WHO AM I?
Have you ever asked that question?
I have.
Believe me, it takes great courage to pursue the truth about yourself. The answers given by friends, co-workers, and relatives can be painfully enlightening.
Discovering the truth about yourself can also be an extremely encouraging experience.
Jesus boldly asked that question. Searching the hearts of his disciples Jesus inquired:
Who do people say the Son of Man
of (Jesus) is?
Matthew 16:13
Listen to the answers given by his disciples:
•Some say John the Baptist
•Others say Elijah
•while others say Jeremiah
•or some other prophet.
Matthew 16:14
Searching the depths of their arts, Jesus persistently questioned his disciples about their understanding of
himself. Jesus insisted:
What about you?... Who do you say l am?
Matthew 16:15
Enlightened by the revelation of truth from the Almighty God, St. Peter responded:
You are the Messiah, the Son of the living
God.
Matthew 16:16
Millions of people around the world and throughout the Philippines struggle every day with the truth about the true identity of Jesus Christ. Although the Bible
clearly teaches that Jesus is the Son of God who existed before the creation of all things, many confused people insist upon denying His divinity. Despite the lack of understanding by those confused people, Jesus is God.
Even more confusing for many people is God's Son becoming a man. The Son of God became God incarnate. He became God in the flesh. As St. John
explains to us:
Before the world was created, the Word
(the Son of God) already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God. The Word (the Son of God) became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.
John 1:1, 14
The truth about Jesus Christ obviously stirs the hearts and souls of millions of people, causing us to seek a very
personal relationship with Him as our Savior and Lord. It is apparent, however, that millions of people continue
to suffer from confusion and denial regarding the true identity of Jesus. They reject His divinity and His human-
ity, choosing instead to withdraw from Him entirely.
"Who," I am wondering, ". .. do you say Jesus is--- sino si Jesus sa iyo?"
Several years ago, while studying Tagalog in San Pablo City, Laguna, He developed a very close friendship with a store owner in the public market. Each day I dropped by her small store-nag-uusap kami-to practice my Tagalog lessons. She always listened patiently while I attempted to communicate with her in Tagalog. It was a very humbling experience for me as I struggled- hirap ako-to communicate using her heart language, but her calm spirit always encouraged me to come back the next day and try again.
On one particular morning, however, my friend greeted me with unusual excitement in her voice. As
I entered the crowded store, she directed my attention to a young girl standing near the rear of the store.
This is my niece from the United States," my friend proclaimed. "She is a Filipina, however, not an American."
"No! I am an American," ipinipilit ng isa-the young girl argued, "I am not a Filipina."
Turning quickly to me, "Please tell her that she is not an American," my friend pleaded.
Still visibly frustrated by the young girl's denial.
"Please tell her she is a Filipina," my friend begged for
my approval.
"Look at her skin complexion! Amerikana ba siya?»
she persisted.
"Paano yan nangyari? Please tell her she cannot be an American. Hindi pwede!" she insisted.
Suddenly I realized I was being draWn into a very passionate and delicate family debate.
Using caution and diplomacy-konting ingat
attempted to explain the difference between being an American by citizenship and being an ethnic Filipina.
"She is really an American," I attempted to explain to my friend.
"She was born in America as an American citizen,"
I pointed out.
"Consequently," I declared, "she is 100% American."
At the same time," I reminded her, "she is also an ethnic Filipina. Her mother and father are 100%
Filipino," I pointed out, "and her skin complexion, dark brown eyes, facial features, and black hair identify her
as a Filipina."
"All outward appearance indicates she is 100%
ethnic Filipina-sa tingin lang." Pero, "She is actually a
100% Filipina-American," I explained.
Jesus as the God-Man qualified as
the perfect salvation for our sins.
Like the young girl who is Filipina-American, Jesus is the God-Man. The young girl is an American of Filipino
descent. Jesus was a man of heavenly descent.
Jesus has always been God. He became a man so you and I could receive His gift of eternal life. Jesus became a man as a provision for our hopeless, sinful
lives. Jesus as the God-Man qualified as the perfect salvation for our sins.
Now you answer the question, "Who is Jesus?"
THINK ABOUT ITS
"Who is Jesus?" I ask.
"Jesus is God incarnate," you proclaimm.
"Tama ka."
