My senior year of high school, I became a very confused girl. For years, I’d read the Genesis creation account in church but in spring of 12th grade, it collided head on with everything I’d studied about evolution.
People I loved had strong beliefs on either side. I read; I studied. And the people I loved discussed around me as I sunk more and more into turmoil. I began to feel uprooted from even my most foundational beliefs about God.
I’d always been super active in our church music ministry and made an appointment to talk to our music minister. Sitting in his office one afternoon, tears spilled as I poured out my heart and my questions. Behind his desk, he listened and then spoke these words I will be forever grateful for.
“You need to figure out who Jesus is. Set aside your questions about creation versus evolution for now. Who is Jesus?”
With that one question, the cloud of confusion began to clear and the weight I’d been carrying around for weeks perceptibly lifted.
Because I knew who Jesus was. I remember the day as an 8-year-old when I wanted to follow Jesus. And later, as a 15-year-old at youth camp, I knew Jesus had asked for full commitment and for redirection.
That young girl still had so much to figure out but this I knew: Jesus was my Savior, the Son of God. I could trust Him to answer my questions in His timing.
Last week, in our 100 Days with Christ study, we read about Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Matthew tells us this:
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, ‘Who is this?’
Who is Jesus?
Even when we know Jesus, we can spend our lifetime answering that question.
Untested, 17-year-old me knew only a shadow of the Jesus I know now.
I didn’t yet know how fathomless His love is – until I’d seen His love is most tender when I am at my worst.
I didn’t yet know how limitless His grace is – until I needed it desperately in my mothering.
I didn’t yet know how intimate His friendship is – until I was lost without the best life friend a girl could have.
Is there any greater adventure than to spend our life not knowing more about Jesus, but knowing Him more?
Today, maybe we need to be reminded of who He is in the 60 names of Jesus.
He is —
The Bread of Heaven.
The Door
The Gate
The Way
The Word
The Christ
The Light
The Living Water
The Resurrection
The Son of God
Our peace
He is –
Master and Servant
Righteous Lawgiver and Obedient Servant
Good Shepherd and the Lamb
Root of David and Branch of Jesse
Alpha and Omega
First and the Last
Beginning and End
Author and Finisher of faith
Faithful and True
One and Only
He is –
Holiness
Righteousness
Truth
Life
Love
Healer
Creator
Sustainer
Covenant Keeper
Kinsman Redeemer
True Vine
Co-heir
Friend
He is –
The One who took our curse
The Seed who crushed Satan’s head
The Head of the church
The Firstborn from among the dead
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
The Living One who holds the keys of death and hell
Our Sufficiency
Our High Priest
Our Savior
He is –
King of Israel
Prince of Peace
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
Son of the Most High God
Immanuel — God with us
I Am.
Who is Jesus?
May this be not just the central question of our life, but the central passion of our life.
This Lent, join me in choosing one name each day. Meditate on that name, let it form your prayer and your praise, and ask the Holy Spirit to show it fully to you.
Thank you so much for the reassurance and encouragement you give me through His Word.
Susan, I’m so grateful we can know Jesus through his Word.
Just what I needed today. Thank you.
I’d love to make this into a printable, Jennifer. I need this posted!
Love this list, copied and pasted it. Thanks so much!
So glad, Paris Renae. I’d love to carve out time and make it printable.
I love the following verse, too. “And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. (Then Jesus asks a question) Do you believe this?” And that calls for a response.
John 11:25 and 26 are two of our 4th Grade memory verses at FBCJax. I love to point out to the children that JESUS is asking a question.
Thanks for your encouragement, Lisa.
Thank you for pointing that out, Paula…that who Jesus is calls for our response. So grateful our kids are getting the meat of God’s Word each week. Thank you for your ministry!
Lisa,
Thank you so much for sharing your faith. I pray that we will use this as a tool to reach the lost and to deepen our relationship with Christ – For HE IS the GREAT I AM!
Blessings on your day.
He is. Amen. Thank you, Sandie.
I love everything about this post: your honesty and transparency AND those 60 names of Jesus. It’s true that most of our faith questions are solved by the answer to the ONE question: Who is Jesus?
I’m writing daily on one piece of who Jesus is. This helped me to create a list to go to! Thank you. The title of the section of my journal is “Who is Jesus?” I had realized at the alter the other day that I was giving all my attention to Jesus, my healer and forgetting the fact that Jesus is my EVERYTHING.