Christ Up Close

Jim Piper | June 21, 2010 | Comments (0)

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, "Truly, this was the Son of God!" -Mark 15:37-39

Have you ever been nose-to-nose with extreme poverty? Have you ever held a dying person in your hands? Have you ever experienced hell-like hate directed at you coming from another human being? Have you ever lost everything that mattered to you? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you know the power of reality. Real stuff transforms our fantasy into humility.

Here's the crazy thing. Even though you experienced it first hand, words seem powerless to accurately communicate what you've endured. And this is exactly what happened to a Roman soldier who was nose-to nose with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This soldier witnessed from a distance of yards, feet, and even inches the undiluted hatred people had for Jesus. The centurion saw the tears and the fears of those who loved Christ. He saw the blood splatter and the agony of crucifixion and rejection closer than a front row seat.

This soldier also saw divine love. He watched as Jesus reached out to one of the thieves being crucified next to Him. He saw a stubborn love that could only come from the strength of one who knows of a higher goal and a clear destination. This unnamed soldier met God in the flesh. The best words he could offer at that time were: "Truly, this was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39).

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST UP CLOSE?

Christ is God the Son.

Though Jesus is known by many names, we must start with His most proper identity-He is God. To know Jesus as God introduces us to dimensions beyond our realm of understanding and leads us into a most mysterious fellowship and unity with the Almighty. To know Him is to have the opportunity of fellowship with God the Son, God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit. This spiritual dimension suggests there is one God in three distinct persons. Christianity calls this the Trinity or the Triune God. The names we have for God-Father, Son and Spirit-have been revealed to us by God.

The Father is God but He is not the Spirit or the Son; the Holy Spirit is God but not the Father or the Son; the Son is God but not the Father or the Spirit.

Since God is eternal, we know that Jesus has always existed. He was present before the incarnation-conceived by the Spirit and born of the virgin,

Since God is eternal, we know that Jesus has always existed.

Mary. His birth on earth was not His introduction to life; it was His action purposed to give life.

At the age of 30, Jesus being sinless, born without sin and remaining that way, began His three year ministry which would end with His death by crucifixion, resurrection, commission, and finally His ascension back to the realm of the divine community.

During His ministry on earth, Jesus' claim of divinity was well understood. During one of His conversations, some unbelieving Jews picked up rocks to stone Him because His claim to be God was so clear they viewed it to be profane and worthy of a death sentence which eventually was carried out by crucifixion.

We find this account in Scripture: "‘The Father and I are one.' Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, ‘At my Father's direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?' They replied, ‘We're stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.'" (John 10:30-33).

In order for Jesus to accomplish His work on earth, His identity needed to be established. Though it would cause His death, this too was part of God's plan of redemption.

Christ was involved in creation.

By God's will and power He gave us the gift of life, and an environment which could sustain us. He made us as a reflection of Himself. The image of God in us is not physical but spiritual, emotional, relational, and includes the ability to choose and create.

The book of Genesis lets us in on God's conversation: "Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.' So God created human beings in his own image...male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground'" (Genesis 1:25-28).

Our Creator is indeed a giver who has bestowed on us amazing abilities and responsibilities.

To be more concise about Jesus, the New Testament clearly teaches that nothing exists which has not been created by the will and power of Christ. Many have come to believe that Jesus was a very good man and a wonderful teacher of morals and human equality. Some even believe Jesus was so good that God decided to make Him a god. Because of these incomplete or incorrect ideas, the ones who actually walked with Jesus became more exact in their teaching. The apostle John makes it clear that Jesus is the creator of all things and all things have been made for His glory. John explains it this way: "In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him...So the Word became human and made his home earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son" (John 1:1-3,14).

The "Word" in the original language is "logos" and expresses many ideas of divinity. Some of these thoughts include the power of God, the thoughts of God, the will of God, and the words of God. With this understanding, we not only embrace another name for Jesus but can say in plain English that Jesus has always existed, He created everything, and He became flesh, revealing the unfailing love and faithfulness of God. To say Jesus is the only Son of the Father is to say that Jesus is the only One given by the Triune God to be God in the flesh for us all to see.

Christ is the Redeemer and Judge of all creation.

To "redeem" is to give one thing in exchange for something else. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah-Jesus Christ-are given to liberate people from eternal death. Since God agreed to offer Jesus as Redeemer, He also agreed to make Him Judge over all creation. This makes sense because the only way a person can miss out on the mercy and grace of God's redemptive purposes is to reject the Redeemer Himself. Every person will stand before Christ and Jesus will either be the way of entry into eternal fellowship with God or He will be the One who is rejected.

Luke records Peter's sermon revealing these truths: "And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed ordained by God to be the judge of all-the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name" ( Acts 10:42-43).

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE

Thank God for the ministry of Jesus Christ. Thank Jesus for creating you, redeeming you, and for being a fair and just Judge. Submit to Him. Enter under His authority and seek to become His faithful follower.

Look up and meditate on the following verses: John 5:18; 14:8-9; 20:25-28. Memorize John 1:1-3,14.

POINTS TO PONDER

What does it means to be made in the image of God as referred to in Genesis 1?

What was Christ's role in creation?

Explain what Jesus' purpose or mission was in becoming flesh?

Why is it so important we recognize Jesus as God the Son?

Why is it so significant that Jesus rose from death?