Thought for the Week

In this series, I have said: “The Passover Lamb was kept and observed for four days, to be sure it was not sick or defective in any way. In some cases the lamb was kept in the house and was therefore very closely observed.

Jesus was most certainly closely observed. John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold (This word ‘behold’ means to closely observe) The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” (See St. John 1:29-35) At one point, Jesus invited people to examine (This word ‘examine’ also means to closely observe) Him and see if they could convict Him of sin. (St. St. John 8:42-47)

I want us to also examine Jesus closely. We may not be able to do so as closely as two men: Lee Stroebel (an investigative reporter for a major newspaper), and Josh McDowell (then a college student who was majoring in journalism). Each of them was determined to disprove the Story of Jesus as recorded in Scripture. Each was at that point an atheist. Each, after investigation became a Christian. Each also became a strong advocate for Jesus Christ. Each has written several books supporting the claims of Jesus Christ. They are worth your reading if you are serious in examining the claims of Jesus The Christ.

Two political leaders, Pontius Pilate and King Herod also examined Jesus when He was brought before them in a governmental trial. Pilate’s judgment ultimately was: “I find no fault in Him.” A summary of this is contained in St. Luke 23:1-25, focused in verse 22. Before the governmental trials, there were two religious trials. One was before a former High Priest Annas and the second before the current reigning High Priest Caiaphas. The summation of these trials is found in St. Matthew 26:57-66, St. Mark 53-65, St. Luke 22:54-71 and St. John 18:12-28. The end result was Jesus asked under oath and therefore required to answer, “Are You The Messiah, the Son of The Blessed One (God)?” He responded, “I Am.” For this He was charged with and convicted of blasphemy which carried a death penalty under Jewish Law. The thing is and was He is and was only guilty if He was not The Messiah – The Son of God.

I think the evidence is overwhelming Jesus is The Messiah. He is the Lamb of God Who was the perfect Sacrifice God required to pay the penalty for all the Sin of all mankind for all of history. A casual observer might miss some important detail. Some folks thought Jesus could not be the Messiah because he was born in Nazareth and The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. But we know Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem but raised in Nazareth. Casual observers often miss details and as a result make incorrect assumptions.

Don’t I urge you: to behold, examine, carefully observe Jesus. Your eternity depends on it. I know I could be criticized as a narrow-minded bigot because I say “Jesus is the only One Who can get us into Heaven.” I am O.K. with that criticism. What I do not want to happen is to stand before God and have Him say to me, “Why did you not tell people Jesus is the Only Savior for mankind to be forgiven of their sin. Had they received Him, Eternal Death would have passed over them.” I agree with Apostle Paul, “We must study to show ourselves approved unto God as unashamed workmen handling the truth rightly. Research it all.

Scriptures to Read

St. John 14:1-6

St. John 3:16-21

St. John 5:24-30

Exodus 12:3-13

Romans 5:9-11

Hebrews 10:1-7

Hebrews 10:8-18