Today’s selected reading continues in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia. More specifically today’s passage is found in the second chapter of this New Testament book. “Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek,  was compelled to be circumcised: and that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privilege to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: to whom we gave place but subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seemed to be whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteht no man’s person) for they who seemed to be somewhat I n conference added nothing to me: but contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto. Me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. On they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do” (Galatians 2:1-10).

 

            “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissiumulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jes by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the face of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ, the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I throughly the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: neverhtless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:11-21).

 

            When you come to the second chapter of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia you will find the apostle Paul continuing to writing concerning the apostolic ministry that was upon his life. What’s more is that as you continue reading the second chapter of this New Testament epistle you will find the apostle writing and speaking of the revelation which he received from the Lord Jesus Christ. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for at the very heart of the gospel which the apostle Paul preached was revelation which he received from the Lord Jesus Christ. It is impossible to read the words found within these passages of Scripture and not encounter and come face to face with the incredibly powerful truth surrounding the apostle Paul and the revelation he received from the Lord Jesus Christ—and not only the revelation he received from the Lord Jesus Christ but also the revelation he preached which came directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. In all reality I would dare say that what we find and what we read within these passages of Scripture call and draw our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality of what is presented in the New Testament gospel narrative accounts of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Specifically I am reminded of the exchange which took place between the Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples—and not solely His disciples but Simon called Peter in the region of Caesarea Philippi right at the base of Mount Hermon in the northeastern part of the land of Galilee.

 

            If you turn and direct your attention back to the New Testament gospel narratives you will find that when Jesus and His disciples entered into a place called Caesarea Philippi He would ask them a very specific question—the question of whom men said that He the Son of man was. The disciples would reveal the differing opinions which would be circulated during those days concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and who men believed that He the Son of man was. While Jesus and HIs disciples spoke amongst themselves they would reveal how some thought He was John the Baptist raised from the dead, how some thought He was Elijah, how some thought that He was Jeremiah and how others thought that He was one of the prophets. Upon and after hearing the opinions of what others thought about and concerning Himself the Lord Jesus would shift the question directly to the disciples themselves. Jesus had indeed asked them who men said that He the Son of man was, however, He would shift the focus from who men said that He the Son of man was to whom they said that He the Son of man was. In other words Jesus called them to forget, abandon and forsake all the opinions they heard concerning who men thought He the Son of man was and to search their own hearts concerning who He was. The Lord Jesus Christ heard the opinions of others and what others believed concerning Himself, however, Jesus was most interested in that which the disciples themselves believed within their hearts concerning who He the Son of man. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight for it strikes at the very heart and soul of what we believe concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a great need for us as men and women who speak of and profess the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to recognize and understand whether or not what we believe about Jesus is based upon the opinions of others and what others have spoken and believed concerning Him or if what we believe is based on personal experience and revelation.

 

            Upon reading these various gospel narratives you will encounter the incredible truth that there is a vast difference between what we believe about Jesus being based upon the opinions of others or whether or not what we believe about Jesus is based on personal experience and revelation. In all reality there were differing factors and variables which could have contributed to that which the disciples themselves believed concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of these realities is found in the New Testament gospel narratives written by the beloved physician when Jesus delivered the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. When the rich man was tormented in hell after passing from this life to the next he entreated Abraham to send Lazarus back from the dead to preach unto his brothers that they might believe. Abraham declared unto the rich man that his brothers had the Law and the prophets and if they did not believe that which was written in the Law or the prophets they would not believe even though someone rose from the dead. What’s more is you will find that when speaking unto the religious leaders during those days Jesus spoke unto them of searching the Scriptures—the Scriptures which would have been the Law and the prophets—and declared how they searched them thinking that in them they might find life, however, what they neglected and failed to understand is that the Law, the prophets and even the Torah spoke concerning Him. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for that which would, could and should have contributed to the personal revelation concerning who Jesus truly was was found in that which was written and proclaimed in the Law and the prophets several centuries earlier. There was contained within the Law and the prophets a powerful revelation concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ for the Law and the prophets spoke concerning Him. In fact it is within and throughout the gospels where the authors spoke of Jesus Christ and how the various events which took place during his life and ministry were the direct fulfillment of that which was spoken through the Law and the prophets.

