For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:9

Jesus the man

Want to be called the friend of God like Abraham?  Because he believed God! Depends on who you are listening to and looking to, and who your relationship is with.

"He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord ...?"

If a verse in the Bible can cut across our preconceived ideas on God and send our traditions flying, take a good look and ponder at the above verse. Mainstream religiosity and 'WASP (Western Anglo Saxon Protestant) culture' have not allowed folk to see past this rendering in times past.  It might mean one could re-valuate their religious background or even break out of their spiritual complacency.  Furthermore, this could be dangerous, especially for religious professionals and mini empire builders.

The picture John 13:25 paints here is that things were quite casual and laid-back at times, in the gatherings of Jesus and His disciples.  Like they were a relaxed family/homely environment, or something  ...  "Fancy lounging around together like this in the Sanctuary of all places!?"  Nothing like the religious institutions then or now.   Like these guys generally felt they were real brothers in the 'true blue' buddy sense.  Where family was an actuality and not a captured New Age warm fuzzy phrase.  Nor some conjured up "corporate" expression.  Nor a type of formalized comradeship; functioning within the bounds of an abbey, or lodge, or club, as loyal members of some brotherhood initiated membership, on card, but not in reality.  With back slapping gestures and branding club members with the title of "Brother" and all that!  If something 'snazzy' and out 'of the ordinary' had to be proved.  You get the drift!

Another picture revealed in this verse is how intimately one could have access to Jesus, or be attached to Him in the purest sense.  This makes Proverbs 18:24 light the night sky:  "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

John had found (by proven relationship only) the intimate closeness of a true friend, as one who showed himself friendly, and one who could be trusted entirely.  Even prepared to lay his life down for YOU or ME.  In an area where guile and pretence would be completely absent.  No ulterior motives or subtle manipulation in this camp.

When Stephen was being stoned to death by religious fanatics and frenzied patriots in the Book of Acts, we don't find him pulling out of the hat the latest sermon on "How To Pray" or  the latest soft paperback called "Improving The Situation".  Nope!   He didn't have time for that in this desperate situation, unrehearsed, and violently impromptu.

Can you visualize Stephen uttering out loud here, "our most reverend, eternal, omnipotent and omniscient Father in Heaven" or some other verbal blast-off from the Department of Religious Studies.  No, this true servant of the most High just merely called out to the God he loved, his big brother and friend ...

"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

Hey, and guess what ...  as Stephen looked up in the midst of this vicious assault and fatal aggression against him, He did not see Jesus sitting at the right hand of God, in His glorified position.   What he did see however, was Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  Does not the scripture promise that He will honour those who honour Him?  Here was the King of kings saluting his younger brother with great honour from His exalted position!  How beautiful and irreligious is that?

I have heard teaching in so-called evangelical circles where the "buddy" side of Jesus had been totally rubbished as "hip" nonsense and some sort of relic from the Jesus Movement.  Somehow the scriptures on God being "the friend of sinners" had been overlooked or could be clinically brushed aside and placed on-hold.  Here this could be conveniently re-extracted from the "sacred pages" by a slick professional, who had the credentials and expertise to eloquently expound, formalize, then neatly pigeonhole again, in the "cold doctrine" filing department ...  as an additive again, to some lofty sermon for a future event.

Of course the buddy, meaning "groovy" type of Jesus, can be in error as it quite often has been portrayed in times past, due to the "severity of God" being cancelled out.  Or being licence for sloppiness and laziness.  However, by rightly dividing the scriptures one can see the Jesus of scripture as a warm and compassionate man.  A man who could laugh and play (better provide some scriptures on this one - Lk. 24: 14-16;28).  A man who had like appetites and  passions as we.  A man who could bleed, sweat and shed tears; and suffer for the sake of others.  A perfect man.  The only perfect man in fact ...  the Creator coming down in the flesh.   Moreover, remember ...  "every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God."

This is the picture of Jesus of Nazareth, the prophet from Galilee.  Our Saviour in the flesh, who walked the dusty roads of Judea, and slept, fished, cooked, and ate with his friends.  Who experienced being nurtured as a baby, breast fed, winded, and having his nappies changed (diapers in the land of Uncle Sam).  Who grew up with like siblings; later working as a tradesman, as well as running a family home (with the absence of Joseph in latter years); knowing what it was like being a brother and a father, an everyday commoner, another villager, as well as a tradesman and businessman.

Now let's take this humble picture of Jesus one step further, going beyond the carpenter of Nazareth image, as in the case of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:16:

"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, now henceforth know we him no more."

