"It is
dangerous and sinful to rush into the unknown." (Proverbs 19:3, TLB)
“King
Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were
saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why
miraculous powers are at work in him." Others said, "He is Elijah." And
still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long
ago." But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has
been raised from the dead!" (Mark 6:14-16, NIV)
Observation:
I asked
myself the claims being made about Jesus.
-
John the Baptist has
been raised from the dead and that is why miraculous powers are at
work in him.
-
Others said, “He is
Elijah.”
-
And still others
claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.
People thought Jesus was either
John the Baptist, Elijah, or a prophet like one of the prophets of long
ago.
Interpretation:
I asked
myself why that is significant.
People were assuming things
about Jesus when He had become well known everywhere including in the
palace of Herod. This assumption made them think about people being
raised from the dead or people coming back from the past to explain
Jesus away.
Based on that faulty thinking
they made claims about Jesus that were not true. Jesus was not John the
Baptist; neither was He Elijah, neither like one of the prophets of long
ago. Jesus did so many things that no one person from the past did.
Implications:
I saw important implications for
my own life. What I think about Jesus will govern how I live my life and
what place Jesus has in my life. If my thinking is faulty, it will
affect my own Christian walk. If it is biblical then, there is
ammunition for me to use that thinking to live my life knowing what I
think about Jesus will help me through my life.
If I think Jesus was just like
John the Baptist, then there is no difference following Jesus or John,
the Baptist. However, Jesus was not John, the Baptist. John, the Baptist
claimed that the One who would come will baptize with fire while he only
baptized with water. The irony of using water and fire in the same
verse is very interesting for me. Jesus claimed to be the Living Water
and baptized with fire, the fire of the Holy Spirit.
If I think Jesus was Elijah, it
does not fit the facts of Jesus’ life.
If I think Jesus was a prophet
like the prophets of long ago, I am missing a major point. Jesus is seen
as a prophet by many but Jesus was more than a prophet. Jesus forgave
peoples' sins and then healed them. The teachers of the law knew only
God could forgive sin. Now, Jesus comes along and says,
“Son, your sins are forgiven”. Jesus was
claiming to be someone they all really do not grasp yet. He had His
timing so He kept the people from knowing a lot of things until the
desired time.
So, Jesus was not John, the
Baptist; nor Elijah; nor just one of the prophets like one of the
prophets of long ago.
Then, what
do I think about Jesus?
I think about Jesus, to be the
Author of my Life. This means He alone has sole copyright to my life. He
created me and He can choose what gifts, talents, etc He wants to put in
me. The blueprint for His creation of me is in Psalm 139. When people
read me and I am belonging to the Author of Life, they will come to know
the One who created me because my life will reflect the Creator if I
follow the Creator and do not decide to do a copyright infringement.
This also means to me that Jesus knows the beginning of my life and what
the final chapter and ending of my life would be. Since, He is the
Author of my Life, I need to remember whatever I am going through, Jesus
can help me through it whether it be in a career, academics, or a
relationship. Since, He is the Author of my Life, I can also depend on
Him for the Bride of my dreams and if He has chosen that person for me,
it will happen! I know He will provide and send the right person my way
in His timing. I need to rest in Him for ever facet of my life.
I think about Jesus, to be the
Bread of Life. This means Jesus will give me the spiritual food to go on
and live a healthy spiritual life. Just as we need food for our physical
body to be sustained, I need spiritual food to sustain my spiritual
life. Who better to give it to me than the Bread of Life.
I think about Jesus, to be my
Counselor. This means Jesus will counsel me through the day and night.
Through the darkest nights when pain can be like a knife of fire because
of things that have happened or not knowing for sure but waiting and
waiting on a decision relying on the Lord, He can counsel me and guide
me through. He counsels me through His Word, through dreams, and
circumstances in life that seem like signs from Him which include people
Jesus sends my way.
I think about Jesus, to be my
Deliverer. This means Jesus will deliver me from the enemy and his lies.
Jesus will deliver me from my confusion when I have it; Jesus will
deliver me from the times I am down and depressed; Jesus will deliver me
more than anything from sin because of the price He came to pay for me
as I pray and seek Him.
