Ukiulizwa swali hapo juu, jibu lako litakuwa nini? Kuna watu wengi katika ulimwengu huu wanaomjua Yesu. Lakini kuna tofauti kubwa sana kati ya kumjua mtu na kumjua mtu huyo kwa ukaribu. Sio kila mtu anayedai kuwa Mkristo anamjua Yesu kweli. Je, wewe ni Mkristo anayejua juu ya Yesu, au unatembea, unazungumza na kushirikiana kila siku kwa njia ya karibu na Mwokozi wako Mpendwa, Bwana Arusi na Rafiki? Huu ndio aina ya uhusiano ambao mfuasi wa kweli wa Yesu atakuwa nao. 

Mtume Paulo alikuwa mmoja ambaye kweli alimjua Yesu. Mtazamo wake daima ulikuwa kwenye Upendo huu mkubwa wa maisha yake. Katika 1 Kor. 2:2 Paulo asema, “Kwa maana niliamua kutojua neno lo lote nilipokuwa pamoja nanyi, isipokuwa Yesu Kristo, naye aliyesulubiwa.” Paulo hakuridhika na ujuzi wa juu juu tu wa Yesu kama Wakristo wengi wanavyoridhika. Alisema tena katika Wafilipi 3:10, “Nataka nimjue Kristo, na uweza wa kufufuka kwake, na ushirika wa mateso yake, nifanane naye katika kufa kwake...” Kwa hakika, Paulo alikuwa na uhusiano wa ajabu na wa karibu sana. Mola na Mwokozi wake. 

Wengi wana ujuzi wa Yesu kulingana na mapokeo ya mafundisho ya makanisa yao. Kwa hili tunamaanisha kwamba wengi wanamjua Yesu tu kwa yale ambayo wengine, babu na nyanya zao, wazazi au wahudumu wamewaambia. Historia inaonyesha kwamba mapokeo ya kidini yana njia ya kujiendesha yenyewe. Bwana Yesu aliwaonya Mafarisayo kwamba mapokeo yao yalikuwa yamechukua nafasi ya amri za Mungu (Mt. 15:6-9). Sio tofauti leo. Kwa wengine, ufahamu wa mtu na kazi ya Kristo unachujwa kupitia mapokeo ya kimadhehebu, kijamii, kitaifa, rangi na kikabila badala ya taarifa za moja kwa moja za neno la Mungu katika injili. Hilo mara nyingi linatoa picha potovu ya Yesu ni nani kwa wafuasi wake. Hata Mkristo anayetafuta kwa bidii, bila msingi thabiti wa Maandiko tunaweza “kutupwa huku na huku na kila upepo wa elimu” (Efe, 4:14) na kuja kushikilia dhana potofu, yenye mwelekeo wa hekaya kuhusu Mwokozi wetu wa thamani na ujuzi mdogo ukweli na matukio. Je, umewahi kuhisi kuwa uko katika hali hii? Ikiwa ndivyo, jambo bora zaidi la kufanya ni kusafisha akili zetu kila jambo tulilojifunza na kuanza upya kwa njia safi, kwa kwenda kwenye Biblia ili kupata habari kamili juu ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo, kwa maana ni lazima tujifunze juu yake kabla ya kuja ukaribu naye. Tutaanza katika Injili nne za Agano Jipya. 

Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo alikuwa nani? Vitabu vingi vimeandikwa kuhusu maisha ya Bwana wetu; kwa hivyo, sio kusudi letu kuongeza moja zaidi kwa nyingi. Katika somo hili tutazingatia nafsi yake, ofisi zake, unabii wake na mafundisho yake. Huu ni utaratibu mkubwa, lakini tutakuwa mfupi bila kuacha habari muhimu, ili tuweze kumpa kila mwanafunzi mambo ya hakika ambayo kwayo angeweza kuweka msingi thabiti wa imani na ujuzi wake.

Kulingana na Maandiko na ushuhuda wa Yesu mwenyewe, Bwana wetu ndiye aliyekuwa uumbaji wa moja kwa moja wa Mungu na Baba yake. Malaika wanaitwa “wana wa Mungu,” na Adamu, katika ukamilifu wake aliitwa pia “mwana;” lakini Yesu pekee, anayejulikana kuwa Logos katika kuwako kwake kabla ya kuwa mwanadamu, ndiye aliyekuwa “Mwana pekee” wa Mungu. Hatuambiwi wakati Logos “alipozaliwa,” lakini lazima iwe imepita maelfu ya miaka kabla ya uumbaji mwingine kutokea. Katika kuthibitisha hilo tunasoma katika Wakolosai 1:15-17, “Yeye ni mfano wa Mungu asiyeonekana, mzaliwa wa kwanza wa viumbe vyote. Kwa kuwa katika yeye vitu vyote viliumbwa, vilivyo mbinguni na vilivyo juu ya nchi, vinavyoonekana na visivyoonekana, ikiwa ni viti vya enzi au uweza au watawala au mamlaka; vitu vyote viliumbwa na yeye na kwa ajili yake. Yeye amekuwako kabla ya vitu vyote, na vitu vyote hushikana katika yeye.” Tazama pia Waebrania 1:1-9, Yohana 1:10 na Mithali 8:22-36, ambamo Bwana wetu anajinena mwenyewe chini ya jina la “Hekima.” Hakika, yeye ni “hekima ya Mungu,” kama Paulo anavyotuambia katika 1 Wakorintho 1:24 . 

Katika Ulimwengu wa Mbinguni, fahari, utukufu na uzuri wa “Mwana wa pekee” wa Mungu lazima viwe ni kitu cha kutazama, kwa kuwa alikuwa mkuu kuliko malaika, malaika wakuu, maserafi au makerubi; na kwa Lusifa pia, ambaye maelezo yake katika uumbaji wake yameonyeshwa kwa uzuri sana katika Ezekieli 28:13-15. Kufuatia anguko la mwanadamu katika dhambi na mauti (Mwanzo 3:1-19), kwa wakati ufaao Mungu alimtuma Mwanawe Mpendwa duniani ili awe Mwokozi na Mkombozi wa mwanadamu. Kwa kuwa Mungu anajua mwisho tangu mwanzo, alikuwa amepanga Bwana wetu achukue hatua hii nyuma “kabla ya kuwekwa misingi ya ulimwengu.” Tazama 1 Petro 1:20. 

Tunaambiwa kwamba Logos “alijiondolea nafsi yake” utukufu, heshima na ukuu wote aliokuwa nao mbinguni, na kupitia nguvu za Roho Mtakatifu, uhai wake ukahamishiwa katika tumbo la uzazi la bikira Mariamu. Kwa njia hiyo Yesu angeweza kuzaliwa akiwa mwanadamu mkamilifu, bila kuchafuliwa na dhambi na kutokamilika kama wanadamu wote walivyo. Akiwa na Mungu kwa ajili ya Baba Yake na Mariamu kwa ajili ya mama Yake, kwa hiyo alikuwa kweli “Mwana wa Mungu” na bado “Mwana wa Adamu” kikweli (kupitia Mariamu). Alizaliwa “mtakatifu, asiye na madhara, asiye na unajisi na aliyejitenga na wenye dhambi” (Waebrania 7:26). 

Mpango wa Mungu kwa ajili ya kumkomboa Adamu na jamii yote ya wanadamu ulikuwa kwa ajili ya mwanadamu mkamilifu, mwenye kutii katika mambo yote, kutoa uhai wake kwa hiari badala ya uhai uliopotea wa Adamu, “uhai kwa uhai,” na hivyo kutosheleza Haki ya Kimungu wakati huo huo kununua jamii yote ya wanadamu. Mtume Paulo anatuambia katika 1 Wakorintho 15:22, “Kwa maana kama katika Adamu wote wanakufa, vivyo hivyo katika Kristo wote watahuishwa.” Wakati wa Kurudi kwa Yesu Mara ya Pili na kurudi katika dunia hii, atairudisha kwenye ukamilifu uliopotea Adamu alipofanya dhambi. Mpango wa Upendo wa Mungu ni wa ajabu kweli! Tafadhali soma Matendo 3:19-21; Luka 19:10. 

Kuzaliwa kwa unyenyekevu kwa Bwana wetu, katika mji mdogo wa Bethlehemu, kulikaziwa na tangazo la malaika kwa wachungaji na wimbo wa kiunabii wa malaika wakati kwa wakati ufaao wanadamu watatoa “Utukufu kwa Mungu Aliye Juu Zaidi, (na ndipo kutakuwapo) amani duniani na nia njema miongoni mwa wanadamu.” Tazama Luka 2:8-20. Tukio hili lilifuatiwa na ziara ya Mamajusi muda fulani baadaye, wakiwa na zawadi zao kwa Mtoto Mtakatifu za dhahabu, ubani na manemane. Tazama Mat. 2:11. 

