We Wish to See Jesus

Category: Bible Study

Expository studies of biblical texts, people, themes, and books.

  • Our Compassionate High Priest

    In this section, the Hebrew writer discusses the priesthood of Jesus and aims to demonstrate its superiority over the Mosaic system. The purpose is to convince Jewish Christians not to abandon Christ’s priesthood. To achieve this, the author will explain Christ’s intercessory work in three parts: His priesthood, His tabernacle and service, and His sacrifice (See Hebrews 4:14-10:39). The role of a priest is to act as an intermediary between God and men. The writer argues that Jesus is the perfect High Priest who can fulfill this role best, and he is about to offer evidence to support this claim.

    14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

    15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

    16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

    ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

    Holy God and Father, thank You for strengthening my faith in Jesus as Your Son and in His role as an intercessor between me and You. It is indeed comforting to know that Jesus understands our weaknesses and has been tempted like us, but without sinning. I pray that You grant me further strength to overcome any obstacles that come our way and guide me toward a life that is more like Jesus. May I remember that Your grace is always available to those who seek it, and You are ready to provide us with the tools and convictions necessary to overcome any challenges. Keep my faith strong, always, and may You bless us abundantly. Amen

  • God’s Supreme Revelation 

    1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 

    2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 

    3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 

    4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

    Hebrews 1:1-4

    The Hebrew writer puts forth his main ideas in the first four verses. According to him Christ is unparalleled, as He shares and displays the divine nature. Christ is the ultimate messenger of God, who not only communicates God’s message to mankind but also demonstrates God’s nature through His being!

    Holy God and Father, I am grateful for Your active involvement in the affairs of mankind throughout history. Thank You for inspiring godly men to communicate Your will both orally and through the written word. Above all, I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to communicate Your will through His teaching and preaching. Jesus lived His life in such a way that He made You, Father, visible to us. By studying the nature of Jesus, I can study You! I ask for Your guidance to help me see Jesus more clearly every day and to be united with You through Him. Jesus, I also thank You for purging my sins! Holy God, please continue guiding me to study and worship You in the right way. Amen.

  • Not Philosophy or Legalism, but Christ

    8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

    9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 

    10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

    11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 

    12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 

    13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 

    14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 

    15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

    ~ Colossians 2:8-15

    In this writing, Paul mentions several spiritual blessings that come with being in Jesus Christ, such as the ability to put off the body of the flesh, being brought to life, and being forgiven. However, one of the greatest blessings we receive through Christ is His fulfillment of the law of Moses. He has delivered us from the law, which was a set of commandments contained in ordinances.

    Holy God in Heaven, I want to express my deep gratitude for the salvation that I have received through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I am aware that Your grace has been at work in my life, and am humbled by the fact that I have been made complete in Him through baptism. I was once lost in my sins, but now I am alive in Christ, free from all my trespasses, and I thank You for delivering me from my past. As I walk with You, I pray that You will help me to stay alert, lest anyone should deceive me with empty philosophies. I want to know You more intimately, Lord, and I long to make Jesus the true King of my life. Please guide me on this journey and help me to always remember the love that You have shown me through Your Son. I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

    If you want to study further what it means to be “in Christ,” continue with How Does One Get into Christ?. If you are beginning with questions about Jesus and salvation, visit Looking for Jesus?.

  • Applying Principles of 2 Corinthians, Chapters 11-13

    In Corinth, some people tried to ruin Paul’s reputation among the believers. As a result, Paul had to reluctantly prove that he was a faithful Jew and an apostle of Jesus Christ. He didn’t do it out of pride, but to maintain his influence among the believers who trusted him.

    Paul was initially hesitant to boast about his credentials. To prevent himself from being exalted above measure, he received a thorn in the flesh. He prayed for its removal, but it remained. Through his difficulties, he learned to rely more on Jesus Christ. As he sought to sacrifice some of his comforts for the benefit of the Corinthians, he needed strength from Jesus. However, despite his efforts, some Corinthians continued to be carnal minded, which broke his heart.

    Despite accusations of fickleness and opposition, Paul was far from being fickle. He fearlessly addressed the needs of the group concerning repentance, while also being mindful of the tender-hearted ones and speaking with the necessary gentleness. He trusted that the group would accept his guidance, and had every intention of doing whatever was necessary to help them on their spiritual journey.

