Jesus is the one we look to.
God seriously loves us and what more could a loving God do than come and live among us as one of us. Yes, he became one of us.
History revolves around this "God-as-one-of-us". The course of history was changed by a carpenter from Nazareth.
He knew his people were looking for a person chosen by God to bring God's rule to their nation and establish them as secure and independent again. His arrival had been foretold. He was going to be like Moses, who stood between God and his people, whom God used to rescue his people from slavery and establish a covenant (promised agreement) between them. He was also going to be like their most heroic, passionate and Godly king, King David and one of David's descendants. Were they right?
Aged thirty Jesus burst onto the scene saying, "Change your mind and ways, and agree with God! God's kingdom is within reach." This is what Jesus meant by "Repent! The Kingdom of God is at hand!"
Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God and showed in miracles of healing and deliverance (setting people free) what God's rule - his kingdom - is like. God's rule, wherever it is seen, is marked by righteousness [goodness], peace and joy. Jesus drew large crowds. He also drew the opposition of powerful people, who got him put to death by Roman crucifixion. But Jesus knew this would happen all along. It was in his plan.
Jesus would not dispute that he was like Moses or David, but Jesus was also the one to take on himself the punishment for his people as their representative. He also widened that to take on himself the sins of the whole world. God in Christ reconciles us to himself. Jesus provides the dreadful remedy for the predicament we find ourselves in. This means he had to die. And in this death we see some of Jesus' glory, the amazing beauty of his character - his self-giving love, compassion and forgiveness - and we fall down in worship.
God seriously loves us and what more could a loving God do than come and live among us as one of us. Yes, he became one of us.
History revolves around this "God-as-one-of-us". The course of history was changed by a carpenter from Nazareth.
He knew his people were looking for a person chosen by God to bring God's rule to their nation and establish them as secure and independent again. His arrival had been foretold. He was going to be like Moses, who stood between God and his people, whom God used to rescue his people from slavery and establish a covenant (promised agreement) between them. He was also going to be like their most heroic, passionate and Godly king, King David and one of David's descendants. Were they right?
Aged thirty Jesus burst onto the scene saying, "Change your mind and ways, and agree with God! God's kingdom is within reach." This is what Jesus meant by "Repent! The Kingdom of God is at hand!"
Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God and showed in miracles of healing and deliverance (setting people free) what God's rule - his kingdom - is like. God's rule, wherever it is seen, is marked by righteousness [goodness], peace and joy. Jesus drew large crowds. He also drew the opposition of powerful people, who got him put to death by Roman crucifixion. But Jesus knew this would happen all along. It was in his plan.
Jesus would not dispute that he was like Moses or David, but Jesus was also the one to take on himself the punishment for his people as their representative. He also widened that to take on himself the sins of the whole world. God in Christ reconciles us to himself. Jesus provides the dreadful remedy for the predicament we find ourselves in. This means he had to die. And in this death we see some of Jesus' glory, the amazing beauty of his character - his self-giving love, compassion and forgiveness - and we fall down in worship.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7