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Tag: John

Jesus Christ 2 the Person and His Roles
Who is this Jesus? Has God sent us the Christ – the anointed Messiah?

God and The Person of JESUS

“JESUS IS and was and will be.

Talk of JESUS .com Jesus Christ IS Lord – 1

JESUS IS God! just as we introduced last time through the beginning in John’s Gospel — “..and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God..”

“No one has ever yet seen God..”

John 1:18a Berean Standard Bible

If the Person of Jesus IS GOD, then how was God revealed in HIM? If no one has seen God then how IS Jesus (who the world has seen born, died and risen) the Very Person of the unseen God?

Begotten, NOT made

John continues [John 1:18 BLB].

“.. the only begotten God who is in the bosom G2859 of the Father, He has explained Him.

Gospel of John 1:18 LSB – Strong’s G2859 – kolpos – ‘the front of the body between the arms

Look closely at John’s Gospel and understand that GOD IS ONE, yet God is a God of relationship – THREE PERSONS with very personal roles and relationships to created men and women.

Jesus, himself, confessed:

“I and the Father are one.”

John 10:30

the Personality of JESUS the Son
- Can you attach a Personality to the Face of God who you cannot see?
- Will you relate to a PILLAR OF FIRE or the unseen Hand of the whirlwind?
Even so, the LORD GOD relates to those He loves even as a Father guides and provides for his own.

God the Father of our Lord JESUS Christ reveals from His unseen ever-existence, two Personalities, a loving Father and His only Son, to which created mankind can relate in addition to His unseen Spirit-to-spirit power, Holy and separated from that which He has created.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Personality of sons and daughters of man

per·son·al·i·ty (pûr′sə-nălĭ-tē) DEFINITION

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Body, mind and spirit born of a woman
1. The totality of qualities and traits, as of character or behavior, that are peculiar to a specific person.
2. The collection of distinctive qualities of a person, especially those distinguishing personal characteristics that make one socially appealing
3. The quality or condition of being a person.
WE cannot comprehend the TOTALITY of the Personality of JESUS the SON of GOD any more than that of God the FATHER.

Never-the-less the Bible reveals the Face of God in the Persons of the Father and the Son – it is, in part, a relationship to which even sinful man may relate.

Jesus IS God from God

The PERSON of JESUS — perhaps a little difficult to understand, but we can relate to HIS relationship as SON of the One Father of all, even Almighty God.

And as mysterious and illusive is God’s power, so we must hear from what God has said through Scripture about the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Our basic CHRISTIAN teaching and belief, including study of GOD [theology] as THE TRINITY is outlined in several creeds of the church, including the NICENE CREED written by our Church fathers in A.D. 325.

JESUS Christ explained by the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God..

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

Begotten from the Father, only begotten,

that is, from the substance of the Father,

God from God, light from light, true God from true God,

begotten not made,

of one substance with the Father,

through Whom all things came into being,

things in heaven and things on earth…
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THINK about these TEACHINGS of our Church Fathers living just a few generations after the incarnate JESUS, Son of Man.

Consider in your heart for a moment of our mortal time: 
WHY would GOD show His Face to mankind as a Son, our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST?
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- We cannot be like GOD; but why would GOD want to become as one of us?
Why not consider JESUS in your heart rather than dismissing the God you cannot see simply in your self-created thoughts?

JESUS the Person of relationship with our personality

JESUS did this for ME?
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Hear the theology of our our Church fathers as you embrace the mystery of God in more of the Nicene Creed:
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Jesus Christ..

Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down, and became incarnate

[Embodied in human form; personified – American Heritage Dictionary]

and became man,

and suffered,

and rose again on the third day, and ascended to the heavens,

and will come to judge the living and dead…

JESUS.. the GOD-MAN!

Returning to the unseen.. in the heavens..

Christ ascended

AND WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD..

which is of course the ROLE and right of GOD ALMIGHTY, Creator of all men and Maker all things.

the Role of Christ Jesus

Even though we cannot fully understand incarnation, that is, GOD becoming a MAN — let’s not confuse the PERSON of JESUS (of one substance with the Father and the Holy Spirit) with the ROLES of JESUS.