    Holy God, there may be times when I face resistance from those who refuse to follow Your will. They may even try to tarnish my reputation because they are unwilling to conform to the likeness of Your son, despite my best efforts. I pray that I don’t feel the need to defend myself out of pride or ego. Instead, please help me to say whatever is necessary to maintain a positive influence, all for Your glory. Whatever the circumstances, I ask for the strength to rely more fully on You. If I experience pain or hardship, I pray that it draws me closer to You. Furthermore, please grant me the wisdom to speak boldly when necessary and to be gentle when others are struggling. May I always be open and hopeful with my spiritual brethren. Help me to draw closer to You, and please give me the strength to help others do the same. Amen.

  • Assurance of the Resurrection

    1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

    2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 

    3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 

    4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

    ~ 2 Corinthians 5:1-4

    Holy God, as I age, I look forward to casting down life’s challenges and seeing Jesus. Even still, I want to have a stronger hope in eternal things! 

    You have given me the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of eternal life and my resurrection. My aim is to please You and live for Christ. I devote my life to the One who died for me and rose again. Thank You for reconciling me through the gospel message. 

    I am grateful to You for the apostles and prophets of the first century who selflessly gave up their comforts, and even their very lives, for the sake of spreading the gospel. Their sacrifices were a part of Your ultimate plan, so that even today I can benefit from their efforts. Grant me the ability to comprehend the beauty of their sacrifices and to understand the difficulties they faced, so that I may follow in their footsteps. They dedicated their efforts for Your sake, and I am privileged to have access to the mystery of the revelation of Jesus Christ because of their work. 

    Help me to think on these things soberly. May these things motivate me to come out from the world, to be separate, to not touch what is unclean. Dear God, I long to have the kind of closeness with You, that a son has with his father. I humbly ask for your guidance and protection as I navigate through this life. Amen.

  • The Glory of the New Covenant

    7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 

    8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 

    9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 

    10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 

    11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

    12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 

    13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.

    14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 

    15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 

    16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 

    17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

    18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

    ~ 2 Corinthians 3:7-18

    Moses did not cover his face to prevent people from seeing the radiance that was on him after being in God’s presence. Rather, he covered his face to conceal the fading of that radiance. The old covenant had an inferior glory that was destined to fade away and not remain permanent. However, with the new covenant, the veil is removed, and the glory remains forever (Compare Exodus 34:29-35)!

    Holy God, Father, in heaven. I am thankful for the covenant that has been established in the blood of Jesus Christ. It is truly a hope of enduring spiritual glory and life! As you mentioned, this new covenant is of the spirit and not of the letter, and it is the ministration of righteousness. It’s amazing to know that it endures and does not fade away. Father, please enable me with boldness to do Your will. May You help me to be truly transformed into the image of Jesus, the Christ. May His grace and mercy guide me every day and help me to become more like Him. Amen.

  • We Wish to See Jesus   

    During the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry (before the death, burial, and resurrection) Greeks came to Jerusalem for the Passover, possibly as proselytes or God-fearers. Somehow these Greeks met Philip of Bethsaida, one of the twelve, and they said, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip told Andrew about the Greeks’ request, and they both informed Jesus. Although it’s not mentioned if the Greeks were present, it’s likely since they asked to see Jesus.

    23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. 27 Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” 29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” (John 12:23-31, NKJV)

    Jesus recognized that His greatest purpose was to die for the sins of humanity, a long-awaited and carefully planned event in the scheme of redemption. Those Greeks who sought Him had the privilege of hearing His wonderful message, while sitting at Jesus’ feet! Do His beautiful words resonate in our hearts? We, too, wish to see Jesus!

    O, Lord of hosts, throughout history, people have had their own ideas about how Jesus should look and act. May we put our preconceived notions aside and see Him as He truly is.

    Lord God and Father, there is no God in heaven or above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. The Scriptures provide us with a clear picture of Jesus. By studying and reflecting on them, we gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and how to live our lives. May You grant us the wisdom and insight to see Jesus in every page of the Scriptures.

    Blessed be the Lord God of all, for He has visited and redeemed His people. O, Lord, open our eyes, our ears, our hearts, and our minds. We wish to see Jesus and be in your presence, forever! Amen.

    If you are looking for Jesus and want to know what the Bible says about the gospel and salvation, continue with Looking for Jesus?