ADVENT - “Son of God”
Consider for a moment the absurdity that for centuries we’ve been celebrating the birth of someone who at the time arrived to no fanfare in a small farming village in the Middle East. Somehow, this individual who grew up and became a simple carpenter changed the course of human history. No one has had a more significant impact on shaping this world and culture than Jesus Christ. But, why Jesus? What makes Him so remarkable and why does His life bring us such hope as believers? What we do with Jesus matters. Before we begin, I want to provide space for you to pause and consider the impact an encounter with Jesus Christ has had on your life. Then, pray and thank God for the ways this relationship forms and shapes you. If you’re unsure of Jesus or don’t know how He fits into your life, pray that He makes Himself real to you.
Mixed and varied reactions rise to the surface whenever someone mentions His name. Seemingly, everyone has an opinion about Jesus. He was a radical teacher who spoke of moral principles like love, acceptance, and forgiveness in some people's eyes. Others picture Him as a cartoon character that is the legend of make-believe. The perspectives of Jesus run the gamut: good man, misguided soul, religious fanatic, or a complete hoax. Still, there are plenty of people who have concluded that Jesus was not only a man but also the Messiah, God Himself. These same rumblings were taking place while Jesus taught and healed people, which led Him one day to ask a thought provoking question to the disciples who gave up everything to follow Him. Let’s read Matthew 16:13-17:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”
For a moment, we want to back up and look at this individual who has influenced human history like no other. Why? Because if, after studying the life of Christ, we conclude that Jesus is a hoax or misguided, then it has implications. Author C.S. Lewis says that "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important." On the flip side, if we conclude that His life was real and His testimony backed up by the way He lived and died, then what He said should be the most important thing we've ever heard.
If God made us for Him, we would never find peace and fulfillment or experience a sense of significance and purpose until reconnection and restoration took place. At one time, distance separated us - there was no hope. But, Jesus reconciled us to that purpose through His death and resurrection - our sins no longer held against us. Jesus restored our relationship with God, and because of that, we can relate to Him better than we think we can. That is what Jesus came to do. His death on the cross forgave our sins, while the resurrection began the restoration process. Only Jesus is capable of washing our sinful hearts with His cleansing blood. Where chaos reigned due to sin, peace now exists. He reaches out His hands to move, shape, and cover our sin so He can forge His character into our lives.
We don't relate to facts; we connect to a person. So, what do we do with the life of Jesus? In every relationship, eventually things progress to a place where we have to define the relationship. Are we in, or are we out? We can no longer sit on the fence. The same is true when it comes to our walk with God. The time has come to define the relationship. Jesus leaves us with the same question He posed to Peter: Who do you say I am? A decision is required on our part, and the answer to this question changes everything about us.
REFLECT
Before we wrap up our time together, we want to provide you some space to respond to what we read and maybe to what God is trying to say to you. First, take a moment to process this question…How have you responded to the question Jesus asks: Who do you say I am?
Another question to consider is this… How is your response shaping the person you’re becoming?
PRAYER
Father God, thank you for Your Son. I know it is only through Him that I have a restored relationship with You. His love and sacrifice give me access to You. Because He conquered death, I have life. May I not take this precious gift for granted, but spend my days pointing others to You. Amen.