Read: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
After more than 2000 years, He is still the "Anointed Savior" - Jesus. The Harper's Bible Dictionary states: "The name 'Jesus' is derived from a Hebrew word that means 'savior' (see Matthew 1:21) and the title 'Christ' (Hebrew., 'messiah') means 'anointed,' and refers to one commissioned by God for a special task." Praise the Lord!At the age of 56, there is much different in my life, still one truth remains constant - I am saved. I have been delivered from existential and eschatological danger. I am not alone. Believers in the acts of Jesus as the Christ, Son of God, who by death and resurrection redeemed sinful humanity are saved. Physical, emotional, social, and spiritual salvation by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ is ours.
Parental teachings in the tenants of Christian faith planted the hunger and thirst within my soul. I desired to understand the vision received early one morning in Columbia, SC. I recall being 8 or 9 years of age. Close to my 9th birthday in June of 1964 is would have been shortly before or after, I saw the appearance of three ancient persons. All three in royal attire of different colors: (white, crimson, and bronze). Each smiled as they dangled before my eyes. I was so afraid that fear soon ran from me then they disappeared. Three years later I delivered my first sermon on Easter Sunrise morning: "Puzzled People"
People are puzzled about Jesus, until they get to know Him. I accepted Jesus as our savior at the age of five on the lap of my Mother as she taught faith to me. The visitation in 1964 gave an assurance of the supernatural leaving a hunger and thirst to know and experience more. Through the years I have come to appreciate the actions, relationships, and teachings of Jesus, a historic human being. The supernatural confirmed the faith taught relative to there being a reality beyond myself understanding, which I need not fear. However, study of the Bible is so enriching as to the person of Jesus that had I not seen what I saw, I still hope my faith would be sealed by the experience of sacrificial love and righteousness in the Biblical text. Jesus is awesome!
Jesus could have chosen the influential aristocrats during his days on earth, and surely in my existence there are elitists that look at me as dreg. Still he chose men and women from low dust of the earth and gave them spiritual sight beyond that of the wealthy and intellectual. In fact, John MacArthur in Twelve Ordinary Men reminds his readers of the fact that Jesus was regarded as "an interloper and intruder", because "Christ disdained religious elitism. ... He looked away from the religious elite and chose instead simple men of faith who were, by every earthly standard commonplace."
The Anointed Savior calls common people to repentance, radical humility, compassion, mercy, self denial, honesty, purity, and avoidance of harm especially through violence. Disciples of Jesus are to deliver service to the poor and outcast, while rejecting a legalistic understanding of the will of God. (Harper's Bible Dictionary) The purpose of this for us, here and now, in my view has to do with a return to Christology. What should existence look like given the Parousia has occurred? What have been and are the sayings of Jesus?My faith is in Christ, the Crucified, the Resurrected, the Blessed Redeemer; who by mere Existence remains "God's power for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). Do you believe this? Over 2000 years later, and He is here.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, save our souls. Amen
