When introducing Jesus to the world, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of His identity. Often, we tend to portray Jesus solely as a miracle worker or healer, inadvertently limiting His true purpose and significance. This narrow perception not only restricts His immense power and impact but also disappoints those who seek blessings or healing from Him, as they may not always receive them. It is essential to grasp the deeper essence of Jesus’ presence on Earth, rather than simply view Him as a bestower of miracles or an earthly conqueror. Jesus Himself posed the question to His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15), urging us to reflect on His true identity and purpose.
The Greatest Revelation
The Book of Revelation is key to unlocking our understanding of Jesus as the Son of Man and His anticipated return as the ultimate Judge. We all are eager to understand the Book of Revelation. Yet, it is vital not to overlook the truth that God imparts the revelation of His Son to every individual through His Spirit.
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
1 John 4:12 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit chose to bestow upon John the privilege of documenting his remarkable vision. Similarly, the same Holy Spirit enlightened Simon Peter, revealing to him the truth concerning Jesus. John, in his solitary existence, was able to delve deeper into the intricacies of the vision, while Peter, being amidst the multitude, received a personal and intimate explanation from Jesus Himself, elucidating the significance of his confession.
In our contemporary society, amidst its bustling and often overwhelming nature, there is a notable tendency to overlook the presence and teachings of Jesus Christ. Regrettably, we oftentimes fail to grasp the meaning of the Living Word. Our omnipotent God perseveres in unveiling the mysteries of His Kingdom, yet we, as recipients of the truths, sometimes struggle to fully comprehend and embrace it. The revelation of God’s Son as our Savior stands as the paramount unveiling of truth. In His ongoing mission, Jesus earnestly imparts to us the inner workings and significance of His heavenly Father. Undoubtedly, this serves as the most remarkable revelation of all.
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
John 15:15 (NIV)
Jesus, Our Elder Brother
God, in His boundless love and mercy, sent His only Son to redeem humanity from the grip of sin and to bestow upon us the unfathomable blessings of heaven. Jesus graciously extends to us every spiritual resource available through His intimate connection with the Father. In His friendship, He reveals the depths of His heart, inviting us to freely partake in all that He offers. As stated in the book of John (15:15), Jesus confides in us, regarding us not merely as servants, but as beloved friends, with whom He willingly shares His bountiful inheritance.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him, we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15 (NIV)
To confer upon us the status of sonship, Jesus voluntarily relinquished His intimate relationship with the Father and assumed the role of our elder brother He addressed the Father as His God, just as we did before (Matthew 27:46). By invoking the name of God at the appointed time, He was vindicated due to His righteousness and rescued from the clutches of death (Hebrews 5:7). Consequently, we too are saved from the penalty of eternal death and join our elder brother in addressing God as Abba, Father.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Colossians 1:18 (NIV)
Jesus Is Lord
When Moses was asked by God to redeem His people, he sought to ascertain the name of God. In response, God identified Himself as “I am who I am.” Being the ultimate and singular person, the name of God is indeed a proper noun. Over time, numerous names arose for man-made deities and goddesses. However, God bestowed His Son with a specific name, designating Him as the way to reach Him. It is not uncommon for people to be taken aback when the name of Jesus is used in reference to God in the Old Testament. John’s Gospel establishes a connection between Jesus and the Word, highlighting the presence of Jesus even during the act of creation. Although the Old Testament often refers to Jesus, He is typically mentioned as the angel of the LORD.
The Son of God, who was eternally united with the Father before the genesis of creation, was sent into this world as our Redeemer. He was bestowed the name Jesus by His earthly mother, Mary. Jesus serves as the way through which we may approach the Father, as revealed by Jesus in John 14:6. Nonetheless, often we find ourselves settled on the name Jesus, apprehensive about embracing a deeper connection with our heavenly Father. It is important to acknowledge that Jesus is not a final destination (Jesus did not come to exalt Himself above His Father), but rather a means by which we may experience communion with God. Ultimately, Jesus accomplished the will of His Father and ascended as Lord, surpassing the role assigned to Him by the Father.
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
Philippians 2:11 (NIV)
to the glory of God the Father.
Although Jesus is our elder brother and friend, He holds the ultimate position of Lord and is seated at the right hand of His Father. Without ceasing, He intercedes on our behalf to gain entry into the Kingdom of His Father. He has paved the way for us by offering His unblemished blood as a sacrifice for our sins. By developing a relationship with Jesus, we also come to know His Father. With great joy, Jesus will present us before His Father, without any fault (Jude 1:24). Let us therefore anticipate the accomplishment of the eternal life in us, by not stopping with Jesus and His grace. In the given lifetime let us deserve His grace so that in His second coming, He will take us with Him.
Abba, Father
While individuals attribute various names to gods, presuming their human-made labels to be deities, the only and everliving God does not lower Himself to be named by humans. Instead, God sent His Son as a means to connect with humanity, and bestowed upon Him the name Jesus, in order to identify the path to the eternal God amidst the multitude of names for deities in this world. By embracing the name Jesus, we are granted access to the way that leads to the one true God, amidst the multitude of religions that prevail in our world. Hence, let us not be swayed by our concepts about the grace of Jesus, but rather avail His grace to draw near to God and address Him as our loving Father, who is known as “Abba”.
The Jordan Valley 
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