"Who is this Jesus?"

The age-old Christmas story…. the greatest story ever told generates three questions that must be answered. The answers to these three questions are the answers for a world shaken by the effects of what seems to be a never-ending pandemic.

Where Is He?

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has

been born king of the Jews?"

Over two thousand years have come and gone since Jesus’ birth yet, people still ask the question: Where Is He? The young couple that lost their precious baby asks the question, where is He? The cancer patient wants to know, where is He? A divorcee, wounded and hurt by betrayal wants to know, where is He?

Jesus can be found in places where you wouldn’t expect to find Him. Who would have thought to look for a king in a barn? …Majesty in a manger! Who would have thought to find the Redeemer among the wretched? …But He was known as the Friend of Sinners (Luke 7:34).

Where is He? You’ll find Jesus in the storms… walking on the water - taking authority over wind and wave. You’ll find Jesus among the sick and the suffering declaring with authority, “Thou art loosed from thine infirmity!” You’ll find Him in the graveyard speaking life over death…. His Presence turns a cemetery into a sanctuary. Jesus is in the emergency room, the ICU waiting room, the courtroom, the school room and in your living room. He is not on a cruel cross or in a dark and dismal tomb…. He’s at the right of God, the Father making intercession for you and I. Where is He? He is at the heart’s door of every lost person waiting for them to ask Him into their life.

Who Is This?

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down to eat. And behold a woman in the city that was a sinner, when she knew Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisees house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil and stood at His feet behind Him weeping…. then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say among themselves “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

(Luke 8:36-38, 48-49)

On Christmas Day, the wheels of industry will come to a stop. Businesses will close their doors. Courtrooms will be silent, and on Wall Street, no stocks will be traded. But without an answer to this question, Christmas is a holiday not a “holy” day. Without an answer to that question, Christmas is about “presents” instead of “His Presence”. Without the answer to that question, the grave is the last stop and there is no hope of Heaven. Who is this? This Jesus is the sinless Son of God. Our suffering Savior, He is our Righteousness, our Redeemer, our Refuge, and our Rock. He is the Living Bread, Living Water, and Lamb for sinners slain. It is imperative that every person be able to answer the question… Who is this? Jesus asked Peter, who do you say I am? Who is Jesus? He is salvation for the sinner, forgiveness for the fallen, freedom for the addict, help for the helpless, and a friend to the friendless.

Who is this Jesus?

To the jeweler, He is the Pearl of Great Price. To the pharmacist, He is the Balm of Gilead. To the lawyer He is the Advocate. To the astronomer, He is the Bright and Morning Star. To the florist, He is the Lilly of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon. To the businessman, He is the Lost Coin. To the seamstress, He is the Robe of Righteousness. To the truck driver, He is the Highway of Holiness. To the baker, He is the Bread of Life. To the doctor, He is the Great Physician. To the teacher He is the Living Word. To the homeless, He is our eternal Refuge. To the counselor, He is the Prince of Peace. To the geologist, He is the Rock of Ages and to the soldier, He is the Captain of our Salvation!! Who is this Jesus? He was Mary’s miracle. He was John the Baptist’s message. He was sight to Bartimaeus. He was life to Lazarus. He was deliverance for Mary Magdalene. He was forgiveness for Zacchaeus, and to John, He was the Lamb of God that taketh away of the sin of the world.

Regardless of who you are, where you are, or what you’ve done - Jesus can be all of the above to you. You don’t have to be right, prim, and proper... Your decision to say “yes” to God and to trust in Jesus and what He did on the Cross, as payment for our sin will rock your world and change your destiny. That one decision will do more to help your family than any other decision you could possibly make. Why not you… why not now?

For The Harvest,

Bob Wilburn