JESUS CHRIST: THE CORE OF RELIGION

 Devotional,  Saturday 8th February,  2025.

Jesus Christ: The Core of Religion 

Matt.5.17 - "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

The human race has been in search for reconnection and relationship with God from time immemorial. That is why everyone prays to an unseen  Being. Religion has been the major way to accomplish this purpose.  

One of the major religions of the world is Judaism. It is the religion of the Jews,  a religion that encapsulates everything about the culture,  history and  life of the Hebrews.  The faith of Abraham,  the first patriarch of the Jewish  religion spread through covenant to the Israelites who by divine providence were enslaved many years in Egypt and were later delivered by Yahweh through the hand of Moses. Although, they got to the promised land after many years of challenging experience in the wilderness, Moses gave them the Torah and other levitical order that formed the basis of their faith and life, but couldn't really afford a permanent realm of liberty and fulfillment. They battled various external incursions from other nations for many years.  The Lord God of their Fathers promised to send them a Messiah who will give them the freedom and perfect peace they eagerlly desire and await. But when He eventually came, they couldn't recognise nor believe Him.

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:11-12.

 

The coming of Christ was confusing to His people but because He was not just the Saviour of the Jews alone but for the entire seeds of the woman who all had been subjected to futility by the devil.  Jesus,  the Messiah is not only for the Jews but for the whole world. He did not come to establish any earthly  kingdom  or religion but to manifest God to every one who believes in Him. There is no racial or religious barrier to faith in Christ.  He is the express image of the unseen God. He came to manifest Him to all men of every race, language,  culture and religion. He is the centre and fulfillment of every religious revelation.  There is no other revelation greater than Him, being seen in the body. In Him is life, and the life is the light of the world. 

John.3.13 - No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.

John.1.18 - No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Further Readings: Gen. 3:1-17;  Deut 18; John 1:1-18; Rom. 8:19-25; John 3 :1-18

Prayers:

 Lord Jesus,  I believe you are the express image of the living God.  I accept your Lordship and as the way to the Father.  Help me to see through the grace of Your light that I may work therein . I pray in Your holy name.  Amen