The ‘Who’ of Advent

I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me. (John 14:6)

This is the third and final installment in our Advent Devotional Series. We’ve looked at the “Why” and the “How” of Advent; our verse today moves us to behold the “Who” of Advent.

Who Does God The Father Say He Is?

After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, plunging all of humanity and creation into ruin, God did not abandon them. He did not leave them as ruinous rebels, guilty and ashamed in their sin. He pursued them; and in their presence, He made this promise to the serpent who had deceived the woman:

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

God promised Adam and Eve that He would send a Savior who would redeem them from the penalty of sin, the power of sin, and ultimately the very presence of sin. And at the end of the third chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, God the Father announced that this promise was fulfilled in His Son, Jesus, in whom He is well pleased.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:16-17)

Who Does Jesus Say He Is?

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ), when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:25-26 NASB)

When the Samaritan woman at the well used the term “Messiah,” she was speaking of the expected King of the Jewish people, who had been promised by God and anticipated by the nation of Israel for hundreds of years. There are many Old Testament prophecies of a promised descendant of David who would come down from heaven and save His people. Those promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Here is how Jesus framed who He was to His disciples.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me. (John 14:6)

Who Do You Say He Is?

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-17)

Jesus made it crystal clear that only God can open the eyes of our hearts to know Jesus. This knowledge does not come through human reason; it does not come through the witness of miracles; it will not come through a burning bush or a Damascus Road experience. It will only come through the revelation of God, which makes the blind see, the deaf hear, and the dead rise to new life in Christ.

So . . . as Christmas Day approaches . . . what will you do with this Jesus, who is called the Christ? Who do you say this Jesus is? This is the most important question you will ever answer.

It is my prayer that this brief Advent Devotional Series served to sharpen your focus on the Reason for this season . . . the One and Only King of kings and Lord of lords, the Savior of the world: Jesus Christ. He laid aside the glories of heaven to be born in a stable . . . and ultimately to die and rise again from the grave . . . so that by believing in Him you may have eternal life. 

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!