Today’s Scripture: John 17:1-5
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. – Colossians 1:15
What would you do if your dad began to say outlandish things about himself? Like one morning he came to breakfast wearing his hat sideways and claiming to be Napoleon? Or he packed his bags to leave for Carnegie Hall, saying he was going to launch a singing career, and you knew the poor guy couldn’t sing a note!
You would probably try to stop him and quickly call a family pow-wow to figure out what to do. But for a person to say he’s Napoleon or Pavarotti is nothing compared to what Jesus claimed for Himself.
In His great high priestly prayer to His Father, He said, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (John 17:5). Jesus Christ claimed He was alive and present with God before the creation of the world! That’s either one of the most outlandish claims ever made or it is a simple statement by the eternal Son of God.
Jesus also said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Now where does that leave those people who claim we’re all heading for the same place and there are many ways to God? Obviously it leaves them in conflict with what Jesus said.
Yes, there are other men in history who have been labeled “divine” by their followers. But none of them ever died for the sins of the whole world. None of them rose again from the grave. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies given many years before His birth. The extreme claims of Jesus sound unbelievable…unless they are true.
Prayer
Lord, I believe every claim You ever made about Yourself, and I worship You as my God and Savior. Amen.
To Ponder
Jesus is God, yet His sacrifice was necessary to satisfy His holiness.
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