impulse to the detriment of others.
He delivered no law, except the law to love one another. He accomplished no social, political or military feat. Yet he made the outrageous claim that he was one with God who had sent him on a mission. For that he was unjustly crucified but then rose again to life and after 40 days he ascended to the right hand of God. The most often quoted Old Testament scripture in the New Testament is from Psalm 110:1 “The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
With his faithful little band of followers who were being discipled along the way, he completed his mission in just 3 years. Although he once commanded the adoration of an entire nation, on Ascension Day he left behind a mere 120 baffled believers. To them he left the task of initiating a new faith movement, simply called “The Way” at first – among Romans and Jews who were intolerant of its core beliefs.
One disciple betrayed him but this only set in motion events to complete his mission. Of the remaining disciples, all were cruelly put to death except for John, even though he was thrown into a vat of boiling oil and lions refused to eat him. The most notorious persecutor in the early days was dramatically converted though a heavenly encounter that left him blind for days. He then went on to become the most travelled missionary in the first century and wrote half of the New Testament.
How did this small band of followers manage to survive, thrive and eventually become the sanctioned religion of the Roman Empire? Was it a clever story, great ideas, or enthusiastic preachers? Perhaps there is something essential about the power of Holy Spirit which transforms the lives of believers who have entered the kingdom of God, and live among us as Jesus did.
Reflect: Did this presentation reflect your knowledge of Jesus? Does it give you a fresh perspective? Where might you research or fact-check to find out more?
Prayer: Jesus of Nazareth, help me discover the truth about who you really are. Is there any lie I am believing about you?
Journal: What now impresses your mind about who Jesus is and how do you respond? What facts about him do you need to find out?
Who is Jesus?