Jesus

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)

This devotional somewhat connects with the previous one that asked if one had been "bumped" by Jesus. The question in this devotional is when He does (and He will) bless us with His Presence (He is doing it all of the time)...Who exactly are we encountering? Who is this One Whose name falls so easily from our mouths, yet Whose Love-filled Presence is so powerful that, as we are, we couldn't remain in it for even seconds without being overwhelmed by its supremacy?

Scripture presents Jesus in many ways. In fact, Jesus portrays Himself in a variety of conditions:

He told the leper...He guarantees us...: "I am willing..." (Matthew 8:3; Mark 1:40-42; Luke 5:12-13).

On the heels of violently rebuking the cities in which He had performed miracles yet that did not repent, Jesus refers rightly to Himself: "I am gently and lowly in heart" (and that only in Him can we find true rest) (Matthew 11:20-24, 28-29).

Using highly relevant metaphors, Jesus offers: "I am the bread of life...the living bread" (John 6:35, 51)... "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12, 9:5)... "I am the door..."... "I am the good shepherd"... "I am the true vine..." (John 10:7, 11, 14, 15:1, 5). All of these things is He to and for us.

Jesus reveals His humanity, His diety, and His royalty when He shares with us, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16)...and "I am King" (John 18:37).

To the soldiers who came to arrest Him...and to us, yet for a somewhat different purpose, Jesus responds to His own question "Whom are you seeking?" with the definitive answer, "I am He..." (John 18:5-8)

And His disciples, when asked the question by Jesus who they thought "He" was, replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16; see also Mark 14:61-62)...

...Who assures us, "I am with you always..." (Matthew 28:20)

And confirms this when He promises us that, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore" (Revelation 1:17-18).

"I am with you always..."

"I am alive forevermore..."

"I am He..."

"I AM..." (John 8:58)

The enormously powerful simplicity of Jesus our Messiah is this: when we encounter Him...or when He places His Hand on us...we no longer have to, in our own imagination or efforts, ascribe any particular characteristics to Him. He just Is. He is everything He tells us in His Word...He is with us...He is Alive...He Is. We no longer have to talk about Him because we are right here with Him. And He is here...right here...right now. Thank you, Lord. You are Beautiful.

Amazingly, minutes after beginning this devotional (and then setting it aside rather discouragingly because I did not know if I was on the "right track"), I happened to open up to where I was in Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel, and this is what I encountered:

Who is this Jesus of Nazareth - this Nazarene carpenter in whose name vast theological systems have been developed, worldwide churches organized, crusades, reforms, and renewals launched? Church councils have rendered their opinions, as have historians, theologians, emperors, film directors, and all manner of believers and doubters. But other people cannot answer on our behalf. You must answer and respond for yourself...Describe not the diety you have heard about or been taught to believe exists, but only the Christ you have actually encountered... (p. 235)

Jesus asks, "But who do you say that I am...?"

"...who do you say I am...?"

In His Love,

Terri

Have You Been Bumped?

Many will bump up against Him as He makes His way through our world...

HE IS RISEN...HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Recall the last devotional, shared with a pastor whose writings, coupled with the Holy Spirit, inspired it, in which the question was asked: How Close? will we come in our relationship with the risen Jesus?

This very same idea was brought to mind as I was praying several days ago, but from a very new and exciting perspective. This time the thought posed was: what happens when Jesus bumps up against us? Realistically, the answer to this question should be very different for the believer (the one who has already come to know Jesus as his brother and Lord) and the not-yet-believer (he or she who only knows about Jesus in one form or fashion). But for both, the profound experience of being "bumped" by Jesus has the potential of bringing you both to the knees (and face) in wonder and love, and that Reality is what I hope to (even somewhat) translate here.

For those who don't know the Real Live Jesus (and by this, I mean those who have not been born again: [John 3:3, 5-7; Romans 6:4-7; Colossians 2:11-12]), and who perhaps see him as only a historical figure or maybe as nothing at all, having Jesus "approach" can take many forms and incite different reactions. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse...For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him (Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16). Whether realized or not, that "thrill" when being presented by a particular vista; that profound sense of peace when feeling like one is "in the (exact) right place at the (exact) right time"; that nearly other-worldly experience of being "known" when someone says or does something that, unbeknownst to that person, goes straight to the core of your being...is, quite often, a supernatural "bump" from Jesus. He is attempting to communicate to you His Presence...His Love...His desire to come close to and commune with you. What will your reaction be? Some will brush it off as an "emotional experience." Others will try to grab the beauty, the tranquility, the "being known" feeling and possess it...use it in the attempt to enhance what is perceived as an emotional high. And there are those who, without really even knowing why, will be repulsed by the touch of the One who wants them for His Own, since this means an agonizing yet beautiful surrender (Mark 8:35; Luke 9:23), to which our self-centered natures are vehemently opposed. But some...will recognize it as Something or Someone that is attempting to get their attention...and will hopefully pursue the hazy sense of familiarity with the feel of the Hand that formed them from the beginning (Psalm 139:15-16).

For those who know You, Lord, when you bump up against us...that is, when we have been stilled enough (Psalm 23:1-3) to take time to call out to You (Psalm 91:14-16)...to open the door to You (Revelation 3:20)...to enjoy sweet, precious time together (Luke 10:38-42)...the response is to know that we are indeed at the (exact) right place at the (exact) right time: with You. Additionally, as the old-but-always-true hymn professes, "the things of earth...grow strangely dim, In the light of (Your) glory and grace" - the things of this world that mattered so incredibly and terribly much just moments before suddenly lose their harsh edges and do, in fact, become "strangely dim" in Your Presence. No wonder this lyricist asserts that it is "In Your Presence" where he...where we...belong. I like how Brennan Manning in his amazing writing The Ragamuffin Gospel describes this "bump" from You, Lord. He refers to a time when being encountered by You was called "being seized by the power of a great affection" (p. 195). And that's exactly what it is, Lord, isn't it? You come to us to share Your Presence...Your Love...and You are longing for a response...

 

 

...What will our response be...?

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!”... (John 20:16)

I pray for all of us that more and more, instead of being side-swiped and side-tracked by the million and one distractions that exist both externally and internally, we can "turn our eyes upon Jesus (upon You, Lord), look full in His wonderful face (and You are so, so beautiful), and the things of earth WILL grow strangely dim, in the light of YOUR glory and grace."

Blessings on all of you.

In His Love,

Terri