Vijana wa Bwana wetu katika mji wa Nazareti wa Galilaya lazima walikuwa sawa na wavulana wengine wa umri wake, na tofauti kwamba alijiweka safi na alikuwa mtiifu kwa Yusufu na mama yake Mariamu. Isipokuwa kwa ziara ya Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya sikukuu ya kila mwaka ya Pasaka ( Luka 2:41-52 ) alipokuwa na umri wa miaka 12, hakuna kinachojulikana kuhusu utoto na ujana wake isipokuwa kwamba “...Yesu akakua katika hekima na kimo, na kwa kupendwa na Mungu na wanadamu” (Luka 2:52). Yesu alijifunza kwamba ni lazima arudi nyumbani pamoja na Maria na Yosefu na kuwatii hadi alipokuwa na umri wa miaka 30. 

Alipokuwa karibu kuwa na umri wa miaka thelathini (Luka 3:23), alitoka Nazareti na kwenda Yudea ili abatizwe na Yohana Mbatizaji katika Mto Yordani. Huu ulikuwa mwanzo wa huduma yake ambayo ingedumu miaka mitatu na nusu. Wakati wa ubatizo wake, alipokuwa akitoka majini, mbingu zilifunguka na Roho wa Mungu akashuka juu yake kama njiwa, na sauti kutoka mbinguni ikasema, “Huyu ni Mwanangu, Mpendwa wangu, ninayependezwa naye.” (Mt. 3:16, 17). Ilikuwa ni wakati huu ambapo Bwana wetu alijazwa na Roho wa Mungu, na akaenda nyikani kwa muda wa siku arobaini ili kuwa na Baba yake katika kutafakari na huko alishinda majaribu matatu ya Shetani. 

Mola wetu alikuwa na huruma kwa umati wa watu masikini, na akawasaidia kwa kuwaponya magonjwa yao, kuwafukuza pepo wachafu, kuwafundisha ipasavyo, na mara kadhaa kuwalisha na hata kuwafufua wafu. Miujiza yake ya uponyaji ilipaswa kuwa kwa viongozi wa kidini wa wakati huo ishara za hakika za Umesiya na Uwana wake, na pia hakikisho la yale yatakayotimizwa kwa wanadamu wote wakati Yesu atakaporudi kuwa Mtawala na Mfalme wa ulimwengu wote. kusimamishwa kwa Ufalme wa Mungu duniani. Tazama Isaya 35:5-7 na Ufu. 21:4. 

Bwana wetu ameitwa kwa haki Tabibu Mkuu. Bado yuko leo, ingawa si mara zote wanafunzi wake wanaponywa kimwili. Bwana anajua kile kila mmoja wetu anahitaji, na atatawala kwa maslahi yetu ya juu zaidi ya kiroho. Mwanafunzi wa kweli ataacha chaguo la uponyaji kwake kila wakati. Yesu ametuahidi mambo mengi, yaani, uhuru kutoka kwa wasiwasi, woga, na dhambi tunapomtazama kwa bidii. Tunapomtumaini kabisa na kutii amri zake, yeye pia ametuahidi ushindi wake. Yeye ndiye “mwanzilishi na mwenye kutimiza imani yetu” (Waebrania 12:2). 

Yesu ni yule yule Mchungaji mwenye huruma, mwororo, na mwenye upendo anayewatunza kondoo wake. Kwa kuwa alitoa uhai wake kwa hiari kwa ajili ya kondoo wake, tunaweza kujua kwamba atafanya yote tunayoweza kutaka au kuhitaji, kulingana na imani na tumaini letu kwake. Atatusikia sikuzote, na ‘tukiomba kulingana na mapenzi yake,’ tukiamini kikamili, tunaweza kuwa na uhakika kwamba maombi yetu yatajibiwa kwa wakati ufaao na kwa njia ifaayo. Tazama Mat. 7:7; 21:22; Yohana 14:13,14; 15:7,16. Ni Mchungaji na Mwokozi wa thamani kama nini wetu! 

Bwana wetu Yesu ndiye pia Mwalimu Mkuu zaidi ambaye ulimwengu haujawahi kumwona! Si ajabu kwamba wanafunzi wake na pia umati walimtaja kuwa Mwalimu! Mahubiri yake ya Mlimani hayana kifani katika usafi, uzuri, hekima na ukweli wake (Mathayo 5-7). Aliwafundisha wanafunzi wake jinsi ya kumwabudu Mungu ( Yohana 4:23, 24 ); jinsi ya kusali ( Mt. 6:9-13; 26:41; Mk. 1:35 ); jinsi ya kusamehe ( Mt. 6:14, 15; 18:35; Luka 17:3, 4; 23:34 ); jinsi ya kuwa na upendo ( Yohana 13:34, 35; 14:15; 15:12; 19:26, 27 ); jinsi ya kutokuwa na wasiwasi au wasiwasi (Mt. 6:25-34). Walakini, hakuwahi kujidai yeye mwenyewe. Sikuzote alitoa sifa na utukufu kwa Mungu kama Chanzo cha vitu vyote ( Mt. 11:27; Lk. 10:22; Yoh. 3:35; 5:20, 30 ). “Kwa maana sikunena kwa nafsi yangu; lakini Baba aliyenipeleka, ndiye aliyeniamuru niseme nini na niseme nini” (Yohana 12:49). 

Kwa maelfu ya miaka, mkate umeitwa wafanyakazi wa maisha. Hata leo katika nchi nyingi, mkate ndio chakula kikuu, chakula kikuu cha kudumisha uhai. Bwana wetu alikazia uhitaji wetu wa kiroho kwake aliposema kwamba yeye ndiye “mkate wa uzima.” Kama vile tunavyohitaji mkate halisi kwa mahitaji na riziki ya miili yetu, ndivyo tunavyohitaji mkate wa kiroho kwa ukuaji wetu wa kiroho. Wakati mmoja Bwana wetu alisema kwamba “mtu haishi kwa mkate tu, bali kwa kila neno litokalo katika kinywa cha Mungu” (Mt. 4:4). Alisema kwa uwazi, “Mimi ndimi mkate wa uzima...hiki ndicho chakula kishukacho kutoka mbinguni (makao yake ya kwanza)...mtu akila mkate huu ataishi milele (si katika maisha haya ya sasa, bali baada ya ufufuo); na mkate nitakaotoa ni mwili wangu (aliyefanya alipokufa Msalabani) nitautoa kwa ajili ya uzima wa ulimwengu” (Yohana 6:48-51). 

Yesu alifanya hivyo kwa njia ya mfano wakati wa Mlo wa Jioni wa Mwisho, alipomega mkate vipande-vipande na kuwaambia wanafunzi wake, “Chukueni, mle: huu ndio mwili wangu, unaomegwa kwa ajili yenu; fanyeni hivi kwa ukumbusho wangu.” ( 1 Wakorintho 11:24 - KJV). Siku iliyofuata, alitoa kihalisi mwili wake (maisha yake) akiwa ananing'inia kwenye Msalaba huo wa kikatili wa Kalvari kwa ajili yako na mimi (Mt. 27:32-55). Sisi, kama wanafunzi wake, tuna pendeleo la “kula” “mkate” huu kila siku ya maisha yetu kwa kujifunza, kutafakari, sala, na ushirika pamoja na Bwana wetu Yesu.