Why does scripture sometimes refer to our Lord as 'Jesus Christ' and some other times reversed as 'Christ Jesus'?  Coz this is how Paul (as Saul) on the road to Damascus first met him ...  in His glorified state, the eternal King, the risen Lord of lords.  Meaning, Paul met Jesus as the anointed One (Christ) before Saviour, in other words.  Then after this close encounter of the first kind, Paul soon discovered Him as Saviour.  This happened beyond and in reverse to how the other apostles meet Him first, as the man from Galilee.

Beyond the cross "know we him no more", which means, as post-cross disciples we know Him not just as the man who walked the earth (uprightly), but in Spirit, as the Lord of all glory who changeth not.  This is to say that all the qualities Jesus was furnished with, even before He strode the roads of Roman occupied Judea, have been transposed with Him as He reigns in the heights of glory, supreme and pre-eminent.  This also means that all the divine attributes and human qualities he had as Jesus of Nazareth, are a present reality, where the risen Christ cannot be divorced from the friend of sinners 2000 years ago, to a fantasized "austere"," formal", "beyond the clouds" deism of today.  Nor brought down to a hippy figure who was "just a man" as the "JC Superstar" song  acclaimed.  After all ...  He is still "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

The incredible thing is  ...  this same Jesus still desires a meaningful relationship both with me and you, former rebels redeemed.

Jesus the Word

1 John 1:1.  "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life ..."

Another scriptural name for Jesus is 'the Word' (spelt with a capital 'W' as it is relating to a person), just as the scriptures are scripturally called 'the word' (spelt with a lower case 'w' this time).  This places scripture in a place of authority as the Lord Himself.  To  even go further we can look at this verse ...  Psalms 138:2:

"I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."

The above verse gives paramount importance to the word, the scriptures (notice the lower case 'w').  This means Jesus, the word, and the scriptures, are one and the same, and cannot be divorced from each other.  A divine concept which totally nullifies the New Age concept of the "contemporary Jesus".  This biblical concept also totally contradicts the lie portrayed about Jesus today as the Jesus who exists, or acts, or is divorced, as an authority independently of the scriptures.  Please let me give you a couple of apostate examples to see the clever way man counteracts what scripture presents:

In his book "the Secret of the Strength" Peter Hoover (although mentioning many good historical facts about the anabaptists) falls short of scripture, by separating the written word from the spoken word, leaving this Movement drifting without the anchor of scripture:

"The Word of God, for the Anabaptists, was a man. And he spoke through the holy writings.  Some years ago I heard a Mennonite minister explain how the Anabaptists used the Scriptures.  He said their slogan was sola scriptura (only the Scriptures) and that they were known as "the people of the book."  At the time I heard it I believed this, but since then I have made other discoveries.

The slogan sola scriptura was invented and used by Huldrych Zwingli (the Anabaptists' mortal enemy) and the "people of the book" are the Jews or the Muslims."

If scripture is not one and the same as the word of God, being not the very God breathed inspired words of Jesus (as this writer suggests) then he would have a valid point.  However, if scripture is true as it says it is, his teaching would leave believers up in the air as the written record could no longer be trusted as entirely reliable, and acknowledged as our daily source of sustenance and continued beacon of light.  Also, as a final authority "above all thy name"!

A book which had much influence in Pentecostal circles and the Charismatic Movement during the 70's (and is still widely published) was a book simply called "Disciple".  Although it's author Juan Carlos Ortiz  made some valid thought provoking statements during this era, a major error he made was also promoting the "Hath God said" idea the scriptures were secondary and not paramount to our faith.  Not long after the commencement of this book the author makes mention of how the Lord was now placing the Holy Spirit back in His proper place, above the scripture. 

This was a typical doctrine in the Charismatic Movement  by the way, which paved the way for the acceptance of idol worshiping Roman Catholics into the fold, as well as accepting nominal Christians ("believers" without the new birth, Christian in name only) as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Another common tactic of these apostate contemporaries (which I have become very tired of hearing - as if the Lord has had to be justified as "changing with the times") is the line, "You will just have to throw out your theology on this one!"  Or how about ...  "We follow Jesus in our heart, not in a book!"?  Or ...  The letter killeth, but the Spirit gives life!"?  Or ...  "I am not a biblidolater, but follow where the Spirit leads!"

Sound cool eh!  And very plausible?  However, this is nothing short of wholesome deception and blatant apostasy.

I could go on using many such examples, even a lot closer to home.  But as "the pen of the scribes is in vain", let's get on with supporting the Jesus of scripture and His infallible word found in His book, which He puts His life on, completely:

How do we find Him?  How do we keep Him?  How do we get to know Him?  How do we follow Jesus?  On a daily basis that is?  Answer:

Jn. 8: 31-32.  "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Wanna be a true disciple of Jesus?  Wanna be set free?  And know the truth?  Then continue in His word!  Constantly!  Making it your daily bread!  Your survival rations!  Your lamp for your feet and your light for the path!  Minus additional extras!

