Who Is This Jesus
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. John 1:9, RSV.
Jesus has demonstrated that He speaks with authority and that He possesses it over disease, distance, nature, the supernatural, sin, and even death.
But who is this Jesus? And what does He mean to me? His own answer was that He is one who "will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32, RSV). Another answer, supplied by the apostle John, pictures Jesus as "the true light that enlightens every man" (John 1:9, RSV). The "all" and "every" are important in those verses. Jesus never impacted only those who met Him face-to-face during His earthly sojourn. He never blessed only those who heard Him preach or experienced His healing power. No. He "draws" and enlightens "all" down through the corridors of history. And that means "every" one who has ever been born, whether they have ever heard the name of Jesus or not. Through the Holy Spirit He still enlightens the minds of individuals around the world, even though they have never listened to the gospel message from the lips of a human preacher.
"Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy, wherever the heart reaches out to bless and uplift others, there is revealed the working of God's Holy Spirit. In the depths of heathenism, men who have had no knowledge of the written law of God, who have never even heard the name of Christ, have been kind to His servants, protected them at the risk of their own lives. Their acts show the working of a divine power. The Holy Spirit has implanted the grace of Christ in the heart of the savage, quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. The 'Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world' (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and this light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God" (Christ Object Lessons, p. 38).
"Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of theology, but they have cherished His principles. Through the influence of the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them....Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish....The Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God" (The Desire of Ages, 638).
Who is Jesus? The light of the world, who has authority to enlighten and draw every human being who has ever lived.
The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. John 1:9, RSV.
Jesus has demonstrated that He speaks with authority and that He possesses it over disease, distance, nature, the supernatural, sin, and even death.
But who is this Jesus? And what does He mean to me? His own answer was that He is one who "will draw all men to myself" (John 12:32, RSV). Another answer, supplied by the apostle John, pictures Jesus as "the true light that enlightens every man" (John 1:9, RSV). The "all" and "every" are important in those verses. Jesus never impacted only those who met Him face-to-face during His earthly sojourn. He never blessed only those who heard Him preach or experienced His healing power. No. He "draws" and enlightens "all" down through the corridors of history. And that means "every" one who has ever been born, whether they have ever heard the name of Jesus or not. Through the Holy Spirit He still enlightens the minds of individuals around the world, even though they have never listened to the gospel message from the lips of a human preacher.
"Wherever there is an impulse of love and sympathy, wherever the heart reaches out to bless and uplift others, there is revealed the working of God's Holy Spirit. In the depths of heathenism, men who have had no knowledge of the written law of God, who have never even heard the name of Christ, have been kind to His servants, protected them at the risk of their own lives. Their acts show the working of a divine power. The Holy Spirit has implanted the grace of Christ in the heart of the savage, quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature, contrary to his education. The 'Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world' (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and this light, if heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God" (Christ Object Lessons, p. 38).
"Those whom Christ commends in the judgment may have known little of theology, but they have cherished His principles. Through the influence of the divine Spirit they have been a blessing to those about them....Among the heathen are those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish....The Holy Spirit has touched their hearts, and they are recognized as the children of God" (The Desire of Ages, 638).
Who is Jesus? The light of the world, who has authority to enlighten and draw every human being who has ever lived.
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