Nearly everyone today has some impression of Jesus. Recorded for us In the Gospel of John are several first-impressions of Jesus, namely by those would go on to become his trusted disciples and eventually his apostles. As you read of their impressions and characterizations, I invite you to recalibrate what you think of Jesus. Perhaps Jesus is far more than a baby in a manger, whom you think of only at Christmas time?
The first encounter recorded for us is from the prophet John the Baptist. “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29,34) And the next encounter we read of is from Andrew, a man who would become a disciple of Jesus. When Jesus laid eyes upon him, he asked, “What are you seeking?” Not whom are you seeking, but “What are you seeking?” The first words spoken by Jesus are a master question, because Jesus has the highest treasure that anyone can seek. Whatever we are looking and searching for, we will find it in the treasure chest of Jesus Christ. Once we find him, we are done searching.
Early in the Gospel of John, there are seven first-impressions of Jesus. As you review them, please consider how you might begin to change your view of Jesus Christ.
- Jesus is The Lamb of God: He was sacrificed to take away the sin of the world.
- Jesus is the Son of God: He is the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- Jesus is Rabbi: Rabbi means teacher, instructor or disciple maker. “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.” (John 7:16)
- Jesus is Messiah/Christ: His name is Jesus; his title is Christ. His title means the Anointed One, Chosen One or the one God chose. He is the Savior of God’s chosen people.
- Jesus is the Expected One: “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” (John 1:45) The whole of our Scriptures points to Jesus the Expected One.
- Jesus is the King of Israel: Micah 5:2 testified that a ruler in Israel is coming from Bethlehem.
- Jesus is the Son of Man: Jesus is the link or mediator between heaven and earth
The Apostle John was very intentional when he penned his gospel account. He wrote, “but these (words) are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)
