Jesus is the Bible

Jesus as Messiah can be seen throughout the entire bible. The Old Testament reveals the need for Jesus; the Gospels detail the human life, miracles, teachings and death of Jesus; Acts highlights the impact of Jesus on humankind; the Letters of Paul show how the love and teachings of Jesus spread, growing His church; and the yet to be totally fulfilled Revelations provides specific world conditions and events when Jesus return.

1.  The Old Testament  The beginning of Genesis focuses on God's creation and mankind populating the world until the flood destroyed everyone except Noah and his family.  From Genesis 12 on, the Old Testament focuses on one family, nine generations removed from Noah's son Shem, lead by Abraham. Abraham's descendants would eventually find their way to the land of Israel.  

Over the next five OT books after Genesis, God gave His people 613 rules for living a righteous life, and told them of blessings if they followed them and curses if they did not.  It took over 400 years, but eventually this family made it to the land God had promised them, Israel.   Much of the remaining OT is devoted to prophets trying to get the Israelites to follow God's rules (most did not), failed kings who were defeated by pagan enemies, and people who were exiled to foreign lands. But a remnant of Abraham's family always returned to Israel, which God had promised.

The OT shows us our need for Jesus since we as humans can never obey 613 rules and will always have sin be part of our lives despite our best efforts.  Throughout the OT, God promised a Messiah to save us from our sins.   

Micah 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.  His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity life unto death, and was counted with wrongdoers; Yet He himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the wrongdoers  

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and she will name Him Immanuel.

Isaiah 53:8-9  By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off from the land of the living for the wrongdoing of my people, to whom the blow was due? And His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in death, because He had done no violence nor was there any deceit in His mouth. 

Isaiah 53:11-12 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, for He will bear their wrongdoings  Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the plunder with the strong because He poured out His life unto death, and was counted with wrongdoers; Yet He himself bore the sin of many and interceded for the wrongdoers  

Daniel 9:26  Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.  And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 

Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of pleading, so that they will look at Me who they pierced; and they will mourn for Him, like one mourning for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.

Whereas the OT focuses on one growing family starting with Abraham, the  NT focuses on one person, Jesus Christ, a descendent of the Israelites, specifically Abraham's great grandson, Judah.

2. The Gospels  A previous blog "Who are these Gospel Writers?" highlights that each gospel writer had a different personality, background, and purpose for writing that impacted the focus and view point of their retellings. 

All four, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John give us the facts of Jesus' human life, His miracles and teachings, and His death and resurrection.

3.  The Book of Acts of the Apostles  Acts immediately precedes the last gospel of John and is where we meet Paul, a Pharisee who persecuted followers of Jesus.  Paul experienced a revelation of the resurrected Jesus.  Acts 9:3-6  Now as he (Saul who is also Paul) was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said "Who are you, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what you must do." Paul became a believer and spent the rest of his life traveling throughout the eastern Roman Empire spreading the "good news" that Jesus provides salvation and eternal life to primarily gentiles (non-Jews). 

Acts tells the stories of lives transformed by the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection through the missionary work of Jesus' disciples, Paul, and many others in the growing Christian church.  

4.  Letters of Paul Paul's 13 letters to churches he started throughout the Roman Empire make up a large part of the remainder of the New Testament.  Paul reminded the churches that the righteous live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  He encouraged the churches, writing about salvation, faith, grace and how to live as a follower of Jesus in a culture that was very much against Him.  And Paul called out behavior that would harm the church.  1 Corinthians 1:10-11 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.  For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers and sisters, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you.

These Letters from Paul encouraged Jesus' people to live and grow in community with God and one another.

5.  Jesus' Return  The OT does not specifically say that the Messiah will come twice - once to suffer and once to reign.  But look at the Isaiah 53 verses above under the OT point. Isaiah 53:8-9 speaks of a suffering servant's death, while 53:11-12 highlights a victorious servant who receives the spoils due Him. He will be killed and yet live?  Sounds like Jesus!

The NT tells us Jesus will return and how that will look. Acts 1:10-11  And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, and they said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

There are lots of mysteries in Revelations but author disciple John makes a few things perfectly clear.  The world will end and it will not be pretty, judgment for every human is certain, Satan will fall, and Jesus will return.  

Part 2 Holy Spirit - How do I get Him? Repent, Ask, Receive (Repeat)

The Holy Spirit is not a premonition or feeling. He is a person of the Trinity who can be trusted and wants to reside in us.  Only 32 short bible verses after receiving the promised Holy Spirit, Peter was being asked by some of the crowd who cheered on Jesus' crucifixion how to "get us some".  Peter, who pre-Holy Spirit, was doubtful, impulsive, and scared was now, post-Holy Spirit, a bold and wise leader.  Acts 2:  36-38  Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ - this Jesus whom you crucified.  Now when they heard this they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles "Brothers, what are we to do?"  Peter said to them "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Repenting requires admitting wrong-doing and asking for forgiveness.  Fessing up to sin is usually hard, but it can be so liberating.  A politician might publicly overcome a past sin such as adultery if he truly repented and then stayed faithful to his spouse.  He might even gain votes from sympathizers who are impressed with the about face!  Unfortunately we live in a society today where if you apologize, you are often considered “weak” and "a loser".

