So, Why do I need a Savior?

Many people wonder

(when they allow themselves to think about it),

“Why do I need a Savior?”

This is actually a very good question.

*  Asking the “why” question shows that you are a thinking person who tries to do the right things, as you understand them.

*  Asking why a Savior is needed shows your openness to hear an answer.

*  Asking why means that you have enough curiosity to wonder what all of the Jesus talk is really about.

Asking “why?” means you are really close to understanging why…

if  you are brave enough to hear the answer.

Are you brave enough to learn the truth about why we all need a Savior?

If the answer is “YES,” there are three very short statements (4 words or less) to tell the reasons why we need a Savior.

THREE  SIMPLE  REASONS
FOR  UNDERSTANDING  THE  ANSWER  TO  THE  “WHY”  QUESTION

So, why do you
(and I, and everyone else in the world)
need a Savior?

  Reason #1

  GOD  IS  HOLY.

  We really already know this.  Something deep inside tells us that there is a Someone who is somehow more loving, who is perfect and right.  When we think about the opposite scenario, it just makes sense that if  there was a God who was not holy, He would delight in constantly tormenting us and would force us to fear and respect and worship Him.  We would be living in constant fear, and we would not be able to choose how we want to live our lives.  We would not have any enjoyment in life if  God were evil.  The very fact that beauty and goodness exist at all is proof of the goodness and holiness of God.  A god who was evil and all powerful would not want us to have anything good.  Unfortunately, we allow the good things that do exist in life (and the evils that we choose) to substitute for knowing our holy, righteous, just, and loving God.

How we say it:

We say things that reveal what our hearts know (voicing the truth that God has placed inside each of us about His holiness) when we feel inadequate, when we mess up, when we have hurt someone, when we have done something foolish, or when we have been selfish.
And, this is what we say, “I’m not God.”  or  “I’m only human.” 

This is how the Bible says it:

“But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by His righteous acts.”  ~  Isaiah 5:16

“I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.”  ~  Leviticus 11:44a

“I will show my greatness and my holiness. I will reveal myself to many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”  ~  Ezekiel 38:23

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.”  ~  Psalm 145:17

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.”  ~  I John 1:5

  Reason #2

  PEOPLE  ARE  NOT  HOLY.

  It certainly is not difficult to recognize the truth of this statement.  All we have to do is to watch the evening news to see that people often deliberately choose to do terrible things.  In addition, as we look into our own hearts and consider the lives of people we know (even those whom we love), it becomes obvious that our motivations are not always pure.  Sometimes we are nice to someone because we want a favor.  Sometimes we are impatient or hateful, even with friends and loved ones.  Even people who are really trying to live a good life make mistakes, and we are all aware that our “goodness” is never 100%.

This is how we voice the truth that people are not holy:
“Well, nobody’s perfect!”

When we make the statement that “nobody’s perfect”, we are actually in agreement with what the Bible says on this subject.

Here is what the Bible says about us:

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on Him (Jesus) the sins of us all.”  ~ Isaiah 53:6

“For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  ~  Romans 3:23

10 “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.'”  ~ Romans 3, verses 10 and 11

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”  ~  John 3:19

“Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.”  ~  Ecclesiastes 7:20

  Reason #3

  WE  CANNOT  SAVE  OURSELVES!

  We have a problem that we can’t solve on our own.

There   is   a    h u g e                                         G A P_______________   between

God’s perfect holiness  __________and__________ our sinful unholiness.

This gap prevents us from being in close relationship with God.  This huge gap, or separation between us and God exists because we cannot begin to understand who He is with such a big barrier to relationship, and He cannot relate Himself to us while we are in our unholy state.  When the gap (or separation) is present, it’s more than just a divide.

You see, having a Savior is not just a ticket to Heaven.  Having a Savior is for this earthly life, too.  Because God wants us to know Him.  He wants us to know how much He loves us and how He is always working for our good.  He is not a distant Creator.  Rather, He is constantly sustaining life and hope, constantly giving and forgiving, and constantly working for the good of those who love Him.  He wants us to begin to know Him as He is… the loving Father and Lord of all Creation.

God already knows everything about us.  The Bible says that He even knows the number of hairs on our heads.  He wants the barrier of unholiness to be removed from our lives so that we can know Him.

Only then will we begin to:

Understand spiritual truth,
Receive spiritual life (even right now, while the Earth is still our home),
and finally
Be given the free gift of eternal life in Heaven through God’s provision of a way for our unholiness to become pure holiness.

All of this… the truth and life that we need and the way to become holy so that we can someday live in a holy place (Heaven) without our presence making it unholy…

ALL  of this can come to us only through Jesus, when we accept God’s free gift of salvation and pray to ask Jesus to become our own Savior and Lord.  Jesus is already THE Savior and THE Lord, but He will not become your Savior and Lord until you see your need for Him and ask Him.

HERE’S WHAT JESUS SAID about why we need Him:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  ~ John 14:6

 WE  NEED  LIFE! 

Our separation from God means that we have no spiritual understanding because we have no spiritual life.

Here’s what the Bible says about that:

“Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against Him.”  ~  Ephesians 4:18
(Notice the phrase, “the life God gives”.  This refers to spiritual life (being alive in spirit) as well as to eternal life.  Without spiritual life there is no spiritual understanding.)

4 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”  ~  Ephesian 2:4 – 6

(Note:  In the second scripture above, the phrase,  “dead in our transgressions” refers to the natural state of mankind… spiritual death, or the absence of spiritual life that results from being separated from God, who is the Source of life.
Notice also that verses 4 and 5 refer to the great love God has for us, even when we are in this state.

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”  ~  I John 5:1

WE  NEED  TO  KNOW  THE TRUTH!

 WE  NEED  DIRECTION!   

