As I have been thinking about how to describe Jesus Christ, it has really been a wonderful experience remembering all that He has done, not only for me, but also for everyone. I’ll neither forget, nor will I ever stop telling people of my first experience with God.
I was stuck in addiction and desperately wanted to be free. I also really wanted to know why I was here on earth. I remember wondering, “What is my purpose?” Having not been brought up in a religious home I had no theological understanding, although I did have an assumption that there was a god. It wasn’t long after I witnessed a friend’s life get radically changed through his newfound relationship with God, that I got invited to a church. I was just 26 years old as I sat in the pew with my eyes closed, watching a movie in my mind of my life. I remember it causing me such heartache and shame to see all the pain and suffering I had caused those who loved me. I think my parents and grandparents may have suffered the most, but the effects of my life on others were far reaching and hurt people of whom I had no idea.
I started to wonder if I had crossed a line that was some sort of point of no return. Thoughts like, “If there is a God, could He still want me?” were rushing through my mind. Just as I was saying in my heart, “God, if You even are, I hope You still want me; I hope You still want me,” someone came up and put their hand on my shoulder and said, “tonight’s the night, huh?” I jumped up out of the pew, knowing that God did exist! He heard my prayer, and He did still want me! Even after all the destruction, pain, and suffering I had caused, He did still want me!
The people in that church explained to me how Jesus Christ died for my sins. After having just seen my life pass through my mind, I knew that I was the one who deserved to be on that cross, not Jesus. Jesus Christ is the only person who does not deserve punishment, but because of His great Love for me, He took the punishment that I deserved.
You may be saying, “I thought this was about Jesus”. Well I could not think of a better way to start telling you about the most amazing person to ever live, than by telling you of my first hand experience with Him. Just as it was recorded in the history of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verses 1-11, when Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery, He forgave me. I went into that church with the heavy burden of addiction and sin, and went out free and forgiven!
The thing that sets Jesus apart from all others is His sinless nature. How God accomplished this is beyond my ability to comprehend, but I suspect it had something to do with the virgin birth. The idea that God passed on to His only begotten Son, His own sinless nature is certainly within the realm of possibilities, and it is my firm belief. The “how” God performed this miracle should not distract us from the main point which is that God sent His one and only “begotten” Son to be a substitutionary sacrifice, and that whomsoever would believe that Jesus Christ died in their place would be spared the judgment for their sins.
This brings us to the other amazing truth about Jesus; He is still alive! After He paid the debt that He did not owe, which was to experience the full punishment for sin by God, He then was raised up to sit at the right hand of God His Father.
I have included some passages out of the Bible and a poem to tell a more in-depth story of who Jesus Christ is, but if all you come away with after reading this is that God loves you so much that He sent His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay for your sins and to make the way for you to have a healthy relationship with God for eternity, then I think that’s a pretty good start!
About Jesus
- He is Son of God (Born of a virgin), Matthew 1:18-25
- He is Son of man, Matthew 20:28
- He is The Door, John 10:9-16
- He is forgiving, John 8:1-11
- He is the Teacher, John 20:15-17
- He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, John 14:6
- He is The Light, John 8:12
- He is Lamb of God slain, 1 Peter 1:19-21
- He is King of kings, Revelation 19:15, 16
- He is Prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6
- He is Bread of Life, John 6:34, 35
- He is The Word became flesh, John 1:14, 15
- He is the Savior, 1 John 4:14-16
- He has authority to forgive sins Luke 7:48,49
- He has authority over sickness, Luke 7:2-10
- He has authority to raise the dead, Luke 7:11-15
- He has authority over devils, Mark 5:11-13
- He has authority over death and the grave, Revelation 20:14
- He is coming again, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Poem about Jesus
What Jesus did on Calvary
Is shed His Blood to set us free
From the law of sin and death so cold
That kept us in the devil’s dark, firm hold
When He died, He went to hell
Our price he paid, I’d like to tell
When He rose out of death’s cold hand
He made the way to the promised land
If this is what you’ve been waiting for
Then Jesus is knocking at your door
Just one turn of that knob so tight
All Satan’s fears will leave you in flight
Once you walked in bondage and pain
Jesus’ sacrifice has become your gain
Abundant life, right here on earth
Forever with God, I can’t fathom its’ worth
By Karl Eiriksson Jr.