This same Jesus

Who was this man called Jesus? Jesus is Greek and He was a Hebrew so why the Greek name? In Hebrew His name is Yeshua Ha'Messhiach, or Jesus the Messiah, or Jesus Christ. It is possible that He would have gone by Jesus since many Hellenistic Jews spoke to one another in fluent Greek. I am not a seminary graduate, nor do I have a degree in the Bible, but I do love Jesus. To the Christian, to the one who loves His God, many questions have to be asked about Jesus. Jesus was either a nut, or He was exactly who He said He was, that being the Son of the Living God.

I believe Jesus was exactly who He said He was, no more - no less! His claims are backed up by historical fact. The Messiah was to be born in Nazareth according to the old testament, the tanach. Nazareth means "branch," and it was prophesied many years before His birth that He (the Messiah) would be born in Bethlehem, the City of David.

One day, we will all stand before this Messiah who died for us. He was the "lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." That is what John the Baptist said of Jesus, and the Jews knew exactly what he meant. During the Passover, the lamb was brought inside the home. For a week, the children and family would become "attached" to this creature. This cute little lamb would be "crucified" on Friday, His blood to be shed for their sin. This was foretelling the lamb of God we call "Christ." After a while, they wouldn't allow themselves to get too close to the animal because they knew what was coming - death. Jesus, or Yeshua the Messiah, died as the perfect lamb of God so that we might have eternal life.

Everyone practically knows John 3:16 which says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting or eternal life." The next verse shows us the heart of Jesus and the Father. John 3:17 says that "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world "through Him" might be saved. We do not get right and then come to God, we come to God just as we are and He cleans us up. The Good Shepherd does everything for His sheep. All they do is to follow Him, they listen to His voice.

Consider Jesus, or Yeshua today. Noone, not even Mother, Father, Sister or Brother can compare to the love that we can find only in His loving arms. He desires to embrace you, to hold you, to provide for you, and to demonstrate His love to you in unimaginable ways. God is faithful. His Word says that "if you draw near to God, He will draw near to you." It even goes further to say that if we will Praise Him and Worship Him in spirit (Love) and in Truth (according to His Word), the Father "seeks such to Worship Him." God finds us when we praise His Holy name. On the cross His name was written, Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. In Hebrew it reads Yeshua HaNetzeret V'mlech HaYehudim. By taking the first letter of each of these words we get YHVH, the tetragrammaton of Yahweh - The Most High God. The ineffable name of God. Jesus was and still is the Messiah, the anointed one. He reigns from Heaven or Zion with grace, mercy, peace and love. Cry out! Cry out! Cry out to Him. He alone can save you. Going to church does not make anyone a Christian, no more than going to MacDonald's makes one a hamburger (per Keith Green). The Bible says, "And you shall seek me (God) and you shall find me, when you search for me with all of your heart." Consider your ways! Consider the love of Jesus and cry out to Him before it is too late. In the words of the old song, "Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, Oh Lamb of God - I come. I come.