Today is Pentecost, a day 50 days after our LORD JESUS CHRIST was resurrected from the dead. It is the Day the HOLY SPIRIT was sent to baptize believers into the body of CHRIST (1 Corinthians 12:13, 27). At that time, the HOLY SPIRIT came to live in each believer and was sealed to him/ her until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30) when JESUS would rapture those who believed in HIM (catch them away into the air to be with HIMSELF forever-1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).
Pentecost is the day the Church was born. Since that day people are added (baptized in) to the Church (the body of CHRIST) the moment they believe in JESUS and are sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT of promise.
Thinking about that this morning I got to thinking of JESUS. Of all the names/ titles people called JESUS like: Son of GOD, Emmanuel (GOD with us), JESUS (GOD saves), CHRIST (the Messiah), Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, the Light of the world and a slew of others JESUS is recorded to refer to HIMSELF predominately as “the son of man” (82 times in the gospels).
Why do you think of all the other descriptive titles and names JESUS chose to call HIMSELF “the son of man”?
We see in Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in CHRIST JESUS: Who, being in the form of GOD… equal with GOD: But made HIMSELF of no reputation, and took upon HIMSELF the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE humbled HIMSELF, and became obedient even to death, even the death of the cross.”
Yes, JESUS who threw the stars into space (John 1:1-2, Hebrews 1:1-2) laid aside HIS glory, position, power, authority, wealth humbled HIMSELF to have a human body formed around HIM in the womb of a young woman, submitted HIMSELF to his human mother and step-father (Luke 2:51) and HIS heavenly FATHER by never acting on HIS own but saying and doing only what GOD the FATHER told HIM (John 12:49-50) and obeyed GOD to even die on the cross and carry the sins of the world. As Hebrews 2 says HE did it so that HE might lead many to become children of GOD, HE delights to identify with HIS brothers and sisters.
JESUS wanted you and me (mankind) and as many who would believe in HIM (John 1 :12) to become children of the living GOD. HE gave up so much to become a man, to show us HE truly understands mankind and our struggles (Hebrews 4:14-16), to show us how very much HE loves us and that HIS purpose is for man. I believe JESUS delighted in calling HIMSELF the “son of man” because HE delighted in mankind. HE became a man to help man.
Pondering on this truth of JESUS, suddenly my mind flew to a situation I was refusing because of the cost to myself. Having just meditated on JESUS selflessness, I realized my shallow selfishness and I confessed it asking for help to love as JESUS loves me. GOD heard my cry, and my heart was opened to receive the situation to fill the needs of others. Joy burst in my heart as tears filled my eyes.
That is what happens when we see something about JESUS in Technicolor (vivid reality). When we see HIM in an area like that it changes us to become like what we see in JESUS (2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 John 3:2). I saw JESUS giving up HIS rights for me and it enabled me to give up my rights for another.
Isn’t that wild?
Hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 