 

            It is with all of this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel narratives concerning that which was written in the Law and the prophets. I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the absolutely wonderful truth and reality surrounding the Law and the prophets and how that which was written within the Law and the prophets would have pointed men and women directly unto the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus asked the disciples whom they believed that He the Son of man to be their answer should have been based—at least in part—upon that which was written and found within the Law and the prophets. Even when the Lord Jesus had spoken unto the two men who were traveling from Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus He would open up that which was written in the Law and the prophets beginning with Moses and taught them all those things concerning Himself. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for if you want to truly understand that which contributes to what we believe and hold to concerning the Lord Jesus Christ you must needs understand that what was written in the Law and the prophets serves as a powerful source of the revelation which we have received concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. In all reality I would dare say that when we think about what we believe concerning the Lord Jesus Christ there are essentially three different streams and three different sources of revelation. The first stream and source of revelation is that which was written about the Lord Jesus Christ in the Law and the prophets—that which was written by Moses, the prophets and the various other Old Testament writers. That which we find in the Law and the prophets written by Moses and the various other Old Testament authors is indeed a powerful source of the revelation we receive concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. The second source of revelation is contained within the personal experience and encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself—actually walking with and and following Him. The third and final source and stream of revelation is that which proceeds and comes from the Father for it was the Lord Jesus who declared unto Simon called Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed this unto Him but His Father which was in heaven.

 

            Having written these words I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to various Scriptures which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative accounts of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Within these gospel accounts we find the mention of the Law and the prophets and how that which was written in the Law and the prophets spoke concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and pointed men and women to the Messiah when He would indeed walk among them. In all reality the Law and the prophets provided men and women with everything they needed to be ready for and even to identity the Messiah when He arrived and walked among them. What makes this truly intriguing when you take the time to think about it is that regardless of the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the various other religious leaders searching the Law and the prophets which spoke about the Messiah they missed the presence and manifestation of the Messiah among them. The Messiah whom the Law and the prophets had spoke about was actually present among them and yet they entirely and altogether missed the Messiah and could not recognize Him—despite the fact that He was visibly present among them in their midst. That which the Law and the prophets wrote concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ are incredibly intriguing when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to the first source and stream of revelation concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ which is that which is found, written and contained within the Law and the prophets as they spoke of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ who was indeed the Messiah who was to come unto and among them. It is at this juncture I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the absolutely wonderful truth found in Scripture concerning that which was written in the Law and the prophets concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and how it would and should have served as a powerful source of revelation concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ:

 

            “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich. Man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us. Then he said, I beg you brethren, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment. Abraham said to him, They have Moses and the prophets;  let them hear them. And he said, No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them f rom the dead, they will repent. But he said to him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they b e persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:19-31).

 

            “But Jesus answered them, My Father has been working until now, and I have been working. Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered and said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever the He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed form death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is righteous, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of me, and I know that that the witness which He witnesses of me is true. You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent me. And the Father Himself, who sent me, hast testified of me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do. Not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have. The love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe. Me; for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” (John 5:17-47).

 

            “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And he said to t hem, What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walked and are sad? Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these daysA? Nd he said to them, What things? So they said to Him, The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see. Then He said to them, O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone father. But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to stay with them. Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the scriptures to us? So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them g adhered together, saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon! And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them. In the breaking of bread” (Luke 24:13-35).

