Jesus Christ, our Powerful Savior and King
First of all, let us start with Hebrews 12:25 that tells us a warning.
25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
God had spoken earlier to the Israelites at the giving of the Law through Moses. That generation had refused God’s message on earth. They did not escape (see Heb. 3:14–19). This should warn us not to turn our backs on God, who is still speaking. God speaks to this generation from heaven in the work of Christ. Those who ignore Jesus’ message will not escape God’s wrath. Surely, we must listen carefully to him. [2]
- Jesus Christ, our Powerful Savior
Baptist John was born 6 months earlier than Jesus to prepare the way for the Lord. When Baptist John was born, his father Zechariah spoke about John’s mission in Luke 1:77.
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
So, John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance. This prepared the way of forgiveness, and salvation through Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to share what I experienced in the process of salvation through forgiveness of sins.
First of all, let us listen to what a prophet Simeon said about child Jesus in Luke 2:34-35.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
People’s sins are hidden in their hearts and Jesus will cause that a sword will pierce their heart to reveal them.
Yes, I also experienced a sword was piercing my soul humiliating me and revealing my sinfulness, even when I thought I was a good man as a Buddhist. I want to share this because many people think they don’t need God or forgiveness. They are ignorant or proud and self-righteous. They need humility before God. They need to know they are serious sinners before God. I pray God may show you your sins before God.
- Jesus Christ, our Powerful King
When Jesus started his public ministry around at his age 30, he faced collision with existing religious leaders of Judaism. They rejected and killed Him, but God raised Him back to life and made Him the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This was a Divine Reversal and predicted in Psalm 118:22-23.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
(These verses were quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:42 as well.)
This cornerstone is Jesus Himself and Jesus said in Matthew 21:44
44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’
This tells how powerful the Cornerstone, Jesus is!
Even for the crucifixion, Jesus was not powerlessly victimized. Jesus had full control over the situation and He could save Himself as written in Matthews 25:53, 54.
53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’
Simply He willingly gave Himself to be crucified to pay for our sins and to save us.
In Psalm 2, we can know about His Kingship.
See Psalm 2:1-6.
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 ‘Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.’
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 ‘I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.’
It teaches us that how foolish and useless it is to rebel against God and His anointed[3], Jesus Christ, whether they are religions of counterfeit or from the spirit of anti-Christ. So, don’t stay with them but come to Jesus.
Here, let’s think about how we can decide whether someone is for or against Jesus Christ? Let’s see what Jesus taught in Luke 11:23.
23 ‘Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
In addition, Jesus also said in Luke 9:50.
50 ‘Do not stop him,’ Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you.’
This Psalm explains how I became a Christian even though I have been a Buddhist previously.
When I was a Buddhist, I insisted Buddhism was right and refused to accept Christianity. I even planned to study Buddhism. I was standing on the side of Buddhism and fight other religions including Christianity. My attitude was like Psalm 2:1-3.
But, I was ignorant of who Jesus was. God says in Psalm 2:6.
6 ‘I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.’
Yes, He is King, installed by God. After I have gone through various unexpected difficulties in life and became humble, I surrendered before His powerful love on the cross. In Him, we are fighting the fight that He has already won. In Him we are victors and we have a sure win in the fight.
God says to His Son in Psalm 2:9
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.’
Before His power, they will be like pottery broken into pieces by a rod of iron.
Let’s read Psalm 2:10-12
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
It isn’t wise to stand against Him. I advise you to be wise. He is King above all kings and Lord above all lords.
Verse 12 commends you to Kiss His Son. His Love is so great to resist but the only problem may be your pride. I pray you may humble yourself before God and accept His forgiveness and love.
Today I shared that Jesus saves us through the forgiveness of our sins as written in Luke 1:77. Also, I shared my experience of a sword piercing my soul, as written in Luke 2:35, to humiliate me and revealing my sinfulness, while I was a self-righteous Buddhist. Also, I shared Jesus being the Cornerstone by God’s divine reversal after builders’ rejection. And this stone is powerful to make them broken or crushed if they collide as written in Matthew 21:44. Finally I shared His Kingship written in Psalm 2.
In summary, Jesus is our powerful Savior and King.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition.). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[2] Lea, T. D. (1999). Hebrews, James (Vol. 10, pp. 223–224). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Bratcher, R. G., & Reyburn, W. D. (1991). A translator’s handbook on the book of Psalms (p. 23). New York: United Bible Societies.