WE  NEED  TO  KNOW  THE  WAY.

Being separated from God also means we are on the wrong road and that He cannot “deliver us from temptation” (save us from the attractive power of sin) because we have chosen the way of sin and spiritual death over choosing God and His way.  So, when we do not have a Savior, we don’t have God’s power within us to enable us to overcome the power of sin, which, as the Bible says, “may seem pleasureable for a while,” but is always ultimately destructive to lives, health, stability, and relationships.

In other words, we are heading in the wrong direction because we don’t yet know that God’s way is the right way and the best way for us.   Being separated from God means that we are on that path of seeking pleasure.  There is an emptiness inside us, and we are continually trying to fill it with things, experiences, pleasures, relationships, and prestige.  However, all we continue to find is emptiness; because what our soul really needs is spiritual life, plus direction and power for living that come from God (through His Holy Spirit within us) after we have been spiritually re-born.

In order for spiritual rebirth to happen, we must first realize that we are on  the wrong road and decide that we want to live in relationship with God through Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord

Here’s what the Bible says about that:

We are lost and on the wrong road, confused and in danger; but God does not want this to be our fate.
“When he saw the crowds, He (Jesus) had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  ~  Matthew 9:36

We can only be saved through spiritual re-birth, which is possible because Jesus was willling to die to pay the penalty for our sins.  It’s as though a judge pronounces you guilty because he is a just judge, but then he steps out from behind his podium and pays the penalty for you becuase he is also a merciful judge.
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”  ~  Titus 3:5

We can only be free from the power of sin during our earthly lives through God’s Holy Spirit, living within us after we are spiritually reborn.
“And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”  ~  Romans 8:2

“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”  ~  Romans 6:14

When we are trying to find our way, all we have to do is look to Jesus.  He alone can provide salvation, which is the only way of escape from the power of sin and the eventual penalty for sin.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6

 Remember that in our state of being without Jesus, we are separated from God, which means that we cannot discern truth about God and about spiritual matters without help.  That is why God sends His Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts about the truth of God’s plan of salvation.  It is also why God’s Holy Spirit comes to live within us when we have trusted Christ for our salvation.  We need divine help in our process of becoming more like Jesus.

We have looked at the ways that Jesus will make a difference in this life.  As the scriptures above reveal, a person who has trusted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior has received God’s mercy and been washed and reborn through the Holy Spirit.  In addition, he or she has been freed from the power of sin.  This does not mean that we will have a future of complete sinless perfection on Earth.  Rather, it means that when we trust God and turn to Him for strength in our everyday lives, He will help us to gain victory over temptation.  No Christian does this perfectly because we are all in a process of growing in our faith and in our relationship with the Lord.  However, God’s power is available to us if we will only seek HIM.  It’s when we try to handle things on our own that we mess up.

Help in this earthly life is certainly one of the reasons that we need Jesus.  The other reason is that without Him, we cannot enter Heaven.

  HEAVEN  IS  A  HOLY  PLACE  WHERE  NO  SIN  CAN  BE  FOUND
  … but on Earth, we are living with the consequences of our own sinfulness (both individually and collectively).

The Bible says that Heaven is unimaginable to us because we have never experienced anything like it.  We would not even have the words to describe it, because it is unlike anything we have every seen or heard or known.

“But as it is written, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”  ~  I Corinthians 2:9

“Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”  ~  Hebrews 11:6

Obviously, Heaven would not be Heaven if it were to become unholy.  If there were still sorrow and pain and jealousy and hatred, along with crimes committed and people being victimized, it would certainly not be heaven.  People would have to be changed in some way to make it possible for them to become holy so that they can live in relationship with God while on the earth and then live with Him forever in Heaven.

So, if people are going to overcome the sin barrier to relationship with God and eventually be there, how do they become fit for Heaven?

Here are a couple of ideas that many people have about heaven.

Idea #1:  If you do more good than bad during your lifetime, you will go to Heaven.

Many, many people believe this idea, but it is false.

Remember that Heaven is a holy place.  Holy means totally free of sin.

Idea #2:  Heaven will be what I want it to be.

Often, people say, “This is Heaven!” when tasting something delicious or experiencing something delightful.  However, anything good that we have experienced on earth will pale in comparison to what Heaven is really like.  Even if God were to describe Heaven for us, we wouldn’t understand it until we get there.  We have no frame of reference, nothing even approaching an equal, for comparison.  Imagine trying to describe Disney World to a young child who has lived all his life in a primitive village.  The only way he would really understand how amazing the place is would be to actually go there.  It is the same way with Heaven.  Imagine all of the best and most beautiful parts of life and of God’s creation, without any of the bad things that we experience here on Earth.  It’s all of that and more… multiplied by infinity.

Did you know that God wants YOU to experience Heaven?

He does not want you to miss out on relationship with Him now, and He doesn’t want you to miss all that He has prepared in Heaven for those who love Him.  

Here’s what the Bible says about that:

The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.  ~ 2nd Peter 3:9

In other words, God is patient with this crazy, mixed up world and with all of the people in it, even though we are now experiencing sin and hurt and pain, because what He has to give us (everlasting life, abundant life on Earth, and living forever with Him in Heaven, fully experiencing His great love for us and the wonder that He has created) is so much greater than anything that  we could imagine.  It will more than make up for any temporary pain in this life.  It will be infinitely beyond the best we could imagine… forever.  He loves us and wants us to know and experience all of this.  He is waiting to finally make everything right (He is a God of justice after all) because God loves you more than you can imagine and because He is a God of mercy.  Even though He is absolutely Holy and could demand anything from us, He loves mercy (and showing mercy to everyone who will accept this free gift) much more than He loves having everything on Earth be perfectly right.

Think about it for a moment.

