Tag: Emmanuel

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Jesus the Good Shepherd

Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, finds joy in seeing His diseased sheep progress toward healing.

Have you ever noticed how much a question mark looks like a Shepherd’s Staff?  I was in a Bible a Bible study the other day about questions in the Bible, and it just struck me how much the question mark looks like the staff of a Shepherd. Why hadn’t I noticed this before and is their a significance to that fact? As I pondered this, I began to see just how much of my life feels unsettled, like an unanswered question. I realized at this moment just how much I need Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, to lead me. Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10:

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.12 The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them.13 This happens because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me,15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep.16 But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10”11-16 HCSB)

The Good Shepherd knows His Sheep. He knows us cover to cover. He knew us before we were even born (Psalm 139). We know our Shepherd, we come to recognize His voice, His leading. We really are blind to the dangers of this world. For me, the Wolf is the World, and the harshness of life. The World can offer us things and entice us with its contrived promises.  But Jesus delivers His own life for us.  The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. We are safe with Him, cared for, protected. He will fight for us, stand in the gap, rescue us when we have strayed. The hired man in this passage is all the other people and things we have turned to besides Jesus. These people, even the good ones, can’t keep all the promises, they’re frail and needy, just like us. The other things we’ve turned to have failed us time and time again, leaving us with unanswered questions and wounded hearts. But the Good Shepherd, with His Shepherd’s Staff shaped like a Question mark, is the answer to all our questions.  Are you feeling perplexed, alone and in need today? Does your life feel like one huge unanswered question? Turn to the Good Shepherd, Lean into Him, Rest in Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you, like the other things that have failed you. He will fight for You and He proved His love for you in laying down His life, so that you might have life abundantly. Read all of John 10 today, and marvel at Your Good Shepherd.

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You Won’t Be Alone Anymore

You Won't Be Alone Anymore

Jesus had many names that identified His character. One of those was also Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Before Jesus came to earth, the Spirit of God resided in the temple. The people had to go through all kinds of rituals to become clean enough to go near to Him.

As believers today, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He is the one who cleanses us and makes His home in our hearts. He becomes one with us, closer than the air we breathe. Isn’t it good to know that God is always with us?

Today, I want you to know, God’s peace is always with us. His joy is always with us. His power is always with us, and His victory is always with us. The next time you feel alone, think about this Scripture. Know that He is near because you serve Emmanuel–the God who is always with you!

“Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel-which, when translated, means, God with us.”

Matthew 1:23, AMPC

“Immanuel (Hebrew: meaning, “God with us”; also romanized Emmanuel, Imanu’el) is a Hebrew name which appears in the Book of Isaiah as a sign that God will protect the House of David.”

Wikipedia

Pray With Me
Emmanuel, thank You for choosing to make Your home in me. Father, thank You for filling me with Your peace and joy. God, I bless You today, knowing that You will never leave me nor forsake me, in Jesus’ Name! Amen

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The Names and Titles of Jesus Christ

In the Bible and other Christian texts, Jesus Christ is known by a variety of names and titles, from the Almighty to the Light of the World. Some titles, such as the Savior, express Christ’s role within the theological framework of Christianity, while others are primarily metaphorical.

  1. Lord of Glory: “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8)
  2. Messiah: “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” (John 1:41)
  3. Mighty One: “Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob.” (Isaiah 60:16)
  4. The Prince of Peace ”¦ And his name shall be called ”¦ the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
  5. Nazarene: “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23)
  6. Wonderful For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful ”¦ (Isaiah 9:6)
  7. The Bridegroom: In the Old Testament, God was portrayed as the bridegroom of Israel. When the Pharisees asked why Jesus and the disciples didn’t fast, he explained that wedding guests do not fast when the bridegroom is with them (Matthew 9:14). The Book of Revelation calls the Church the Bride of the Lamb (Jesus). Jesus and the Church (us) are like a lover and the loved one.
  8. Prince of Life: “And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:15)
  9. Redeemer: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” (Job 19:25)
  10. Rock: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4)
  11. Son of David: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1)
  12. True Vine: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” (John 15:1)
  13. Rabbi: In the Gospels Jesus was sometimes called rabbi. This term meant “teacher.” It did not imply that the person was a trained teacher but that he was an authority. A rabbi was a male more than 30 years old.
  14. Son of David: Jesus was hailed as a Son of David to acknowledge that he was the Messiah, who was to come from the family of David, Israel’s greatest king. Jesus’ foster father Joseph, however, was of the tribe of Judah, the house of David. Jesus took his lineage from his father.

We have all sinned and deserve God’s judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him.


 

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