Getting to know Jesus

Who am i? Who is Jesus?

 

In one of my other posts I said it was important to know who we are, but in order to know who we are, we need to know who Jesus is.

Why? Because we were created for nothing less than to become like Jesus Christ. This has been Gods plan for us right from the beginning!

“Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.” Genesis 1:26

Gods plan was always to fill the earth with people just like His son - for His glory. Therefore Jesus wasn't 'plan B' to make up for the fall of Adam. The plan was always Jesus. You can read right through the bible and see something of Jesus on every page. It really is all about Him.

In Matthew 16:13-19 Jesus asks his disciples "Who do you say I am?" and Simon Peter replies "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." What Jesus says next is the key. He replied "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." Firstly, it wasn't until Simon Peter acknowledged who Jesus was that he was given the identity of Peter (once he knew who Jesus was, he knew who he was.) Also, Jesus tells him that it is on the revelation of who he is, the Christ - Son of the living God, that He will build His church. Knowing who Jesus is, is the very foundation of our faith. Which is why, in order to be saved, you must; "confess with your mouth "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10:9)

So now i've said a little about why we need to know who Jesus is I want to touch on one aspect of who He is. The one aspect that is fundamental in His identity. Jesus Christ.

Funnily enough, 'Christ' wasn't Jesus' last name - it's not just there to sound cool or roll off the tongue better. Christ means 'anointed one'.

Many people just see Jesus as the one who saved us from our sins or as the one who wants a nice relationship with us or who comforts us on our bad days. All of these are completely true, but if we focus on just one of these, we are missing the bigger picture! Jesus didn't come just to save us - if that were true He might as well have taken us up to heaven already! We're here for a purpose and Jesus came to allow us to live out that purpose.

Jesus is more than a prophet. He is more than a teacher. He is more than a good person. He is more than an apostle or a priest. He is more than a pastor or a shepherd.

Jesus is the Christ. Anointed one.

Jesus did everything under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, knowing who had sent Him and what He was sent to do. Luke 4:14-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Jesus' calling and anointing were the very centre/core of His identity. You don't read about Jesus having an identity crisis because He knew who He was and He knew what He was here to do. John the baptist told 2 messages about Jesus. (John 1:29-34)

1) "He is the one who takes away the sin of the world." Hallelujah! This is the best news because it was our sin that was preventing us from representing Him fully! But now He has taken away our sins!! However. Too many people stop here. Here is the 2nd message...

2) "He's the one who will baptise you in the Holy Spirit." HALLELUJAH! He didn't just come to deal with sin - He dealt with sin SO THAT He could anoint His people!! Now we can represent Him!

Get what i'm saying? Gods plan is that everyone is under that same anointing - seperated and called out for a special purpose. Everyone anointed to represent Him. Lack of anointing means we don't have the power to represent Him. Jesus was anointed to represent the Father. Jesus has anointed us to represent Him - CHRISTians. Anointed ones.

He knew who He was because He knew who sent Him. We can know who we are because we know who sent us. Get to know Jesus.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:18