Introducing Jesus

Hope all that are reading this are having a great fall. Around here all the leaves have pretty much fallen from the trees. Surprisingly this time of year when the leaves are all gone and before winter starts (some from away might say winter has already started) there is an special beauty to being outside. A lot of views open up as you ride around because the tree are bare. There is a exhilarating smell to the air of dampness, rotting leaves and a freshness from the cool breezes. I know many of many friends like hunting, just for the experience of being in the woods in November.

In my last posting we looked at the situation of Adam and Eve being in a wonderful place called the Garden of Eden. Next time we will be looking at a place that Jesus found himself after his temptation. What I want us to think about in both situations is how our surrounding can have an effect on us.

But before we look at the baptism of Jesus and His temptation in the wilderness, I would like to look back at what we know about Him so far. The real dividing line between Christianity and man made religions is the identity of Jesus.

It would be very tempting to spend time here exploring all the central characters of man made religions to point out that the central characters are mythical, part of pantheom of gods, died without resurrection, not the fulfillment of prophecy, possibly philosophers, possibly teachers etc...

Instead I would like to focus at this time on what we know about Jesus. This is only an introduction based on the verses we have read so far in the first three chapters of Luke. This is a simple list that would take years to explore each item in any meaningful depth, but lets just look at it as a whole to gain an understanding of the uniqueness of Jesus.

• God granted Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth a son who would "prepare the way for the Lord" v1:17 (Jesus was someone so important a major character John the Baptist was born just to prepare the way for Him).
  
• This is what the angel declared to Mary v1:32,33
• He will be great
• Son of the Highest
• God will give Him the throne of David
• He will reign over the house of Jacob
• There will be no end to His kingdom
• Conceived of the Holy Spirit v1:35 (born not of man, but of God)
  
• Called the Son of God v1:35
• His birth announced by angels v2:10, 11
  
• A Savior who is Christ the Lord v2:11
• The Lord's Christ v2:26
• God's Salvation v2:30
  
• A light for the Gentiles v2:32
  
• The Glory of Israel v2:32
• The redeemer (savior) v2:38
• Referred to God as His Father v2:49
• He will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire v3:16
• God's beloved Son v3:22
• Descended from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David ... etc v3:23-38
  

For those who are not familiar with the term Christ as a title. It literally means God's anointed. In the Old Testament a king chosen by God was anointed with oil as a symbol of God choosing and blessing.

I think this list is important to help us realize that from verses it would be hard to dismiss Jesus as a good teacher, a man who taught peace, just someone special and Holy. Even before Jesus starts His ministry, many extraordinary things are said about Him. This knowledge of who Jesus is, is revealed by an angels and by the Holy Spirit (God Himself) revealing this to ordinary people. I think this is very important distinction about Jesus. The focus of a relationship to God is not based on rules, our actions, someones teaching, ceremony or tradition. It is based on the person of Jesus Christ.

If you are searching for the Savior, Jesus is it. In the coming months we will continue to explore what does this mean. How is he the Savior? What does it mean to have a Savior? Please give prayerful consideration to Jesus and what He can mean to you.