Yes, you have read it right.
Have people around you seen Jesus?
Some questions are meant to get answers.
Others are meant to take you into the path of truth.
…However, we will try and revisit this later.
Jesus is always with us.
He never leaves us or forsakes us.
This is what Jesus has told us.
We read so in the New Testament.
Specifically, in the verse from Hebrews 13:5,
when Jesus Christ says I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Read the above statement aloud once again and pause.
Hence, people around you must have seen Jesus.
Perhaps you may also have seen Jesus?
Do people around us see Jesus often or rarely?
This will be interesting to know.
The following topics, expressed as questions, will lead us to the answers.
Many Christians may not have a confident response to these.
You may choose to read in sequence or in random order by clicking on the topics.
1. Who is Jesus Christ?
2. Is there anyone in the Bible who imitated aspects of Jesus?
3. Which verses point to imitating Jesus Christ?
4. Who is the Jesus that people around us encounter?
5. How can we have more Jesus encounters in the world?
6. How to hasten people encountering Jesus worldwide?
1. Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the son of God.
Disobedience to God’s instruction regarding the forbidden fruit led to death, which is a separation from God. Obedience to Satan made man a slave to Satan – freedom was lost.
God knew that man would fall into the trap of sin. God sent Jesus Christ to restore the relationship between man and God. Only Jesus Christ, as he was without any sin, could crush Satan and redeem man from sin.
See what was written 1500 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
And I will put enmity between you (i.e., Satan) and the woman (i.e., mankind), And between your seed (i.e., Satan’s seed, the serpent) and her Seed (i.e., sons and daughters of mankind); He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel. (Genesis 3:15)
Jesus birth and life were foreordained before the foundation of the world, as mentioned here in 1 Peter 1:19-20. but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. (1 Peter 1:19-20 NKJV)
After Jesus Christ’s resurrection and going to the Father, Jesus said that He would send the Holy Spirit to remind us of what He had told us. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. (John 14:26)
2. Is there anyone in the Bible who imitated aspects of Jesus?
They healed the lame man from birth. He walked!
Here, this will remind you what happened.
After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter and John were going to the temple.
A man who was lame from birth was at the gate of the temple.
He was asking for alms, and he was expecting money. Then Peter told the lame man to look at him. Then he told him that he did not have silver and gold, but he commanded him to rise up, stand up, and walk in the name of Jesus Christ.
Not only the lame man from birth rise up, stood up and started walking and leaping and praising God. Peter and John had never made a lame man walk. They had observed Jesus Christ healing the lame. This was an instance when they became like Jesus Christ. Here are the verses from the Bible.
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:6-8 NKJV)
For the people in the temple and all those who saw and heard this miracle, both the disciples, Peter and John, were like Jesus. They saw the works in the name of Jesus. They saw Jesus. They also preached Jesus Christ and brought glory to God.
As it happened for Jesus, the miracles and the preachings of Peter and John disturbed the Jewish leaders. They feared that more people would be attracted to Peter and John!
Jewish leaders wondered: By what power? – a question they had asked Jesus
The Jewish leaders gathered in Jerusalem asked the very same question they had asked Jesus. (Refer Acts 4: 5-7). And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4: 7)
When the religious leaders wanted to question Jesus about his right to teach and to perform miracles, they asked him, “By what authority?” (Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:28-33, and Luke 20:2-8). Jewish leaders asked
Uneducated, yet they spoke with great wisdom and authority – same as Jesus
The Jewish leaders wondered at the wisdom, power and authority with which Peter and John had spoken. They had obviously received education and training from the Holy Spirit university – from the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised that Father God would send. Scroll above and read the verse John 14:26 – mentioned above – scroll above to read. Here is the reference verse.
Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realised that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
In the knowledge of scripture or in giving very brilliant responses to the questions for trapping Jesus, Jewish leaders failed. Not once, but all the time, Jesus Christ came with brilliance beyond the imagination of the learned and highly educated leaders. Remember the way Jesus handled the matter of paying tax or stoning the lady who was caught in adultery.
“When they heard it, they marvelled. And they left him and went away.” (Matthew 22:22 ESV). After hearing Jesus had given the wise answer regarding paying taxes to Caesar, this was their response.
