|
The answer to this question is as inexhaustible as Christ Himself. Throughout His ministry, we know that He preached the gospel and performed miracles, but John tells us that Jesus did so many other things that, if written down, he supposed the world itself could hold all the books written (John 21:25). How many more books could be written on what it was like to see and hear exactly how He did these things—things that revealed His character and personality?
He wept at the site of Lazarus’ grave, but after raising him from the dead, what was his expression watching Mary and Martha reunite with their brother? What did His voice sound like when He calmed the storm? What was it about Christ that made the multitudes stay and listen to Him teach for hours at a time? Why did throngs of people follow Him for miles to his next stop? Did he hold his gaze on the Pharisees as he told the man in the synagogue to stretch out his withered hand? What was it that made parents bring their children to Him to bless? Why did the Pharisees say, “The world is gone after him”?
SHOW US THE FATHER
All these questions really fold into one, and it’s a question that each believer has to answer for himself: How well do I know Christ?
As believers, we should desire to know Him and to see him, which is why we understand Philip’s plea to the Lord, “Show us the Father.” But Jesus told Philip, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14:9).
About this verse Bible scholar H.R. Reynolds said, “He [Christ] is not known in His humanity until the divine personality flashes through Him on the eyes of faith.”1
Jesus is the personification of the Father. His actions, miracles, direction, persona, attitude, personality, and even His very essence are that of the Father. To see Jesus in action was to see the Father. To hear His messages was to hear the Father’s. In witnessing His opposition to the religious hierarchy of that day, the Father’s opposition could also be seen. When one saw salvation offered by the Son, one saw salvation offered by the Father. Jesus said it: “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).
HIS APPEARANCE
We wonder what Christ looked like, His physical appearance. We believe that Christ was the most handsome man who ever lived with a commanding presence. He was the consummate man—the only true man who has ever lived. There is a description supposedly written by a Roman official and contemporary of Christ’s. While the validity of what follows cannot be substantiated, apparently some artists have drawn their inspiration from it:
“There has appeared in our times, and there still lives, a man of great power (virtue), called Jesus Christ. The people call him prophet of truth; his disciples, son of God. He raises the dead, and heals infirmities. He is a man of medium size; he has a venerable aspect, and his beholders can both fear and love him. His hair is of the colour of the ripe hazel-nut, straight down to the ears, but below the ears wavy and curled, with a bluish and bright reflection, flowing over his shoulders. It is parted in two on the top of the head, after the pattern of the Nazarenes. His brow is smooth and very cheerful with a face without wrinkle or spot, embellished by a slightly reddish complexion. His nose and mouth are faultless. His beard is abundant, of the colour of his hair, not long, but divided at the chin. His aspect is simple and mature, his eyes are changeable and bright. He is terrible in his reprimands, sweet and amiable in his admonitions, cheerful without loss of gravity. He was never known to laugh, but often to weep. His stature is straight, his hands and arms beautiful to behold. His conversation is grave, infrequent, and modest. He is the most beautiful among the children of men.”2
MORE QUESTIONS
When Christ made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Bible says, “All the city was moved, saying, Who is this?” (Matt. 21:10). By the way, when it says the city “was moved,” that really means “to quake,” as in an earthquake. There must have been several thousands of people going before Christ and behind Him while exclaiming the great salutation, “Hosanna in the highest!”
When Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples asked, “What manner of man is this?” Their question can never be fully answered because such vocabulary is not possible. While He is a man, still, He is God and, as such, He has the power to do anything that is needed to save humanity, which He did two thousand years ago at Calvary’s cross.
Every so often, when my husband is ministering, he will name each book of the Bible, saying who Christ is throughout the entire Bible. We get so many requests for this list, that we decided to include it in this article for you to have and refer to (see list below) during this precious season as we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and continually wonder at who He is.
Who Is The Christ Of The Bible?
In Genesis, He is the Creator.
In Exodus, He is the Deliverer.
In Leviticus, He is the Sacrifice.
In Numbers, He is the Sanctuary.
In Deuteronomy, He is the Word.
In Joshua, He is the Victor.
In Judges, He is the Judge.
In Ruth, He is the Kinsman Redeemer.
In I and II Samuel, He is the Anointed One.
In I and II Kings, He is the King.
In I and II Chronicles, He is the Temple.
In Ezra, He is the Restoration.
In Nehemiah, He is the Wall.
In Esther, He is the Unseen but Guiding Hand.
In Job, He is Patience.
In Psalms, He is our Song.
In Proverbs, He is Wisdom.
In Ecclesiastes, He is the Preacher.
In Song of Solomon, He is the Groom.
In Isaiah, He is the Virgin-Born Son.
In Jeremiah, He is the Balm of Gilead.
In Lamentations, He is the Sorrowing Savior.
In Ezekiel, He is the Wheel in the middle of the Wheel.
In Daniel, He is the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace.
In Hosea, He is the Altar Call.
In Joel, He is the Promise of the Holy Spirit.
In Amos, He is Judgment.
In Obadiah, He is Vengeance.
In Jonah, He is the Presence of the Lord.
In Micah, He is the Ruler in Israel.
In Nahum, He is the Holiness of God.
In Habakkuk, He is the Vision.
In Zephaniah, He is the Day of the Lord.
In Haggai, He is the Lord of Hosts.
In Zechariah, He is Holiness unto the Lord.
In Malachi, He is the Son of Righteousness who arises with healing in His wings.
In Matthew, He is the King.
In Mark, He is the Servant.
In Luke, He is the Man.
In John, He is God.
In Acts, He is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit.
In Romans, He is Justification by Faith.
In I Corinthians, He is the Resurrection.
In II Corinthians, He is the Ministry of Reconciliation.
In Galatians, He is Faith.
In Ephesians, He is the One seated at the Father’s Right Hand.
In Philippians, He is the Exalted One.
In Colossians, He is the Head of the Church.
In I Thessalonians, He is the Rapture.
In II Thessalonians, He is Victor over the Man of Sin.
In I Timothy, He is Sound Doctrine.
In II Timothy, He is Power, Love, and a Sound Mind.
In Titus, He is the Pastor.
In Philemon, He is the Savior of slaves.
In Hebrews, He is a Better Covenant.
In James, He is the Healer.
In I Peter, He is Redemption.
In II Peter, He is All Things that pertain to Life and Godliness.
In I John, He is Love.
In II John, He is Love.
In III John, He is Love.
In Jude, He is the Common Salvation.
In Revelation, He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Jesus Christ is all in all—He is our everything!
¹ The Pulpit Commentary, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1897).
² https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_Lentulus.
|
