He is saying to them, "Now you, who are you saying that I am?" Now answering, Simon Peter said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Now, answering, Jesus said to him, "Happy are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood does not reveal it to you, but My Father who is in the heavens"
Matthews Account 16: 15-17, Concordant New Testament
Every year around this time I began to hear differing ideas of the identity of Jesus. Some people say that He was one of the greatest peace makers known to man, and they would be correct in saying so. Still others focus on the attributes of Jesus, such as His kindness, love and mercy. Again, they are correct in describing Him. But perhaps it is the disciple Simon Peter who said it best. Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God {Matthews Account 16:16}. Yet even Simon may have not been aware of the one true identity of Jesus. For, as Jesus once told His own disciples, "I and the Father, We are one" {Johns Account 10:30}. So it is that the infant in the manger which we celebrate each and every Christmas season is nothing more than the Father returning to be among His children once again. This is who Jesus truly is. As He has proclaimed, He does only what He sees the Father doing {Johns Account 5:19}. I believe that the true reason for the season is that the Father has once again restored that relationship which was lost in the garden {Genesis 3:22-24}. Through this infant lying in a manger, the Father will once again move among His children. As Jesus grows, the Father will experience that relationship which was once lost. As the angel has spoken to Joseph, "And they shall be calling His name 'Emmanuel' "Which is, being construed, God with us" {Mattews Account 1:23}. When we look upon Jesus, we see the Father. Yes, it is Christ Jesus who has given Himself for all {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. Yet it is also the Father who lives through Him. This is Jesus.
"I and the Father, We are one"
Johns Account 10:30, Concordant New Testament
Whenever someone asks me who it is that I think Jesus is, I ask them to look in the nearest mirror. Usually I get blank stares in response to this reply. So it is that too many so called believers are unaware of their true identity in the Father and Son. As Jesus has proclaimed, we live today in union with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. However, many Christians are barred from seeing this truth due to the traditional teachings of the mainstream church. Instead, we're taught that there has been a separation between God and His creation due to mans disobedience in the garden. As the Author J Preston Eby has written, our judgement has come and gone! We have been found guilty and redeemed by Jesus giving Himself willingly to the cross. Therefore, there is absolutely NOTHING which prevents Gods children from being in his presence. Through Christ, we have now been deemed spotless in the eyes of our heavenly Father. If you were to ask the Father for forgiveness of your sin, He may reply to you, "What sin, my child?" So it is that one of the basic fundamentals of Christian theology has been ignored. That being the sacrifice of Christ Jesus for the sin of all mankind. Jesus did not simply give himself for those sins of our past, but for our present and future as well. As the apostle Paul proclaims, Jesus has died to sin once for all time {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. That's it, He gave Himself once for the iniquities of all mankind. Therefore, I propose that we rethink what we see as the reason for the season. For the angels of the Lord have proclaimed the return of the Father to be among His children once again.
And Lo! A messenger of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of God shines about them, and they were afraid with a great fear. And the messenger said to them, "Fear not, for Lo! I am bringing you an evangel of great joy which will be for the entire people, for today was brought forth to you a Saviour, Who is Christ, the Lord"
Lukes Account 2: 9-11, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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