If Jesus cannot be true to His word, and put it in writing before all to see as His witness, preserved and keep as His promised record, then how could He be trusted?  Who  says "ALL scripture is given by inspiration"!  Who trusts this written record?:

"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

A divine principle in God is the threefold witness of God.  Or the threefold witness of Jesus.  They are one and the same anyway.

It's there, whether you like it or not!  Whether you are a Trinitarin or not.  He's the Godhead, irrefutably ...  "the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"!  Mentioned clearly in scripture!  "Let us make man in our image ...!"  "... let us go down, and there confound their language" ... etc.!

Satisfied!?

Or how about ...  the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost (interestingly, most modern versions omit this vital scripture)!

"In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God (in and as the Spirit), and the Word was God (the Creator)."

"And straightway coming up out of the water, he (the Son 1.) saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit (2.) like a dove  (another - second - identity) descending upon him:  And there came a voice  from heaven (the Father 3, another - third - identity speaking to the Son as a separate identity)."

1. Jesus as God, the everlasting father.  2. The living/spoken Word (capital "W").  Then finally (3.) as the written word also known as the scriptures (lower case "w" - his breathed inspired record), scribed in book form, between two covers.

Furthermore (like the God head), I will prove to you by the scriptures, without a shadow of doubt, that these three are one and the same.

Firstly:  We know quite clearly that Jesus is the living Word:  Revelation 19:13.  "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God."

From the book of Acts we can see quite clearly the word of God spoken is also the written word, the scriptures:

" ...  and they spake the word of God with boldness."

Obviously they were speaking what the scriptures contained.

"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables."

Here, clearly the apostles were relieved of other duties so they could have more time devoted to the scriptures (the written word).

Following, we are reminded that to be a good Berean (not taking what man says for granted) one must use the scriptures as the final backup to what the spoken word has said:

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily (there it is - undeniable proof), whether those things were so.

How did they back up the spoken word here?  With the written word of course!  And nothing else!

Also, Jesus in John 10:35 makes reference to the word and the scripture being one and the same, in a married relationship that cannot be broken:

"If  he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken".

In other words, by changing the word are you changing the written scripture, or vice versa.  Mutilation is another word for it here!

More proof:!? ...  Proverbs 30:5.  "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."

Notice how it says "Every word of God is pure".  Does this mean the living word or the written word?

The next sentence answers this question quite precisely ...  "he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him."

Therefore, it is the scriptures referring to the Person (he/him) the living word.  Which means, if you add (or subtract for that matter) to scripture are you adding onto Jesus (or subtracting from Him).  Therefore, whoever tampers with scripture tampers with the Son of God.  Dangerous stuff!  Unfortunately, it is still over looked by many, some deliberately, or others ignorantly.  This includes friends and even some brothers I fellowship with.

That's why when 2 Timothy 3:16 declares:  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness"; it is referring to the word whether spoken or written.  Because they are both married together, as just pointed out ...  the spoken must line up with the written ...  God's record on earth.  Concluding, the written record is the final backstop in all matters of faith, life, and practice:

"But if ye believe not his writings (Moses), how shall ye believe my words (Jesus")?"

You can't have one without the other!

Last of all ...  how do we find Jesus in truth and not in pretence?  The scriptural Jesus that is?  The One true Bible believing Christians follow, or are suppose to be following?  The answer is found in both the Old and New Testaments:

"Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me".

This is referring to of course, the scriptures from the beginning of Genesis right through to the end of Revelation, in the volume of the book called the Holy Bible.

Therefore, to use Jesus as an authority outside His word is basically a straight out lie (Psalms 138:2 - Authorized Version only).  Just the same way, to use the spoken word outside of the written word (the scriptures contained in the Holy Bible) as final doctrine, is far more than just subtle heresy.

From scripture (which we have just clearly ascertained as final authority) we can now use interchangeably when we see God's word mentioned (whether written or spoken), or when Jesus is mentioned.  So when it says "the word of God" (plural), or "every word of God" (singularly) is true or pure, it also means all scripture is true and pure and can be relied upon to the utmost.  When it says the word has been preserved and kept, it means the original meaning of the scripture has never been lost.  When it says the word is refined (proven the test of time) and purified (never loosing it's content or meaning) it also means this of the written text.  Moreover, when it says His word is settled in heaven forever, it also means the scriptures are settled now, as historical fact, and a living present reality, indefinitely, always in the continued present tense.

This is why, throughout scripture, umpteen times, it says ...  "It is written!"  Do you know the authority behind this?  Especially if "thy word is truth"!

Where is this truth found?  Where is this revelation found?  Where is Jesus found?  Good news ...  In "the volume of the book" (that's the Holy Bible)!  For there "it is written of me".