[Biblemat] A) RECOGNIZING JESUS

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my files:

RECOGNIZING JESUS

     It was a Sunday afternoon when the two men walked the
road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.  All hope had been shatter-
ed on Friday.  The one they thought was the Messiah had died.  But some women 
had told them the tomb was empty
and angels had said He was alive.

     As they walked a man joined them.  Lk. 24:15,16 says, "Jesus Himself 
drew near and went with them.  But their eyes
were kept from recognizing Him" (ESV).

     This reminded me of a couple of conversations I have had
online.  In one, I was told how every generation reads the Bible to justify 
their worldview and outlook on life.  In another, I was told Jesus was far more 
post-modern than I
seemed to believe.  I remembered it wasn't too many years
ago I was told Jesus was the quintessential modernist -- light
years ahead of His time.

     It really is true.  We easily see Jesus as being just one of
us.  We can read the New Testament to see Jesus in just about any light we 
want.  To some He was the quintessential
Renaissance man.  To our grandparents' generation He was
the example of hard work and industry.  To our parents' gen-
eration He was the iconoclast rebel.  To some He was the first
feminist.  He was a modernist before there was modernism.
And now He is post-modern pre-post-modern.  To some He
is all inclusive.  To others He is elitist.  Each race pictures Him as one of 
their own.  And every group is convinced they
have finally seen the real Jesus.

     Jesus was right beside these travelers and they didn't rec-
ognize Him.  I worry about us.  With all the pictures of Jesus
out there, do we recognize Him when He is standing right in
front of us?

     Rom. 10:6-8 points out we do not have to ascend into hea-
ven to bring Christ down or into the abyss to raise Christ from the dead.  
Rather, the Word is near us.  We can meet
Jesus in the Word.

     Sadly, we too often want to meet the Jesus who will fit in
today instead of the Jesus who stood out 2000 years ago.  We have to make 
sure our eyes are not blinded to the real
Jesus who stands out in front of us through the Word.  I imag-
ine He won't be a philosopher, an iconoclast, a modernist,
feminist or post-modernist.  He is going to be just Jesus.

     I know that is not as spectacular and shocking.  Many peo-
ple won't have any use for Him, thinking He is boring and downright foolish.  
However, to those who believe on Him, He
will be the power of God unto salvation.

     Don't take my word about the real Jesus.  Meet Him for
yourself.  Get in the Bible.  Take off your societal glasses and
get to know Jesus.  Why not start today?  ---- Edwin L. Crozier via Gospel 
Power, Vol. 14, No. 2, Jan. 14, 2007.   </HTML>
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