If God had allowed us to experience Heaven without living on Earth first or a Heaven-like experience on Earth, something would have had to be fundamentally different.

Either we  would have to be created without the capacity to sin, which would have meant that we would have no free will.

or

God would have to render immediate judgement for every wrong that we did, making us fear Him so much that we would behave rightly to avoid punishment.

For a God who loves us and wants us to experience His love, harsh and immediate judgement was not His way.  Neither was it His desire to rob mankind of choice.  So, he lets us choose, delays His judgement, and yet provides us with a way to overcome evil and temptation on Earth through His power when we accept His provision of a Savior… His own Son’s death substituting for any judgement we would have faced….

All we have to do is to admit that we need Him… that we have sinned against God by choosing our own way.  Then, we need to accept this free gift of salvation, believing that Jesus is God’s Son, who lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, was buried and then raised from the dead, so that He could be the Savior whose death paid the penalty for the sins of all mankind and the Lord of life and giver of eternal life for all who trust Him with their hearts and souls and lives.

Here are some more verses from the Bible about how much God loves us and what He wants to do in our lives.

Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:10
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

Romans 8:32
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 8:34
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding (praying) for us.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Dear friend, we all need a Savior.

We need a Savior because God is Holy.
We need a Savior because we are not holy.
We need a Savior because we cannot save ourselves.

Only Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

*  He will show you the way (and indeed has provided the way of salvation for you through His own death, burial, and resurrection, exchanging His life for yours as the payment for your sins).
*  He will reveal the truth to you.  Through the sending of God’s Holy Spirit after salvation, through relationship with Him, and through the teaching of God’s word, you will be led into all truth.
*  He will provide spiritual life and eternal life for you.

Would you like to know more?  Here’s a link to our page that has many resources for you.  There are links to answer all of the questions that you may have.  Blessings to you as you seek the truth and the answers to your questions.  Every person ultimately has to decide:  what will I do about Jesus?

Do You Know Jesus?

Do you know Jesus? 

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make!  The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.  The blog page found at the link above will help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.

Thank you for taking the time to read the above blog post. May God bless you with understanding and faith.

“He is Jesus!” ~ Reader’s Theater Script

This Reader’s Theater script may be presented in a local church without cost or further permission.  See our usage permission information at the end of this post for full details.

<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

HE  IS  JESUS!

DIRECTOR’S  NOTE:  This Reader’s Theater Script calls for 3 readers.  Two of the readers should be male, and one should be female.  A media presentation could be added for greater impact, with appropriate slides to aid in telling the story.  This script could be used at any time of year, but it would be especially effective on Palm Sunday or Easter Sunday. 

 

Female Reader:  Prophets foretold His birth centuries before it occurred.
An angel appeared to His mother to announce the miracle of his conception.

Male Reader:  His Father chose as His mother an unknown maiden with a heart inclined to God and ready to surrender herself to God’s will.

Female Reader:  He left His heavenly home to come into a world that seemed to have no room for Him.

Male Reader:  He was born in Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy of His royal birth.

Female Reader:  And yet, He was born in the humblest of circumstances in order to identify fully with humankind and because He had no intention of becoming an earthly King.

Male Reader:  His birth was celebrated by angels and accompanied by a phenomenal Heavenly star in order to proclaim His deity.

Female Reader:  Modest working men were the first to hear of His coming, demonstrating that no wealth is necessary to know Him.

Male Reader:  Wise men of wealth and position travelled from far away to bring gifts to Him and worship the One whose birth could be seen in the Heavens, showing that He was and is the King of Kings.

Female Reader:  He astonished the well-educated scholars in the temple at a young age, demonstrating that He is the Word made flesh.

Male Reader:  He healed sickness, demonstrating His compassion and His power over human frailty.
He raised the dead, demonstrating His power over death and the coming end of sorrow.

Female Reader:  He multiplied the provisions of men, taking care of earthly need and demonstrating that God can take what we offer and do more with it that we could imagine.
He walked on water and calmed the storm, demonstrating His supremacy over all created things and what we call the “laws of nature.”

Male Reader:  He taught with authority because He was the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Female Reader:  He taught profound truth through the simplicity of parables so that all people and even children could understand.

Male Reader:  He wept at the sorrow of death and at the tragic cost of rejecting God’s plan, demonstrating His incarnation.

Female Reader:  He is Emmanuel, God with us,… even in grief, in sorrow, in rejection, and in loss.

Male Reader:  He demonstrated humility in washing the feet of His own disciples.

Female Reader:  He foretold His own death and resurrection and the denial of one of His closest followers.

Male Reader:  He chose God’s will for Himself and submitted to a mockery of a trial so that He could take our guilt.

Female Reader:  He was beaten, despised, humiliated and condemned so that we could be redeemed.

Male Reader:  He carried much more than a heavy wooden cross on His back.
He carried the weight of the sin of all mankind.

Female Reader:  The hands that blessed and healed were nailed to a cross.

Male Reader:  The beautiful feet that had carried the message of God’s love and mercy were pierced so that He could carry our sin to the mercy seat.

Female Reader:  The heart that beat with more love than you or I could fathom was stilled as He gave up His life so that we could have life everlasting.

Male Reader:  He commited His spirit to God and spoke the words of victory that echo through eternity: “It is finished!”

** (Drama  Director’s Note:  Here, a flash of light followed by momentary darkness would be very dramatic and appropriate.  At the very least, there should be a slight pause before the reading resumes.)

Prophetic Voice:  “He was in the beginning with God, and with Him everything that was created was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

Male and Female Readers:  He is life, and He came to give life. And yet, …He endured death, …and darkness, …and Hell.

Prophetic Voice:  “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Male Reader:  He did not stay in the tomb. He was no longer there, for He had risen, just as He said.

