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by Whitney V. Myers  Gettysburg Early Morning - Begin One Way Sign with Deuteronomy 5:33 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers "You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess" (Deuteronomy 5:33). Consider. Jesus said “I am the way” (John 14:6). The "way of the Lord" was a concept familiar to Jesus' Jewish listeners. Consider these principles from the Old Testament. What was the way that God had commanded? Please read through the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:1-21). Consider the three-fold blessing God promises for the nations and people who keep his commandments – “that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you shall possess” (Deuteronomy 5:33).  Gettysburg National Military Park Path with Psalm 25:4 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers David asked God to "Teach me Thy way, O Lord." “Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies” (Psalm 27:11). “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths” (Psalm 25:4). David’s request to God, “Teach me Thy way, O Lord,” is an excellent example for us to follow. Apply. Are you walking in the way of the Lord? Are you obeying God's commandments? Deuteronomy 5:1-21
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by Whitney V. Myers
Mount Sinai in Early Morning - Photo 123RF - With John 8:58
Copyright: georgemuresan / 123RF Stock Photo
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15). "Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).
Consider. On the evening before his death, Jesus spoke with his disciples. Jesus told his disciples that he was about to leave them (John 13:33).
Who was this Jesus that was speaking to his disciples? Was he just a great teacher or a prophet? Or, was he God as he claimed?
Let's explore several scriptures that tell us who Jesus is.
Jesus is the begotten and only Son of God. When the time came for the second person of the Trinity (Ref. 1) to become flesh, God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin named Mary (Luke 1:26-27). Gabriel informed Mary, "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:31).
Mary replied, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Literally, Mary asked Gabriel, "How can this be since I do not know (sexual intimacy) a man?" (Ref. 2) Gabriel answered Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God" (Luke 1:35). John describes Jesus as the only begotten Son of God in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." The Greek word for "only begotten" is monogenés, which means "one (monos) of a class, genos (the only of its kind)." Therefore, Jesus is unique (Ref. 3). The above scriptures establish Jesus' title as the begotten, unique, and only Son of God.
Jesus is fully God and fully human. John begins his gospel by describing the Deity of Jesus Christ. "In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself" (John 1:1).
John also describes the Word made flesh. "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). The Apostle Paul states, "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). These scriptures tell us that Jesus is fully God and fully human.
Jesus is the visible image of God. Throughout Scripture, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, is the visible image and visible expression of God. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15). Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
The New Living Translation of Hebrews 1:3 explains that Jesus expresses the character of God. "The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God." The Greek word is "charaktér," which means an exact impression (likeness) which also reflects inner character. The Preincarnate Son of God was "exceedingly active in the Old Testament" (Ref. 4). Consider these examples where Christ appeared in visible form:
In Exodus 3:13, Moses asked God to tell him God's name. God replied to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (Exodus 3:14). Jesus confirmed that he is the same God who appeared to Moses and said, "I AM WHO IAM." "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am' " (John 8:58). We began this post with a question. Who was this Jesus that was speaking to his disciples on the evening before his crucifixion? (John 13:33) The Jesus who said to his disciples, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6) is the same God who appeared to Moses and said, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:14). Apply. If someone asked you to explain who Jesus is, how would you answer?
To learn more about these topics, please visit the About the Way page:
by Whitney V. Myers  Nags Head Sunrise with John 14:1 - Photo by Whitney V. Myers Consider. On the evening before his death, Jesus spoke with his disciples. Jesus told his disciples that he was about to leave them (John 13:33). Naturally, their hearts filled with sorrow (John 16:5-6). Jesus had already told his listeners who he is. "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30). “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58, Exodus 3:6, Exodus 3:14). As the remedy for their troubled hearts, Jesus asked his disciples to believe in him. The Greek word for "believe" is pisteuo, which means have faith in, trust in (Ref. 1). As the remedy for our troubled hearts, Jesus asks us to believe in him. Jesus asks us to trust him and to have faith in him. The remedy for a troubled heart is to believe in Jesus. To the father of the boy who was deaf, mute, and had seizures, Jesus said, "All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!" (verse 23 in Mark 9:14-29) To the woman who touched Jesus' cloak and was healed, Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in Me] has restored you to health; go in peace and be [permanently] healed from your suffering” (Mark 5:34). To his disciples, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]" (John 14:27). Listen. I encourage you to listen to Louis Armstrong's recording of the African-American spiritual song, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen." Apply. Is something troubling your heart today? Will you choose to believe in Jesus? To learn more about these topics, please go to the About the Way page:
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Mr. Whitney V. Myers. Christian. For more information, please visit the Author Page. Posting Schedule
I plan to provide postings every two weeks on Sunday evenings at 9pm eastern U.S. time. Planned Topics(subject to change) Recent Posts20May18 - "The Way of the Lord (Old Testament)" Categories
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The ScriptureWay site provides Bible Teachings that point to Jesus. The Bible teaches that believing in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." -- Jesus speaking in John 14:6 |
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