The Source of All Life
My life is a gift, because God created each of us out of nothing. I once existed only as an idea in my Creator’s heart. So did every person who ever breathed air on this planet.
But that’s not true of Jesus Christ. Our Savior, while appearing “merely human” bubbled over with divine life.
In him was life and that life was the light of all mankind (John 1:4 NIV).
This verse is both poetic and true.
As he walked the dusty roads of Palestine, Jesus’ divine life occasionally splashed the people around Him, miraculously healing blind eyes, paralyzed legs and withered hands. He even raised the dead.
Yet despite the miracles, many did not recognize who Jesus truly was.
Jesus’ Secret Identity
In the 1st chapter of John’s gospel, the apostle reveals that Jesus created all things.
This truth was later echoed by the apostle Paul.
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17 NIV)
Think about this; Jesus created every person He would later meet as a Jewish man.
He made Mary and Joseph, whom the Trinity chose to be his parents. He also created Zachariah, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Peter and His own earthly brother James. Even more startling, our Savior actively created the men who would eventually kill Him.
But all of these people had free will. They each made choices about what to do with this upstart rabbi.
Jesus’ secret identity as our Creator gives John’s words special meaning.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— (John 1:10-12 NIV)
Lazarus
One Sunday, my pastor asked everyone, “Why did Jesus call Lazarus by name?” I thought about it for a moment and then started to laugh. Because if Jesus had stood in a graveyard and said “Come out!” in that commanding voice, the graves would have emptied. All the dead would have stepped out to answer their Creator’s call.
Jesus’ words have great power.
Watch What You Say, Son
Jesus had to be careful about what He said and how He said it. ‘
Remember the fig tree? It withered because the Lord cursed it. This wasn’t an impatient, thoughtless act. If a fig tree has leaves it’s supposed to have figs. This tree didn’t.
To me, the most amazing thing is that the apostles didn’t feel any fear when they saw the wizened fig tree. They were so secure in Christ’s goodness—even Judas—that it never occurred to them to be scared.
They continued following a rabbi who could destroy a living tree just by speaking.
Aaron’s Budding Staff
In the Old Testament, the Israelites in the wilderness began challenging Moses and Aaron’s authority. Their own sin and disobedience had stranded them in the wilderness for 40 years. But instead of repenting, they blamed Moses. They even talked about returning to Egypt.
God put an end to the Israelites’ grumbling by causing Aaron’s rod to produce leaves, flowers and almonds in a single night ( Numbers 17). That’s the creative, life-giving power Jesus commands.
Our Lord speaks and life happens.
My Final Challenge
It’s time we meditated on Jesus’ secret identity.
Do you want to try an interesting experiment? Read a chunk of the gospels and substitute “the Creator” or “Almighty God” for Jesus’ name or any of his human titles.
I’m planning to do so all this week.
I hope doing this exercise enlarges my understanding of my Savior’s true divine nature.
All three images came from Pixabay.com.
Resources:
I liked all these images, so I created three memes instead of one. Feel free to share the meme you like the best.
My favorite? I love the “outer space light bulb” meme.