Female Reader:  He appeared to Mary, to his disciples, and to other followers. He was not bound by death or by the walls of a tomb.

Male and Female Readers:  He is alive!

Male Reader:  After spending some time with them, He told His followers that He must leave so that the Holy Spirit could come and inhabit the hearts of all believers.

Female Reader:  He told them what he would be doing while they were apart.
He is preparing a place in Heaven, reigning as Sovereign Lord at the right hand of God the Father, and praying for believers.

Male Reader:  He gave them their mission:

Prophetic Voice:  “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.”

Male Reader:  He is with us. He is praying for us. He is preparing a place for us.

Female Reader:  He is still changing lives, touching hearts, and healing hurts.

Male and Female Readers:  He is the Savior of the world.

Male Reader:  He is the Redeemer whose love for mankind could not be crucified.

Female Reader:  He is the Lord of All.

Male Reader:  He is the beginning and the end.

Female Reader:  He is the Bridegroom, whose love for His bride, the Church, is the most pure and sacrificial of all loves.

Male Reader:  He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

Female Reader:  He is the Living Water, bringing unquenchable life.

Male Reader:  He is the King of Glory and the hope of mankind.

Female Reader:  He is the joy of man’s desiring.

Male and Female Readers:  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Prophetic Voice joins Male and Female Readers:  He is Jesus!

 

***********************************************************************************************************************

This post originated in the heart of God before the foundation of the World.
The words were put together by Cynthia A. Boyd to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior.

***********************************************************************************************************************

Do you know someone who is looking for answers?

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this page. We hope that it has been helpful to you. If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”. The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions. Here is the link to “Do You Know Jesus?”: http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

Please feel free to share this URL with anyone who is looking for answers about life and eternity.

***********************************************************************************************************************

“He is Jesus!”, copyright 2012 by Cynthia A. Boyd, all rights reserved.
* Sharing in a publication or on a website: To share this post, only the URL (see below) may be copied or posted unless permission is obtained. Permission may be requested through a comment on this post. The comment will not be seen by anyone but our blog editor, and we will correspond with you by e-mail. http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/he-is-jesus/
* Reader’s Theater presentation: Permission is granted for printing copies for 3 readers and a drama coach in order to present this as a reader’s theater presentation in a local church. However, permission must be obtained for audio or video recording if this is used as a reading.
We’ve done the preparation work for you! (See link below)
Note: A  non – Reader’s Theater  version of this post, written as prose, can be found at:

***********************************************************************************************************************

Come and See

For unto us a Child is born…

What would it have been like to be there on the holiest of nights, when God came to earth in the form of a precious baby named Jesus?

Have you pondered that question during this Christmas?  Would you or I have felt immediate peace in the presence of the Prince of Peace?  Would we have understood the significance of the gift?  Or, would we have been too caught up in your own lives to even pay attention.

What would it have been like to be there and simply be living life, unaware that the greatest gift in the history of the world had just been given…. to you, and to all of mankind?  We can look to the story for our answer.

It is the shepherds with whom most of us would identify.  Their vocation may have been humble, and God must have chosen them specifically to send a message that His salvation could not be bought or earned.  However, their focus on the everyday (and every night) tasks of life is the common denominator with us.  Some of them were probably asleep, and some were just doing their jobs.  Most importantly, none of them seemed to have had any knowledge that the night when Jesus was born would be different from any other night.

*

In the account of the angels’ proclamation to the shepherds, their response to the events and their state of mind as the night unfolded was revealed four times (as told in Luke, chapter 2).

*

First, the shepherds were afraid.  A quiet night on the hillside with sleeping sheep had suddenly become an event.  The startling light was unlike anything anyone had seen before.  It was more than just light.  It was “the radiance of the Lord’s glory”.  The shepherds must have felt that they had been singled out because they had done something wrong and that they must now answer to the Lord because surely all their wrongs were known.  The angel had to reassure them by saying, “Fear not!”, before proclaiming the good news of the Savior’s birth and stating God’s intention of revealing His good will toward men.

The Shepherds and Angels
(from Luke, chapter 2)

⁸ That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹ Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰ but the angel reassured them.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Secondly, the shepherds were obedient (and perhaps more than a little curious).  They said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us.”

*

(If the Lord chose to reveal something this big to you, in such an astonishing way, wouldn’t you want to go?)

*
Remember, though, that in order to be obedient and go to see the Child, the shepherds had to leave behind their livelihood (the sheep) and let go of the concerns that caused them to spend the night on the hillside (the guarding of the sheep).  To leave their posts and their responsibilities behind, they had to either be so caught up in the miraculous that they temporarily forgot the everyday, or they had to be trusting that the God who was big enough to do all that they had just witnessed and to fulfill His promise of a Messiah, a Savior, was big enough to take care of their concerns.)

*

¹⁵ When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

Thirdly, the shepherds were amazed and excited, to the point that they testified about all that they had heard and seen repeatedly.  They were so thrilled and humbled and joyous that they could not keep this good news (and the miraculous events of that night) to themselves.  They told everyone!

(Note:  The word “humbled” is used here because the focus of the shepherd’s retelling was the events and the Child.  We know about them today only because they were humble enough to be obedient and then were transformed by the revelation of God’s good will toward men, incarnate in the infant Christ, to the extent that they did not care what anyone thought and were determined to personally share the news with as many people as possible.  (Remember that they had left their job caring for the sheep in order to go and find the Christ child.  However, sharing the good news about what had occurred was more important to them than any concerns about their livelihood.)

¹⁷ After seeing Him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. ¹⁸ All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, ¹⁹ but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

*
Finally, the shepherds were worshipping with joy.  Remember the description of the shepherds’ return to their flocks after seeing the infant Christ?  They were “glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.”  That is worship.

