~ The Son of God With His People ~
Immanuel—God with us! ‘Therefore the Lord
Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,
and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
We know both
from the Biblical and secular historical accounts that Immanuel—Jesus Christ
lived on earth among human beings.
Notice, some of the many references to His being among us and a key
characteristic of each.
As The Center of Attraction
~ Jesus
said, “Again I say to you that if
two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done
for them by My Father in heaven. For
where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew
18:19-20).
As The Questioner
~ “So
when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they
found Him in the temple, sitting in the
midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke
2:45-46).
As The Servant
~ Jesus
said, “For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I
am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:27).
As The Living One ~ “Now as they said
these things, Jesus Himself stood in the
midst of them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you’” (Luke 24:36).
As The Unknown One
~ “Now
those who were sent were from the Pharisees.
And they asked him, saying, ‘Why then do you baptize if you are not the
Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?’ John answered them,
saying, ‘I baptize with water, but there
stands One among you whom you do not know.
It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal
strap I am not worthy to loose’” (John 1:24-27).
As The Sufferer ~ “They crucified
Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center” (John 19:18).
As The Peace-Giver ~ “Then,
the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear
of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the
midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19).
As The Revealer
~ “And
after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus
came, the doors being shut, and stood
in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’
Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands;
and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing’” (John
20:26-27).
As The Inspirer
~ “For
it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect
through sufferings. For both He who
sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason
He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: ‘I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly
I will sing praise to You’” (Hebrews 2:10-12).
Comment ~ Our
Savior’s time in the midst of His people on earth was wonderful. In the future all His people will enjoy Him
in their midst for eternity.
As The Glorified One
~ “Then I turned to see the
voice that spoke with me. And having
turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in
the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man,
clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a
golden band” (Revelation 1:12-13).
As The Searcher
~ Jesus Christ says, “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things
says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your
works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are
apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and
have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary” (Revelation
2:1-3).
As The Lamb
~ “And
I looked, and behold, in the midst of the
throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been
slain” (Revelation 5:6a).
As The Supplier
~ “Therefore
they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His
temple. And He who sits on the throne
will dwell among them. They shall
neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any
heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst
of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of
waters. And God will wipe away every
tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:15-17).
the key question:
“Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important
question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it
incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE
NOW
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