WHO IS THIS JESUS?

Here is the identity of Him who is able to meet the needs and the expectations of the creature. The Bible gives us the characters of Him who is the embodiment of the gospel as holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. What an identity! This is the gospel we are called to preach and exemplified by living. Time would fail me to begin to analyze these qualities one after the other but this is the life of the gospel in summary.

Holiness speaks of the state of being pure, the integrity of moral character and perfection. And Jesus is holy. From His conception to His birth and from childhood to the cross, men and angels could testify that He is holy. Preaching the gospel then implies living a life of holiness and purity in every place where we are situated. Whether the village or in the city, in the office, in the community, in the secret and in the open, God expects us to preach Jesus as holy and pure.

Jesus is not only holy but also harmless. To be harmless implies not being injurious, retaliating or causing damage to people. This is the gospel. Gospel is not another Jihad movement of violence and strife, the gospel of the Lord Jesus is the gospel without harm. Despite the confrontation, opposition and strong resistance from the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders, Jesus remained harmless. Even to the point of the cross! “He did not retaliate when He was insulted, nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” When like Jesus you are faced with such insult, suffering and confrontation in the course of your service; will you please preach Jesus as harmless? Let your life reveal the evidence of the grace of God to be harmless both in word and actions. “Consider him who endures such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” As you go about in daily living and business of life, here is the instruction of Him who is holy and harmless: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt 10:16).

Another quality in the life of Jesus is that He is undefiled. There are several things that defile a man as revealed is the scriptures. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murderers, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man….” (Matt.15:19, 20). “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…..”(Dan. 1:8). “ looking diligently last any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled, lest there be any fornication or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright” (Heb.12:115, 160).

“These are they which were not defiled with women……”  (Rev.14:4).  Though Jesus was fully man, yet was he not defiled by anything that defiles a man. He had women around Him as sinners, saint and supporters, still, He was not defiled. He lived among them in all holiness and purity.

                                                                         

                                                                     

Several Christians have got their lives and service defiled especially through sexual sins. But not Jesus! And that is not the gospel of the Lord Jesus either. Several young girls in the schools, churches and communities have been disappointed by so-called Christians and even church leaders who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. Such people are yet to experience the true gospel life. Will you preach the Gospel by your life? Will you by your life give people a correct definition of the gospel? The earnest expectation of the creature is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.

One more quality of Christ in that passage of the scripture is that he is “separated from sinners.” This is the end point of the gospel – it makes you ‘separate’ from sinners. The gospel defines a life contrary to the life of a sinner. The gospel places a distinct mark between the children of God and the children of the devil. This is the goal of the gospel: “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” The life of the gospel is a new life of Christ as well as a new life in Christ. By this new life you can easily separate saints from sinners; and children of God from the children of the devil. “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in and He cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the
devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1John 3: 7-10)

Note that single word, “This” in ‘this’ and not ‘these’. There are not many identifying marks of a true life of the gospel. Just in this one, singular sign can we identify a true child of God: “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God.” The true life of the gospel is a life that is separate, distinct and clearly differentiated from sinners and sinful activities. “therefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Christians are pilgrims and strangers on earth. We are like Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego serving outside the land of our nativity. We are currently living in a world with an unfamiliar language, culture and traditions. It’s why Jesus said, “They are in the world but NOT OF the world.” Hence, like Daniel and the other three Hebrew children, we are likely going to encounter some strange temptations and challenges. It is expected that in all circumstances we live as an ambassador of Christ.

A Christian is an alien: an alien in a strange world and as a stranger to the practices and lifestyle of earthly and sensual people.  This being the case, we are to show the world the evidence of our identity with Christ- the King of the kingdom. We are King’s seed, and King’s seeds are always seen with the mark of kingship anywhere they go. Our conduct must not contradict our profession. We are to live in such a way that sinners are convicted.

As king’s seed, we are easily spotted, and should, therefore, be ready to steer clear of every form of entanglement that is capable of defiling or belittling the image of our Creator. We must, as a matter of seriousness, justify the integrity and the confidence reposed in us by our Saviour-King. Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and even Esther all had the testimony that they stood for the king in their respective strange land through the uncommon stand and uncompromising conviction. To achieve this, a Christian of the royal sort should: consider his ways, conduct himself kingly, communicate with people of like precious faith, concentrate on Christ kingdom while in the strange land, communicate daily and regularly with Christ the King and seek to convert the Christ-less to King’s seed.

But the point to note is that the strange land, all through the ages, has never been a place of comfort fair to believers. The strange land aims at taking away the grace of God from our lives. It works through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life with the primary goal of diverting the heavenly pilgrims from their legitimate pre-occupation. In the midst of it all, Joseph, Daniel, and Esther (a woman) stood in unbroken daily fellowship with the king.

Not only did these young people stand their ground, they also had great influence in the strange land where they found themselves.  Joseph had a great influence in the house where he lived, in the prison, where he was locked up, in the king’s palace, in the land and outside the land of Egypt. Daniel also had influence in the office where he worked, among his colleagues, in the whole kingdom and from one political era to another. As king’s seed and Christ ambassador, you are chosen and sent for a purpose. You must understand that your position is one that must influence others positively as you declare and stand for the truth in this perverse and corrupt society. The grace of God upon your life makes a remarkable and significant difference and impartation in the lives of others. Moreover, the Holy Ghost’s power in you is an embodiment of anointing, of authority and of power to have penetrating influence whenever you find yourself.

Our success in life depends largely on how effectively we are able to maximize the opportunities that come our way. The time is short, and we cannot afford to waste it on trivialities. As Christ ambassadors, therefore, we must be uncompromising and remain unequivocally “Children in who is no blemish, but well favored and skillful in all wisdom…” (Daniel 1:4).  May the Lord keep you from falling.