In Genesis, all of Joseph's jealous older brother's were involved with selling Joseph into slavery.  God knew before any of them were born that this family betrayal would occur.  But God ensured that good things came out of this evil, and Joseph recognized it.  Genesis 50:19-21 But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant if for good in order to bring about this present result, to keep many people alive.  So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones."  So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.  Brother Judah was the only brother who showed repentance, and he and his tribe experienced the least hardship and received the greatest blessings from God, including the lineage of Messiah Jesus.  

Even though Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all believers, He also wants us to ask for His Spirit.  Knowing we need the Holy Spirit and then asking for it is purposeful.  Acts 1:14 (Right after Jesus' ascension)  All these (the 11 remaining disciples) were continually devoting themselves with one mind to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. God hears us when we communicate with Him, and as the ultimate good parent, He gives us what we need to survive and thrive, often in ways we never saw coming.  

God has never and will never change.  We are the ones who must change.  Jesus will always forgive true repentance, and His Holy Spirit will move our hearts if we invite Him in. Even though Jesus always forgives, people may not forgive.  And we may believe we don’t deserve to be forgiven.  But repentant sinners’ have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus when he was crucified and took on all sin – past, present and future.

Before I truly believed in Jesus and invited in the Holy Spirit, neither rejoicing for others nor thoughtfully and lovingly listening to those I disagree with were important to me. And even if either had been goals, I could never have reached them by pure willpower.  Bible study, prayer and the Holy Spirit highlighted my sin and helped me overcome it. My heart wants to rejoice for others when good things happen in their lives – I need the Holy Spirit to quelch any envious thoughts.  When I hear an opinion that I strongly disagree with, I want to hear the truths the person is relying on to hold that opinion – I need the Holy Spirit to close my mouth, open my ears and heart, and give me thoughtful, loving, truthful words if He wants me to say anything at all. 

The Holy Spirit blesses us, turns our eyes away from the world to Jesus, and transforms us.  The more you listen to and are guided by the Holy Spirit, and more you will grow and mature as a Christian.

Part 1 Holy Spirit - Who Is He?

 

Of the four gospels, John explains who the Holy Spirit is in the greatest of detail.  John was an eye witness to Jesus’ testimony, clinging to all things positive as there was also a lot of negative news the disciples were receiving on the eve of Jesus’ crucifixion.

John 14:16  (Jesus speaking)  I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. 

John 14:26  (Jesus speaking) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.

The disciples were having a hard time understanding and not freaking out when Jesus told them He would be leaving them.  The Holy Spirit and the rest of the Trinity are such difficult concepts for us to explain today, so imagine how they must have felt hearing a few vague specifics from Jesus about the yet to come resurrection, ascension, and the arrival of the Holy Spirit. 

Since all the disciples were Jewish, they would have known that the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Old Testament (which they called the Tanakh) several times.

1.  Exodus 31:1-5  Now the Lord spoke to Moses saying, "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.  And I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom in understanding in knowledge and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to create artistic designs for work in gold, in silver and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship.

2.  Numbers 27:18  So the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

4.  Judges 13:24-25  So the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the Lord blessed him.  And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him when he was in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

5.  1 Samuel 16:12-13  And the Lord said, "Arise, anoint him (David); for this is he.  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.

6.  The Holy Spirit was even promised in the Old Testament!  Joel 2:28-29  It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will have dreams, Your young men will see visions  And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Holy Spirit also had a role in creation.  Genesis 1:2  And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

But there is a big difference between the Holy Spirit's presence in the New and Old Testaments  In the New Testament, 10 days after Jesus ascends to heaven which is also the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is sent to permanently live inside of believers.   In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit appeared to a select few and usually stayed only until a specific God determined task was accomplished. 

When the Holy Spirit came to believers on Pentecost, it was not His first appearance in the New Testament.  The Holy Spirit is who raised Jesus from the dead after crucifixion.  Romans 6:10-11 The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.  And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.  And yes, the Holy Spirit is a "He", a person just like God the Father and Jesus. He has all the characteristics of God the Father and Jesus - love, compassion, omnipresent, omnipotent - so we can have a relationship with the Holy Spirit.

God chose Pentecost as the time to send the Holy Spirit since the Jews would be in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks holiday and have a front row seat.

At the end of the book of John, God the Father’s earthly plan for Jesus the Son was about to be complete.  Through Jesus’ teachings, miracles, and death followed by resurrection, believers would have salvation and eternal life with God.  Jesus was going back to God the Father and the Holy Spirit would be sent to help believers continue to learn about the wonders of God, to remind believers of what Jesus said, to help believers understand God’s plan for each of them, and to open ways for believers to spread the news of who Jesus is so that others would believe and gain eternal life.

Said in fewer words…. Jesus came, showed, and told us what awaits if we follow Him and make disciples for Him.  And God the Father knows that we will be unable to do this without having God the Son in the form of a living Spirit, dwelling within us.