I think about Jesus, to be my
Everlasting Father. This means, Jesus is my Eternal Father who will
never change but be Everlasting. This means Jesus is the same yesterday,
today, and tomorrow. The miracles Jesus did then, I believe He can do
now too. This also means I am His child and as my Everlasting Father, He
knows who I should be with in marriage; He knows what I should be doing
career wise, and all aspects of my life and He can provide.
I think about Jesus, to be my
Friend. This means, Jesus is my Friend who never leaves me nor forsakes
me. Jesus is always there for me. Whatever the time or place, I can turn
to Him and talk to Him in prayer. I do not even need special words but
just talking to Him about what’s going on in my life. He is a Friend so
true. Jesus will comfort me in my times of sorrow and when I feel
lonely. Jesus will help me be a friend to others as He is my Friend as I
keep company with Jesus and learn from Him.
I think about Jesus to be my
Great Physician. This means Jesus is infinitely better than any earthly
physician. There are situations in our lives no earthly physician can
heal. Only the healing touch of the Great Physician can heal the scars
of life, certain dreaded diseases, scars of broken relationships, and
mostly the virus of sin that has infected all of us. Jesus will heal us
as we depend on His cleansing blood to wash us and clean us for our
healing. I believe that! His healing can come in miraculous and amazing
ways! I believe He will heal me in His timing of things I am going
through and bring me out better than where I started.
I think about Jesus to be my
Healer. This means Jesus heals my infirmities in His timing. I know He
already has healed me from so much in different areas of my life. There
is one area of my life that I need healing more than anything right now
and Jesus can be my Healer no matter what the final outcome would be.
I think about Jesus to be my
Inspiration. This means Jesus gives me inspiration to do so many things.
Jesus is my inspiration to share what I learn from Him with ya all.
Jesus is my inspiration to write songs, poems, and religious articles.
Jesus is my Inspiration to live for Him.
I think about Jesus to be my
Justice. This means Jesus will give me justice His way whatever I am
going through.
I think about Jesus to be my
King of Kings. This means Jesus is my King and the King of all kings of
the world. My allegiance should belong to the King of Kings foremost
before anyone here on earth. Jesus should be my first love and first
obedience too. My King help me please.
I think about Jesus to be my
Lord of lords. This means coming to the grips that when I asked Jesus
into my life, He did not want to just be my Savior but my Lord too. I
need to be obedient to Him in every area of my life whether it is
relationships which the Lord made us to be in whether they are with
family, friends, or future spouse. I need to give my hopes and dreams to
Him and be willing to follow. Making Jesus to be Lord of my life has
been the harder than making Him Savior of my life. Yet, there is no
Salvation without acknowledging the Lordship of Christ and what He wants
for our lives. This means I may have to give into things I do not want
to give in. This means I have to give up things I do not want to give
up. For my Lord and Personal Savior, Jesus Christ I need to do that when
He asks of me. Help me Lord Jesus!
I think about Jesus to be my
Messiah. This means He is the Chosen One for me and to take care of my
life. He will be my Deliverer!
I think about Jesus to be my
Nurture. This means I know that Jesus will feed me with His Word. I can
get all my spiritual nourishment from His Word and allow other areas to
supplement my personal time in growing with Jesus. These include
fellowships and church involvement. I have found more than anything it
is my personal Quiet Times with Jesus that have built me up and kept me
going. Especially, during times of trials and tribulations which have
been so painful, the nurture of Jesus is so powerful.
I think about Jesus to be my
Omnipotent One. This is means I know Jesus is all powerful and can make
things happen if He chooses. Nehemiah prayed that the Lord would speak
to the king’s heart and he would let Nehemiah go to Jerusalem to rebuild
the walls. After prayer and fasting for days that included praise,
petition, and pardon, because Nehemiah desperately wanted to go back and
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, the Lord softened the kings heart. In my
own life, I can seek the Lord for what I want and if He chooses He can
give what I want because He is Omnipotent. I also know because He is
Omnipotent, He sees way ahead into the future what I cannot even fathom
in my finiteness. I can rest in Him!
