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.

The Son of God

 

“To us a Son is given” Isaiah 9

The Son is given – the most disputed truth across the planet. Most people of earth are happy to celebrate the child born. Millions reject the clear statement of this ancient prophecy.

 

   Jesus Himself said “I came down from heaven” (John 6:38). He referred to God as His Father (John 8:54) The Jews tried to stone Him for this. At the Jewish trial, the High priest asked Him the question –“Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?” His answer was “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power, and coming back on the clouds of heaven.”

 

   Gabriel put it very clearly to Mary : “He will be very great, and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32)

At His baptism a voice from heaven said to Him : “You are My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (Luke 3.22)

John, who knew Him better than most, wrote

“ The Father sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

 

Note please – the word son is different to child. A child has a beginning and matures in life influenced by DNA and circumstances. A son represents the father in character and function. An ambassador begins to represent the values and strength of a home country. Jesus was much more – as The Son He represented God the Father perfectly – as an image is pressed out of the reality. By learning Jesus Christ, we learn the personality, purity, passion, purposes of God.

      The prophets could only speak for God. This “Son given” spoke as God (John 3)

 

Psalm 2 presents the anticipated Messiah as God’s king, but also as “My Son”. Then the command is given : “Kiss the Son”.- this is the kiss of submission and adoration with bended knee.

What about the cross?  -   “God spared not His own Son but gave him up for us all” – Not only a lamb without spot or blemish (the child born), but the effective value of the sacrifice made was in the intrinsic worth of who He was – “the Son given”.

 

In the future:

“God has highly exalted HIM and bestowed on HIM the name which is above every name. So that at the name of Jesus , every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father.”  (Philippians 2)

 

We do well to spend time seeking to comprehend  who HE is, the Eternal Son of the Eternal God  and take our place at His feet:

“The Son of God loved me , and gave Himself for me.”  (Galatians 2)

Who is this Child

 

“For unto us a child is born”  Isaiah 9

 

Why did the Messiah not just appear as a man? – because God chose to reveal Himself in real humanity!

Previously it was the overflowing flood

it was devastating judgements in Egypt

it was lightening and thunder with fire at Sinai

it was in the shekinah glory – tabernacle and temple.

This prophecy predicts God stepping into humanity as a child!

 

This is the Son saying “here am I send Me”

This is Him who was rich, choosing to become poor!  (2 Corinthians 8)

This is the Redeemer stepping down to ‘take part of human life’ (Hebrews 2}

But why?  - to set an example for us?? – Yes (1 Peter 2) – so that we could follow His footsteps and be wholly dependant on God the Father like He was.

                He came as the last Adam, demonstrating submission  and obedience to God ( Romans 5) , in a relationship with God intended at the beginning. (Genesis 1)

                  He came to show what true communion with God was meant be. (Mark 1:35  14:36)

         But most important – it was in His undefiled humanity that He became the redeemer, the sacrificial lamb, the one choosing to taste death for everyone . (John 1, Hebrews 2).

The baby that could have excelled in every human skill, grew up in the humblest of beginnings, content to live in despised Nazareth, at age twelve chose to submit to Joseph and Mary, (even though He knew His true identity). He laboured as the carpenter’s son to be a tradesman instead of climbing the ladder of prominence. After His baptism He chose to serve God, by serving the people in Galilee of the Gentiles. By seeking to serve, rather than rule He sympathised with the people in their need, showing the shepherd heart of God.

 

At the appointed time, He gave His very life for peoples so undeserving.

That child born  perfect , lived a sinless life, was crucified and laid in a tomb misunderstood by all, - except by God. In God’s eyes, this child had become the Lamb of God, bearing away the sin of the world.

 

When men thought He was finished, God intervened and raised HIM from the dead, thus vindicating His claims to purity and deity. As the ascended man in heaven, He is holy, harmless and undefiled – a true man in heaven, the Saviour of all who believe in Him.

 

The WORD that became flesh had fulfilled the purpose of God so completely  that, then and now,  the promise is true:

“to as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become the children of God”. (John 1:12)

The true Identity of Jesus

 

A fisherman charged with telling the greatest message ever told.

“For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His coming again. We have seen the majestic splendour with our own eyes. He received honour and glory from God the Father when God’s glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven “this is My Beloved Son, I am fully pleased with Him.”

We ourselves heard the voice when we were there with Him on the holy mountain.”  2 Peter 1

 

So important:

1.  Revelation in history

2.  Multiple witnesses in real life experience

3.  Moses and Elijah although living, became insignificant

4.  The voice was not an angel, rather from God the Father

5.  Second time Jesus is proclaimed by God as “The Son”

 

   Such was the dazzle of the experience that it was the Holy Spirit who moved Simon Peter to highlight the deep significance of this time alone with Jesus the Lord . Not some philosophical brainwave, or religious trance or academic research. Rather this was God giving a brief interruption to make known the identity of Jesus and the future kingdom of glory that will yet be His.

 

    In the gospel record (Matthew 17,Mark 9, Luke 9), it is quite important to note, Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah about His impending death!  - so essential to bring multitudes into that heavenly kingdom.

 

   This past experience gives power to present service:

1       - Who it is we serve

2       – Assurance of Divine revelation

3       – Anticipation of the eternal kingdom of glory

4       – this heavenly declaration removes the mask from the many religions that refuse to give Jesus his true identity and honour

 

The appearance  - Jesus the Holy one witnessed to by Moses and Elijah in the presence of Peter, James and John

The Voice   - the unique one revealed by God the Father, as the Beloved Son.

 

Well might Thomas say  -  “My Lord and my God”  (John 20)