Disciples Global Network

The promises of the Hebrew Bible are fulfilled in the Son of God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth .  The promises of God find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. “ IN HIM ,” all His promises are “ yea ” and “ amen .” The things that were “ hidden ” in the past have been revealed in the life, words, death, resurrection, and exaltation of God’s Son, the one in whom all the shadows and types prefigured in the Hebrew Bible have become real. All His mysteries are laid bare in Christ - [ Photo by Simon Hurry on Unsplash ].

The New Testament applies messianic promises from the Psalms to the present reign of Jesus. Already he possesses all authority . According to the New Testament, Jesus has reigned as sovereign over the Cosmos ever following his death and resurrection. Already he reigns on the messianic throne of David. He himself declared this to his disciples after his resurrection. Because of his obedience to death, God raised him from the dead and installed him on His right side where he now reigns over all the earth - [ Photo by brandon siu on Unsplash ].

God’s previously hidden mysteries are now revealed in Jesus, and especially so in his death and resurrection .  The Bible speaks of the “ mysteries ” of God, His ways that are hidden from human wisdom and defy our expectations. In his teachings, Jesus declared that not everyone can understand the “ mysteries of the kingdom .” It is God who reveals the deep and obscure things to whomever He pleases. And in His Son, He has done so for all who have “ eyes that can see ” - [ John 3 Photo by Benjamin Elliott on Unsplash ]

Jesus is the key that unlocks the Hebrew Scriptures and divine “mysteries” to reveal the nature and purposes of God .  Not only does Jesus play the central role in unveiling God’s purposes, but he is also the very center of all the Father’s plans, especially the redemption of humanity. Only in Christ is the glory of the Creator of all things revealed, and only His Son is qualified to reveal His true nature. In him, all the promises of God find their fulfillment,  their “ yea ” and “ amen ”  - [ Photo by Jessica Yong on Unsplash ].

The fullness and grace of God are found only in the “Word made Flesh,” Jesus of Nazareth – John 1:14-18 .  John’s prologue to his gospel introduces its key themes - Life, Light, Witness, Truth, and Grace. Jesus is the Light of the world, the source of Grace and Truth, the True Tabernacle, the only-born Son of God, and the only one who has seen the Father. The prologue concludes by declaring that he is the only one who is qualified to interpret the unseen God - [ River and Rainbow photo by Sorasak on Unsplash ].

Contrary to the claims of politicians and even church leaders, Jesus is the “light of the world,” not any nation, government or political ideology .  Politicians routinely invoke “god” to validate their agendas and authority, and the most popular religion is employed to do so. Just as today’s officeholders pay lip service to “Judeo-Christian values,” so the emperors of Rome appealed to their traditional gods for divine approval. Patriotism and religious faith become synonymous, and any lack of nationalistic fervor becomes heresy - [ Photo by  Vladimir Fedotov  on Unsplash ].

Jesus is the “word made flesh” in whom the glory of God is revealed, the same “word” by which He created all things – John 1:14 . The gospel of John identifies Jesus as the Logos , the “ word ” by which God made all things. This is one of the central themes that is explicated in the body of the book. In doing so, John was not engaging in metaphysical speculation but building on traditional ideas from the Hebrew Bible about how Yahweh created the universe and gave life by His spoken word - [ Photo by Ben White on Unsplash ].

When Christians react in kind to hostility, whether from government, society, or individuals, Satan triumphs   –   Matthew 5:12 .  The reality of persecution for many Christians raises several questions. How should they react to persecutors, especially when they are persecuted by governing authorities? Should they respond with indignation, civil disobedience, or public protests, or should disciples of Jesus follow his example and that of the early church? - [ Dark Lonely Trail photo by  Sander Mathlener  on Unsplash ].