“But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you”. (John 10:26)
It’s December again, the festive month the world has set aside to mark the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though Christian tradition sets December as his month of birth Biblical scholars however dispute this asserting Christ was born sometime between April 1 and September 30, 4 BC.8.
Having set this background, it is important to point out that this text attempts to establish something more important than dates, but to establish the mystery of Jesus’ name, Emmanuel, meaning God is with us.
It is important for us to establish the divine and dual nature of Jesus because of some confusing beliefs that insist that Christ in person is not God in nature and in essence.
Emmanuel means Jesus (as God) took on human flesh and lived his life here on earth. He lived as God and a perfect man. He came to rescue us from sin and death and separation from God for eternity because He was our perfect sacrifice- the Messiah and the anointed One of God.
Why is it important to settle this dispute? Because if we go away with the belief that Jesus isn’t God by nature and in essence, but a mere agent of God we would have succeeded in denying the divine power and the essence of his work to save humanity from the tyranny of Satan.
It is also very important to understand why those who hold on to this belief refuse to acknowledge the truth about Jesus’ divinity.
As long as people come to Jesus in flesh and blood alone (reasoning and logic) and deny the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, they will not be able to process the efficacy and the power in the name of Jesus to heal and to deliver from all forms of demonic influences.
Those who hold on to this belief will also be more likely not to believe that Jesus is God in nature and essence. So this belief isn’t a coincidence but a faulty reasoning that is in a lock step with grievous unbelief.
Just as it took the Holy Spirit to reveal the true identity of Jesus as the Messiah to Peter at the prompting of Jesus, it will also take the Holy Spirit to reveal to men the divine identity and the endless possibilities in the name of Jesus.
Jesus is more than a historical figure to be analyzed by dates and logic.
When seen from the angle of the flesh and blood alone (reasoning and logic) it naturally beggars belief that God will come in human flesh to die for the sins of men: the flesh will abhor this type of revelation and consider it even abominable.
According to Herbert Lockyer, “that man should be made in God’s image was a wonder but that God should be made in man’s image is a greater wonder”. Many don’t have an issue believing that God made man in his own image but what they cannot accept is the fact that God became man to die for the sin of man.
In this regard God said in an earlier prophecy which applies to the coming of Jesus as God and man, saying: “ Look, you scoffers, and watch, and be utterly amazed, and perish; for I am working a work in your days which you will not believe, though it is told you”. (Habakkuk 1:5).
Let us examine more prophecies about the coming of God in human flesh as prophesied by Prophet Micah:
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”. (Micah 5:2).
Now we may ask: where was Jesus Christ born? Bethlehem! Who is the person whose going forth has been of old? The pre-incarnate Jesus who is God.
Also in Isaiah 7:14, the prophet Isaiah had written: “ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel”. Who was the virgin who conceived and gave birth? Mary! Who is Immanuel, Jesus?
Also in Isaiah 9:6, we read: “ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.
This mighty God, Everlasting Father is our Lord Jesus Christ as foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
When Jesus declared boldly that “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). It was a declaration his audience found audacious, the same way those who deny the deity and the enduring power in his name to heal and deliver find it incredulous.
Now, It is the mystery of a parable, and the mystery of God to hide what is plain from the eyes and the heart of the wise because of their unbelief, and because they chose to approach God in logic having denied the power of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 11:25).
Only the Holy Spirit can open spiritual blindness and cause men to see Jesus in the fullness of his glory, and not in partial glory as many currently see him.
As we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest gift to mankind, it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will continually pour forth the spirit of grace and supplication, to open our eyes, so that we may see Him in the fullness of his glory in the name of Jesus.
Reading
Matthew 16: 13-20
