A PORTRAIT OF JESUS

It's the time of year when even those who are not Christians give pause and reflect on who Jesus is. Most of us can come up with many 'titles' that have been assigned to Him. . .Son of God, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Savior, King of Kings, Lord of Lords...and so on. Can you add a few of your own?

I've discovered that many believers are not able to Biblically describe the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the heart of our faith; without Him, we have no faith, no hope.

I've discovered how important it is to learn a few verses that will make Him come alive to yourself and others. The Bible does not give a vague description; it gives us one that is precise and detailed. The following quotes are from the NIV Bible.

John 1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life and that life was the light of men." vs. 1 - 4

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
John 1:14

These verses clearly state that Jesus was with God in the beginning and He is a part of the triune God. . .Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and most significant, He became "flesh" and dwelled here on earth.

Colossians 1:15 - "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."

When we look at ourselves in a mirror, what we see is our image; that's you. This passage goes on to teach that all things were created by Him and for Him, and in Him all things hold together. These words can only describe God; no one else can fit this description.

Hebrews 1:3 - "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word."

Note these words, "the exact representation of his being." This means Jesus and God are One in the same.

Philippians 2:6 - 7 "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

We learn from this passage that He had the appearance of a man and humbled Himself - even to dying on the cross. Do you know that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord?

Learn where these verses are in your Bible. You don't need to memorize them, just remember - John 1, Colossians 1, Hebrews 1 and Philippians 2.

I hope you will be blessed during this most holy of holidays and that Jesus, God in the flesh, will be the focus of your celebration.

Thank you Lord for coming to earth as a man, dying on a cross to pay for my sins and to make me acceptable to God the Father with whom I will dwell eternally in heaven, my real home.