*

²⁰ The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

*  Notice that the shepherds were not praising God only for the experience of seeing Jesus but rather for ALL that they had heard and seen.  Even the angels’ pronoucement, which terrified them at first, had become a source of joy and wonder and something else for which to give God praise.  The very fact that God’s holiness and power had been manifested to them on that hillside and in the person of the infant Christ gave them reason to rejoice.
*  Notice also that the shepherds had to obey what they were told to do before they were able to have the full experience of worship, joy, and wonder.  God announced His incredible gift to them and invited them to come and see.  Then, they had to respond… just as we must respond individually to God’s good news that He has provided a Savior for us.

*

Again, God has taken the initiative.  He has provided a Savior in response to our need. laying aside His own glory and willingly experiencing pain and loss because of His love for us.  All we have to do is to bring our doubts and sins and fears to the manger and the cross, believing that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world,  and then laying our burdens down in exchange for His gift of salvation in Christ.

*

He has given the gift.  He has issued the invitation.  Have you come?  This is what He says to you, to me, and to everyone:

Matthew 11:28

New International Version (NIV)

(Note:  Jesus Himself is speaking in the verse below.)

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

• Psalm 34:8
  New King James Version
  “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

Our God has sent a Savior, Jesus, to rescue us from our own hardened hearts.
He chose to come to earth in the form of a Man in order to do what we could no do for ourselves.  He lived a perfect life so that He could, once and for all, pay the penalty for the sins of mankind.  To God be the glory!

*

May we praise Him every day for that Holy night and what it means…

Emmanuel, God with us!

>*<>*<>*<>*<

Here is a poem that I wrote as this Christmas and the Lord of my life touched my heart again through the message of God’s great gift.

<>*<>*<>

 Come and See

Come, lowly shepherds! Now, arise!
Heavenly angels fill the starlit skies,
For in Bethlehem, the promised Child is born.
Come, and see God’s only begotten Son.

And He will care for His flock like a shepherd,
He will give His life for the sheep.
His tender mercies will comfort the fallen,
And He will bind the wounds of the weak.

Come, wise men searching for a King.
Follow the star; your treasures bring.
For in Bethlehem the King of Kings is born
Come, and see this blessed, Holy One.

And He will rise, triumphant and Holy.
He will reign in the Heavens above.
He will fill the hearts of His people
And conquer hatred with His pure love.

Come, pilgrim seeking Heaven’s joy.
Behold “God with us” in this boy.
For the Prince of Peace has come to grace this Earth.
Come, and see Salvation’s humble birth.

And He will calm the storm of temptation
He will heal the sickness of sin.
He will break the chains of the pris’ner
And give new life to us within.

Come, wand’rer chasing empty lies.
Behold the Truth! Lift up your eyes!
For the Light of the World is here to set you free.
Come, and see the Lamb of Calvary.

And He will shine as Star of the Morning.
He will take your hand in the night.
He will slay the dragon of darkness
And fill the shadows with His light.

Come, seeker looking for the Way.
Let Christ be born in you today.
For the Lord of All has come to take your place.
Come, and see your Redeemer’s face.

And He will guard your heart and your tomorrows.
He will wash away every stain.
He will redeem each one of your sorrows.
And bring you joy even through pain.

For He is Lord, Messiah, and Savior.
He is Emmanuel, King of Kings.
He is the Alpha and the Omega.
He is the one of whom angels sing.

Come, and see.

–  by Cynthia A. Boyd
Copyright December 2013

<>*<>*<>*<>*<>

A Reader’s Theatre Version of this poem has now been added to our blog.

You can find it at:

https://worshipsounds.wordpress.com/2014/11/16/come-and-see-for-readers-theatre/

<>*<>*<>*<>*<>*

Come, and see!

<>*<>*<>*<>*<>

This post was written by Cynthia A. Boyd

Permission for use:

“Come and See” may be read aloud at any worship service or non-ticketed event (concert or program).  However, it may not printed in any publication or on the internet without permission.  Comment on this post to request permission (unseen by the public, because our comments must be approved).  We will reply to your email address privately.

<>*<>*<>*<>*<>

Looking for answers for yourself or for a friend?

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this post.  We hope that it has been helpful to you.   If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”.   The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions.   Here is the link to “Do You Know Jesus?”:  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

Please feel free to share this URL with anyone who is looking for answers about life and hope.

Songs of the Cross

“God proved His love on the Cross.  When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it  was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.'”

— Billy Graham

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/billygraha150661.html#rQXbTKzmRxUdLX4C.99

Below you will find 5 songs with messages about the cross.  The music players take a moment to load.  If you wait a moment to click “play” until  the music players are completely loaded, they will work.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

Ephesians 1:7

“This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  This is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

I John 4:9 – 10

“He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”

I Peter 2:24

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”

I Peter 3:18

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

John 3:16 – 17

* INFORMATION  ABOUT  THE  MUSIC *

Song 1:  “Jesus, My Redeemer” was written by Travis L. Boyd and published as an SATB Choral Anthem by Shawnee Press / Hal Leonard.
(more complete information, including purchasing links, can be found at this link:  https://soundcloud.com/#travis-l-boyd/jesus-my-redeemer )

Song 2:  “More Than a Cross” was written by Travis L. Boyd and published by Lifeway.
(more complete information, including purchasing info, can be found at this link:  https://soundcloud.com/#travis-l-boyd/more-than-a-cross )

Song 3:  “He Took Up A Cross”  was written by Travis L. Boyd and recorded by The Singing Churchwomen of Oklahoma, then under the direction of Dr. Bill Green, on their CD entitled, “The Lord is My Light”.  (The SATB Choral Anthem for “He Took Up a Cross” is available on the Adult Choir page of our Worship Sounds Music website at http://www.worshipsounds.com )

Song 4:  “For the Sins of All” was written by Travis L. Boyd and is available as a Vocal Solo and as an SATB Choral Anthem on our Worship Sounds Music website at http://www.worshipsounds.com  )

Song 5:  “Amazing Grace!  Eternal Life!”  was written by Travis L. Boyd and published as an SATB Choral  Anthem with Full Orchestration available by the Lorenz Corporation.
(More information, including purchasing links, is available at this link:  https://soundcloud.com/#travis-l-boyd/amazing-grace-eternal-life )

<><><><><><><><><><>

Do you know Jesus?