Yesu ndiye “mlango” wa uzima wa milele. Yeye ndiye njia pekee ya kuingia kwa Baba. Mlango huu wa uzima wa milele ulikuwa umefungwa tangu anguko la Adamu, kufuatia hukumu ya kifo kwa wanadamu wote. Kwa kuja kwake alifungua mlango huu “kwa kila aaminiye,” mlango wa uzima wa milele. Tunapaswa kutambua hapa kwamba BWANA alishughulika kwa njia tofauti na Mashujaa wa kale wa Imani ambao wameorodheshwa katika Waebrania 11. Imani yao katika Baba na katika kile ambacho kilikuwa bado kinakuja “ilihesabiwa kwao kuwa haki.” Tunaambiwa na Yesu kwamba “Abrahamu aliiona siku yangu na akafurahi.” Na kuhusu Musa tunaambiwa katika Waebrania 11:25-26, “....akaona afadhali kuteswa pamoja na watu wa Mungu, kuliko kujifurahisha katika dhambi kwa kitambo; akihesabu kushutumiwa kwake Kristo kuwa ni utajiri mkuu kuliko hazina za Misri; maana aliyatazamia malipo ya thawabu.” (KJV) 

Tunapaswa pia kumwendea Yesu, chanzo pekee cha uzima, tugonge mlango huu, na tunapofunguliwa, tutembee katika utimilifu wa imani. Ulimwengu unatupa milango mingi. Kila dini ya kipagani ina mlango wake, na hata pamoja na Wakristo wengine, Mariamu na watakatifu wametolewa kama milango ya kupata kibali na uzima. Lakini Mola wetu alitangaza kwa uwazi kabisa kwamba yeye ndiye mlango pekee. Milango mingine haipeleki popote; wao ni wazimu tu. Ni Yesu pekee angeweza kusema kwa ukweli, “ Mimi ndimi Njia, na Kweli na Uzima: mtu haji kwa Baba ila kwa njia ya mimi ” (Yohana 14:6).

Kulingana na hadithi ya Uumbaji katika Mwanzo 1:3, kitu cha kwanza ambacho Mungu aliumba kilikuwa nuru. “Iwe nuru, ikawa nuru.” Sote tunajua na kutambua hitaji na umuhimu mkubwa wa mwanga. Nuru katika njia inamaanisha uzima; ni ishara ya maisha, wakati giza ni ishara ya kifo. Baba yetu wa Mbinguni anasemwa kuwa nuru katika 1 Yohana 1:5 : “Hii ndiyo habari tuliyoisikia kwake, na kuihubiri kwenu, Mungu ni nuru ; ndani yake hamna giza hata kidogo.”

Tukitumia kanuni hii katika maana ya kiroho, tunatambua haraka kwamba giza la kiroho linamaanisha ujinga, ukosefu wa utambuzi, na aina hii ya ujuzi wa kiroho mara nyingi husababisha ushirikina wa moja kwa moja; huku nuru ya kiroho ikimaanisha maarifa, uhuru, ujasiri, amani ya akili, ujasiri, imani na uhusiano wa karibu na Mungu kupitia Yesu Kristo.

Kwa kufukuzwa kwa mwanadamu kutoka katika Bustani ya Edeni, muda mfupi baadaye, mwanadamu alitupwa kwenye shimo la giza la kiroho. Baadaye, dini mbalimbali kuu (?) zilikuja ulimwenguni na ziliaminiwa na mamilioni ya watu, ambao walidai kutoa nuru inayoongoza kwa mwanadamu, lakini zote ziliishia gizani. Ni kwa ujio wa Yesu Kristo pekee ndipo Nuru ya Mungu ilipatikana tena, kwanza kwa Wayahudi na kisha kwa Mataifa, ambayo inamaanisha kwa wanadamu wote. Yesu alikuwa “Nuru ya kuwaangazia Mataifa na utukufu wa watu wako Israeli” (Luka 2:32).

Bwana wetu Yesu mwenyewe alitangaza, “Mimi ndimi Nuru ya Ulimwengu; yeye anifuataye hatakwenda gizani kamwe, bali atakuwa na nuru ya uzima” (Yohana 8:12). Hakika, yeye ndiye nuru ya kweli “amtiaye nuru kila mtu ajaye ulimwenguni” (Yohana 1:9). Pia alitangaza, “Mimi nimekuja kuwa nuru ya ulimwengu, ili kila mtu aniaminiye mimi asikae gizani” (Yohana 12:46). 

Kwa maelfu ya miaka, dunia nzima imekuwa, na ingali, imegubikwa na blanketi la ujinga na ushirikina, licha ya maelfu ya makanisa na mamilioni ya Biblia zinazonunuliwa kila mwaka. Mungu ameahidi, kwa wakati ufaao, kuondoa hiki “kifuniko kilichotupwa juu ya watu wote, na utaji uliotandazwa juu ya mataifa yote” (Isaya 25:7). Lakini tunaweza kuwekwa huru sasa kutokana na kifuniko hiki, na kupita “kutoka gizani kuingia katika nuru yake ya ajabu” (1 Petro 2:9).

Je, umechukua hatua hii muhimu zaidi bado? Ikiwa sivyo, usisite tena. Ingia katika nuru...ishi katika nuru...furahini katika nuru; hivyo utakuwa mwana wa nuru (Yohana 12:36), mtoto wa Mungu na mfuasi wa nyayo za Bwana Yesu Kristo ambaye atakuwa Mfalme Mkuu wa maisha yako! Ni jambo zuri ajabu kuwa kiumbe kipya aliyezaliwa mara ya pili “katika Kristo,” na fursa hii ya kujibu mwito wa mbinguni ni ile ambayo haitarudiwa tena. 

Kulingana na Sheria ya Musa, kuhani alipaswa kutoka katika kabila la Lawi, na alipaswa kuwa katika hali nzuri ya kimwili na kiakili. Alipaswa kuwekwa kando kwa ajili ya utumishi wa Bwana kwa kuwatumikia watu kwa muda wa miaka ishirini, kuanzia umri wa miaka thelathini hadi hamsini. Angeweza pia kuolewa na kuwa na familia (Hesabu 1:47-54; 3:5-12; 4:3; Kutoka 6:25). 

Kazi muhimu zaidi za ukuhani zilikuwa jukumu la Kuhani Mkuu (kawaida baba katika familia) - Law. 8 na Kut. 29:1-9. Ukoo huu wa Makuhani wakuu ulidumu kutoka kwa Haruni, Kuhani Mkuu wa kwanza, hadi karibu mwaka 70 BK wakati ambapo Yerusalemu, taifa, na Hekalu vyote viliharibiwa na jeshi la Warumi chini ya Tito. Hivyo Ukuhani pia ulipunguzwa. Tangu wakati huo Wayahudi wamekuwa hawana Kuhani Mkuu, lakini sisi kama Wakristo tumekuwa na mmoja katika nafsi ya Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo. Waebrania 7:26 : “Kuhani mkuu wa namna hiyo hutosheleza mahitaji yetu—aliye mtakatifu, asiye na lawama, safi, aliyetengwa na wakosaji, aliyeinuliwa juu ya mbingu.” (Ona pia Waebrania 5:6; 7:16, 17; Zaburi 110; :4.) 

Kuhani Mkuu alipaswa kutoa zawadi na dhabihu kwa Mungu kwa ajili ya dhambi zake mwenyewe na kisha dhambi za watu, hasa Siku ya Upatanisho. Hivyo alipata utakaso na msamaha kutoka kwa Mungu kulingana na taratibu za sheria. Lakini, “Kristo alipofika, akiwa kuhani mkuu wa mambo mema yaliyoko tayari, alipitia hema iliyo kuu na kamilifu zaidi isiyofanywa na mwanadamu, ambayo ni kusema, si sehemu ya uumbaji huu. Hakuingia kwa damu ya mbuzi na ndama; bali aliingia Patakatifu pa Patakatifu mara moja tu kwa damu yake mwenyewe, akiisha kupata ukombozi wa milele” (Waebrania 9:11, 12). “Na kwa mapenzi hayo tumefanywa watakatifu kwa dhabihu ya mwili wa Yesu Kristo mara moja tu” (Waebrania 10:10). 

“Damu ya mbuzi na ng’ombe na majivu ya ndama, yaliyonyunyiziwa juu ya wale ambao ni najisi kwa taratibu za ibada, itawatakasa ili wawe safi kwa nje. Basi si zaidi sana damu ya Kristo, ambaye kwa Roho wa milele alijitoa nafsi yake kwa Mungu kuwa safi, bila dosari, itasafisha dhamiri zetu na matendo ya kifo, ili tumtumikie Mungu aliye hai! Kwa sababu hiyo Kristo ni mjumbe wa agano jipya, ili wale walioitwa wapokee urithi wa milele ulioahidiwa, kwa kuwa sasa alikufa kuwa ukombozi, ili kuwaweka huru na dhambi zilizotendwa chini ya agano la kwanza” (Waebrania 9:13). -15). 

