Let me begin this week’s talk by saying that life on earth is short, even if we live for over a hundred years. After life on earth, we would live in eternity, either with God or with the devil. I used to think that when I die I will be judged based on the good things I did and because that good things I did are more than the bad, I will go to heaven. But now I know that we are not saved by the works we do; we are saved by grace. Salvation is a gift. It is mercy and favour which we do not deserve. God gives salvation to anybody who would believe that Jesus died for our sins, that we may have eternal life. For this reason, I urge you to consider your eternity and do something about it now. Do not let the things you are going through stop you from investing in eternity. You have to use your time, your talent and your money to do things that will make you to work for God by winning souls, praying for the lost and the sick, serving in a church by joining a department and giving for the work of the Kingdom. That is for the saved one who already know Jesus Christ and have started going to church. For you who is still an unbeliever, a sinner, the most important thing is to get saved by reconciling with God.
In Luke chapter 4 verses 21 – 23, we read: “And He began to say to them, today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. So all bore witness to Him and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’ And Jesus said unto them, ‘You will surely say unto Me this proverb, physician, heal thy self: whatever we heard done in Capernaum, do also here in your country.’ Then He said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.’”
“Is not this Joseph’s Son?” This is how some people still look at Jesus today. My prayer is that you receive a revelation of who Jesus is. Once, He asked the disciples: Who do men think I am? And they told Him some say you are John the Baptist, some say you are Elijah raised from the dead and others say you are a great prophet. Jesus asked them who do you say I am? Then Peter, by revelation, said you are Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus said to him: Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you.
Friends, it takes the Spirit to get a revelation of who Jesus is. My prayer is that in spite of religion and what you believe, the spirit of God will reveal to you who Jesus is. Jesus is more that the son of Joseph. He is the son of man, but most importantly, He is the Son of God. He became a man so that He will have the right to die, and His death would be the sacrifice for our sins. If He remained a spirit He would not have made that sacrificial death. But He had to take upon Him the form of man – flesh and blood. He had to be born of a woman. He had to take our nature, become like us. That is why He feels our pains. Our high priest, Jesus understands our frailties and our temptations. He understands everything we go through.
Jesus was not just the son of Joseph. He was the product of the coming together of the Holy Ghost and Mary. Unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given – Isaiah 9:6. Jesus was given by God. His people thought He was just Joseph’s son and they did not want to listen to Him. They were wrong. He is the Son of God.
You have to have the revelation that Peter had that Jesus is the messiah, the Son of the Living God and the redeemer of the whole world. When you know this in your spirit, then you accept Him as your Lord and Saviour and Master.
In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. He became flesh and dwelt among us. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:1 – 3)
Jesus is the Word. He was there in the beginning with the Father. He is God. This is the truth and it is a mystery. He told the people, “Before Abraham was; I am”. The people did not believe Him because they did not know who He was. They thought He was the son of Joseph.
I appeal to you to come of out of this thinking and embrace the revelation that Peter had; that this is the Messiah. Jesus is the One through whom you and I can be saved. There is no other one through whom we can have salvation and live with God in eternity. There is no short cut and no window. Jesus is the door. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the father except through me.” He is the savior, the messiah, the Christ and the Son of the Living God. It is through Him that we find hope. Through Him we have access to God and we are made one again with Him.
A prophet is without honour in his home town. They only saw Him as the son of Joseph; and they rejected Him. Do not be like that. Thank God that the door has been opened up to us gentiles that we car, accept Jesus as Lord and savior. Today, in spite of our sin we can go to Him and ask for mercy.
Salvation is the greatest miracle. God is a miracle working God. The greatest miracle is not blind eyes opening or the cripple walking or the deaf hearing. The greatest miracle is the miracle that will make a sinner become a saint; a man hate iniquity and love righteousness: God wants to work that miracle in your life now. If you are ready for this miracle of salvation by saying yes to Jesus, kindly say this prayer, meaning it from your heart. Heavenly Father, be merciful unto me, a sinner. Forgive me, Jesus. Come into my life. Be my Lord, be my savior and be my master. I believe that You died for me and on the third day you rose from the dead. I believe that You are seated at the right hand of God. You are coming back for me. I thank You Lord in Jesus name. Amen
NB: First published December 2013