Many begin their focus on Jesus with the gospel accounts of His birth. Then they follow His life to the temple at the age of twelve. After that they observe His ministry beginning when He was about thirty years old. Then they are led to follow His ministry to His death, burial and resurrection. This is certainly a very natural way to begin one’s focus on Jesus but sadly it leaves too many thinking of Him only as a babe in a manger, a young adolescent boy and a young bearded man with long hair who wore a robe and sandals who was crucified and rose from the dead. Now although this is truly wonderful the sad reality is it leaves for too many only thinking of Jesus in human form and that is a tragic mistake for Jesus is far more than “The son of man.”
As we began our focus on Jesus at the first of the year we went directly to Jesus and He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58 Learning this truth we probed deeper and found that He wasn’t only at creation He is the One who actually created everything. John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-3 Having this information we went back farther and learned that He has existed “Before the world existed.” John 17:1-5. We also learned that “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world.” 1 Peter 1:20
By now our curiosity was stirred and as we began our daily Bible readings in Genesis we started seeing Him in a whole new light for He is the One who spoke light into existence along with everything else that exist. Our reading in Genesis discovered many gems of His presence. A greater understanding of the “Mystery” was revealed to us. Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:31
We gained a greater insight into the promised “Offspring/See.” Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4-5; Genesis 22:17-18; Galatians 3:8-9.
We got a better knowledge of Him from Jacob’s dream. Genesis 28:10-15; John 1:43-51
We also learned that He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:8-12; Revelation 5:1-14
Continuing our search into Exodus we have learned that Jesus is the “Great I Am” Exodus 3:13-14; John 8:58. We have also learned that He is “The spiritual Rock” who provided for the children of Israel. 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
Do the math! What we have learned already from the sacred writings has clearly revealed that Jesus is far more than “The son of man.” Also consider what we have discovered from just two books of the Old Testament and how much more remains. So as we continue our readings I am confident that we are all in for many, many amazing truths that will help us clearly know the full identity of Jesus as we focus on Him in 2022!
-Don Bahr
De Soto church of Christ 