Jesus is our Mighty God

I’m currently doing a series with my church called “His Name Will be Called.”  It’s based on the 4 names of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6.  This Sunday is “Mighty God.”  I wonder; how do you picture Jesus? I suppose when I ask that, the first thing that might come to mind is how he looks.  There’s no shortage of depictions of Jesus in this world.  Unfortunately many of them are overly effeminate, often with gaunt cheeks, and I swear some of them look like He’s wearing makeup. I’ve also had enough of those flowing blond locks of hair and the blue eyes.  And why do they always seem to show him holding a lamb or with little children around him?

I know those sorts of pictures were meant to honor Him, but I almost find them to be sac religious.  They don’t sit right with me, because I think they are a poor depiction of our Lord and Savior when He walked this earth.

When you think about what we know of Jesus from scripture I think there could be far more accurate depictions.  Instead of Jesus having a little lamb on His lap why not show him holding some wood working tools?  Why not show him fishing on a boat with a couple of His disciple buddies?  Speaking of His disciples, I see them for the most part as pretty manly themselves; especially His closest three, Peter, James, and John.  We know them as fishermen, and James and John as “sons of thunder.”  Those are the guys Jesus chose to hang out with and call as His disciples.  He probably looked a lot more like the blue collar rugged men they were, then most the pictures we see now-a-days.

Appearances are one thing, but I’m also wondering what you think Jesus was like?

What do you think his personality and demeanor were? If you think of Jesus as being meek and humble, you'd be right. The Bible certainly describes Jesus in this way, but we need to remember that being meek is nowhere near the same as being week. A common description for meekness is actually power under control.  And we know that Jesus was humble too, but that doesn't mean he was a wimp. That became obvious on a number of occasions. For instance, a few months before his crucifixion, as Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem knowing full well what was in store, a group of Pharisees warned him of King Herod's plot to take his life.  Jesus told them, "Go tell that fox ... I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day." With the steely determination of a warrior, Jesus told them he was going to carry out his will and purpose, namely, to die on a cross and take away the sins of the world. No one would stand in his way.  A few months later, on Monday of Holy Week, just days before his death on the cross, Jesus went into the temple. He found merchants and money changers who had set up shop there, preventing worshipers from having access to the temple. And he angrily drove them all out, overturning tables and scattering coins in the process.  That’s hardly wimpy.  Or what about one of his more famous rants against the Pharisees.  He called them hypocrites, hopeless, blind fools, frauds, white washed tombs, and brood of vipers.  He’s not exactly sugar coating it is He?  He always spoke the truth and wasn’t afraid to do so.

I suppose the really sad thing is this; not only do many people picture Jesus as having been weak and wimpy during his days on earth, they still picture him in that way, and nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus was our mighty God on earth and now He’s our mighty God in heaven. The Bible may call him the "Lamb of God," but it also calls Him the "Lion of Judah." In Zephaniah 3:17 He is referred to as a Mighty Warrior who saves.  Yes that’s right; Jesus saves.  It’s more than just a bumper sticker saying.  He saves us from our sin and He saves us from death, but He also saves us FOR some things.  He saves us for an abundant life on earth.  He saves us for the joy of our salvation.  I don’t know what your Christmas season holds this year.  I know for some it’s not always an easy season to get through.  Wherever you are at, I hope you will take the time to consider your Mighty God Jesus Christ who saves, and I pray that in turn will bring you the true joy of Christmas.