Χριστὸν – Christ

And He [Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

Gospel of Luke 9:20 LSB [vs. 18-20]

Χριστὸν θεοῦ – christos theos

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter replied, “You are the Messiah [Or the Christ. Messiah (a Hebrew term) and Christ (a Greek term) both mean “the anointed one.”] sent from God!”

Gospel of Luke 9:20 New Living Translation
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MORE about JESUS the Messiah or Christ of God NEXT time, God-willing.
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Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
September 14, 2024
Jesus Christ IS Lord – 1
Who IS JESUS?

What does the BIBLE say about JESUS?

.. Grace to you and peace, from the One who is and who was and who is to come, .. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:4-5 excerpt LSB

Our evangelism of the gospel may present the Lord Christ Jesus more casually than the scriptural truth that HE IS GOD!
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Christians and others sometimes talk of Jesus presumptively or perhaps even flippantly.

JESUS IS! just as the LORD told the Hebrews through Moses the explanation, 
I AM THAT I AM! 
Exodus 3:14 KJV  אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה
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- God IS! We certainly agree.
- Scripture is God’s written word. We agree that the BIBLE is truth.
- JESUS IS and was and will be.
JESUS defined

JESUS CHRIST LORD.

Without quibbling over the hundreds of NAMES Christians use to proclaim JESUS to unbelievers, let’s simply DEFINE and consider these three I have chosen today:

Ἰησοῦς

The KJV translates Strong’s G2424 in the following manner: Jesus (972x), Jesus (Joshua) (2x), Jesus (Justus) (1x).

Ἰησοῦς – Jesus
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Lexicon :: Strong's G2424 - iēsous
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Jesus = “Jehovah is salvation” Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate [in the flesh!]

Before, Then, Now & Forever
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According to the GOSPELS of JESUS CHRIST
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word [logos] was with God [theos], and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Gospel of John 1:1-4 NKJV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Gospel of John 1:14 NKJV

Human History: ~4 B.C – ~A.D. 30
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Consider the enduring testimony of Scripture recorded in approximately A.D. 50 through the A.D. 90's, soon after the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago.
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The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. – Mark 1:1 [A.D. 50’s]

Prologue of the Gospel of Luke:

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

In the days of Herod, king of Judea .. – Luke 1:1-5a ESV [~A.D. 60-62]

Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, υἱοῦ Δαβίδ, υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ

The book [Biblos] of the genealogy [genesis] of Jesus [iēsous] Christ [christos], the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

Matthew 1:1 [A.D. 60’s]

Χριστοῦ – Christ

“Where is He that is born King of the Jews? – Matthew 2:2

Pilate said to them, “Then, what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said, “Let Him be crucified!”

Matthew 27:22 LSB, GNT

λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Πιλᾶτος τί οὖν ποιήσω Ἰησοῦν τὸν λεγόμενον Χριστόν

Christ defined

Χριστός Christós, khris-tos’; from G5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:—Christ.

Post-Resurrection – from A.D. 30’s – to ???? eternity
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The BIBLE documents MANY post-resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Apostles, Paul, and others.
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In about A.D. 55 the Apostle Paul writes: 
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After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:6 LSB

We may be familiar with the AWESOME appearance of JESUS to Saul [Paul] on a road to Damascus but read of a much later revelation of the risen Jesus to the Apostle John for UNDERSTANDING a more present, even future context of ALL CREATED MEN AND WOMEN appearing before the Throne of the Lord Christ Jesus!

The Revelation of Jesus Christ
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 ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ 
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Vision of the Son of Man

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

But he laid his right hand on me, saying,

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Revelation 1:17-18 ESV

HEAR the Apostle John’s description of the Lord, SON OF MAN, as Jesus had described His Person born into this world, the same RISEN LORD John had witnessed some SIXTY YEARS before when he was a young Apostle.

~ A.D. 90-95

.. and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

The revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:12b-16 ESV

LORD, Lord, lord

Fallen flesh resists JESUS as Lord, born in flesh and blood, the Son of Man dying in suffering flesh and sacrificed blood on a Cross.

Roger@TalkofJesus.com

Is JESUS your Lord?

CREATED humankind have difficulty accepting ALMIGHTY GOD, born as a mere man, suffering for sinful souls condemned to death and hell.

