A HISTORY OF JESUS

A HISTORY OF JESUS

I found it rather interesting one day that someone struggling to pastor a church in a predominately Hindu country asked me this question, but perhaps as he goes doorknocking this is a common question among the Hindus.  It also made me ponder that maybe even other Christians would not be able to easily answer this question, as many of us would immediately blurt out that He always was, always is, and always will be, but as the thought processes of people from other countries are on a different wavelength than those in my country, I thought perhaps it would be easier for Hindus and people of other religions to come to Christ if it were explained more fully from Scripture, so while we know Christ always was, therefore had no beginning, let's go to the beginning of the bible and explain it as I did to our brother in Christ.

The first line of Scripture I gave as evidence Jesus existed before the first man was this one: "And God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'" (Gen. 1:26)  Note that God said "Us" and "Our".  This is strong evidence that the Trinity existed at the very beginning, consistent with our doctrine that God always was. I wanted to further exemplify that Jesus didn't just hang out in heaven while man was working his way through time, so I used this passage in Genesis that would be even stronger evidence that Jesus was busy on earth, and that man knew it was Him from the Father and the Holy Spirit; "The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (Gen. 48:16)  Jesus is often referred to as God's Angel in the Old Testament, and the way you can know that Jesus is being referred to here specifically is that it is written the Angel REDEEMED him from all evil, and Jesus is known in the New Testament as our Redeemer, so here we have it He is known at work in the Old Testament.  Time to visit Him in the New Testament!

Another good explanation of His history prior and up to His birth can be found in the gospel of John at its beginning; "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.  He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-14)

His earthly history was heralded by an angel just before He came to earth; "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." (Luke 2:10 - 12)  And then He was born, indeed!  "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." (Luke 2:16)  He lived somewhat of an invisible childhood between the ages of 12 and 30, until He started His ministry..."And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage.  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, 'They have no wine.'  Jesus saith unto her, 'Woman, what have I to do with thee?  Mine hour is not yet come.'  His mother saith unto the servants, 'Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.'  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.  Jesus saith unto them, 'Fill the waterpots with water.'  And they filled them up to the brim.  And He saith unto them, 'Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.'  And they bare it. the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto him, 'Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.'  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him." (John 2:1 - 11)

After 3 years of ministry, His mission to fulfill from the Father was at hand, so He was crucified and died for our sins as the perfect sacrifice, that all who will believe in Christ Jesus will be saved and have eternal life in heaven.  "They crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, 'They parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture did they cast lots.'" (Matt. 27:35)  But Jesus did not STAY DEAD!  He rose again on the third day, according to the prophecies of the scriptures!  "And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  And the angel answered and said unto the women, 'Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Matt. 28:2 - 6)

Now after His resurrection from the dead, He appeared several times to His disciples.  Then, in the witness of over 500 disciples, He went into heaven, with the promise He will return!  "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, 'Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.'" (Acts 1:9 - 11)

Now since Jesus left to go to heaven, we are given all this time to demonstrate that we havae faith in Him, and believe in Him, that we might go to heaven because we believe.  And when the end of time has come for the earth, Jesus will sit on a great white throne, and He will judge the living and the dead, the good and the evil.  "And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:11 - 15)  Jesus it is who will give us the right to the tree of life, because we believed in Him, and did His commandments!  "And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Rev. 22:12 - 14)  And so I told my brother in Christ that he had not only herein the history of Jesus, which is without beginning in reality, but also the future of Jesus, which also is without end!