Who Is Jesus? – Be Still…

1 John 1:1-2:6 – Who is Jesus?

The book of 1 John starts out in a similar fashion as John’s gospel, identifying Jesus as having been present at creation as well as calling out his identity as the Word. John also masterfully testifies on behalf of himself and others as to having personally seen and touched Jesus. To me, that fact alone is mind-boggling. This author hung out with Jesus and knew Him well.

How else does John describe Jesus to his audience? Jesus is: (1) “life itself,” (2) “the one who is eternal life,” (3) “with the Father,” and we can fellowship with Jesus and the Father, just like John and the others. John hopes that by knowing and experiencing Jesus, we can know and experience the same joy. It’s true what we’ve heard that there is joy in the Lord. Even Nehemiah proclaimed, “For the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10) Continue reading “1 John 1:1-2:6 – Who is Jesus?”

Mark 8:27-9:1 – What Would You Say?

Read Mark 8:27-9:1

Peter was quick to comment, but what would you say if asked, “Who is Jesus?” Have you ever thought about that? It’s a question we, as believers, should be ready to answer at any time. The answer defines us and our relationship with Jesus. It’s okay to be unsure, but it’s an important declaration to have on the tip of your tongue. Jesus’ message to us would be the opposite of keeping his identity a secret.

Next, our reading turns a bit dreary. We already know how hard it has been for the disciples to fully grasp what they are witnessing Jesus accomplish. Now, to hear him speak of his brutal death must have seemed unthinkable. We never want to hear news from friends or family about their death or mortality. Jesus’ departure sounded a lot more dramatic, and I can’t imagine what the disciples were thinking. Were they perhaps in denial? Continue reading “Mark 8:27-9:1 – What Would You Say?”

Mark 8:27-30 – Peter Gets It Right

Read Mark 8:27-30

If you had to respond to Jesus that day on the road outside Galilee, how would you describe Jesus? Now think about how you would introduce Jesus to your friends.

I’ve always perplexed over the disciples’ response that some say Jesus was John the Baptist. Followers of John would have heard the message that someone else was coming, far greater than John himself. In fact, it was John’s job to prepare the way for Jesus, not himself.

Colossians 1:15-23 – Being Second

Read Colossians 1:15-23

Jesus is first in everything. We read that in today’s passage along with a list of the attributes that make Jesus supreme. That’s a great word, “supreme.” It conjures up all sorts of images for us in our society from a pizza loaded with toppings to a singer from a popular girl group “back in the day.” For our purposes, let’s take Google’s definition, “superior to all others.” That’s who Jesus is.

Are you content being in second place? There is so much focus on being the “best” or #1, especially for sports teams. As you may already know, I’m a huge Green Bay Packers fan. You’ll almost always see someone in the crowd with a big foam finger signifying the coveted “#1”. We’re driven, maybe even pushed, into striving for the top position of whatever group or association we’re part of. Why is that? Don’t we know who is truly supreme?

Colossians 1:15-20 ? The Supreme One

Read Colossians 1:15-20

Jesus in the clouds with glory all around him

We must believe in the deity of Jesus or our faith crumbles and is meaningless. These verses say it so beautifully. “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.” Paul knew the Colossian believers (and us) would need to firmly grasp the supremacy of Jesus.

Paul’s first audience was surrounded by false teachers that would have been trying to sway the people to doubt Jesus was anything special. There would have even been popular thought questioning how the world could have been created by God because he would not have created evil. This text is probably the strongest in the whole Bible for the divine nature of Christ.