THEREFORE, WE who would be EQUAL to ALL resist following JESUS as Lord.

Lord defined
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What does Lord (or LORD) mean in the Bible?
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And Abraham answered and said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am but dust and ashes.

Genesis 18:27 LSB – אֲדֹנָי ‘ăḏōnāy

And he said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master H113 Abraham, who has not forsaken His lovingkindness and His truth toward my master H113; as for me, Yahweh has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s H113 brothers.”

Genesis 24:27 LSB – Lexicon :: Strong’s H113 – ‘āḏôn ‘

The unused root of [אֲדֹנָי ‘ăḏōnāy] used by Abram’s slave or servant referring to his owner:

אָדוֹן
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The KJV translates Strong's H113 in the following manner: lord (197x), master(s) (105x), Lord (31x), owner (1x), sir (1x).
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Note the intended authority implied in each of these human roles, let alone those references to God:
- firm, strong, lord, master
- reference to men
  - superintendent of household, of affairs
  - master
  - king
- reference to God
  - the Lord God
  - Lord of the whole earth
- reference to men
  - proprietor of hill of Samaria
  - master
  - husband
  - prophet
  - governor
  - prince
  - king
  - father
  - Moses
  - priest
  - theophanic angel
  - captain
  - general recognition of superiority
- reference to God
  - Lord of lords (probably = “thy husband, Yahweh”)
  - my Lord, my Lord and my God
  - Adonai (parallel with Yahweh)
ALL of these references to Lord are RELATIONAL. and ALL imply our UNEQUAL relationship as servants before a superior power.

kyrios – Lord
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Moving from the Hebrew Scripture to the Greek of the New Testament we observe Jesus asking followers about their RELATIONAL loyalty to Him.
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“Now why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Gospel of Luke 6:46 LSB – QUESTION of JESUS for followers

Do the christians you encounter call JESUS Lord? OR something else?

κύριος –

– From kuros (supremacy)
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κύριος kýrios, koo'-ree-os; from κῦρος kŷros (supremacy); 
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):—God, Lord, master, Sir. 
- source
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he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord

JESUS, Son of Man, the Son of God

“I and the Father are one.”

John 10:30 [Or a unity, one essence}

And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “You yourselves say that I am.”

Luke 22:70

“For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.

“But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. – Luke 17:24-25

ἐγὼ τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ ὁ πρῶτος καὶ ὁ ἔσχατος ἡ ἀρχὴ καὶ τὸ τέλος

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 22:13

Jesus says to his disciples (followers): “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. – Revelation 22:14

To be continued…

NEXT: in Jesus Christ Lord part 2 – Christ, the Anointed One

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
July 27, 2024
Son-Man Risen!
“Are you the King of the Jews,” the Prefect Pilate had asked JESUS just three days ago?

βασιλεύς King ?

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews.

But my kingdom is not from the world.”
Gospel of John 18: ESV 36 [in context John 18:28-40 AKJV]
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Case dismissed! This Man is NO threat to Rome or Jerusalem, Pilate COULD have said (had the Governor cared more about the Truth than public opinion.)
 
SO instead HE WAS CRUCIFIED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE and THREE DAYS AGO was BURIED in a GUARDED TOMB!
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The Jews had wanted a king more powerful than the Herod. Now these powerful pastors can celebrate THEIR Passover and finally dismiss this prophet JESUS saying,

The King is DEAD! Long live the King.

“Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar,” these Elder accusers of JESUS had taunted. The hereditary Chief Priests might no longer need to limp around the bloody temple sacrifices in order to please the multitudes.

YET since the rising of the sun three days later, some witnesses now report the RISING of the SON-MAN, JESUS!

Resurrection witnessed

The leaders of Herod’s temple (for it had been rebuilt by the Great Herod who left many of the common areas of the courts unfinished) did NOT need any interruption of their indulgences and ceremonial place of authority over worshipers of God obligated to come to THEIR temple twice yearly.

BUT even before THEY managed to convict and crucify the Christ so many followed the leadership of Jerusalem also sought to kill Jesus’ Apostles and most of all Lazarus.

When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there [Bethany], they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he [JESUS] had raised from the dead.

So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
Gospel of John 12:9-11 ESV
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The Temple leadership, however, failed to seize and kill Lazarus (again) but seemed satisfied to crucify the Christ said to raise Lazarus from the grave. 

