Resources/Articles
Jesus is the Answer
If Jesus is the answer, what is the question? If you listen to the news, friends, or family, the questions are: What is going to be done about the economy? What is being done about the increase of illegitimate children? How are we going to stop illegal immigration? Who is going to decrease poverty? How do we prevent terrorism? What will bring peace?
At the time Jesus was born, the angels announced, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased” (Luke 2:14). With that, man has created a Christmas season and expects Jesus to abolish all wars, strife, poverty, and division. What was the purpose in Jesus’ entrance into the world?
Two statements give the purpose of Jesus’ coming. In Luke 2:9-11, Jesus is spoken of as a Savior. John the Baptist echoed the same in John 1:29 by saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” Jesus became the answer to sin though no one had asked the question about the problem of sin or taking it away. Then, Jesus spoke of Himself when He said, “the Son of man came to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Therefore, the real questions are not “How is Jesus going to help me live longer? Be wealthier? Be healthier?” But “How do I remove sin?”
How Does Jesus Become “The Answer?”
Man’s means of measuring a problem or dilemma is often by looking at it by the numbers, percentages, and ratios, or comparing it to earlier data (increase or decrease). Man also asks whether it is a violation of rights, or whether it involves him and his family. As humans, we often want to measure things by means of how much society tolerates or accepts the attitude or action as “a part of our way of life.”
God describes the sin problem as much deeper and damaging. Ezekiel 18:4,18,20 and Romans 3:10-18 provide some of the most horrifying and deadly results of sin for which man has no answer except to see doctors, take pills, move, use lawyers, pass laws, spend money, hire therapists, divorce and remarry, and change schools.
Nothing is more terrifying and mournful than what sin does.
God sees what man does not see. God sees not only present separation (Isaiah 59:1-2), but current moral chaos and worry and, finally, eternal destruction (2 Thessalonians 1:7). God sees the pain and burden of sin, but also man’s inability to conquer it. Romans 3:23-25 spells out our dilemma and our solution. The NEED (v. 23), the MEANS (v. 24 - God’s grace, Jesus Christ), the EFFECT (v. 25 - propitiation), and the DEMONSTRATION of righteousness (v. 25).GOd’s plan was for Jesus to resolve the problem, bridging the gap man created with sin.
What God sees in Jesus is the answer for the darkness in the world caused by sin. He sees Jesus IS the light (John 8:12).
God sees Jesus as not only the light, but as the answer for ERROR. Jesus was asked, “What is truth?” by Pilate in John 18:38. Prior to this, Jesus said He is the truth (John 14:6), for by Him is the fullness of “grace and truth” (John 1:14). It was before His betrayal that Jesus prayed to God for the apostles in John 17:8-9,17 to abide in the truth God gave Him. It is truth in all generations. His truth never changes. It is consistent, durable, dependable, and unfailing, no matter what society, generation, culture, or circumstance you place it. Without the truth Jesus revealed, man would never experience freedom from the bondage of sin (John 8:32).
Jesus is the answer for PEACE. The world offers mans of peace with agreements, cooperative governments, vigils, petitions for people not to buy children war toys, or donations to a peace group. When Jesus came to the earth, He came not to cast peace upon the earth (Matthew 10:34). He came to bring peace to those who chose to be His followers in a relationship of loving Him, honoring Him, and serving Him - a peace which comes by faith (Romans 5:1). It is a peace Paul knew came from Christ, and he even prayed for that upon Christians in 2 Thessalonians 3:16.
Jesus is the answer for LIFE. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly” (John 10:10). He further said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:24). Jesus spoke of Himself as “the bread of life” in John 6:53, and unless we partake of Jesus, life and its meaning will never be fully understood. It was Paul again who placed his life into the hands of the life-giving Jesus by saying, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me’ (Galatians 2:20). At the point Jesus becomes Lord of your life, you learn what life is.
Jesus as the answer for darkness, peace, life, and error makes it clear why following Jesus is not the best choice, but THE ONLY choice. Jesus is God’s way of understanding what we experience on earth (Hebrews 4:14-16). He is the only one who can make alive what is dead. Ignoring Him does not mean He is not the answer or lessen His ability to save. It just means you have refused the answer.
Rather than obey, some will ask, “Where was Jesus when I needed Him most?” Luke 8:22-25 even answers that question. Jesus was there in the midst of the calm and in the midst of the storm.
If Jesus were all you had, then Jesus would be all you need.