Kwa hiyo, “na tukaribie wenye moyo wa kweli, katika utimilifu wa imani, hali tumenyunyiziwa mioyo tuache dhamiri mbaya; kwa maana yeye aliyeahidi ni mwaminifu” (Waebrania 10:22, 23 - ASV). Anachotuambia Mtume hapa ni kwamba sasa tunaye Yesu Kristo mbinguni, kwenye mkono wa kuume wa Mungu, kama Kuhani wetu Mkuu, Mtetezi na Mtetezi wetu. Anasimama kando yetu kutetea haki yetu mbele ya ukuu na haki ya Mungu na kupata msamaha wetu kwa dhambi zetu zote kupitia damu yake ya thamani. Hivi ndivyo Mtume Yohana anavyosema: “Watoto wangu wadogo, nawaandikia haya ili kwamba msitende dhambi. Na kama mtu akitenda dhambi tunaye Mwombezi kwa Baba, Yesu Kristo mwenye haki, naye ndiye kipatanisho kwa dhambi zetu; wala si kwa vyetu tu, bali na kwa ulimwengu wote pia” (1 Yohana 2:1, 2 - ASV). 

Hivi ndivyo dhambi zetu zinavyosamehewa: Ni kupitia toba na maungamo yaliyofanywa kwa Mungu katika jina la Yesu. “Tukiziungama dhambi zetu, Yeye ni mwaminifu na wa haki hata atuondolee dhambi zetu, na kutusafisha na udhalimu wote” (1 Yohana 1:9, 10). Dhambi zetu zinaondolewa bila toba yoyote kuhitajika kutoka kwetu, na kusahauliwa kabisa na Mungu: "Kama mashariki ilivyo mbali na magharibi, ndivyo alivyoweka dhambi zetu mbali nasi" (Zaburi 103:12). “Nimefuta makosa yako kama wingu zito, na dhambi zako kama wingu; kwa maana nimekukomboa” (Isaya 44:22 – ASV). 

Moja ya ofisi za Bwana wetu ilikuwa ile ya nabii. Kupitia uvuvio, Musa alikuwa ametabiri kwa watu wa Israeli kwamba wakati fulani ujao “Bwana, Mungu wako, atakuondokeshea nabii kutoka kati yako, katika ndugu zako, kama mimi (Musa); msikilizeni yeye (msikilizeni, mwaminini na mtii)” (Kum. 18:15). Nabii huyu mkuu ajaye alikuwa Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo. Tunapata uthibitisho wa hili katika Matendo 3:22 na Matendo 7:37, ambapo Mtume Petro na Stefano wanatangaza kwamba Yesu Kristo alikuwa Nabii aliyeahidiwa.

Hakika Mola wetu Mlezi alikuwa Nabii mkubwa kabisa. Alitabiri kifo na ufufuo wake mwenyewe ( Mt. 12:38, 39; 16:21 ); anguko na uharibifu wa Yerusalemu, Hekalu na taifa la Wayahudi; matukio ambayo yangetokea ulimwenguni tangu ujio wake wa kwanza hadi wa pili; mateso na ukuaji wa Kanisa; kuzaliwa upya kwa Israeli; dhiki kuu inayokuja; “siku” ya ghadhabu ya Mungu; kurudi kwake kwa nguvu na utukufu mkuu; kufungwa kwa Shetani; kusimamishwa kwa Ufalme wa Mungu duniani; ufufuo wa wafu, na matukio mengine miaka elfu moja kutoka sasa. Alitimiza kwa ufasaha wadhifa wake kama Mtume wa Mwenyezi Mungu. Hakika katika haya, kama katika kila kitu, yeye ana utukufu.

Bwana Yesu Kristo sasa ni Mfalme wa watakatifu, lakini bado atakuwa Mfalme wa Wafalme na Bwana wa Mabwana juu ya ulimwengu wa wanadamu. Bwana wetu aliposimama mbele ya Pilato na kuulizwa kama yeye ni mfalme, alijibu, “Kwa ajili hiyo mimi nimezaliwa, na kwa ajili hiyo nalikuja ulimwenguni.” Sisi ambao ni wafuasi wake katika Enzi hii ya Injili tayari tumetolewa kutoka kwa ufalme wa Shetani na kuhamishiwa kwa Bwana wetu: “Mkimshukuru Baba, aliyewastahilisha ninyi kushiriki katika urithi wa watakatifu katika ufalme wa nuru. Kwa maana alituokoa katika nguvu za giza, akatuingiza katika ufalme wa Mwana ampendaye” (Wakolosai 1:12, 13). Hata hivyo, kwa ulimwengu, wakati bado haujafika wa wao kuwa raia zake. Kusudi la Ufalme wake ni kutumia faida za dhabihu yake ya fidia (kifo na ufufuo wake) ili kuwarudishia wanadamu wote ukamilifu, kupatana kabisa na Mungu na sheria Zake. Hii tayari imeanza na Kanisa lake na itaendelea wakati wa utawala wake wa Milenia wa haki hapa duniani ambao alitufundisha kusali, “Ufalme wako uje, Mapenzi yako yafanyike duniani kama huko mbinguni” (Mathayo 6:10). . Watu wengi wamesahau tangazo hili muhimu la Bwana wetu Yesu katika saa yake ya kujaribiwa—“Basi wewe ni mfalme!” Alisema Pilato. Yesu akajibu, “Umesema kweli kwamba mimi ni mfalme. Kwa kweli, kwa ajili ya hayo mimi nilizaliwa, na kwa ajili ya hili nalikuja ulimwenguni, ili niishuhudie kweli...” (Yohana 18:37). 

Karibu miaka elfu mbili imepita, na Bwana wetu bado hajarudi kuwa Mfalme wa ulimwengu huu. Kwa nini? Tunajibu, kwa sababu ni lazima angoje hadi wakati ufaao wa Mungu na ukamilisho wa Kanisa na Bibi-arusi wake. Katika Zaburi 110:1 tunasoma: “BWANA (Yehova) amwambia Bwana wangu (Yesu): ‘Keti mkono wangu wa kuume mpaka niwafanye adui zako kuwa chini ya miguu yako.’” Sasa tunajua hilo tangu kupaa kwake mbinguni. , Bwana wetu ameketi mkono wa kuume wa Mungu ( Mk. 16:19; Mdo. 1:9; 7:56; Ufu. 3:21 ), kwa hiyo wakati ufaao wa Mungu utakapokuja, Bwana wetu atarudi na kuwa Mfalme. ya Ulimwengu na kuwatawala watu wote katika haki, upendo, na haki kwa muda wa miaka elfu moja, kuwarudisha wafu kwenye uzima, na walio hai na asili yote kwenye ukamilifu (kurejeshwa kwa vitu vyote vilivyohubiriwa na Mtume Petro katika Matendo 3:19-19). 21). 

Kisha ataharibu uovu wote, magonjwa na vita, na hatimaye kifo chenyewe. Mwishoni mwa ile miaka elfu moja atamkabidhi Baba yake dunia iliyokamilishwa na jamii kamilifu. Kwa hiyo twasoma hivi: “Katika maono yangu ya usiku nalitazama, na tazama, mbele yangu mmoja aliye mfano wa mwanadamu, akija na mawingu ya mbinguni. Alimkaribia Mzee wa Siku na akaongozwa mbele yake. Alipewa mamlaka, utukufu na mamlaka kuu; watu wote, mataifa na watu wa kila lugha wakamwabudu. Mamlaka yake ni mamlaka ya milele ambayo hayatapita kamwe, na ufalme wake ni ufalme ambao hautaangamizwa milele” 

( Danieli 7:13, 14 ). “Hapo ndipo mwisho utakapokuja, atakapokabidhi ufalme kwa Mungu Baba, akiisha kuharibu mamlaka yote na mamlaka na nguvu. Kwa maana sharti atawale mpaka atakapowaweka adui zake wote chini ya miguu yake. Adui wa mwisho atakayeangamizwa ni mauti” (1 Wakorintho 15:24-26). Pia tafadhali soma Isaya 9:6-7; 11:1-10; 25:6-9; 35:1-10; Fil. 2:9-11; Ufu 19:11-16 .

Mojawapo ya majina makuu ya Bwana wetu ni ya Mwokozi. Ina maana alikuja duniani kuokoa kile kilichopotea. “Kwa maana Mwana wa Adamu alikuja kuokoa kile kilichopotea” (Mt. 18:11 - ASV). “Kwa maana jinsi hii Mungu aliupenda ulimwengu, hata akamtoa Mwanawe pekee, ili kila mtu amwaminiye asipotee, bali awe na uzima wa milele. Maana Mungu hakumtuma Mwana ulimwenguni ili ahukumu ulimwengu; bali ulimwengu uokolewe katika yeye” (Yohana 3:16, 17). “Na mtu akiyasikia maneno yangu asiyashike, mimi simhukumu; kwa maana sikuja ili niuhukumu ulimwengu, bali kuuokoa ulimwengu” (Yn. 12:47). 

