We Wish to See Jesus

Category: jesus-christ

Teaching centered on the person, words, works, and example of Jesus Christ.

  • What Kind of Bread Would You Like?

    After Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 people with only five barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:1-14), many people came to see Him the next day. However, Jesus rebuked them for their motives in seeking Him. He explained that what He offers concerns spiritual sustenance, leading to spiritual life, rather than physical blessings that only provide for the physical side of life. Many refused to accept Jesus’ teaching that day, and in fact, many left Him (John 6:22-66). We can only imagine how sad that day was for Jesus. He turned to His apostles and asked if they too were going to leave. But Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). In the past, some churches tried to attract people by offering free food, refreshments, and social functions. Nowadays, it’s common to see churches providing contemporary forms of entertainment and things that cater to the physical wants of people, such as rock/R&B music, Starbucks, and Dunkin’ Donuts. However, those who seek Jesus must have pure motives in seeking and accepting the spiritual blessings that He offers. If Jesus were to reveal our motives in following Him, would we turn away and stop walking with Him? Or would we joyfully accept Him (and His word) as the bread of life?

    26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 

    27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

    28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

    29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

    30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 

    31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

    32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 

    33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

    34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

    35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.“

    ~ John 6:26-35

    Holy God in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Father, I have come to realize that Jesus has the ability and willingness to provide for both my physical and spiritual needs. Your words have revealed many truths that have touched me deeply, exposing even the thoughts and intentions of my heart (Hebrews 4:11-13). I acknowledge that some of the sayings in Your word are difficult to accept, but I trust that You only provide what is good for my soul, and I am willing to follow You even when it may be challenging. I am inspired by the example of the apostles who clung to your Son during the pivotal moments in His ministry and am aware that there will be similar pivotal moments in my walk with You. I pray for courage to choose the right course of action, always, abiding with You and Your Son. It is in Jesus’ name I pray, amen. 

  • Build on the Rock

    After delivering His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus concluded by emphasizing the importance of putting His teaching into practice. Those who witnessed Jesus noted the authority with which He spoke. When the leper and the centurion approached Him, they appealed to His ability, willingness, and authority (Matthew 8:1-13). Jesus is both willing and able to provide for us, but He demands that we leave behind all worldly things and commit ourselves to Him! Even the winds and the sea obey Him (Matthew 8:14-17). The decision to willingly obey Him now is left to us, but there will come a day when all will indeed obey His words (Philippians 2:10-11). For example: In the country of the Gergesenes, there were demons who begged Jesus for mercy, but He cast them into swine, which then violently ran down the steep place into the sea and perished in the water (Matthew 8:28-34).

    24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 

    25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

    26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 

    27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

    28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 

    29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

    ~ Matthew 7:24-29

    Holy God… You are too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard. Father, not everyone recognizes the need for a Savior. Some do, yet are unwilling to make Jesus their Lord! I understand that for me to receive healing, Jesus must be willing; I also understand the need for His being the Master of my life. May I properly submit to You, and may I truly be willing to sacrifice my own will, even the comforts of this life, to serve You more appropriately. I see that the winds and waves are obedient to You more than I have been in my own life, and for that I am ashamed. There will come a day when every knee bows before Jesus. I want to willingly make Him my Master, now! Please help me to properly understand Your words in Scripture and give me the courage to live by every word that comes from Your mouth! Amen.

  • 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?.

  • 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?