JESUS: HE WAS, HE IS, AND HE IS TO COME

Christmas is the time when the Church celebrates the birth of Jesus but some forget why He came!   The Gospel of John identified Jesus as "the Lamb Who takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29, 36).  The Apostle Paul identified Jesus as "our Passover" (1 Cor. 5:7).  In other words, Jesus came to die for us (Luke 24:25-27).  Fortunately for those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord, we not only understand His First Coming was to die for us, we also rejoice that His Father raised Him from the dead.  There are three passages that tell us where He went, what He is doing now, and what will He do in the near future.  They are:

WHERE JESUS WENT

*  Acts 1:7-12 (SLV) - When His disciples gathered together with Jesus, they asked Him, Lord, will You now restore the kingdom to Israel?  And He said to them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, that remains under the authority of My Father.  But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in you (see John 14:17): and you shall be witnesses of Me in Jerusalem, in all Judaea, in Samaria, and to every nation on the earth (see Acts 10:35).  And when He had spoken these things, they saw Jesus ascend; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they stared toward heaven as He went up, two men stood by them in white apparel; who said, Men of Galilee, why are you looking up to heaven?  This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into heaven, shall return in like manner, as you have seen Him ascend.  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is but a Sabbath day's journey from Jerusalem.

WHAT JESUS IS DOING NOW

*  Revelation 1:4-8 (SLV) - John to the seven churches which are in Asia:  Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is The Faithful Witness, and The First Begotten of the Dead, and The Prince of the Kings of the Earth.  Unto Him Who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and The Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.  Behold, He will come with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him:  and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen.  I am Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and The Ending, says the Lord, Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, The Almighty.

WHAT JESUS WILL DO IN THE NEAR FUTURE

*  Revelation 19:11-16 (SLV) - And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He Who sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.  And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:  and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of His mouth came a sharp sword, that with it He shall strike the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron:  and He shall tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He had on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

 

HE CAME AS A LAMB TO DIE FOR US. 

HE IS COMING AGAIN AS A LION TO RULE AND REIGN FOREVER!