Bible Matters 490:  Who was Jesus …

God’s message is clear in the bible.  If you do the will of God, live a life unto righteousness and endure to the end, then you’ll enjoy life with God in heaven as a reward.  You know from the testimony of the witnesses that Enoch, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Elias are all with God.  Enoch was translated.  Many from the east and west are Gentiles that will be in the kingdom of heaven. 

Genesis 5:24 – And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

Hebrews 11:5 – By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

 Matthew 8:11 – And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

The rich man had no love for neighbor.  Lazarus, the poor man, went to heaven to reside in Abraham’s bosom and the rich man went to hell. 

Luke 16:23 – And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

At the transfiguration of Jesus, Moses and Elias appeared with him.

Matthew 17:3 – And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

Every one of these witnesses, went to heaven because they did the will of God.  Not one of these Old Testament witnesses believed in Jesus as the son of God and yet, they were in heaven.  So, ask yourself, “who was Jesus.” 

You know from the witnesses, that Jesus declared himself to be a prophet.  Moses had declared that God shall raise up a prophet. (See Matthew 10:40-41; Matthew 21:11,46; Mark 6:4-5; Luke 4:24; Luke 7:16; Luke 13:32-33; Luke 24:19; John 4:19,43-44; John 6:14; John 7:37-38,40; John 9:14,17; Acts 3:18,22-23; Acts 7:37)

Luke 4:24 – And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

Luke 24:19 – And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

John 4:19,43-44 – The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.  For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.

John 7:40 – Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.

John 9:14,17 – And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

Acts 7:37 – This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

When Jesus started his ministry, God sent the Holy Ghost upon Jesus. (See Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 3:16-17; Acts 2:33)

Luke 3:21-22 – Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Acts 2:33 – Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Jesus called on God to heal Lazarus. 

John 11:39-43 – Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.  And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

Jesus prayed to God, as he was hanging on the cross. (See Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46)

Mark 15:34 – And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Jesus was raised by God after three days in the tomb.  God also raised Jesus into heaven.  Believe in God and you’ll be raised up by his power. (See Acts 2:24,32; Acts 3:26; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:30; Acts 10:40; Acts 13:30,33; Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 6:14; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:17,19-20; 1 Peter 1:21)

Acts 2:24,32 – Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Acts 4:10 – Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Acts 5:30 – The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Acts 10:40 – Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Acts 13:30,33 – But God raised him from the dead: God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

1 Corinthians 6:14 – And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

1 Peter 1:21-23 – Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

God delivers the Holy Ghost to those who’s heart is right with God.  Jesus did not have the power to gift the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost did not come. 

John 20:21,22 – Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

The preponderance of evidence out of the mouth of two or three makes it clear that Jesus was sent as a prophet to deliver God’s gospel of Love.  As in the case of Moses, God orchestrated Jesus’s life on this earth, Jesus prayed and God delivered.  Jesus did the will of God, lived a righteous life on this earth and gave God the glory in all he did.  God raised Jesus from the dead and into heaven.  God will raise you up if you let him.

Starting today, believe that Jesus was sent to this earth as a prophet with the offer of life by living for God. Believe in the doctrine that Jesus delivered per God’s gospel of Love.  Go live your life by doing the will of God.  Believe in God, repent of your sins, judge no one, live a righteous life unto God, loving God and neighbor, endure to the end and get ready enjoy God’s gift of everlasting life.  Go use your talents and make God look good.  

1 John 2:17 – And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.