Kwa sababu ya dhambi ya Adamu kwa kutotii amri ya Mungu ( Mwanzo 2:16, 17 ), wanadamu wote kwa urithi walitumbukizwa katika shimo la dhambi na kifo. Mabilioni kwa mabilioni yamekumbwa na bado wako chini ya ufisadi, uhalifu, uasherati, dhambi na jeuri, na kusababisha huzuni na mateso mengi na hatimaye kifo. Kwa miaka 6,000 kifo kimetawala juu ya dunia hii, ikivunja mioyo, vifungo nyororo vya upendo, na kusababisha huzuni na machozi yasiyoelezeka. “Mungu wa ulimwengu huu” ( 1 Kor. 4:4 ), Shetani, ameifanya dunia hii kuwa mandhari ya ukiwa ambayo kila kaburi ni uthibitisho wake. Lakini ruhusa hii ya uovu itakuwa imewafunza wanadamu somo la milele ambalo hawatalisahau. Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo alikuja kuokoa wanadamu wote kutoka katika hali hiyo ya kusikitisha, na kufanya hivyo ilimbidi kwanza kulipa adhabu ya kutotii kwa Adamu kwa kutoa uhai wake mkamilifu kwa Haki ya Kimungu kwa kubadilishana, au kwa usahihi zaidi, kuwa fidia kwa ajili ya waliopotea Adamu. maisha kamili. Hii haikuwa rahisi kwake kama inavyoweza kusikika kwetu. Zaidi ya kuweka kando utukufu na nguvu zake za kimbingu na kuzaliwa akiwa mwanadamu mkamilifu kwa Mariamu, katika ile miaka mitatu na nusu ya huduma yake Bwana wetu alilazimika kuvumilia husuda, chuki, na mnyanyaso wa viongozi wa kidini wa siku yake, yaani; Waandishi na Mafarisayo, Masadukayo na makuhani. Tunaambiwa katika Waebrania 12:3 hivi: “Mtafakarini sana yeye aliyestahimili upinzani wa namna hii kutoka kwa wenye dhambi, msije mkachoka na kukata tamaa. 

Lakini ilikuwa ni saa ishirini na nne za mwisho za maisha yake duniani - tangu mwanzo wa uchungu wake huko Gethsemane hadi pale Msalabani alisema, "Imekwisha" (Yohana 19:30) - kwamba aliteseka kimwili, kiakili na kihisia. maumivu yasiyoelezeka na uchungu wa moyo na mwili. Isaya aeleza waziwazi kuteseka kwake na kutuambia kwamba hakukuwa “kwa ajili yake mwenyewe.” Isaya 53:3-6 “Alidharauliwa na kukataliwa na watu, mtu wa huzuni nyingi, ajuaye mateso. Kama mtu ambaye watu humficha nyuso zao, alidharauliwa, wala hatukumhesabu kuwa kitu. Hakika aliuchukua udhaifu wetu na kubeba huzuni zetu, lakini tulimwona kuwa amepigwa na Mungu, amepigwa na yeye na kuteswa. Bali alijeruhiwa kwa makosa yetu, alichubuliwa kwa maovu yetu; adhabu iliyotuletea amani ilikuwa juu yake, na kwa kupigwa kwake sisi tumepona.” Mathayo 26 na 27; Luka 22 na 23; Marko 14 na 15; na Yohana 18 na 19 zinaeleza mateso, uchungu na kifo cha Bwana wetu ili aweze kuwa Mwokozi wetu, na kutuweka huru kutokana na dhambi na kifo. 

Hili alilitimiza kikamilifu na kwa uaminifu. Sasa imehakikishwa kwetu kupitia ufufuo wake mtukufu. 

Je, hatungewezaje kumpenda, kuthamini, kumtumikia, na kumtii Mwokozi wa Ajabu kama huyo? Je, tunawezaje kutojali mbele ya Upendo Mkuu kama huu wa Kujitolea? Kufikiri vinginevyo ni kuwa kipofu, mwenye moyo mgumu, asiye na shukrani, na asiyestahili upendo huo. Ndiyo, na pia kutostahili maisha ambayo ametununulia. Lakini unaweza kusema, “Haya yote yalitukia karibu miaka elfu mbili iliyopita, na leo dhambi na kifo bado vinatawala juu ya wanadamu wote.” Hii ni kweli. Lakini kila kitu katika Mpango wa ajabu wa Mungu wa nyakati husonga kama kazi ya saa. Kila tukio hufanyika haswa linapokuja, sio muda mfupi sana au kuchelewa sana. “Lakini wapenzi, msisahau neno hili moja: Kwa Bwana siku moja ni kama miaka elfu, na miaka elfu ni kama siku moja” (2 Petro 3:8). Ni lazima tungojee wakati kamili wa Mungu.

Mungu ametenga kipindi cha wakati tunachokiita Enzi ya Injili, ambapo wito maalum unatolewa kwa wanadamu. Huu ni “Wito wa Juu” ambamo Mungu anachagua kundi maalum la waumini kutoka katika ulimwengu huu. Hawa watakuwa Bibi-arusi wa Kristo ikiwa waaminifu. Pia watakuwa warithi pamoja naye. Warumi 8:17 inatuambia, “ 

Basi ikiwa sisi tu watoto, basi, tu warithi wa Mungu, warithio pamoja na Kristo, ikiwa tunashiriki mateso yake ili pia tupate kushiriki katika utukufu wake.” Washindi waaminifu wameahidiwa kujiunga na Bwana-arusi wao katika kurudisha ulimwengu kwenye ukamilifu na kutawala pamoja naye. Ufunuo 20:6 inatupa tumaini hili lenye baraka. Kuhusu hao tunasoma, “Heri na watakatifu ni wale walio na sehemu katika ufufuo wa kwanza. Kifo cha pili hakina nguvu juu yao, bali watakuwa makuhani wa Mungu na wa Kristo, nao watatawala pamoja naye kwa miaka elfu.”

Wito huu wa Mbinguni au Juu kwa utukufu, heshima na kutokufa bado unaendelea leo, lakini unakaribia kukamilika. Wakati umefika mwisho, Bwana atarudi kwa ajili ya kanisa lake. Tunaambiwa juu ya wakati huu mtukufu ambapo watakatifu wake, walio hai na waliokufa, watainuka ili kumlaki Bwana wao katika 1 Wathesalonike 4:13-18 : “Ndugu, hatupendi mkose kufahamu habari zao waliolala mauti, Huzuni kama watu wengine wasio na matumaini. Tunaamini kwamba Yesu alikufa na kufufuka na hivyo tunaamini kwamba Mungu atawaleta pamoja na Yesu wale waliolala katika yeye. Kulingana na neno la Bwana mwenyewe, tunawaambia kwamba sisi ambao bado tu hai, ambao tutabaki hadi kuja kwake Bwana, hakika hatutawatangulia wale ambao wamelala mauti. Kwa maana Bwana mwenyewe atashuka kutoka mbinguni pamoja na mwaliko, na sauti ya malaika mkuu, na parapanda ya Mungu; nao waliokufa katika Kristo watafufuliwa kwanza. Baada ya hayo, sisi tulio hai, tuliosalia, tutanyakuliwa pamoja nao katika mawingu ili kumlaki Bwana hewani. Na hivyo tutakuwa pamoja na Bwana milele. Kwa hiyo farijianeni kwa maneno haya.

Baada ya ndoa kufanyika, inayosemwa katika Ufu. 19:7, “Na tufurahi na kushangilia na kumtukuza! Kwa maana arusi ya Mwana-Kondoo imekuja, na bibi-arusi wake amejiweka tayari,” na wale walio duniani wamepitia wakati mkuu wa taabu, unaoitwa Har–Magedoni katika Biblia, wanadamu watakuwa tayari kumsikia Bwana. “Njoni mtazame kazi za BWANA, Aliyefanya ukiwa katika nchi. Avikomesha vita hata miisho ya dunia; Avunja upinde na kuukata mkuki vipande viwili; Anachoma gari katika moto. Nyamazeni, mjue ya kuwa mimi ndimi Mungu; Nitatukuzwa kati ya mataifa, nitatukuzwa duniani” (Zaburi 46:8-10 - NKJV)!

