JESUS 4 US
Revelation 1:4-8
Vv. 7-8: “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.’”
Eight year-old Benjy asked his cousin, ten year-old Jeremy, what Epiphany (e-PIF-a-nee) means. Jeremy said, “Epiphany is when the Wise Men found baby Jesus. This shows that Jesus came for us Gentiles, as well as for Jews.” (Epiphany means a sudden understanding. It means “WOW,” like an “a-ha” moment of “I get it.”)
“What’s Gentiles (JEN-tilz)?” Benjy wondered.
“Gentiles are non-Jews, like us. Everyone who is not a Jew is a Gentile.”
Jeremy is correct. The word “Gentiles,” usually plural, refers to a people, many different peoples, or entire nations. Originally, it stood for those who don’t believe in the One True God. The Wise Men, or Magi, were not Jewish, yet God created a star that would guide them directly to Jesus. They presented Jesus gifts fit for a King (gold), a Priest (incense), and a Redeemer (myrrh). (Matthew 2:2, 11).
That is vital information. It screams, “Jesus is for us!” After the Wise Men found Jesus, they announced Him to all people in the whole world—whom He came to save. Jesus’ life demonstrated God the Father’s personality. We learn His ways from watching Jesus—and from the Bible. Jesus’ miracles confirm that He is God’s Son.
Jesus, the first-born, is older brother to everyone who believes in Him. He shows us how to live perfectly—despite the fact that we cannot—regardless of how hard we try. He took our sins, our blame, and our shame to the cross and died, so that we might live. Since the Father raised Jesus from the dead, believers will live after we die, too.
Jesus, as the King of kings, determines who gets to rule on earth. Believers have access to the throne room, where Brother Jesus works on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25). We claim God’s promises, and get His best when we pray in Jesus’ Name.
Take Home Nugget
Jesus loved us long before we knew Him. As God-man, Jesus gets our trouble, pain, and sorrow. He willingly shed His blood and died on the cross in our place. The opening Scripture is present tense! He’s alive, and is coming soon. He offers us salvation, and eternal life. That’s His personality, divinity, and power all rolled into one.
Jesus is definitely for us! Don’t you feel lucky to serve such an awesome Savior?
Jesus—Who’s always there,
We’re grateful for His care!
J.D. Griffith
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Written for http://www.biblestudyforkids.com/
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