23 April 2014
Hebrews 13:8 “Same Jesus”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He doesn’t change. The Jesus I read about is the One I will see. The compassion he showered, the forgiveness he offered, and the love he expressed hasn’t faded or expired. He doesn’t change.
I have noticed that as people age, what used to bug them doesn’t bug them so much anymore. Some married people claim to “fall out of love” with their spouse. And some children who used to be loving and grateful somehow turn into conceited and selfish adults. It’s because we change. Our personalities adapt to social situations, and we also are easily influenced by the latest things. But not Jesus. He doesn’t change.
I know well meaning Believers who unintentionally make claims about the consistency of Jesus. For instance, he used to heal, but he doesn’t anymore. But look at what Jesus actually said when he healed someone. “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.”Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home! “ (Mark 2:10-11) And he said things like, “And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. (Mark 10:52)
He is giving physical proof of the invisible qualities of his authority and of faith. And since his Resurrection, he has given us his Holy Spirit to teach and remind us (John 14:26) of everything Jesus said and did. And Romans 10:17 clearly explains that faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ. Jesus is still the same as he was, but now we have the Holy Sprit and God’s Word as proof.
I don’t need Jesus to heal all sickness for him to prove who he is. The Resurrection PROVED that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
To Paul, a Believer, God said, “My grace is sufficient for you” when Paul asked to be physically healed 3 times. But to Saul, the unbeliever, God removed the scales from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. (Acts 9:18)
So Believers with illnesses must not conclude that Jesus has changed, or that he used to care but doesn’t anymore. Jesus is the same. He has healed us and made us whole once and for all by the Resurrection.
1 Peter 2:24-25
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He hasn’t changed his mind or loved this generation less. He just no longer must prove who he is to me or anyone else because of the power of the Resurrection (Philippians 3:10). I believe in the Resurrection. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Word of God. And I believe his grace is sufficient for me too for any present troubles (which) are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17) And that was true yesterday, is true today, and will definitely be true forever!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for displaying your power once and for all through the Resurrection of your Son, Jesus. Thank you that that makes me well and whole and healed in every way. Thank you for the Holy Spirit and for your Word. Thank you that I didn’t have to live way back in the first century to know Jesus and experience his compassion, forgiveness, and love. Thank you that the SAME JESUS is with ME today, right now and will be forever! I love you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PS. And he does still heal the sick, by the way! I've seen it and am so thankful!
Hebrews 13:8 “Same Jesus”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He doesn’t change. The Jesus I read about is the One I will see. The compassion he showered, the forgiveness he offered, and the love he expressed hasn’t faded or expired. He doesn’t change.
I have noticed that as people age, what used to bug them doesn’t bug them so much anymore. Some married people claim to “fall out of love” with their spouse. And some children who used to be loving and grateful somehow turn into conceited and selfish adults. It’s because we change. Our personalities adapt to social situations, and we also are easily influenced by the latest things. But not Jesus. He doesn’t change.
I know well meaning Believers who unintentionally make claims about the consistency of Jesus. For instance, he used to heal, but he doesn’t anymore. But look at what Jesus actually said when he healed someone. “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.”Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home! “ (Mark 2:10-11) And he said things like, “And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. (Mark 10:52)
He is giving physical proof of the invisible qualities of his authority and of faith. And since his Resurrection, he has given us his Holy Spirit to teach and remind us (John 14:26) of everything Jesus said and did. And Romans 10:17 clearly explains that faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ. Jesus is still the same as he was, but now we have the Holy Sprit and God’s Word as proof.
I don’t need Jesus to heal all sickness for him to prove who he is. The Resurrection PROVED that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
To Paul, a Believer, God said, “My grace is sufficient for you” when Paul asked to be physically healed 3 times. But to Saul, the unbeliever, God removed the scales from his eyes and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. (Acts 9:18)
So Believers with illnesses must not conclude that Jesus has changed, or that he used to care but doesn’t anymore. Jesus is the same. He has healed us and made us whole once and for all by the Resurrection.
1 Peter 2:24-25
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He hasn’t changed his mind or loved this generation less. He just no longer must prove who he is to me or anyone else because of the power of the Resurrection (Philippians 3:10). I believe in the Resurrection. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the Word of God. And I believe his grace is sufficient for me too for any present troubles (which) are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17) And that was true yesterday, is true today, and will definitely be true forever!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for displaying your power once and for all through the Resurrection of your Son, Jesus. Thank you that that makes me well and whole and healed in every way. Thank you for the Holy Spirit and for your Word. Thank you that I didn’t have to live way back in the first century to know Jesus and experience his compassion, forgiveness, and love. Thank you that the SAME JESUS is with ME today, right now and will be forever! I love you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PS. And he does still heal the sick, by the way! I've seen it and am so thankful!
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