(But how could such a thing as that have really happened, those many men who did not believe in the resurrection questioned?) 
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Jesus knew how these would REJECT Him not only because they did NOT believe Scripture, but also because these religious leaders could never envision their Messiah (the Christ, of whom the gentiles spoke) would be given the authority to raise the dead.

For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father.

Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
Gospel of John 5:22-25 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

And he has given him authority to execute judgment,
because he is [the] Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out,
those who have done good to the resurrection of life,
and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Gospel of John 5:27-29 ESV – Jesus claiming the Authority of the Son-Man Messiah

Jesus certainly had demonstrated this Authority of the Christ by raising Lazarus from death!

The LEADERS of JUDAH knew rejected the Truth they knew; but even the most faithful worshipers sometimes doubt the veracity of Holy Scripture.
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Does this sound familiar?
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Son-Man, can these bones live?

+ Note: Lit. “son man” – the Hebrew does not use articles bēn ‘āḏām – בֶּן־אָדָם
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Picture yourself standing near Golgotha, where rotted bones of the crucified eventually fall to the dust. See any scene of a low valley of graves where flesh and bones decay in the dust and loved ones lament over the lifeless souls of their past..
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Ezekiel 37: KJV

And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath [רוּחַ]came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Resurrection Prophesied

And at that time Michael the great prince shall stand up, that stands over the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of tribulation, such tribulation as has not been from the time that there was a nation on the earth until that time: at that time thy people shall be delivered, even every one that is written in the book.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproach and everlasting shame.
Daniel 12:2 Brenton Septuagint Tran slation

Christ holds His priesthood permanently

The problem of the High Priests Annas and Caiaphas is no different than that pointed out by the author of the book of Hebrews.

And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25-27 LSB
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AND don't miss this about the necessity that the CHRIST should become the Perfect Sacrifice for our sins.
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For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

What must you do to be saved?

The Son-Man, JESUS (SAVIOR) Son WHO IS One with the Father and the Holy Spirit — Messiah [Christ] prophesied in Scripture IS the Very WORD of the LORD God!

THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY?

Good News!

Spurgeon on Lazarus and resurrection
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Charles Spurgeon, the renowned English preacher of the 19th century provides us with further thoughts about what happened to Lazarus and those who already had mourned over his death.
THOUGH HE WERE DEAD - 14 September, A.D. 1884, Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington G.B.
John 11:24-26
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- here is the comfort which we may each one safely take, namely, that when Jesus comes the dead shall live.
- Then we are also told that when Jesus comes, living believers shall not die. After the coming of Christ there shall be no more death for his people.
- Resurrection with Jesus is resurrection indeed. Life with Jesus is life indeed.
- I think that Jesus meant that even now His dead are alive. Again, even now his living do not die.
Beyond these few brief points of comfort for the bereaved Spurgeon continues with a notable Scriptural truth WE tend to avoid:

Methinks, first, this text plainly teaches that the Lord Jesus Christ is the life of his people.

We are dead by nature, and you can never produce life out of death: the essential elements are wanting..

.. The life of a Christian in its commencement is in Christ alone, not a fragment of it is from himself, and the continuance of that life is equally the same; Jesus is not only the resurrection to begin with, but the life to go on with.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The multitudes of Jerusalem loved Jesus’ teaching and loved Jesus’ humility. YET many who yearned to gather in the Temple REJECTED the greater love of a Savior willing to die on the Cross rather than life the life of a great teacher.

the resurrection and the life

Spurgeon pleas with those with ears to hear teaching on the power of Jesus raising Lazarus and what the Christian disciple must do:

“I tell you you must learn that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

Hearken to that great “I,” that infinite EGO! This must cover over and swallow up your little ego.

“I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

WHAT ARE YOU?

Less than nothing, and vanity; but over all springs up divine, all-sufficient personality, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

.. further [Spurgeon points out],

“he that believeth in Me”: that is it.

He does not say, “He that loves me.”

my Lord and my God!

The GOOD NEWS of the RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!

Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.”
Gospel of John 20:29 LSB

Alleluia!

Talk of JESUS . com

Christ IS Risen!

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
March 31, 2024