Na tena, “Kwa hiyo ningojeeni, asema BWANA, hata siku ile nitakaposimama kuteka nyara; Azma yangu ni kuwakusanya mataifa kwenye kusanyiko langu la falme, ili kuwamwagia ghadhabu yangu, hasira yangu yote kali; Dunia yote itateketezwa kwa moto wa wivu Wangu. Maana ndipo nitakapowarudishia mataifa lugha iliyo safi, wapate kuliitia jina la BWANA wote, wamtumikie kwa nia moja” (Sefania 3:8-10).

Yesu, akiwa Mfalme, atafupisha Siku ya Ghadhabu ya Mungu duniani wakati yeye na Bibi-arusi Wake, Mshindi wa Kanisa, watarudi pamoja na kuanza utawala wao. Kisha Shetani atafungwa kwa miaka elfu moja. “Kisha nikaona malaika akishuka kutoka mbinguni akiwa na ufunguo wa kuzimu na mnyororo mkubwa mkononi mwake. Akamshika yule joka, yule nyoka wa zamani, ambaye ni Ibilisi au Shetani, akamfunga kwa muda wa miaka elfu moja. Akamtupa katika Kuzimu, akaufunga na kuutia muhuri juu yake, ili asipate kuwadanganya mataifa tena, hata ile miaka elfu itimie...” ( Ufunuo 20:1-3 ). 

Ufalme huo unapoanza, kazi kuu ya kujenga upya itaanza. Kutakuwa na ufufuo wa taratibu wa wafu wote na uharibifu wa dhambi na uovu wote duniani. Amani, maelewano na udugu—haki, usawa, utulivu na upendo vitatawala wakati wote wanatembea katika njia za haki. 

Isaya 35 inatupa picha nzuri ya Ufalme huu wa ajabu: “Nyika na mahali palipo ukiwa patakuwa na furaha; na jangwa litashangilia, na kuchanua maua kama waridi. Litachanua maua mengi, na kufurahi, naam, kwa furaha na kuimba; litapewa utukufu wa Lebanoni, utukufu wa Karmeli na Sharoni; watauona utukufu wa BWANA, ukuu wa Mungu wetu. Itieni nguvu mikono iliyo dhaifu, yafanyeni imara magoti yaliyolegea. Waambieni walio na moyo wa hofu, Jipeni moyo, msiogope; tazama, Mungu wenu atakuja na kisasi, na malipo ya Mungu; atakuja na kukuokoa. Ndipo macho ya vipofu yatafumbuliwa, na masikio ya viziwi yatazibuliwa. Ndipo mtu aliye kilema ataruka-ruka kama kulungu, na ulimi wake aliye bubu utaimba; maana katika nyika maji yatabubujika, na vijito nyikani. Na udongo uliokauka utakuwa ziwa la maji, na nchi yenye kiu itakuwa chemchemi za maji; katika makao ya mbweha, walipokuwa wakilala, patakuwa na nyasi pamoja na mianzi na manyasi. Na hapo patakuwa na njia kuu, na njia, nayo itaitwa, Njia ya utakatifu; asiye safi hatapita juu yake; lakini itakuwa kwa hao; wasafiri, wajapokuwa wapumbavu, hawatapotea katika njia hiyo. Hatakuwa na simba huko, wala mnyama mkali hatapanda juu yake, hataonekana huko; lakini waliokombolewa watakwenda huko: Na hao waliokombolewa na BWANA watarudi, na kufika Sayuni wakiimba, na furaha ya milele juu ya vichwa vyao; watapata furaha na shangwe, huzuni na kuugua zitakimbia.” (KJV) 

Mwishoni mwa Ufalme wa miaka elfu moja, Shetani atafunguliwa kwa muda mfupi ili kuwapa wanadamu jaribu lao la mwisho. Wale watakaoshinda jaribu hilo watakuwa wana wa Mungu na kuingia katika uzima wa milele. “Yeye ashindaye atayarithi haya yote, nami nitakuwa Mungu wake, naye atakuwa mwanangu” (Ufunuo 21:7), na wale ambao hawataki kutembea katika njia ya haki wataingia katika kifo cha pili na kuangamizwa milele. . ( Ufunuo 21:8 ).

Mambo makubwa na ya kutisha yanakaribia kuja duniani. Katika sehemu nyingi za dunia hii tayari imeanza. Je, utakuwa upande wa Bwana? Somo hili la Biblia limejitahidi kuwasilisha kwako Bwana Yesu Kristo, nafsi yake, ofisi zake, na kazi yake ili uthamini zaidi dhabihu yake na upendo wake mkuu kwako wewe binafsi. Hata hivyo, ni lazima usome Injili kwa ajili ya kuthamini zaidi Bwana wetu, na hili tunatumaini utafanya. Baba yetu wa Mbinguni mpendwa na Mwokozi wa Ajabu akuongoze kwenye toba ya kweli ya moyo kutoka kwa dhambi zako, ili umkubali Bwana Yesu Kristo kwa moyo wako wote na akili kama Mponyaji wako, Mwalimu, Mkate wa Uzima, Mlango, Nuru, Kuhani Mkuu, Mwokozi na Mfalme wa maisha yako, kwa wokovu wako kamili. “Kwa maana kwa moyo mtu huamini hata kupata haki, na kwa kinywa hukiri hata kupata wokovu” (Warumi 10:10). 

Na sasa, “BWANA akubariki na kukulinda; BWANA akuangazie nuru za uso wake, na kukufadhili; BWANA akuinulie uso wake, na kukupa amani” (Hesabu 6:24-26). Haya ni maombi yetu ya dhati kwako.

If you were asked the question above, what would your answer be? There are many people in this world who know about Jesus. But there is a very big difference between knowing about someone and knowing that person intimately. Not everyone who claims to be a Christian really knows Jesus. Are you a know-about-Jesus Christian, or are you walking, talking and fellowshipping each day in an intimate way with your Beloved Savior, Bridegroom and Friend? This is the kind of relationship that a true disciple of Jesus will have. 

The Apostle Paul was one who truly knew Jesus. His focus was always on this great Love of his life. In 1 Cor. 2:2 Paul states, “For I was resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Paul was not satisfied with just a superficial knowledge of Jesus as so many Christians are. He said again in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...” Indeed, Paul had a wonderful, intimate relationship with his Lord and Savior. 

Many have knowledge of Jesus based on the traditions of their church’s teachings. By this we mean that many know Jesus only by what others, their grandparents, parents or ministers have told them. History reveals that religious traditions have a way of taking on a life of their own. Lord Jesus warned the Pharisees that their traditions had supplanted the very commandments of God (Matt. 15:6-9). It is no different today. For some, the understanding of the person and work of Christ is filtered through denominational, social, national, racial and ethnic traditions rather than the direct statements of God’s word in the gospels. This often paints a distorted picture of who Jesus truly is to his followers. Even the earnest seeking Christian, without the firm foundation of Scripture we can be “tossed about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph, 4:14) and come to hold a hearsay, myth-oriented misconception of our precious Savior with limited knowledge of facts and events. Have you ever felt that you are in this condition? If so, the best thing to do is to clear our minds of everything learned and start afresh with a clean slate, by going to the Bible for exact information about our Lord Jesus Christ, for we must learn about him before we can come to an intimacy with him. We will begin in the four Gospels of the New Testament. 

Who was our Lord Jesus Christ? Many books have been written about the life of our Lord; therefore, it is not our purpose to add one more to the many. In this study we shall concentrate on his person, his offices, his prophecies and his teachings. This is a large order, but we shall be brief without omitting vital information, so that we can give to each student the facts on which to lay a firm foundation for his faith and knowledge.

According to the Scriptures and Jesus’ own testimony, our Lord was the first and only direct creation of his God and Father. The angels are called “sons of God,” and Adam, in his perfection was also called a “son;” but only Jesus, known as the Logos in his pre-human existence, was God’s uniquely “only begotten Son.” We are not told when the Logos was “brought forth,” but it must have been many millenniums before other creations came into existence. In confirmation of this we read in Colossians 1:15-17, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” See also Hebrews 1:1-9, John 1:10 and Proverbs 8:22-36, wherein our Lord speaks of himself under the name of “Wisdom.” Indeed, he is “the wisdom of God,” as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:24. 

In the Heavenly Realm, the splendor, glory and beauty of God’s “only begotten Son” must have been something to behold, for he was superior to the angels, archangels, seraphim or cherubim; and to Lucifer as well, whose description at his creation is so beautifully portrayed in Ezekiel 28:13-15. Following the fall of man into sin and death (Genesis 3:1-19), in due time God sent His Beloved Son to earth to become man’s Savior and Redeemer. Since God knows the end from the beginning, He had planned for our Lord to take this step back “before the foundation of the world.” See 1 Peter 1:20. 