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make!  The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.  Here’s a blog page link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

<><><><><><><><><>

Victorious Savior!

Have you ever been confronted by the reality of eternal truth in such a way that the experience is always remembered and can bring you to tears, even years later?  This post tells the story of such an occasion, when I was confronted with the reality of the resurrection (through “The Resurrection”) and the glory of my victorious risen Savior in an unexpected place.  I will never forget what it was like to gaze up into the depiction of the face of my Savior. with the central figure of the victorious, risen Christ over 7 feet tall and displayed impressively upon a long, raised platform, flanked with the figures of the two cowering Roman guards on the ground.  There was strength, life, vitality, and victory in the figure’s movement, love and benediction in His face, and a gesture of blessing through his raised hand.  Hallelujah, He is risen!

First Corinthians 15:54 is a victorious scripture for all Christians.  Because of the resurrection of Christ, His victory over death, and God’s power over all that is, this verse tells us that “Death is swallowed up in victory!”  (a reference to Isaiah 25:8  “He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces…”)   The source of our victory is our victorious Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, and our all powerful God of love, who will demonstrate His compassion with the tender act of personally wiping away our tears.

Here are several translations of this amazing promise from God’s word: 

I Corinthians 15:54

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

International Standard Version (©2008)
Now, when what is decaying is clothed with what cannot decay, and what is dying is clothed with what cannot die, then the written word will be fulfilled: “Death has been swallowed up by victory!”

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Whenever this destructible puts on indestructibility and this mortal, immortality, then that word which is written shall come to pass, “Death is swallowed up by victory.”

GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995)
When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true: “Death is turned into victory!

Confronted by a powerful visual depiction, 
“La Resurrection”

When I visited the Louvre Museum in Paris a few years ago, one work of art struck me with the power of an image that has since been brought to my mind every time I think of our victorious Savior and His Resurrection.  On the ground floor, in the Richelieu Sculpture Gallery, one enters a large doorway to a section of the gallery and is immediately confronted with a sculpture of the Risen Christ striding victoriously from the tomb, with the awe-struck Roman guards on the ground on either side of the central figure.  Greater than life size at over 7 feet tall, the stature of the risen Christ is further magnified by the height of the pedestal on which all 3 figures are mounted.  I could have stood and looked up at this depiction of my Lord for hours, with tears and emotion overwhelming me.  For me, this image was so powerful and moving.  It is impossible to adequately describe the experience of seeing this work of art in person.  It was a visual representation of the very real power of God and His promise of eternal life in Christ.

French sculptor Germain Pilon (1537 – 1590 ) created this 3 piece work in marble in around 1572.  It had been commissioned by Catherine de Medicis, the widow of King Henry II of France.  It was to be housed in a circular funerary chapel built on one side of the Basilica of Saint-Denis (the burial place of the kings of France).  Construction of the Valois Rotunda began in about 1560, but the structure was never completed due to civil strife and lack of funds.   The Basilica still stands in a northern suburb of Paris (see photo), but the rotunda was destroyed in the early 18th century due to fears that the structure would collapse.

As a result of the incomplete structure, Pilon’s powerful sculpture, called “La Resurrection,”  never left the sculptor’s studio during his lifetime.  For part of it’s history, the sculpture’s three figures were then separated and displayed in different locations.  Now,  on display in the Louvre at the gallery entrance, in front of a wall which provides a backdrop and sections off this sculpture from all the others in that particular gallery, the three figures have been reunited in a setting that allows the emotional and spiritual power of the sculptor’s original vision to be seen and experienced once again.  Though I cannot help but marvel at the God-given talent that allowed the creation of “The Resurrection”, I can’t look upon this wonderful scene without thinking of our very real Savior and His love for mankind, His victory over death, and the salvation that is available to all in Him.  Below, you will see a photo of “The Resurrection.”  Though a picture can be powerful, there is no comparison to gazing up into the face of this depiction of the victorious Christ in person.  And, as powerful as that experience can be, it will pale and be nothing in comparison to meeting our Lord and Savior face to face.  Praise God!  Death is swallowed up in victory!

The Resurrection

Here is the description of the statue from the Louvre’s website
http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/resurrection

“Two Roman soldiers have fallen to the ground in awe at the sight of the resurrected Christ. With head bent at a slight angle and lowered gaze, this handsome, athletic-looking, muscular-legged Christ seems to be rising upwards into the skies. The group was commissioned by the queen Catherine de Médicis for the Valois Chapel that she was having built in the abbey of Saint-Denis, but it never left the sculptor’s studio during his life.

A weightless Christ

If Germain Pilon did not design the sculpture himself, his execution imbues the work with its moving beauty. The slender, lithe, wiry legs, which seem too frail to support the muscular torso, stride forward and barely touch the ground. They thrust the figure upwards, as if the body were weightless, a justifiable impression since this is the glorious body of Christ ascending into Heaven. The position of the body emphasizes this impression of weightlessness: bust pushed forward, head bent, lowered gaze, the risen Christ appears to be leaning forward to bless mankind who must remain on Earth. The gesture of benediction is highlighted by the size of the hand, out of proportion with the rest of the body. Christ’s idealized facial features are combined with a very humane expression and gentle gaze.”

