Who is Jesus? - December 2005

Several weeks before Christmas, churches & the devotional resources many Christians use at home begin to use familiar Old Testament readings that announce God is going to do something new with his people Israel. In Isaiah 40, verse 3 we read: "A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." Ancient Israel’s time in exile was about to end.

Of course, these Old Testament readings are also paired with readings from the Gospels of the New Covenant about Jesus. One of the reasons for this is so that we can see why early Christians came to understand and believe that Jesus fulfilled prophecy by his coming to earth in the form of a man. -- The Gospel of Luke is a favourite ‘Christmas Gospel’ because it begins with the announcement of the birth of Jesus’ ‘forerunner’ John, later called ‘the Baptist’, who is still like an Old Covenant preacher and prophet gathering people in the ‘wilderness’ and in the region around the Jordan for a baptism of spiritual renewal. The ancient Israelites believed that Messiah or the age of Israel’s restored fortunes would be heralded by the resurrection of one of the prophets -- like Elijah! Luke’s ‘systematic’ retelling of events from the life of Jesus is intended to bring out belief in Jesus -- Jesus is the ‘prophesied one’. Jesus is ‘God’s beloved son, with whom God is pleased’ --

As I thought about the many ‘connections’ we can make between direct references and allusions ‘playing’ back and forth between the Testaments, I thought about a comment I read from a scholar (Fred W. Danker) about Luke’s portrayal of Jesus and of his Gospel.

Regardless of who we are, the Gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us. It draws us into a state of ‘confession’. Especially if we are ‘good upstanding citizens’, it is a challenge to our sense of ‘right and wrong’! Jesus makes us look at ourselves so that we realize we need his forgiveness and ‘healing’ ... It isn’t enough, therefore, to know the Jesus story as many do. It isn’t enough to know His name -- because many responded to Jesus in those more superficial ways while he was among us in human form -- And so, sadly, the Jesus who came to restore Jerusalem as the city of God, brought it down because Jerusalem rejected him. The same Jesus who came to save his people Israel also turned to welcome the Gentile and Samaritan because his own people accused him of heresy. Read Matthew five; the beatitudes of Jesus, to see for yourself how challenging Jesus’ Word really is for those who consider themselves most acceptable to God because of their ‘status’ in society or because of their moral goodness. -- Can you also see his influence on those who had ‘nothing to lose’?

Advent, the season of 4 weeks before Christmas, gives us time for examination of our own faith-relationship with God. We have to look a little deeper than ‘what I say I believe’. I should look at how I speak with others, about others. I might look at my lifestyle; my values; my opinions. What does the parable of the travelling master say to you in Matthew 25? Have you spent any time with ‘the least of these’, whom Jesus knows by name?

Regardless of status, wealth, length of time being a Christian ... the Gospel of Jesus challenges us to confess that without Jesus’ help we just can’t really be who God made us to be again. * God expects a response from us -- a humble response. When we’re ready, the Saviour comes to us. When no one else can help -- Jesus is our Saviour; Israel’s Joshua; our Lord and our God. Have a great Christmas!