16th June, 2022.

WHY I BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD Pt.4

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.NLT

Thomas, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ is popularly known as a doubter. If I ask most church folks about any other thing Thomas did or said, I'm sure 95% will tell me he doubted Jesus' resurrection( John 20:24-27). What if I told you that he affirmed the deity of Jesus Christ? Yes he did. When Jesus appeared to His disciples, He showed Thomas His hands that Roman soldiers pierced with nails. Upon seeing Jesus whom he doubted his resurrection, out of amazement, Thomas made a profound statement saying "My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed."(John 20:28 NLT). He referred to Jesus as his Lord and God. It wasn't a slip of tongue. He knew Jesus is God. The disciples of Jesus didn't have issues with this either neither did Jesus reject being called God. In fact, His earthly ministry proved that He is God. In Matthew 9, Jesus forgave a paralyzed man his sins: "Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”(Matthew 9:2 NLT). This didn't go well with the religious teachers(Vs 3), they said, *"...“That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God"?”

Truly, only God forgives. He's the one that has the power to forgive sins and the pronouncement of Jesus is another proof that He is God. If he isn't God, He wouldn't have forgiven that man: "Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”(Matthew 9:4-6 NLT). Hallelujah!!! Jesus has the authority to forgive sins because He is God. Even in His glorified state, the power to forgive sins didn't diminish because He purchased our redemption with His blood: “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders"(Acts 20:28 NLT). Hallelujah!!!

In the text above, Paul gave Pastoral counsel to some church leaders, he told them to feed God's flock whom God purchased with His blood. That's a veiled reference to Christ because it is Christ that purchased the church with His blood. "God" in context of Paul's statement is referring to Christ. That's another affirmation of His deity by a man whose was not directly among His twelve disciples. How did he know this? I want to believe it is by revelation. There's so much we need to know about Jesus. We may not grasp certain things logically except revealed to us by the Spirit. Teachings like this can only be grasped by the help of the Holy Spirit. The more you try to reason it out, the farther you go from the truth. Till we see Him in glory, our prayer should be like that of Paul who said: "That I may know Him*". Ask the Lord to reveal Christ to you.