Before the world was created, Jesus already existed as God. Jesus is actually divinity (the Son of God)
incarnate (in the flesh). Jesus claims He has the power to forgive sins. He also claims to have the power to judge
the world, along with the power to give life to men. You can observe Jesus' own words proclaiming his divinity:
Just as the Father (God) raises the dead and gives them life, in the same way the Son (Jesus) gives life to those he wants to. Nor does the Father (God) himselfjudge anyone. He has given
his Son (Jesus) the full right to judge.
John 5:21-22
As we have observed already, however, Jesus Was also a man. He was born into this world as a man. He man. He struggled with temptation, hunger and thirst. He became tired. He slept. He wept. Jesus was as much a person as you andI are persons. Jesus is the Son of
God incarnate. The word "incarnate" actually means "in the flesh." Jesus is the Son of God in human flesh-
nagkatawang tao. In order to understand God's purpose for becoming a man, you should consider at least four passages of
scripturesuriin mong mabuti--which clearly describe the incanation.
Jesus' Shining Glory Was Shut In
When God the Son became a man, it cost the Father dearly. While describing the incarnation, St. Paul challenged the believers:
The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like man and appeared in human likeness. He was
humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death-his death on the croșs.
Philippians 2:5-8
The Son, limited by His himan body, shut in His shining glory. As a man, Jesus submitted to shutting in the shining glory and outward manifestation of His deity. Jesus was divine, but he was a real, live human.
He chose to limit Himself by becoming a human.
Jesus Became Poor
When God the Son became incarnate, He became poor. Although His shining glory and deity proclaim riches greater than any human could ever imagine, God became flesh and made himself poor:
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; rich as he was, he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of his poverty.
2 Corinthians 8:9
God chose to reveal Himself as a man in the flesh. In order to accomplish that awesome task, God decided to set aside his riches to make Himself poor. The Son
of God became a man. Rich became poor. He became poor so that we who are poor (because of our sin) could become rich (through His redemptive act).
God the Father decided tbe time
and the place to send His Son into the world. Man did not decide the time, nor the place-walang kinalaman ang tao dito.
God Sent His Son
The incarnation was a sovereign act of God. Jesus did not originate from the human side. Jesus is the chose So
on of God who became incarnate. God the Father chose to send His Son into the world. The incarnation was the
will of God the Father, not the will of man. St. Paul described God's sovereign act eloquently:
..when the right time finally came, God
sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God's sons.
Galatians 4:4-5
In today's terms, God the Father decided the time and the place to send His Son into the world. Man did not decide the time, nor the place--- walang kinalaman
ang tao dito. Mary, the human mother of Jesus, did not decide the time or place for the birth of Jesus. God the
Father did not ask for a vote from mankind. Only God the Father decided the time and the method of His redemptive action towards us as sinners.
Jesus Pre-existed
Actually, it is not really miraculous that Jesus is God. According to scripture, Jesus has always been divine.
There never was a time when the Son and Father were not together. The Son of God has always existed, even before the creation of the world. The miraculous truth
is that the Son of God became a man. When God the Son became a man, the miraculous occurred:
The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father's only Son.
John 1:14
Imagine, the pre-existent Word of the Living God became a human being--nagkatawang tao, and lived
on earth as a man. Jesus, God incarnate, became flesh and blood and walked upon the face of this earth in order to redeem our sinful nature.
You really need to know the truth about Jesus Christ. Perhaps you still do not realize all humans have a big problem. Sino'ng walang problema? Let's quickly
review
•Remember the Bible says we are all sinners. It teaches
that:
..everyone has sinned and is far away
from God's saving presence.
Romans 3:23
•Likewise, we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is:
.. not the result of your owm efforts, but
God's gift.
Ephesians 2:9
•Consequently, the payment for our sin is death. The Bible says:
The sin pays its wage-death.
Romans 6:23
There is Good News, however, for you --- Magandang Balita! God has provided a wonderful solution for your problem. Because God is a holy and just God, He
must punish sin. Yet, He loves you and provides forgiveness for your sin through His Son, Jesus Christ. Because of your sin, God the Father became flesh and blood to save your life.
Dear Lord God in heaven, your shining glory is miraculous. Your wealth is greater than anyone can imagine.
Thank you, Father, for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, into the world as flesh and blood. I acknowledge the greatness of your miraculous act. I realize the incarnation of Jesus is your will alone, not the will of man. I give all the honor and glory to you, Lord I claim your grace and forgiveness for my own sins I believe you have provided me with an opportunity to
forgiveness for my sin through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
@RandomRewarder