Many people, of course, recognise Jesus' humanity - but fail to accept His Deity. They are content to accept the historical existence of One who was known as Jesus of Nazareth. They are not prepared to acknowledge the One Who is God the Son. One is reminded of the young woman who was engaged to be married to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, before he rose to fame. Impressed by what she considered to be more handsome men, she became disenchanted with Mozart because he was so short. So, she broke the engagement and went with someone tall and, in her eyes, more physically attractive (Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!).
However, it is recorded that, when the world began to praise Mozart for his outstanding musical accomplishments, she regretted her decision! "I knew nothing of the greatness of his genius." she said. "I only saw him as a little man"!
One sometimes wonders why the Jews, who knew the Scriptures (the Tanakh; the Old Testament), failed to see Jesus' true greatness. The Tanakh is, of course, filled with prophecies of HaMashiach (the Messiah). He was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); He was to be born of a virgin (Is.7:14); He was to be a descendant of king David (Jer.23:5-6, 33:15); He was to heal the sick, and raise the dead (numerous prophecies, e.g. Zech.9:11. See also Matt.11:2-5); He would enter Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey (Zech.9:9); He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zech.11:12); His hands and feet were to be pierced (Ps.22:18); He was to be buried in a rich man's tomb (Is.53:9).
Only one Man fulfilled these and many other prophecies. However, perhaps the most telling fact is that there was only a very narrow time-frame in which they could be fulfilled! At the very time in which Jesus of Nazareth was ministering, Jewish leaders were actually looking for HaMashiach! This was why they asked John the Baptiser if he was the One they were expecting (John 1:19) – something he immediately denied.
So why was HaMashiach expected at this particular time? It was because
they knew the Tanakh, and they knew that HaMashiach would appear at that
precise time! This is based on the Book of Daniel. The archangel Gabriel
revealed to Daniel, while he was still in captivity in Babylon, that precisely
483 years after the command to rebuild Jerusalem was given “the Anointed One”
(i.e. HaMashiach) would come (Dan.9:25). The Book of
Ezra reminds us of the situation regarding that rebuilding. Cyrus (in fulfilment of
another prophecy in the Book of the prophet Isaiah (44:28 – 45) had commanded
that the Temple be rebuilt and, under the leadership of Sheshbazaar, some
42,000 exiles returned to Judah. However, this work did not continue and it was
then Artaxerxes who commanded that officials in the province “Beyond the River”
(the Euphrates) provide Ezra, and the additional exiles who returned with him,
whatever they needed for the rebuilding of the Temple and the city. (That is a very potted version!). This took place
in what we refer to as 457 BC. If we then count forward 483 years, we arrive at
27 AD, and this is the time when the Chief Priests, the Scribes, and the
Pharisees were, indeed, looking for HaMashiach. It is also the time when Jesus
of Nazareth commenced His public ministry!
Perhaps the Jews of the time were looking for the beautiful King described in Isaiah 33:17. They did not understand that, before Messiah came in all of His glorious beauty, He must come as the Man of sorrows described in Is. 53 - a chapter that is never read in synagogues today!
Some of Jesus' contemporaries said that He had "... an unclean spirit." (Mk.3:30). Others tried to throw Him off a cliff (Lk.:29). At first, even His own half-brothers failed to recognise His true identity (Jn.7:5). Indeed, most of Jesus' peers saw Him only as a man (Mk.6:3), and refused to accept Him as God.
The big question is still the one that the Lord Jesus put to the disciples on the way to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. We read it in all three of the Synoptic Gospel records: "Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare′a Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli′jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”" (Matt.16:13-15; emphasis added). Do you think of Jesus as a mere man - or do you know Him as Saviour and Lord? Your eternal destiny depends on your having a complete view of the Christ!
How may one be saved? It's actually as simple as ABC!
Admit that you are a sinner, and can't save yourself (Rom.3:23).
Believe that Jesus died in order to pay the penalty for your sin (Acts 16:31).
Confess Jesus as your personal Saviour and Lord. (Rom.10:9-10).
How may one be saved? It's actually as simple as ABC!
Admit that you are a sinner, and can't save yourself (Rom.3:23).
Believe that Jesus died in order to pay the penalty for your sin (Acts 16:31).
Confess Jesus as your personal Saviour and Lord. (Rom.10:9-10).
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