“Never man spake like this man.” John 7:46 (KJV). The officers who were sent to arrest him said this when he got back after the mission.
Calm and forgiveness – same as Jesus
When Stephen was being accused of blasphemy and being attacked by the Jews, he did not try to run off to be safe. Stephen maintained his composure and calm. We read that in spite of the abuse and attack, his face shone. All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. (Acts 6:15)
Stephan gave a brilliant rebuttal to his accusers. Those of you who like to learn the quintessence of the New Testament can read the Books of Acts, Chapter 6 and Chapter 7. Wisdom expressed through Stephan.
In the scripture portion below, we get to feel the forgiveness that Stephen walked in, even when he was being stoned. Stephen indeed lived like Jesus, who was Stephen’s role model when Jesus Christ sought the forgiveness of those who crucified Him.
On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ……..While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60)
From the New Testament, you can clearly see how Jesus spoke what the Father God spoke. We can see that His actions were also based on His Heavenly Father’s will. You may wish to start at the Gospel according to John, which is also called the Gospel of John in short. You will love this journey. Well take that journey after you finish reading this post/ article.
3. Which verses point to imitating Jesus Christ?
Here are a few verses that should give you an understanding of how you can get into the path of imitating Jesus Christ. As you ask, the Holy Spirit will certainly show aspects that should be changed. It can be in the way you think, act or speak. Change may be quick sometimes, or else it may need perseverance and time. A progressive change can certainly be achieved.
Know that either way, if you are willing to give up and surrender your will, you will be able to exchange and receive the will of Christ Jesus. The process is easy and is not complex. Surrender to the mindset of Jesus Christ. Remember to give up the need to understand and untangle your past. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the journey. This is important. There is no need to delve deep and understand your past. Going the way forward is what is required. Our past is covered by the blood of Jesus, the cross and the crucifixion of Jesus is the perfect sacrifice. It’s the finished work. No more pondering on the past.
Remember and keep reminding yourself that you are a new man created in Christ Jesus. So you are in true righteousness and holiness. “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22–24 (NKJV)
We ought to know that you are alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise, you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” (Romans 6:10–12 (NKJV)
As we step into the new understanding and knowing, we ought to walk and live just like Jesus walked and lived.
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6 (NKJV)
Knowing that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour is the first step.
Believing that through Him we receive abundant and eternal life.
So following Him, His will is the best we can and should do.
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Ephesians 5:1–2 (NKJV)
In the letter to the Corinthian church, Paul says that as we live as disciples of Jesus, followers of Jesus, we are the sweet fragrance of Jesus Christ to those who are being saved. Yes, to all who receive Jesus Christ, we become the aroma of Jesus Christ, an aroma – fresh with abundant life.
“For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh].” (Corinthians 2:15-16 AMPC)
We can also imitate Jesus Christ by giving up anger, envy, jealousy, greed, lust, and so on, and instead receiving from Christ kindness, gentleness, peace, joy, charity and so on. Giving up the natures is like being crucified with Jesus. Having Jesus Christ as our Lord, we can try to express the kindness, calm, and peace of Jesus to people around us.
Paul, ehorts ourself to imitate Christ when he told. “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV))
This is like being crucified with Jesus, as Paul says. Thus, we get to crucify our old self. And by expressing peace, kindness, and joy of Chris, we get to let Jesus Christ live in us. This is an important truth for us to aspire to and step into. Here is the verse:
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)
If we obey the commandment, we truly love Jesus. Then the power and presence of Jesus will manifest in me. So the key is loving Jesus. We can truly do so by obeying Jesus.
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21 NKJV) This is a very understandable and practical step we can take by obeying the commandments.
Jesus highlights the importance of love. Loving as He loves. This is the key.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35 (NKJV))
You may remember how Jesus answered about the greatest commandment being. Loving God with all our being is the first. Loving those around us, being the 2nd one. Jesus said that these two sum up all the laws and commandments. You can check out Matthew 22:37-40. Intentionally, this reference is left out so that you pick up the Bible and find it for yourself.
Indeed, the journey to start imitating Jesus Christ starts when you decide to walk this highway of Christ’s Love – loving Father God with all of His life & loving those around Him.
