Jesus as Pictured in Scripture

 

      Jesus, the Son of God, is pictured in many beautiful ways throughout the Scriptures. Each time we are allowed to look at Jesus in the Bible should draw us closer to Him. "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." (John 12:32.)

 

      Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. "Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16.) Peter made a simple and bold confession of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the Christ, the great Prophet, Priest, and King; the Messiah promised in past generations. Jesus is the Son of the living God. He has life in Himself. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God?

 

      Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10.) Luke states the purpose of Jesus coming to the world. Jesus literally came to call sinners to repentance. "But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Matthew 9:13.) Jesus came from heaven to earth to seek, for the purpose of saving, that which was lost. Have you allowed Jesus to be­come your Savior?

 

      Jesus is a Teacher come from God. "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (John 3:1-2.) Christ was a Teacher from God. He was supported by divine authority.  (Matthew 28:18.) He was a Teacher by inspiration. Jesus came as a Teacher from God into a world of darkness and ignorance. He came into the world as Light and Truth. Are you learning and following this "Teacher sent from God?"

 

      Jesus is -- "Jesus" the one who would save His people from their sins. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21.) His name is "Jesus". The reason for the name is, "He shall save His people from their sins." He is willing to be Savior of all who will come to Him. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17.) Jesus saves from the guilt of sin by His blood. He saves from the control of sin by the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:22-24.) Have you allowed Jesus to save you from your sins?

 

      Jesus is the anointed of God. "And sud­denly a voice came from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17.) God said Jesus was "His Son." Jesus is the Son of God by supernatural concep­tion. "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14.) He is God's Son because of His great work as our Redeemer from sin. God exalted Jesus as His anointed. "Also I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth." (Psalm 89:27.) It is easy to see God's love when we recognize that He did not withhold His only begotten Son. "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles." (Isaiah 42:1.) Have you, by faith, accepted and obeyed God's anointed?

 

      Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. "Therefore we also, since we are sur­rounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:1-4.) We must set Jesus before us constantly as the author and finisher of our faith. He is our sacrifice, example and encouragement. Jesus is the Beginning and the Ending of our salvation. Our duty is to look to Jesus. Which direction are you looking in your life?

 

Other Pictures of Jesus

 

      Jesus is Emmanuel (God with us). "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us." (Matthew 1:23.)

 

      Jesus is God's great prophet. "For Moses truly said to the fathers, The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, what­ever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3:22-23.)

 

      Jesus is Alpha and Omega. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8.)

 

      Jesus is our advocate. "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1.)

 

      Jesus is the true vine. "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." (John 15:1.)

 

      Jesus is our great high Priest. "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus." (Hebrews 3:1.)

 

      Jesus is the way, truth and life. "Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6.)

 

      Jesus is the sacrifice for sin. "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Peter 1:18-19.)

 

            The Son of God loved you and gave His life for you. (Galatians 2:20.) This great truth changed the life of Paul and it can change your life also. The cross remains God's drawing power. (John 12:32.) "We preach Christ crucified!" As long as I remember who Jesus is and what He did for me on the cross I will be His willing slave for Life. "We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19.)

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36037 USA

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