2020 Daily Devotion - Day 32
When I was in high school, I came to a crossroads in my faith. I had been brought up in the church. I went to church and Sunday school regularly. I was involved in the youth program of our church, as well. But then, I took a part-time job for a man who went to a different type of church. It was a church who said they were Christian, but now I can see their theology was not in keeping.
One of the challenges this man gave me was on the question of who Jesus was. He said his church believed that He was the Son of God, but even though he used that term, He didn’t mean the concept of the Trinity. He would show me passages in the Bible and would try to convince me. Well, I was only in high school and hadn’t given this much thought, so it was very challenging for me.
Then one night, a high school friend took me to meet his youth pastor. This church had created an off-site youth center upstairs above some stores. It looked like a concert venue when you went in. My friend introduced me to Pastor Dawson McAllister. I told him about the problem I was having, and he took out his well-worn Bible and started showing me scripture about the nature of Jesus. He showed me John 1:1 & 14.
John 1:1 RSV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Pastor McAllister showed me here the Word was not only “with God” but “was God. And then he asked me, “So who is the Word?” I said I didn’t know, so then he turned to verse 14.
John 1:14 RSV
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
Pastor McAllister read this verse, and then asked me, “Who does this sound like?” And I said, “Jesus.” He told me I was right; ”the only Son from the Father”. Then, he connected the dots between verse one and verse fourteen. He showed me that if the Word “was God” (not ‘like God’ or ‘a god’), and in verse 14, the “Word became flesh”; the only conclusion you can come to is that Jesus Christ is God. He went on to show me many other passages, and a foundation for greater clarity and growth was laid.
I tell you this story for a two reasons:
1. I have come to realize there are many people who have spent their entire lives in church, who do not understand this important point (I didn’t); Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. I think one of the reasons is because it is difficult to understand when we hear Jesus is the “Son of God”. We assume that just like I am the son of Warren Steward, Jesus is the son of God. However, this is not what the Bible means by Son of God. It is a technical theological term which shows His lineage back to King David. This is why I don’t use the term “Son of God” very often; because it confuses people. Instead, you will hear me speak of Jesus as being “God in Human Flesh”, which I hope clears it up.
2. The other reason I tell you this story is so you will absolutely know that if Jesus is “God in Human Flesh”, then God truly understands what it is like to be human. He knows what it means to suffer, for He suffered on a cross. It means in the midst of the Coronavirus, God completely understands what you are going through, because He went through worse. And His resurrection means there will be a resurrection for you and me, as well.
Pray with me:
Lord Jesus Christ, we can pray directly to You and not violate the First Commandment, because You are “God in Human Flesh”. We thank You because not only can we come to You in prayer, but You fully understand the human condition, for You experienced it. You know the struggles of these days for You have walked in our shoes. We are reminded that You are not far away and removed, but You are “closer than a brother”. Because You are incarnate, You can give us peace. Give us Your peace this day. In Your Holy Name. Amen.
One of the challenges this man gave me was on the question of who Jesus was. He said his church believed that He was the Son of God, but even though he used that term, He didn’t mean the concept of the Trinity. He would show me passages in the Bible and would try to convince me. Well, I was only in high school and hadn’t given this much thought, so it was very challenging for me.
Then one night, a high school friend took me to meet his youth pastor. This church had created an off-site youth center upstairs above some stores. It looked like a concert venue when you went in. My friend introduced me to Pastor Dawson McAllister. I told him about the problem I was having, and he took out his well-worn Bible and started showing me scripture about the nature of Jesus. He showed me John 1:1 & 14.
John 1:1 RSV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Pastor McAllister showed me here the Word was not only “with God” but “was God. And then he asked me, “So who is the Word?” I said I didn’t know, so then he turned to verse 14.
John 1:14 RSV
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
Pastor McAllister read this verse, and then asked me, “Who does this sound like?” And I said, “Jesus.” He told me I was right; ”the only Son from the Father”. Then, he connected the dots between verse one and verse fourteen. He showed me that if the Word “was God” (not ‘like God’ or ‘a god’), and in verse 14, the “Word became flesh”; the only conclusion you can come to is that Jesus Christ is God. He went on to show me many other passages, and a foundation for greater clarity and growth was laid.
I tell you this story for a two reasons:
1. I have come to realize there are many people who have spent their entire lives in church, who do not understand this important point (I didn’t); Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. I think one of the reasons is because it is difficult to understand when we hear Jesus is the “Son of God”. We assume that just like I am the son of Warren Steward, Jesus is the son of God. However, this is not what the Bible means by Son of God. It is a technical theological term which shows His lineage back to King David. This is why I don’t use the term “Son of God” very often; because it confuses people. Instead, you will hear me speak of Jesus as being “God in Human Flesh”, which I hope clears it up.
2. The other reason I tell you this story is so you will absolutely know that if Jesus is “God in Human Flesh”, then God truly understands what it is like to be human. He knows what it means to suffer, for He suffered on a cross. It means in the midst of the Coronavirus, God completely understands what you are going through, because He went through worse. And His resurrection means there will be a resurrection for you and me, as well.
Pray with me:
Lord Jesus Christ, we can pray directly to You and not violate the First Commandment, because You are “God in Human Flesh”. We thank You because not only can we come to You in prayer, but You fully understand the human condition, for You experienced it. You know the struggles of these days for You have walked in our shoes. We are reminded that You are not far away and removed, but You are “closer than a brother”. Because You are incarnate, You can give us peace. Give us Your peace this day. In Your Holy Name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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