We are told that the Logos “emptied himself” of all the glory, honor and majesty that he had in heaven, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, his life was transferred into the womb of the virgin Mary. In this way Jesus could be born a perfect human being, without being tainted by sin and imperfection as all of mankind are. Having God for His Father and Mary for His mother, he was thus truly “the Son of God” and yet just as truly “the Son of man” (through Mary). He was born “holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). 

God’s Plan for redeeming Adam and all the human race was for a perfect human being, being obedient in all things, to voluntarily give his life in exchange for the lost life of Adam, “a life for a life,” thus satisfying Divine Justice and at the same time purchasing the whole human race. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:22, “ For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” At Jesus’ Second Advent and return to this earth, he will restore it to the perfection that was lost when Adam sinned. God’s Loving Plan is wonderful indeed! Please read Acts 3:19-21; Luke 19:10. 

Our Lord’s humble birth, in the little town of Bethlehem, was highlighted by the angelic announcement to the shepherds and the prophetic song of the angels when in due time men will give “Glory to God in the Highest, (and then there will be) peace on earth and good will among men.” See Luke 2:8-20. This event was followed by the visit of the Wise Men some time later, with their gifts to the Holy Child of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. See Matt. 2:11. 

Our Lord’s youth in the town of Nazareth of Galilee must have been similar to that of other boys his age, with the difference that he kept himself pure and was always obedient to Joseph and his mother Mary. Except for the visit to Jerusalem for the annual feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41-52) when he was 12 years old, nothing is known of his childhood and adolescence except that “...Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). Jesus learned that he must return home with Mary and Joseph and be subservient to them until he was 30 years of age. 

As he was about to become thirty years of age (Luke 3:23), he left Nazareth and went to Judea to be baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. This was the start of his ministry which was to last three and a half years. At his baptism, as he was emerging from the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended on him like a dove, and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:16, 17). It was at this time that our Lord was filled with God’s Spirit, and he went into the wilderness for forty days to be with his Father in meditation and there withstood the three temptations of Satan. 

Our Lord had compassion for the multitudes of poor people, and helped them by healing their diseases, driving out evil spirits, teaching them properly, and on several occasions feeding them and even raising the dead. His miracles of healing should have been to the religious leaders of that time sure signs of his Messiahship and Sonship, as well as a preview of what will be accomplished for all mankind when Jesus returns to be the Ruler and King of the entire world, upon establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth. See Isaiah 35:5-7 and Rev. 21:4. 

Our Lord has been rightly called the Great Physician. He still is today, though not always are his disciples healed physically. The Lord knows what each of us need, and he will overrule for our highest spiritual interests. A true disciple will always leave the choice for healing up to him. Jesus has promised us many things, i.e., freedom from worry, fear, and sin as we look earnestly to him. When we trust him implicitly and are obedient to his commands, he has also promised us his victory. He is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). 

Jesus is the same compassionate, tender, loving Shepherd who cares for his sheep. Since he willingly laid down his life for his sheep, we can know he will do all we could possibly want or need, according to our faith and trust in him. He will always hear us, and if we “ask according to his will,” fully believing, we can be assured that at the right time and in the right way our petition will be answered. See Matt. 7:7; 21:22; John 14:13,14; 15:7,16. What a precious Shepherd and Savior is ours! 

Our Lord Jesus is also the Greatest Teacher the world has ever seen! No wonder he was addressed as Master by his disciples as well as by the multitudes! His Sermon on the Mount is matchless in its purity, beauty, wisdom and truth (Matthew 5-7). He instructed his disciples how to worship God (John 4:23, 24); how to pray (Matt. 6:9-13; 26:41; Mark 1:35); how to be forgiving (Matt. 6:14, 15; 18:35; Luke 17:3, 4; 23:34); how to be loving (John 13:34, 35; 14:15; 15:12; 19:26, 27); how not to be worried or anxious (Matt. 6:25-34). However, he never claimed credit for himself. He always gave the credit and glory to God as the Source of all the things (Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 5:20, 30). “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak” (John 12:49). 

For millenniums, bread has been called the staff of life. Even today in many countries, bread is the mainstay, the principal food to sustain life. Our Lord emphasized our spiritual need of him when he stated he was “the bread of life.” As we need literal bread for the needs and sustenance of our bodies, so we need spiritual bread for our spiritual growth. On one occasion our Lord said that “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). He plainly stated, “I am the bread of life...this is the bread that cometh down from heaven (his former abode)...if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever (not in this present life, but after the resurrection); and the bread that I will give is my flesh (which he did when he died on the Cross) which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:48-51). 

This Jesus did symbolically when during the Last Supper, he broke the bread into pieces and told his disciples, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24 - KJV). On the following day, he literally gave his body (his life) while hanging on that cruel Cross of Calvary for you and me (Matt. 27:32-55). We, as his disciples, have the privilege of “eating” this “bread” every day of our lives through study, meditation, prayer, and communion with our Lord Jesus.

Jesus is the “door” to eternal life. He is the only entrance to the Father. This door to eternal life had been shut since the fall of Adam, following the condemnation of death to all mankind. By His coming He opened this door “to everyone that believeth,” a door to eternal life. We should note here that the LORD dealt differently with the ancient Heroes of Faith that are listed in Hebrews 11. Their faith in the Father and in what was yet to come was “counted to them for righteousness.” We are told by Jesus that “Abraham saw my day and was glad.” And of Moses we are told in Hebrews 11:25-26, “....choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” (KJV) 

We must also go to Jesus, the only source of life, knock at this door, and when it is opened to us, walk in fullness of faith. The world offers us many doors. Each heathen religion has its own door, and even with some Christians, Mary and the saints are offered as doors to obtain favor and life. But our Lord declared most clearly that he is the only door. Other doors lead nowhere; they are just dead-ends. Only Jesus could truthfully declare, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6).

According to the story of Creation in Genesis 1:3, the first thing that God created was light. “Let there be light, and there was light.” We all know and recognize the need and paramount importance of light. Light in a way means life; it is a symbol of life, while darkness is a symbol of death. Our Heavenly Father is said to be light in 1 John 1:5: “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

Applying this principle in a spiritual sense, we quickly realize that spiritual darkness means ignorance, lack of discernment, and this type of spiritual knowledge often leads to outright superstition; while spiritual light means knowledge, freedom, boldness, peace of mind, confidence, faith and a close relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

With the expulsion of man from the Garden of Eden, shortly thereafter, mankind was plunged into the abyss of spiritual darkness. Later, various great (?) religions came into the world and were believed by millions, which claimed to provide a guiding light for man, but all ended in darkness. Only with the coming of Jesus Christ did God’s Light become again available, first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles, which means to all mankind. Jesus was “A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:32).

Our Lord Jesus himself declared, “I am the Light of the World; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Indeed, he is the true light “which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). He also declared, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46). 

For thousands of years, the whole world has been, and still is, enveloped in a blanket of ignorance and superstition, despite the thousands of churches and the millions of Bibles bought every year. God has promised, in due time, to remove this “covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations” (Isaiah 25:7). But we can be freed now from this covering, and pass “from darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Have you taken this most important step yet? If not, do not hold back any longer. Step into the light...live in the light...rejoice in the light; thus you shall be a child of light (John 12:36), a child of God and a footstep follower of the Lord Jesus Christ who will become the Sovereign King of your life! It is the most wonderful experience to be a born-again, new creation “in Christ,” and this opportunity to answer the heavenly calling is one that will not again be repeated. 

According to the Mosaic Law, a priest had to be from the tribe of Levi, and had to be in good physical and mental condition. He was to be set aside for the Lord’s service by serving the people for a period of twenty years, from thirty to fifty years of age. He could also be married and have a family (Numbers 1:47-54; 3:5-12; 4:3 ; Exodus 6:25). 

The most important functions of the priesthood was the responsibility of the High Priest (usually the father in the family) - Lev. 8 and Ex. 29:1-9. This line of High Priests lasted from Aaron, the first High Priest, until about the year 70 A.D. at which time Jerusalem, the nation, and the Temple were all destroyed by the Roman army under Titus. Thus the Priesthood was also curtailed. Since that time the Jews have been without a High Priest, but we as Christians have had one in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:26: “ Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.“(See also Hebrews 5:6; 7:16, 17; Psalm 110:4.) 