To the reader, it may seem that too much focus is placed upon a work made by a man and not enough focus is placed upon the work of God in providing salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  However, I think that it is fitting to recognize the works of men that do bring glory to God, which is our chief purpose for living.  The very image provided by this sculpture and the impact that seeing it has made in my life is a reminder to me of God’s power and his provision for us.  If I were a sculptor, I would want my hands to produce something that conveys the truth that death has been swallowed up in victory through the saving work of Christ on the cross and the power of our almighty God that raised him from the dead.  I don’t happen to possess this particular talent, but all of us can bring glory to God just by doing what we do “as to the Lord and not unto men”, seeking to bring Him glory.  If you are a singer, sing of His glory and grace, His victory and might, His love and compassion.  If you are a writer, write about it.  Whatever you do, do it to bring glory to the One who gave his all so that we might know him, have victory over sin and hell and death, and live forever in Heaven with the Lord.

None of the gospel accounts of the resurrection tell us exactly how Jesus left the tomb.  The account that follows, from Matthew’s gospel, tells us that he was already gone when the stone was rolled away.  Perhaps he did come striding right through the outer wall of that tomb, giving the guards the fright of their lives, as Pilon depicts in his sculpture.  Perhaps he left through the tomb’s ceiling, bursting through the rocky hillside above.  However he left that place of burial, I’m just glad he did!  I like to think of the risen Christ much as he is depicted in the statue, fully alive!…  strong and victorious! …confident in His purpose! … the compassionate and caring Lord of all creation, reaching out to all mankind in demonstration of the love, the amazing grace, and the power of God.

See Matthew’s thrilling resurrection account below:

Matthew, chapter 28
The Resurrection of Jesus

¹After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. ² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

 ¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

<><><><><><><>

Post written by C. Boyd, in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter Sunday, 2012

<><><><><><><>

Do you know someone who is looking for answers? 

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this page.  We hope that it has been helpful to you.   If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”.   The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions.   Here is the link to “Do You Know Jesus?”:  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

The Name Above all Names

Who is Jesus?

There are many roles defined in scripture for Jesus as our Lord and Savior.   He has also been given many names that are descriptive of his supremacy over all things in every way.  The name of Jesus has saving power and authority over all of Creation.  His name is truly the name above all names! 

Jesus Christ is…..

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
(from John 1:29)

Advocate  (1 John 2:1)
Almighty  (Revelation 1:8; Matthew 28:18)
Alpha and Omega  (Revelation 1:8 and 22:13)
Amen  (Revelation 3:14)
Apostle  of our Profession  (Hebrews 3:1)
Atoning Sacrifice for our  Sins  (1 John 2:2)
Author of Life  (Acts 3:15)
Author and Perfecter of our Faith  (Hebrews 12:2)
Author of Salvation  (Hebrews 2:10)
Beginning and End  (Revelation  22:13)
Blessed and only Ruler  (1 Timothy 6:15)
Bread of God  (John 6:33)
Bread of Life  (John  6:35 and 6:48)
Bridegroom  (Matthew 9:15)
Capstone  (Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7)
Chief Cornerstone  (Ephesians  2:20)
Chief Shepherd  (1 Peter 5:4)
Christ  (1 John 2:22)
Creator  (John 1:3)
Deliverer  (Romans 11:26)
Eternal Life  (1 John 1:2 and 5:20)
Faithful and True  (Revelation 19:11)
Faithful Witness  (Revelation 1:5 and 3:14)
First and  Last  (Revelation 1:17, 2:8, and 22:13)
Firstborn from the Dead  (Revelation 1:5)
Firstborn over all creation  (Colossians 1:15)
Gate  (John 10:9)
God  (John 1:1 and 20:28; Hebrews 1:8; Romans 9:5)
Good (or Great)  Shepherd  (John 10:11 &14; Hebrews 13:20)
Great High Priest  (Hebrews 4:14)
Head of the Church  (Ephesians 1:22, 4:15, and 5:23)
Heir of all things  (Hebrews 1:2)
High Priest  (Hebrews 2:17)
Holy and True  (Revelation 3:7)   
Holy One  (Acts 3:14)
Hope  (1 Timothy 1:1)
Hope of Glory  (Colossians 1:27)
Horn of  Salvation  (Luke 1:69)
I Am  (John 8:58)
Image of God  (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Immanuel  (Matthew 1:23)
Judge of the living and the dead  (Acts 10:42)
King Eternal  (1 Timothy 1:17)
King of Israel  (John  1:49)
King of the Jews  (Matthew 27:11)
King of kings  (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16)
King of the Ages  (Revelation 15:3)
Lamb  (Revelation 13:8)
Lamb of  God  (John 1:29)
Lamb Without Blemish  (1 Peter 1:19)
Last Adam  (1 Corinthians 15:45)
Life  (John 14:6; Colossians 3:4)
Light of the World  (John 8:12)
Lion of the Tribe of Judah  (Revelation 5:5)
Living One  (Revelation 1:18)
Living Stone  (1 Peter 2:4)
Lord  (2 Peter 2:20)
Lord of All  (Acts 10:36)
Lord of Glory  (1 Corinthians 2:8)
Lord of lords  (Revelation 19:16)
Man from Heaven  (1 Corinthians 15:48)
Mediator of the New Covenant  (Hebrews 9:15)
Mighty God  (Isaiah 9:6)
Morning Star  (Revelation 22:16)
Offspring of David  (Revelation 22:16)
Only Begotten Son of God  (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)