 

            It is absolutely necessary we recognize and pay attention to the words which are found in these passages of Scripture for within them we are brought face to face with the absolutely incredible truth that the Law and the prophets spoke about Jesus Himself. We cannot read the words found in these passages of Scripture and not encounter and come face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding that which was written in the Law and the prophets and how Moses and the prophets wrote about and wrote concerning Jesus. Absolutely everything the Jews together with their religious and political leaders needed to recognize the Messiah when He was present among them was found in the Law and the prophets and they should have not only read and studied both the Law and the prophets but they should have understood that which was written and contained therein. What we must needs recognize and understand concerning that which was written in the Law and the prophets is that what was found in the them was a powerful revelation concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. I am absolutely convinced that one of the greatest sources of revelation for the twelve disciples, for those who would walk with and follow the Lord Jesus during those days, and even for the religious Jews together with their religious leaders was that which was written in both the Law and the prophets. It is absolutely clear when reading the words found within these three passages of Scriptures that Moses and the prophets wrote concerning Jesus who was indeed the Messiah and the Son of man. As a direct result of this one of the greatest sources of revelation which was at the disposal of the disciples together with all those who were in Judaea, Galilee and Samaria was indeed that which was written in the Law and the prophets.

 

            With this being said it’s important to recognize that in the fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John we find the account of the woman at the well. What’s more is that in the ninth chapter we find the narrative and account of the man who was blind outside the Temple when Jesus and His disciples departed from the Temple after teaching and after Jesus had delivered a woman caught in adultery from her accusers and those who would have condemned her there in the midst of the Temple. What we must needs recognize concerning each of these passages is how Jesus deliberately and intentionally entered into Samaria that He might make the powerful declaration that He Himself was indeed the Messiah which Moses and the prophets had spoken of. Jesus would journey from Judaea to Galilee and in the midst of His journey to Galilee the apostle John declares that He must needs pass through Samaria. Although it is not immediately revealed in the fourth chapter we come to know that the purpose Jesus came to Samaria was to encounter this woman at the well and not only speak to her concerning worship but also speak to her concerning Himself as He declared unto her that He was indeed the Messiah. This is something we dare not miss and lose sight of for after Jesus declared unto this woman that He was the Messiah she would depart from the well leaving her water jar behind her and would return to the city declaring unto the men concerning a man who had told her everything she did. Not only did Jesus tell her everything she did but this woman would also speak unto the men of the city concerning this One who was sitting at the well and how it was very possible that He was indeed the Christ and the Messiah. With this being said there is a great need to consider the narrative of the man who was born blind and who was sitting outside the Temple for it would be after this man received sight for the first time in His life and after He had been put out of the Temple Jesus would find him and would make the declaration that He was indeed the Son of the living God. With all of this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in both the fourth and ninth chapters of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John concerning the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ:

 

            “Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), He left Judaea and departed again to Galilee. But he needed to go through Samaria. So he came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give me a drink. For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, How is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? For the Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, If you. Knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. The Walkman said to Him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from. It himself, as well as his sons and his livestock? Jesus answered and said to her, Whosoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw. Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband, and come here. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have well said, I have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly. The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. The woman said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ). When he comes, He will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am He” (John 4:1-26).

 

            “And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, What do you seek? Or, Why are you talking with her? The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this. Be the Christ? Then they went out of the city and came to Him. In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, Rabbi, eat. But He said to them, I have food to eat of which you do not know. Therefore the disciples said to one another, has anyone brought Him anything to eat. Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, There are still four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: One sows and  another reaps. I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors. And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, He told me all that I ever did. So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves shave heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (John 4:27-42).

 

            “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw we man who was blind from birth. And his disciples asked. Him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither this. Man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and he. Anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. And He said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is translated, Sent. So he went and washed, and came back seeing. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, is not this he who sat and begged? Some said, This is he. Others said, He is like him. He said, I am he. Therefore they said to him, How were your eyes opened? He answered and said, A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and I received sight. Then they said to him, Where is He? He said, I do not know. They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a sabbath when Jesus mad the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see. Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because He does not keep the sabbath. Others said, How can a man who is a sinner do such signs? And there’s as a division among them. They said to the blind man again, What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes? He said, He is a prophet. But the Jews did not believe concerning Him, that He had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not. Know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himselfHIs parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, He is of age; ask him. So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, Give God the glory! We know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see. Then they said to Him again, What did He do to you? How did he open your eyes? He answered them, I told you already, and you did not listen.  Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples? Then they revealed him and said, You are His disciples, but we are Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from. The man answered and said to them, Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this man were not of God, He could do nothing. They answered and said to him, You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us? And they cast him out. Jesus. Heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, Do you believe in the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him? And he said to him, You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you. Then he said, Lord, I believe! And he worshipped Him. And Jesus said, For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind. Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, Are we blind also? Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, We see. Therefore your sin remains” (John 9:1-41).

