Considering Jesus
Jay Horsley
Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) He is the perfect one whom God loved and sent to reveal the way of light and life to us.
- Acts 4:26,27 “The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ. (Anointed – ASV, Anointed One – NIV)
- 27 For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,”
- To anoint means to consecrate, especially to an office or some serious or somber purpose. Anoint is the Greek word “chrio,” and “christos” is the Greek word for Christ. Literally “Christ” means “anointed one.” Jesus was the “Anointed One,” the Messiah.
Jesus was consecrated to His holy office and God sent Him to do His redeeming work. “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38) Jesus quoted a prophecy of Isaiah saying this same thing at the synagogue in Nazareth to start His public work. “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN” (Luke 4:18)
- Heb 3:1 “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.”
Apostle means appointed messenger. We normally think of the twelve (plus Paul); those powerful and important direct messengers of Christ who originally preached the gospel. But there were also messengers of the churches like Barnabas and James the Lord's brother (Acts 14:14; Gal. 1:19)
Jesus was also an appointed messenger. He was appointed by Heaven to reveal the way back there through the “heavenly calling,” the gospel. We often think of the apostles of the messengers of the gospel, which they are. But Jesus was the first and greatest messenger of it. He revealed it to them to reveal to us. “[God's purpose and grace] now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10)
- Heb 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter (finisher – KJV, NKJV) of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Jesus not only revealed the faith to us but He also both wrote it and lived it. There are many who can deliver a message that other write. But who can author the way for men to live? (Ref. Jer. 10:23). But in Jesus we have the one who could write it, reveal it, and then live the perfectly right way. He brought the faith to life in His life.
- Matt. 3:17 “and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
- Matt. 17:5 “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, `This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!'”
See also Matt. 12:18; Mark 1:11; 9:7; 12:6; Luke 3:22; 20:13. In Eph 1:6 Jesus is simply called “the Beloved.” Beloved means “worthy of honor, esteem,” and thus very dear to us. God loved Jesus to an infinite degree. It is the greatest measure of God's love that He loved us enough to sent His own Son for us.
As we consider Jesus whom God loved, we also consider other children of God whom He loves, namely us. “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you...” (2 Thess. 2:13) “To all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints” (Rom. 1:7) As Jesus was loved (and we are told that we are loved); and as He loved, we are to love each other. There are many examples of brethren having such love for one another: “Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant” (Col. 1:7) “Our beloved Barnabas and Paul” (Acts 15:25) “Luke, the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14).
Confidence that we are so loved should cause us to act properly, as Jesus did. “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Cor. 10:14) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
Surely we should consider these things about Jesus. As we do our appreciation for His work and labors for us will cause us to grow into the love that we should have for him and our brethren.