I think about Jesus to be my
Prince of Peace. This means I know Jesus will be my Prince of Peace. Oh
the Lord knows how much I have needed His peace these days. As I turn to
the Lord in my pain or confusion, He has given me His peace knowing He
will take care of the situations I am concerned about. I am reminded of
Jesus’ words that the peace He gives me will not be fragile like the
peace the world gives, so I do not have to be troubled or afraid. So, I
know if I have peace about a situation, no matter what obstacles or no
matter what others say to me, if it is His peace, it will not waver. I
can be confident in my Prince of Peace depending on Him knowing His
peace that surpasses all understanding will keep my heart quiet and at
rest as I trust in Him.
I think about Jesus to be my
Quickener! This means Jesus is the One who quickens me to do things in
line with His will. As I follow Him and seek Him daily, His will and
what He wants for me will become my desire. This is what I pray for!
I think about Jesus to be my
Redeemer. This means Jesus redeemed me from where I was and brought me
to where I am. His redemption is what has given me new life. Even now in
my pain, the Lord Jesus can redeem the situation in His timing. I know
this means His redemption for me in an area of my life may not be what I
expect it to be but it could be far better or it could be what I expect
it to be where I can still rejoice! Thank you Jesus!
I think about Jesus to be my
Savior! This means Jesus saves me and He alone. There is no other Name
in Heaven whereby men or women must be saved except the Name of Jesus.
He alone can save me and be my Savior. This also means He will be my
Savior from any brokenness, etc.
I think about Jesus to be my
Truth! This means Jesus will always speak the Truth in love to me. What
I may think is right for me when seen through the eyes of the Savior,
then the Truth would be pointed out. What I may think is not right for
me when seen through the eyes of the Lord, then too the Truth would be
pointed out. Mostly, His Truth about His Word and Salvation will be
pointed out in my life so all other facets can be based upon the
following of Scripture!
I think about Jesus to be my
Understanding. This means He understands me more than I will ever
understand myself. This means Jesus is soo understanding no matter how
many times I bring up a same situation to Him. Jesus knows a situation I
have brought to Him daily and continue to bring it to Him until He gives
me the peace and the answer one way or the other. I know He will confirm
His peace to me and His understanding for my life as I continue to seek
Him and wait upon Him!
I think about Jesus to be my
Valor! This means Jesus will be my braveness. Jesus will give me the
courage to go on in situations I feel sometimes I cannot move away from;
Jesus will help me face decisions that are so hard for me to face; and
more than anything Jesus will shine His love upon my life and let me
know if He is my Valor, there is nothing I should really be fearful
about, for He will take care of everything for my good in His timing!
I think about Jesus to be the
Word. This means Jesus has been there from the beginning of creation. In
the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was
God. All things were made through Him and nothing was made that has not
been made. The Light shines through the darkness and the darkness cannot
ever extinguish it. The Word became humanity and dwelt among us. Jesus
became God-incarnate to live among us and give us His Word. I can depend
on His Word to get me through. I can depend on the promises of the Lord
to get me through my pain and have His peace for 'the pain of a
situation' creeps up at certain times of each day more than at other
times.
Two days ago a student came up
to me and gave me a Scripture verse at work out of the blue. Amazingly,
I needed that verse that day which I had forgotten for a while.
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If
God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son,
but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him,
graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32, NIV)
I think about Jesus to be my
Xcitement! This means with Jesus, I can have an exciting life no matter
what pain I may be feeling. For Jesus promises, I have come to give
Abundant Life with an emphasis on Abundant. Walking and talking with
Jesus can be so exciting as I think about the things Jesus has already
done in my life and will continue to do.
I think about Jesus to be the
One to take me to Zion. This means Jesus will be the One to give me
entrance to Zion when the Father’s timing has come. In that day, I will
be with Jesus in Zion and that is exciting to know.
More than anything whatever I
think about Jesus is dependent on me wearing the Armor of God so I am
not defeated by Satan and his demonic influences.
I ask you
now dear friend, what do you think about Jesus.
Dear friend, whatever you think
about Jesus can either continue to build your faith up or hurt your
faith. Whatever you think about Jesus, base it on the Word of God and
not on your own perceptions of Jesus, your assumptions about Jesus, or
suppositions about Jesus based on other people’s remarks etc. This is
what the people of that day were doing including in the palace of Herod.