If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love. ( John 15:10 AMPC) The importance of ongoing obedience to the commandments is mentioned very clearly here for experiencing the presence of Jesus. Jesus reminds us with the powerful testimony of how he (Jesus) obeys His Heavenly Father and lives on in Him, in His love.
4. Who is the Jesus that people around us encounter?
We preach Jesus to people who visit the church, Christian meetings, and watch Christian YouTube videos. Some may be willing to read the Bible and read Christian books. But a much greater number are not willing to do any of the above. They are all around you, but we are missing the opportunity to reach out to many people around us.
Why should we miss out on talking about Jesus?
Jesus, who died on the cross for each one of us, deserves to be shared with everyone.
Why should they miss out on eternal life from now on? Why should they miss out?
For the vast majority of the people around us who do not put in any effort to read the Bible, the only encounter with Jesus they have is through our lives. Do they encounter Jesus when they meet us or watch our lives?
Are we truly trying to be obedient to Jesus?
Reading the Gospels daily will start an ongoing change in our thinking.
We need to be truly on the path to being like Christ.
This should be a daily process – a daily progress.
Desire it.
Let it be a daily priority.
Everything else is a lesser priority.
As you pursue and desire this daily, changes happen.
You start hearing from Him daily.
Your life will start to be a point of Christ’s encounter for people around you.
Yes, it’s our responsibility, our duty to be as kind, considerate, and loving as Jesus.
He is our standard we try to grow towards.
In the process, we can bring kind words of encouragement, forgiveness from the crucified Christ, freedom for the oppressed, and healing for the sick.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)
Very many signs, wonders, and miracles happen these days.
I know many instances when food was multiplied when feeding many; the limited food was multiplied in Mozambique (Iris ministry of Heidi Baker).
Heidi Baker once called a blind lady in Mozambique with ‘no name’ – yes, her name meant ‘no name’. Heidi Baker took time, went to her, spoke to her, and got to know her story. She poured out the love of Jesus on and over this lady who was ignored and forsaken by the world and even her mother. A name was given to her. She was loved and even hugged with the love of Christ. Everything about her changed, and her blind eyes were open. The power of love of Christ flows through us.
In Mexico (David Hogan), in Redding (Bethel Church, community feeding), the ministry of Chuck Parry (currently Bethel in Redding, in charge of Healing Rooms) has many testimonies of Christ encounters.
In the church which I attend, I know two specific instances of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ manifest in a little child (their daughter) as well as their Dad. The latter, I was a witness to.
5. How can we have more Jesus encounters in the world?
Questions can test a person’s understanding.
Good questions can also lead us into the super highway to solutions, not known and hidden answers.
Is it easier to change oneself or another person?
Easier to change oneself!
Is it easier to change people we know or people we don’t know?
Easier to change the people we know!
So the way to have more Jesus encounters in the world is to become the change. Start with yourself. So read the New Testament as often as you can. Remember, unlike any other book, the Bible is the Living Word. The Holy Spirit will highlight what’s required to make you God’s chosen instrument of Jesus Christ’s encounters to those around you.
Once you do so in all meekness with the only intention to bring Glory and Honour to Jesus, people around you would ask you and you can point them to Jesus Christ – the Living Word.
Why do I mention the New Testament? In terms of the Old Testament points to the New. The Old Testament is the shadow of the New. So to get to speed, go with a richer and more frequent reading of the New.
Remember, we are called to serve.
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. (John 13:14-15)
Remember, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour wants us to perform signs, wonders, and miracles and bring Glory and Honour to Him.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”(John 14:12)
The very next verse makes the point of glorifying God.
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.(John 14:13-14)
Remember, the greater the transformation within ourselves, the greater glory we can bring to Him. Remember, this is not about crusades in stadiums or addressing pulpits. This may include. But the Lord will lead you in the path He knows best for you. May be a good parent who is formed in the image of Jesus Christ. Maybe a good teacher formed in the image of Jesus Christ. Maybe a good chef formed in the image of Jesus Christ.
6. How to hasten people encountering Jesus worldwide?
a) Pray more often – for this is the most powerful.
Pray with two, with three, and more
b) Share the testimonies of God’s encounters more often.
Collect testimonies and share them.
c)Speak about them in families, groups and definitely with individuals.
Is it easier to change by prayers or without prayers? Certainly easier
Taking the cue from your answers to the above questions, let us know
