Can you imagine reading the Gospel
narratives for the first time? If so, then I am sure one of the things
to impress you would be the tremendous claims made by Jesus Christ.
These claims aroused interest and opposition when uttered, and they
continue to do the same today. Did the disciples enter into the full
meaning of the opening sentence of John 14? There He said, "Ye believe
in God, believe also in Me," asserting:
I. Equality With God.
His enemies saw His meaning at once when He said, "Before Abraham
was, I am," and, "I and My Father are one" and promptly took up stones
to stone Him. At His arraignment before Pilate they said, "He ought to
die, because He made Himself the Son of God." A professional friend once
asked if I could show him one verse where Christ said He was God. He was
pointed to these and other passages in the New Testament, but he "was
not satisfied." He thought he knew God the Father, but how could he when
he would not recognize Christ as the Son? For Christ said He was
II. The Only One Who Could Reveal the Father.
In Luke 10:22 He said, "No man knoweth ... who the Father is, but the
Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him." This statement strikes at
the root of that false doctrine of "the Universal Fatherhood of God." It
also illumines those other sayings of Christ: "I am the Light of the
world"; "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the
Father, but by Me." These first two stupendous claims are contained in
one verse in the first chapter of John: "The only begotten Son, which is
in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." In the first
is established His deity; in the second He is seen as the Revealer of
the Father. And in our next point He claims
III. Power to Forgive Sins.
When Christ said, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mark 2:5, 7), His
enemies at once challenged Him, saying, "Who can forgive sins but God
only?" Their acute religious minds stated the matter accurately, and
with convincing power flashed the answer: "Arise ... and immediately
[the paralytic man] arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them
all." And for once they were amazed and glorified God. Thank God "that
through this Man (the crucified, dead, buried and risen Christ) is
preached unto you the forgiveness of sins" (Acts 13:38). Then we are led
a step further and find
IV. He Promises Rest to Those Who Come to Him.
"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Try and picture a Jewish peasant with arms
outspread, uttering these arresting words, words which have echoed round
the world, summoning myriads from the wrecks of humanity to the haven of
rest. In this passage we have a full Gospel of salvation, sanctification
and service—rest from an accusing conscience and rest in doing His will,
not only rest from the present but rest about the future, for Christ
said:
V. "I Am the Resurrection and the Life."
The Lord told Martha that He is not merely a human teacher of the
resurrection but the divine author of all resurrection, whether
spiritual or physical, and the root and fountain of all life. The Lord
first of all made a declaration concerning Himself: "I am the
Resurrection, and the Life" (John 11:25). And it is very plain, none
could use this language but One Who knew and felt that He was very God.
Then He declares there is resurrection for dead saints. "He that
believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever
liveth and believeth in Me shall never die." What a privilege to know
these things. The Savior in Whom we trust died and rose again. Then, He
distinctly asserted He was:
VI. The Fulfiller of Prophecy.
At the commencement of His ministry He said: "This day is this
Scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4:2 1). And after His
resurrection "He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning Himself." Who could reverently read Psalm 22 or Isaiah 53,
and the great crucifixion chapters, without admitting they refer to one
and the same Person? The Old Testament Scriptures were guarded by the
Jews, and yet they give minute details of the crucifixion of Messiah as
it actually took place. No sign was to be given to the unbelieving Jew
but that of the prophet Jonah. The Son of Man was to be three days and
three nights in the heart of the earth and then come forth. Is it not
strange, His enemies remembered this prediction whilst His disciples
forgot it? To conclude, we will look at the last claim made by the Lord
before His ascension, when He said:
VII. "All Power Is Given Unto Me in Heaven and in
Earth"
(Matt. 28:18). His power was demonstrated in the days of His flesh.
He raised the dead, cleansed the leper, gave sight to the blind and cast
out demons. He had power over the elements; He knew what was in the
heart of man; He predicted the future and also died and rose from the
dead. Unlike other powers which have arisen, His has never waned, but it
has changed the lives of countless numbers right down the ages and has
gone on increasing and glowing out to others through them. "The corn of
wheat" which died has brought forth fruit in every clime.
And what of His power in Heaven? This has been demonstrated by the
gift of the Holy Spirit as promised to His disciples. But its complete
fulfillment is yet future, when we shall hear that great paean of
praise: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Amen."
-The Witness, October 1932
Related Resources:
Can Jesus Christ Be Trusted?
Jesus Christ Is. . .
The Birth of Jesus : The Incarnation of God
Why Did Christ Die?
- Dr. A.C. Gaebelein, Mar-Apr 2002
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