THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. Once when Jesus and his disciples were in the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked them who public opinion considered him to be (Matt. 16:13-20). The report was mixed. One of the prophets in general, some were saying; others, a specific, particular prophet such as John the Baptist or Elijah. And what do the disciples think? Peter, then still known as Simon, replied for the group. "You are the Christ/Messiah, the Son of the Living God." Jesus responded by giving Simon the new name Petros, making a … [Read more...]
MESSIAH/CHRIST — ANOINTED
THE TWENTIETH DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. A gracEmail subscriber understands that the word "Christ" in the phrase "Jesus Christ" is a title and not Jesus' last name. She knows that "Christ" is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah, which means "anointed." Now she wonders whether first-century Jews in Palestine expected one specific Messiah at the End, or looked for several "anointed" ones. * * * It was widely held among the Jews of Jesus' day that God would anoint one or more special persons through whom he would vindicate his faithful … [Read more...]
MESSIAH A RISKY TITLE
THE SIXTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. A gracEmail subscriber has read that Jesus played down the fact that he was the Messiah, particularly in the beginning of his ministry, and especially in the Gospel of Mark. Can I make any helpful comment about that? * * * A close reading of the first three Gospels justifies the generalizations referred to in this subscriber's questions. Commentaries and other study books frequently refer to the "messianic secret" in Mark. Jesus' reasons for this secrecy are uncertain, but they probably include the fact that … [Read more...]
NOW FOREVER HUMAN
THE TWELFTH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR OF GRACE TWO THOUSAND AND FIFTEEN. A gracEmail subscriber heard someone explain Jesus' humanity as follows and requests my critique based on the Bible: (1) To rescue us from sin and death, a Savior had to be both human and divine. (2) Before he was born, Jesus was part of God in heaven. (3) In becoming Jesus, God put on humanity as if he were putting on a coat, but he never took off his deity. (4) Jesus lived, died, was raised from the dead, and ascended to heaven. (5) When he did those things, Jesus took off his humanity … [Read more...]
GracEmail special
THE ASSIGNMENT The first rays of morning gradually illumined the volcanic mountains before me, and the cobblestone streets of Antigua glowed softly beneath my feet. It was August 2007, and I was in this picturesque Guatemalan village on professional retreat with my employer, the Lanier Law Firm of Houston, Texas. During this early morning walk, I was asking God for a new assignment -- something he would enable me to do to bless others and to bring him honor. the answer Within hours, I began to sense an answer. I was to encourage some of God's people by writing a new commentary on Hebrews. … [Read more...]
A man like no other
The Greek word used of Jesus and translated "only-begotten" in the King James Version of John 3:16 is monogenes. This means that as son of God, Jesus is unique or one of a kind. He is also unique as a man. And how? Not in his physical appearance, we will see in this gracEmail, nor because he died, or even because he died by crucifixion. On a few subsequent Sundays we will explore some ways that Jesus is entirely unique, truly one of a kind, indeed a man like no other. Jesus did not stand out from others based on physical appearance (Isaiah 53:2). If we had visited first-century Nazareth on … [Read more...]
JESUS: NEW MAN FOR A NEW WORLD
Mama Cass Elliott sang the song and her words echoed the good news Jesus himself had preached. "There's a New World Coming / And it's just around the bend / There's a new world coming / This one's coming to an end" (Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing). Jesus called it "the kingdom of heaven," the new dimension of reality in which God will restore everything, redeem our bodies and liberate creation itself. These things are absolutely certain and, equally as certain, not yet. Even martyrs seeking justice cry "How long, O Lord, how long?" and must wait a little longer. To follow after Jesus is to … [Read more...]
JESUS, MESSIAH, CHRIST
A gracEmail subscriber asks the meaning of the words "Messiah" and "Christ," and why the Jews rejected Jesus when their prophets had foretold his coming. Part 1 The English word "Messiah" is spelled from the Hebrew word Meshiach which means "an anointed one." The English word "Christ" is spelled from the Greek word Christos, which means the same thing. In the Old Testament, prophets, priests and kings were "anointed" with oil as part of their ordination or coronation. This symbolized that they were God's appointed people, chosen by him for particular service and accountable to him for … [Read more...]
JESUS LEADS TO GOD
A gracEmail reader in England asks, "If Jesus calls himself the 'way' to the Father, then Jesus is the route and God his Father is the destination. Yet most Christian churches seem to focus on Jesus rather than on God. Is that really biblical?" * * * Christians believe the claims made by Jesus of Nazareth that the one and only living God was his Father in a unique sense which is true of no other human who ever lived. Jesus said that he came to earth from the Father and that he was going back to the Father (John 16:28). He insisted that whoever sees him sees the Father (John 14:8-9). He … [Read more...]
THE BEGINNING OF JESUS
A gracEmail subscriber asks: "Did Jesus Christ have a body before he became a man?" * * * Next door to me live Jesus, his wife and their son Jesus. Grandpa Jesus lives across the street. Although "Jesus" is a common Latino name it is rarely used among Anglos like myself. (Interestingly, both practices express the same intent, namely to show respect for Jesus Christ.) We therefore need to be reminded that the designation "Jesus Christ" includes both a name, "Jesus" (from the Hebrew "Yeshua," also translated "Joshua" in English), and a title, "Christ" (Greek for "The Anointed," or "Messiah" … [Read more...]