16 Reasons To Revere Christ This Easter

April 16, 2014 — 2 Comments

R.G. Lee, in his book Christ Above All, mentions sixteen characteristics claimed by the Savior.  These characteristics help us begin to see the Majesty of the Son of God.

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ

So what are these characteristics of this matchless Christ?

1. Pre-existence.  The origin of Jesus does not find its beginning two-thousand years ago.  Jesus always has been.  The Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)  And John 1:3 declares, “Through him (Jesus) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

2. Supernatural Birth.  John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son.”  Jesus was and is an uncreated being, the “only begotten Son.”  He was begotten of God and born of a woman.  Lee says of this birth, “Jesus’ birth into our world by virgin womb was a translation at the same time it was an incarnation.  It was a transfer of His person from a previous condition of existence to an earthly one.  It was His being clothed upon with humanity’s nature.” (Lee, 124)

3. Sinlessness.  It would be foolish self-deception for any human being to claim to be without sin.  Yet Jesus, God’s perfect Son, never hit a jarring note, never struck an in-congruent cord.  The Bible says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Heb.4:15)  In Jesus we see all moral, ethical, and spiritual excellencies unmarred and untainted by even the weakest shadow of darkness.

4. Omnipotence.  That means he possessed all power and all authority over all things.  The resurrected Lord claimed, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Mt.28:18)  But Jesus did not merely claim such authority, he demonstrated it.

5. Supernatural Mission and Message.  His mission was “to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)  He came to bring a message of salvation, but more than that, he came to be the message.  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

6. Supernatural Wisdom.  He had the wisdom which could penetrate the true nature of the human heart.  “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.  He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.” (Jn.2:24-25)  Lee writes, “Jesus knew the end from the beginning.  Jesus knew men’s thoughts afar off.  To Jesus the black midnight was as the brightest noonday.” (Lee, 131)

7. Power to Forgive Sins.  No counselor, psychologist, priest, or preacher can, on his or her own power, forgive the sins that have brought you shame before God.  Only God can forgive the sins that offend his holy nature and Jesus, God’s Son, is God and has such power.

8. Power to Impart Eternal Life.  Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (Jn. 11:25-26)

9. Equality with God.  Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” (Jn. 10:30)  He was equal in essence and in nature.  To see Jesus was to see God in the flesh.  To know Jesus was to know the Father God and to understand the nature of the Spirit of God.

10. Dominion Over Mankind.  Jesus is Lord.  He is the authority and he possesses the right to be singularly worshiped by man.  He has the authority to demand allegiance from us.  He said, “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (Lk14:33)  Over and over again Jesus comes to people and says, “Follow me!”  He is the head, he is the First and the Last and this King of Kings calls each of us to allegiance, to submit to his loving and life giving authority.

11. Exclusive and Peculiar Knowledge of God.  Jesus said, “All things have been committed to me by my Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:27)

12. Right to Receive Worship.  Jesus accepted the worship of people.  Jesus does not accept flattery, he demands of us worship.  We read in Matthew 2:11-“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”  The Bible says, “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him.” (Matthew 8:2, KJV)

13. Omnipresence.  Jesus said that he would be “with you always.” (Matthew 28:20) Christ, being God is present everywhere.  There is nowhere where he is not.

14. Judge of Men.  Paul declared, “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.  He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

15. Lifted on a Cross that He might Lift Us.  Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32)  When Jesus was lifted on that cross, our sins were paid for that we might not sink into condemnation for our sin, but rather we might be lifted up in forgiveness and redemption.

16. Make a Personal Return to Earth.  Jesus is coming again.  The Bible declares, “we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)

Question:  Can you think of other characteristics of Christ that inspire our worship?  You can leave a comment by clicking here.

Greg Faulls

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2 responses to 16 Reasons To Revere Christ This Easter

  1. However, God provided a way for sin to be forgiven by sending His son Jesus to earth. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, he provided a way for our forgiveness and restored our relationship with God. This, although tragic, was good news for all of us. For those making this journey for the first time, let me congratulate you on taking your first step. It is a choice that is going to change you for the rest of your life, but there are some things you will need to do.

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