A Person

Author Robert Lloyd’s blog recently included comments from seminary graduates.  Each one merits thought, but this one caught my eye as such a beautiful truth:

I learned that at the core of the gospel is a person to receive, not just a set of doctrines to affirm.

When you hear the name Jesus, what comes to mind? The answer might depend on what time of the year His name is spoken. At Christmas we’ll think of the child in the manger with angels announcing His arrival to shepherds.
 
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11 KJV)

Absolutely appropriate as the portrait of a shepherd caring for his flock runs through the Bible.  We might see Him as a child, being raised in a religious family, being taken to the temple.

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (Luke 2:22 KJV)

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. (Luke 2:42 KJV)

We see Him at the beginning of His public ministry.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29 KJV)

Read the four gospels to learn about the next three years, where we will see Him healing, teaching, admonishing while serving as our example and explaining about the kingdom to come.  Then we will see Him as abandoned and alone.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46 KJV)

There will come a time!! A time when the world will recognize Him as we should.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16 KJV)

No matter how else we see Him when we think of Him, this is the person He truly was, is and shall be – King of kings and Lord of lords. Before Him, it is said, every knees shall bow:

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (Isaiah 45:23 KJV)

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11-12 KJV)

Do you see yourself, bowing before Him? Right now would be a good time.