Our Great God and Savior  (Titus 2:13)
Our Holiness  (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Our Husband  (2 Corinthians 11:2)
Our Protection  (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
Our Redemption  (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Our Righteousness  (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb  (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Power of God  (1 Corinthians 1:24)
Precious Cornerstone  (1 Peter 2:6)
Prophet  (Acts 3:22)
Rabbi  (Matthew 26:25)
Resurrection and Life  (John 11:25)
Righteous Branch  (Jeremiah 23:5)
Righteous One  (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
Rock  (1 Corinthians 10:4)
Root of David  (Revelation 5:5 and 22:16)
Ruler of God’s Creation  (Revelation 3:14)
Ruler of the Kings of the Earth  (Revelation 1:5)
Savior  (Ephesians 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Peter 2:20)

“For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:17

Savior of the world  (John 3:16 & 17Son of David  (Luke 18:39)
Son of God  (John 1:49; Hebrews 4:14)
Son of Man  (Matthew 8:20)
Son of the Most High God  (Luke 1:32)
Source of Eternal Salvation for believers  (Hebrews  5:9)
The One Mediator  (1 Timothy 2:5)
The Stone the builders rejected  (Acts 4:11)
True Bread  (John 6:32)
True Light  (John 1:9)
True Vine  (John 15:1)
Truth  (John 1:14 and 14:6)
Way  (John 14:6)
Wisdom of God  (1 Corinthians 1:24)
Word  (John 1:1)
Word of God  (Revelation19:13)

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Read more at Name Above All Names
This site is the source from which the above list of the names of Jesus (with scripture references) was copied.  The two larger illustrations that appear on this post also came from this web site.

The copied text mentioned above was introduced and edited for this post by C. Boyd

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Here is a link to a site with even more names taken from scripture…over 500!  http://www.wonderful1.com/page6.html

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make!  The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.  Here’s a blog page link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

He is Jesus!

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and in the day of eternity. Amen.” II Peter 3:18

Prophets foretold His birth centuries before it occurred.  An angel appeared to His mother to announce the miracle of his conception.

His Father chose as His mother an unknown maiden with a heart inclined to God and ready to surrender herself to God’s will.

He left His heavenly home to come into a world that seemed to have no room for Him.

He was born in Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy of His royal birth.

And yet, He was born in the humblest of circumstances in order to identify fully with humankind and because He had no intention of becoming an earthly King.

His birth was celebrated by angels and accompanied by a phenomenal Heavenly star to proclaim His deity.

Modest working men were the first to hear of His coming, demonstrating that no wealth is necessary to know Him.

Wise men of wealth and position travelled from far away to bring gifts to Him and worship the One whose birth could be seen in the Heavens, showing that He was and is the King of Kings.

He astonished the learned scholars in the temple at a young age, demonstrating that He is the Word made flesh.

He healed sickness, demonstrating His compassion and His power over human frailty.

He raised the dead, demonstrating His power over death and the coming end of sorrow.

He multiplied the provisions of men, taking care of earthly need and demonstrating that God can take what we offer and do more with it that we could imagine.

He walked on water and calmed the storm, demonstrating His supremacy over all created things and what we call the “laws of nature.”

He taught with authority because He was the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

He taught profound truth through the simplicity of parables so that all people and even children could understand.

He wept at the sorrow of death and the rejection of God’s plan in demonstration of His incarnation.  He is Emmanuel, God with us,… in grief, in sorrow, in rejection, and in loss.

He demonstrated humility in washing the feet of His own disciples.

He foretold His own death and resurrection and the denial of one of His closest followers.

He chose God’s will for Himself and submitted to a mockery of a trial so that He could take our guilt.

He was beaten, despised, humiliated and condemned so that we could be redeemed.

He carried much more than a heavy wooden cross on His back.  He carried the weight of the sin of all mankind.

The hands that blessed and healed were nailed to a cross.

The beautiful feet that had carried the message of God’s love and mercy were pierced so that He could carry our sin to the mercy seat.

The heart that beat with more love than you or I could fathom was stilled as He gave up His life so that we could have life everlasting.

He commited His spirit to God and spoke the words of victory that echo through eternity:  “It is finished!”

“He was in the beginning with God, and with Him everything that was created was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

He is life, and He came to give life.  And yet, he endured death, and darkness, and Hell.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

He did not stay in the tomb.   He was no longer there, for He had risen, just as He said.

He appeared to Mary, to his disciples, and to other followers.  He was not bound by death or by the walls of a tomb.  He is alive!

He told His followers that he must leave so that the Holy Spirit could come and inhabit the hearts of all believers.

He told them what he would be doing while they were apart.  He is preparing a place in Heaven, reigning as Sovereign Lord at the right hand of God the Father, and praying for believers.

He gave them their mission:  “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.”

He is with us.  He is praying for us.  He is preparing a place for us.

He is still changing lives, touching hearts, and healing hurts.

He is the Savior of the world.

He is the Redeemer whose love for mankind could not be crucified.

He is the Lord of All.

He is the beginning and the end.

He is the Bridegroom.

He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

He is the Living Water, bringing unquenchable life.

He is the King of glory, the hope of mankind, and the joy of man’s desiring.

He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

He is Jesus!

***********************************************************************************************************************

This post originated in the heart of God before the foundation of the World.
The words were put together by Cynthia A. Boyd to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior.

***********************************************************************************************************************

Do you know someone who is looking for answers?

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this page.  We hope that it has been helpful to you.   If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”.   The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions.   Here is the link to “Do You Know Jesus?”:  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

Please feel free to share this URL with anyone who is looking for answers about life and eternity.

***********************************************************************************************************************

He is Jesus!”, copyright 2012 by Cynthia A. Boyd, all rights reserved.
To share this post in a publication or on a website,  only the URL  may be copied or posted.
http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/he-is-jesus/
Permission is granted for using this as a Reader’s Theater presentation, but further permission must be obtained for audio or video recording of the reading.
To see our Reader’s Theater Script for this post, go to:

https://worshipsounds.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/he-is-jesus-readers-theater-script/