Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
John 8:28-32 makes plain, Jesus sets His people free. Before faith in Jesus, we cannot overcome the power of our sin nature; we are enslaved to sin and Satan (Romans 7:15-24). However, with Jesus as Savior (Romans 7:25) and with God the Holy Spirit within (I Corinthinas 6:19; I John 4:4), we now have a fighting chance against sin. Ephesians 2:1-3 records the condition of all of us: each one of us is “dead in trespasses and sins” (verse 1). Verse 4 starts with the greatest contrast possible: “But God.” He had made us spiritually alive (verse 5) and, furthermore, “hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (verse 6). This transformation is real in all of us – sometimes dramatically observable. I know of homosexuals who through Christ were set free from that servitude; they are “free indeed.” I know of drug addicts and alcoholics who are now Christians; they have been set free from that bondage and are now “free indeed.” I know of a foul-mouthed, heavy-drinking man who was enslaved to promiscuity (and openly bragged about it). He is now saved through faith in Jesus, happily married, and “free indeed.” Even if our experience is not as dramatic, it is just as real. We have been set free to live differently. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).