Salvation, 4 - Who is Jesus?

First, quote Eph 2.8, 9 - “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Okay, we've heard salvation testimony of people you know (me, Mrs. Janet, Cade) and of one you didn't know (Saul/Paul). Let's examine who called each one to His service.

• Who is Jesus?  

• What do  you know about Jesus?

Well, Matthew 1.23 says, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

However, over 700 years before that, let's read what the prophet Isaiah said:

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (9.2) For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (9.6, 7)

Thus saith God the Lord, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, (42.5-8)

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (60.1-3)

John the Baptist said: “...Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a Man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! ” (Jn 1.29, 30, 36)

Names from the scriptures we just read:

• In Isaiah He is described as:

“a Great Light, Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, Child, Son, Creator, Life giver, Promise, Light to the Gentiles, Light for the blind, Lord,”

• Matthew said He was “ Emmanuel,...”or “God with us”
• John the Baptist said He was: “the Lamb of God and man”

1. Was He man?
2. Was He God?
3. Would you say He was “the Godman?”

Okay, back to the beginning – born in a stable in Bethlehem of a virgin girl – He had 10 fingers, 10 toes. He cried, He felt cold, He got hungry, He knew pain – yet at the age of 12, well listen to this: “And it came to pass, that after three days they (His parents) found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at His understanding and answers. And when they (His parents) saw Him, they were amazed: and His mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Lk 2.46-49)
“About My Father's business?” Wasn't Joseph His Father? (yes, His earthly caretaker)
But one day while talking with the religious folks and others who were curious about Him, He told them (Mt 12.48-50) “...Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And He stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!bFor whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Let's examine the question again, “Who IS Jesus?”
I know who He is and what He is to me, do you?
Let me give you my testimony again. After that, if you've been saved I would like to hear your testimony. That is, I want you to tell me what happened when He saved you. When did you know you would go to heaven and not that awful place of eternal torment? Do you know you will see Jesus in all of His glory one day in the eternal home that is heaven?

In Closing:

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"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."—Luke 2:19.

HERE was an exercise, on the part of this blessed woman, of three powers of her being: her memory—she kept all these things; her affections—she kept them in her heart; her intellect—she pondered them; so that memory, affection, and understanding, were all exercised about the things which she had heard. Beloved, remember what you have heard of your Lord Jesus, and what He has done for you; make your heart the golden pot of manna to preserve the memorial of the heavenly bread whereon you have fed in days gone by. Let your memory treasure up everything about Christ which you have either felt, or known, or believed, and then let your fond affections hold Him fast for evermore. Love the person of your Lord! Bring forth the alabaster box of your heart, even though it be broken, and let all the precious ointment of your affection come streaming on His pierced feet. Let your intellect be exercised concerning the Lord Jesus. Meditate upon what you read: stop not at the surface; dive into the depths. Be not as the swallow which toucheth the brook with her wing, but as the fish which penetrates the lowest wave. Abide with your Lord: let Him not be to you as a wayfaring man, that tarrieth for a night, but constrain Him, saying, "Abide with us, for the day is far spent." Hold Him, and do not let Him go. The word "ponder, ' means to weigh. Make ready the balances of judgment. Oh, but where are the scales that can weigh the Lord Christ? "He taketh up the isles as a very little thing:"—who shall take Him up? "He weigheth the mountains in scales"—in what scales shall we weigh Him? Be it so, if your understanding cannot comprehend, let your affections apprehend; and if your spirit cannot compass the Lord Jesus in the grasp of understanding, let it embrace Him in the arms of affection. (CH Spurgeon)