What I think about Jesus can be
substantiated by the Word of God and through my own experiences of
experiencing Jesus in my own life. What is so cool is the dream I got
where I saw Jesus in my dream coming up the mountain wearing all white.
It was so exciting and after I woke up the words of Jesus,
"Do not be afraid, just believe" kept
resonating in me. Whenever I feel down I keep claiming God's promises.
Whatever I think about Jesus,
you can think about Jesus too for it is biblical. You can also think
about Jesus in other ways that I have not even used from A-Z. Your list
can be totally different from mine and yet to be Truth when it is taken
from Scripture. More than anything wearing the Armor of God everyday
will tell people what you think about Jesus.
I want to share with you a poem
the Lord helped me to write and think about called "Bible Academy II:
Armor of God" that I wrote for a class years ago.
BIBLE ACADEMY II: ARMOR OF
GOD
By Ramesh C. Reddy
Bible Academy is students
submitting
to the Lord,
Where the
Lord lightens
students
souls
like
lively sun
shines on
foggy, frosty dull day.
Bible
Academy is students
acquiring
Armor of God,
Where
Armor of God
avenges
sinister Satan
like cops
clothing
counterattacks crooked criminals.
Bible
Academy is students
using
Armor of God
Where
Armor of God
consists
of various weapons
like
strong belt, shield, and sword
that scare
viscious villians.
Bible
Academy is students
swinging
brawny belts
Which is
God's Truth
defeating
devious, Devil's lies
like Kung
Fu's Karate Black Belt
blast
ominous offenders.
Bible
Academy is students
wearing
strong shield
Which is
Faith in God
protecting
against Devils doings
like cops
bullet-proof vest
blocks
blazing bullets of menacing mob.
Bible
Academy is students
using
ultimate shinny sword
Which is
the Word of God
working to
slaughter Satan's stronghold
like
police's pistols work to
wither
wicked murdering mafia.
Bible
Academy is students
knowing
all about searching Scriptures
Where Holy
Scriptures
strengthen
students souls
like cool,
wintry water
tends
thirsty tongue.
May you come to know, truthfully
Healer is nurturing King! Amen!
“Truthfully Healer Is Nurturing King!” (T.H.I.N.K)/”What
do you think about Jesus?”
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, you are my Author of Life, Bread of Life, Counselor,
Deliverer. Everlasting Father, Friend, Great Physician, Healer,
Inspiration, Justice, King of Kings, Lord of lords, Messiah, Nurture,
Omnipotent One, Prince of Peace, Quickener, Redeemer, Savior, Truth,
Understanding, Valor, Word, Xcitement, and the One who will take me to
Zion. Thank you so much Jesus. You know what we go through in our lives.
Sometimes the pain can be like a knife of fire being thrust into the
heart. Yet, you know all our pain and confusion. You know when we sit or
stand, when we are troubled and whatever we are facing. Please Jesus
come and help us and give us your peace which will never waver in
different situations of our lives. We thank you that you are a Lord of
confirmation and have confirmed so many things to so many people
throughout history. Confirm decisions for us and when we know it is from
you, we can move on in peace knowing that peace will not waver in our
lives. I need you Jesus and we all do. Thank you we can think about you
based on who you really are and not what people make you out to be.
Thank you for your Word. We trust in thee Oh Lord for how you provide
for us. Thank you for dying for our sin and coming back to life to save
us. We give our lives to you! Thank you for hearing my prayer and
answering me. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
If
you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a
daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be
alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them
come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to
wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as
you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I am a sinner Lord. I am so sorry for
my sins. I confess my sins to you. I confess the wrong things I have
done and messed up my own life. I need you Lord right now and in the
years to come. I have gone my own way and have not found what only you
can give me. You alone have the words of Eternal Life. You alone love me
unconditionally for who I am. I thank you Jesus. I accept you Jesus into
my heart. Thanks Jesus for coming into my heart. Thanks for forgiving me
of all my sins. Thanks for giving me a new identity in you. I
acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior as I believe in my heart
that you died and came back to life to save me now and forever. I give
myself to you and ask you to be in control of my life. Thank you Jesus
through the days, we can do things together. Thanks for being my
Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and
answered me. Thanks Jesus for changing me and helping me through life's
storms and winds. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
(You can start your Christian adventure by reading the Gospel of John)