The High Priest was to offer gifts and sacrifices to God for his own sins and then the sins of the people, especially on the Day of Atonement. He thus obtained cleansing and forgiveness from God according to the law ritual. But, “When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11, 12). “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). 

“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean, sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant” (Hebrews 9:13-15). 

Therefore, “let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised” (Hebrews 10:22, 23 - ASV). What the Apostle is telling us here is that we now have Jesus Christ in heaven, on the right hand of God, as our High Priest, our Advocate and Defender. He stands beside us to defend our cause before God’s majesty and justice and obtains our pardon for all our sins through His precious blood. Here is how the Apostle John states it: “My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1, 2 - ASV). 

This is how our sins are forgiven: It is through repentance and confession made to God in the name of Jesus. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, 10). Our sins are remitted without any penance being required from us, and completely forgotten by God: “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 44:22 - ASV). 

One of our Lord’s offices was that of a prophet. Through inspiration, Moses had foretold to the people of Israel that at some future time “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me (Moses); unto him ye shall hearken (listen, believe and obey)” (Deut. 18:15). This great Prophet to come was our Lord Jesus Christ. We find confirmation of this in Acts 3:22 and Acts 7:37, where the Apostle Peter and Stephen declare that Jesus Christ was the promised Prophet.

Our Lord was a great Prophet indeed—the greatest. He prophesied his own death and resurrection (Matt. 12:38, 39; 16:21); the fall and destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple and the Jewish nation; events that would happen in the world from his first to his second advent; the persecution and growth of the Church; the re-birth of Israel; the great tribulation to come; the “day” of God’s wrath; his return in power and great glory; the binding of Satan; the setting up of God’s Kingdom on earth; the resurrection of the dead, and other events a thousand years from now. He fulfilled eminently his office as a Prophet of God. Surely, in this, as in all things, he has the pre-eminence.

The Lord Jesus Christ is now King of the saints, but he is yet to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords over the world of mankind. When our Lord stood before Pilate and was asked if he was a king, he replied, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world.” We who are his followers in this Gospel Age have already been taken out from Satan’s kingdom and transferred to our Lord’s: “Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:12, 13). For the world, however, the time has not yet come for them to be his subjects. The purpose of his Kingdom is to apply the benefits of his ransom sacrifice (his death and resurrection) to restore all mankind to perfection, in full harmony with God and His laws. This has already begun with his Church and will continue during his Millennial reign of righteousness here on earth for which he taught us to pray, “ your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Many people have lost sight of this important declaration of our Lord Jesus in his hour of trial—“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth...” (John 18:37). 

Almost two thousand years have passed, and our Lord has not yet returned to become King of this world. Why? We answer, because he must wait until God’s due time and the completion of his Church and Bride. In Psalm 110:1 we read: “The LORD (Jehovah) says to my Lord (Jesus): ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” Now we know that since his ascension to heaven, our Lord has been sitting on the right hand of God (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9; 7:56; Rev. 3:21), so when God’s due time will come, our Lord will return to become the King of the World and rule all people in righteousness, love, and justice for one thousand years, restoring the dead to life, and the living and all nature to perfection (the restitution of all things preached by the Apostle Peter in Acts 3:19-21). 

He will then destroy all evil, sickness and wars, and eventually death itself. At the end of the thousand years he will hand a perfected earth and perfect society to his Father. Hence we read: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” 

(Daniel 7:13, 14). “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:24-26). Also please read Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-10; 25:6-9; 35:1-10; Phil. 2:9-11; Rev. 19:11-16.

One of the greatest titles of our Lord is that of Savior. It means he came to earth to save that which had been lost. “For the Son of man came to save that which was lost” (Matt. 18:11 - ASV). “ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him” (John 3:16, 17 - ASV). “And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (Jn. 12:47 - ASV). 

Due to Adam’s sin in disobeying God’s command (Genesis 2:16, 17), all mankind by heredity was plunged into the abyss of sin and death. Billions upon billions have been and still are subject to corruption, crime, immorality, sin and violence, causing untold sorrow and suffering and ultimately death. For 6,000 years death has reigned supreme on this earth, breaking hearts, tender bonds of love, and causing untold sorrow and tears. The “god of this world” (1 Cor. 4:4), Satan, has made of this earth a scene of desolation of which every cemetery is proof. But this permission of evil will have taught mankind an everlasting lesson that they will never forget. Our Lord Jesus Christ came to save all mankind from such a sorry state, and to do so he first had to pay the penalty for Adam’s disobedience by offering his perfect life to Divine Justice in exchange, or more correctly, as a ransom for Adam’s lost perfect life. This was not as simple for him as it may sound to us. Besides setting aside his heavenly glory and power and being born as a perfect man to Mary, during the three and a half years of his ministry our Lord had to endure the envy, hatred, and persecution of the religious leaders of his day, i.e., the Scribes and Pharisees, the Sadducees and the priests. We are told in Hebrews 12:3 to “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 

But it was during the last twenty four hours of his life on earth - from the beginning of his agony in Gethsemane until on the Cross he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30) - that he physically, mentally and emotionally suffered indescribable pain and anguish of heart and body. Isaiah vividly describes his suffering and tells us it was “not for himself.” Isaiah 53:3-6: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Matthew 26 and 27; Luke 22 and 23; Mark 14 and 15; and John 18 and 19 describe our Lord’s suffering, agony and death so that he could become our Savior, and free us from sin and death. 

This he fully and faithfully accomplished. It is now guaranteed to us through his glorious resurrection. 

How could we not love, cherish, serve, and obey such a Wonderful Savior? How could we be indifferent before such Great Sacrificial Love? To think otherwise is to be blind, hard-hearted, ungrateful, and unworthy of such love. Yes, and also unworthy of the life he has purchased for us. But you may say, “All this happened almost two thousand years ago, and today sin and death still hold sway over all mankind.” This is true. But everything in God’s wonderful Plan of the ages moves like clock-work. Each event happens exactly when it becomes due, not a moment too soon or too late. “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8). We must await God’s perfect timing.

God has set aside a period of time which we call the Gospel Age, during which a special call is made to men. This is a “High Calling” in which God is choosing a special company of believers out of this world. These are to be the Bride of Christ if faithful. They will also be his joint-heirs. Romans 8:17 tells us, “ 

Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” The faithful overcomers are promised to join their Bridegroom in bringing the world back to perfection and reign with him. Revelation 20:6 gives us this blessed hope. Of these we read, “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

This Heavenly or High calling to glory, honor and immortality is still going on today, but it is nearing its completion. When it has come to an end, the Lord will return for his church. We are told of this glorious time when his saints, both living and dead, will rise to meet their Lord in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

After the marriage has taken place, spoken of in Rev. 19:7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready,” and those on the earth have come through the great time of trouble, called Armageddon in the Bible, mankind will be ready to hear the Lord. “Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:8-10 - NKJV)!

And again, “‘Therefore wait for Me,’ says the LORD, ‘Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All my fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy. For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord’” (Zephaniah 3:8-10 - NKJV).

Jesus, as King, will shorten the Day of God’s Wrath on earth when he and His Bride, the Church Triumphant, will return together and begin their reign. Then Satan will be bound for a thousand years. “And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended...” (Revelation 20:1-3). 

As the Kingdom commences, the grand work of reconstruction will begin. There will be the gradual resurrection of all the dead and the destruction of all sin and evil on earth. Peace, harmony and brothrhood—justice, equality, tranquility and love will prevail as all walk in the paths of righteousness. 

Isaiah 35 gives us a beautiful picture of this wonderful Kingdom: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water:in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (KJV) 

At the end of the thousand-year Kingdom, Satan will be loosed a little season to give mankind its final test. Those who pass this test will become God’s sons and go into everlasting life. “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son” (Revelation 21:7), and those who are not desirous of walking the path of righteousness will go into second death and be everlastingly destroyed. (Revelation 21:8).

Grand and terrible things are about to come to this earth. In many parts of the world this has already begun. Will you be on the Lord’s side? This Bible study has endeavored to present to you the Lord Jesus Christ, his person, offices, and work so you will better appreciate his sacrifice and great love for you, personally. However, you must study the Gospels for a deeper appreciation of our Lord, and this we hope you will do. May our dear Heavenly Father and Wonderful Savior lead you to true heart repentance from your sins, so that you will accept the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and mind as your Healer, Teacher, Bread of Life, Door, Light, High Priest, Savior and King of your life, for your full salvation. “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made  unto salvation” (Romans 10:10 - NKJV). 

And now, “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26- NKJV). This is our heartfelt prayer for you.