Opportunity

 

The greatest opportunity of the year 2026

 

‘To know God, and to know Him more’

 

    “We know the Son of God has come

      And HE has given us understanding,

       So that we can know the true God”

                1 John 5:20

 

In nature we perceive an intelligent creator

 In Torah we learn about a relational YHWH (LORD)

   In Psalms we experience the mercies of God

    In Prophecies God unveils His providential care and         judgements.

But in Jesus we know the true God

-      Father relationship

-      Character of holiness and love

-      Love overflowing in grace to the unworthy

 

As we are in Jesus Christ the Lord by faith, so we continue to learn the unveilings of God the Father – in relationship, His sovereign interactions and interruptions, His eternal purpose to gather all things together in Christ.

A God who knows all, yet chooses to love.

A God who gives, pre-eminently in the sacrifice of His Son.

A God who destines believers to eternal glory.

 

So in 2026, the believer in the LORD Jesus Christ has security, identity, and value .

 

“We are in His Son, Jesus Christ.

He is the only true God

And He is eternal life”

1 John 5:20

Conversion experience

 

Title of Jesus

 

Prince of peace

What a beautiful title for our glorious LORD

Yesterday I was listening in person to Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Christians, groping around for peace at a rally here. Jesus Christ as the true source of peace was largely left out- definitely not honoured as He should be.

True peace begins with, peace with God, which then enables peace with others.

Peace with God is only possible through God’s Son, Jesus Christ the LORD. God stepped  into time and spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. Jesus a sacrifice sufficient to take away the offence of our sin, so that we can now know we have we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 3-5)

 

Primarily, the Holy Spirit is converting  hearts to trust and obey the Prince of peace (Jesus).

Secondly by the cross of Christ He is achieving peace between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2)..

The nations have some peace when Jesus is given His rightful place – usually by godly leaders (like Queen Elizabeth11). Real peace upon the earth will happen when Jesus returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Revelation 19). Before Jesus left earth, He promised many times that He would return in power and great glory.

His coming will incur final judgement on all unbelievers.

His coming will vindicate Himself and all who trust and love Him.

His coming will bring peace that will endure .

 

Peace was lost by the disobedience of Adam.

Peace can only be restored by the obedience of Christ

 ( see Romans 5)

And so as we focus on the shame of a ‘cross’, we can discover God at work, so that ‘He is our peace’

 

By the blood of the Lamb, He achieves our peace with God.

By the strength of the Lamb strife will be removed from the earth and true peace will reign.

Until He is given His true honour, peace will elude the sons of Adam.

 

Peace perfect peace

in this  dark world of sin

The blood of Jesus

 whispers peace within.

Father

 

Everlasting Father – Father of Eternity

A father is the origin and provider and protector.

Hebrews 1 puts it very clearly:

“The Son, He is appointed heir of all things, through whom He made the worlds – the ages.

Who being the brightness of God’s glory, the exact expression of God’s person , now upholds all things by the word of His power……”

 

………..enough to inspire worship, but there is more…..

“when He had by Himself made purification for our sins,

He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High.

 

Past eternity – He was foreordained as the Lamb of redemption (1 Peter 1:20)

Present era – He is the way back to the Father (John 14.6)

Future eternity – He will be the forever object of praise (Revelation 5)

Does this title conflict with “God the Father”?   - No   - It rather confirms the words of the Lord Jesus himself:

“He that hath seen Me, has seen the Father.”

”I and my father are one”  -- the character of the Father is so completely expressed in the teaching, words and actions of the Son, Jesus, well He could say “I and My Father are ONE”

 

I am so glad that the ages of the ages are in HIS care – when He will gather together in one , all things in Christ  (Ephesians 1.10)

God incarnate

 

Another Title of the Messiah – Isaiah 9

“Mighty God”

In my interactions with many cultures, many religions, the confusion about God is sad, but the insufficient designations they give to Jesus is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

The Bible narrative of the anticipated Messiah described His full deity.

Psalm 45:8 unto the Son he said “Your throne O God is forever and ever”  - quoted in Hebrews 1

Zechariah 13:7 A verse Jesus claimed for Himself (Luke 26:31) – “the man that is my fellow”

Psalm 110, Daniel 7 , Genesis 2

 

So when Jesus said God was His Father, they instantly accused Him of making Himself equal with God - and rightly so.

 

The Apostles were very clear about Him being the Son given, the Mighty God:

Thomas  -  My Lord and my God

Peter – Jesus Christ our God and Saviour

Paul  - He is God who rules over everything

John – The Word was God

 

In His choice to become humble at His appearing, He appeared less than Divine. Even the titles He used of Himself were the opposite to arrogant pride of a warrior or statesman. For example – son of man, servant, shepherd, friend of the outcasts etc.

But the glimpses of His Divine glory on selected occasions shone through: - on the holy mount, stilling the storm, raising the dead, rising to life after His death etc

 

As one with the Father He was and is the mighty God.

 

Ours is the privilege to heed the word of God (Deuteronomy 32, Hebrews 1)

“Let all the angels of God worship Him”  for He is worthy!

next title

 

'Counsellor'

This child that was born, grew,  learned, suffered and as the scriptures have said – He grew in wisdom and stature. Much more than knowledge, He had true sympathy and empathy in His humanity.

In the anointing of the Holy Spirit, His commission was to go forth and speak for God (The Prophet of Deut.18) and speak as God the Son. (John 3)

When He opened His mouth, there come to the people, in words they could understand, Divine wisdom, heavenly values, God honouring directives giving solid rock foundations for living life and arriving at the final destination.

Never man spoke like this man!

         Concise  - not info overload

         Precise  - exactly what was needed

         Powerful – none could contradict

The Sermon on the mount  has counselled millions of people throughout the last 2000 years.

 

His voice in Revelation 1 is likened to a sharp two edged sword. – counsel to repent  and counsel to believe.

As the great communicator (Alpha and Omega) and the great counsellor He brings to humanity the fullness of Grace and Truth.

 

John 5:24

“Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears My WORD and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life as will not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life.”

 

‘Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart’.

Title of Jesus

 

The Royal titles of the Messiah – Isaiah 9

 

“Wonderful” – the one who does wonders.

When Jesus stepped into public service for God, the people wondered at His healing power, they wondered at the authority by which He taught. The multitude wondered at His ability to feed five thousand from five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples wondered at His ability to still the storm and walk on water. Well we might sing -‘The wonder of sunset at evening’ – the wonder of Jesus the creator!

 

  But more than all this, the wonder of Him bringing people back to God – to pick up the pieces of broken humanity and by His wonderful grace - redeeming, restoring, reconciling , rapturing them into heaven itself.

  This word is the name of the angel that ascended in the flame of the alter – Judges 13 – they said “we have seen God” (Christophany) . And so it is the greatest wonder of all, that Jesus the child born, the Son given, ascended back into heaven by virtue of the sacrifice He made in His death. Well might we join with Thomas and say of the risen Jesus – “My Lord and my God”

 

One of the greatest joys of my life is to listen to the children at school sing this beautiful chorus

      Isn’t He wonderful,

      Wonderful, wonderful ,

Isn’t Jesus my Lord wonderful

Eyes have seen, ears have heard

It’s recorded in God’s word

Isn’t Jesus my Lord Wonderful.