 

            It is absolutely necessary we recognize and understand the words which are found within these passages of Scripture for within them we find Jesus deliberately and intentionally journeying through and entering into Samaria—something which would not have been done by any Jew living during those days. Even the apostle John would record in the fourth chapter of this gospel that the Jews had no dealings with Samaritans because they viewed them as being half-breeds and those who were not true Jews and descendants of Abraham. Jesus not only deliberately entered into Samaria but He also sat down at a well outside the city of Sychar that He might be there when a woman from the city showed up to draw forth water from the well. What we find and read within this passage of Scripture is absolutely incredible when you take the time to think about it for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality that not only did Jesus deliver a wonderful teaching concerning worship to this woman but He would also declare unto her that He was the Messiah and the Christ. It would be when the woman spoke of the Messiah and how when the Messiah came He would show and teach them all things Jesus would declare unto her that He who spoke to her was the Messiah. It would be as a direct result of this the woman who leave Jesus, would leave the well and would even leave her water jar behind and return to the city both speaking of a man who told her everything she had ever done and declaring that this man might very well be the Messiah. The men from the city would come out from the midst of the city that they might hear and see this man whom the woman spoke of. After hearing the words which Jesus had spoken unto them they would entreat Him to abide and tarry with them—of which Jesus would tarry with them for two days. As a direct result of Jesus’ tarrying and abiding with them they not only believed because of the word which the woman spoke but they believed because of His own words. Moreover those in the city of Sychar believed that Jesus was the Messiah and the Christ because they had spent two days in His presence talking with and listening to Him speak.

 

            If you turn and direct your attention to the words which are found in the ninth chapter of the same New Testament gospel you will find that after Jesus had given sight to this man who was born blind and after he had been put out of the synagogue Jesus would find Him in the Temple. It would be when Jesus found Him in the Temple He would ask him if he believed in the Son of God. In response to Jesus’ question this man to whom sight was given responded unto the Lord Jesus by asking who the Son of God was that he might believe. Jesus would hear the question this man had asked and would emphatically declare unto Him that He which spoke unto him was He—He who was the Son of God. The apostle John writes how immediately following this the man who had been given sight would declare unto the Lord Jesus that he believed and he worshipped Him. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for the second source and stream of revelation concerning Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the living God and the Messiah is actually spending time in His presence. You cannot read either of these passages of Scripture and not encounter and come face to face with the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding this second source of revelation concerning the idenity of Jesus as the Son of God and as the Christ. What’s more is that directly connected to this second source of revelation is the confession and profession that Jesus was indeed the Christ. In fact it is when you read these words you will find that when the parents of this man who was born blind spoke unto the Pharisees they deferred any comments concerning how he had received his sight to their son because they feared the Jews as the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that Jesus was the Christ they were to be put out of the synagogue. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for with the revelation of Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God based upon personal fellowship and relationship with Him would come the confession and profession that Jesus is indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God. Consider if you will the following words which are found in the tenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew, the fourteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the beloved physician Luke and the tenth chapter of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the saints which were at Rome:

 

            “Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who si in heaven. But whosever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter in law against her mother in law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:32-39).

 

            “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciples. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what. King, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is. Neither fit for the land nor for the dung hill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 14:25-35).

 

            “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is t hat they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, The man who does those things shall live by them. But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, Do not say in your heart, Who will ascend into heaven? (That is, to bring Christ down from above) or, Who will descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead)> But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will b e saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:1-13).

 

            The words we find in these passages of Scripture calls and draws our attention to the absolutely incredible truth surrounding the power of confession and profession based on the revelation that Jesus is indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God. If we are truly honest with ourselves and with the living and eternal God we must needs recognize that with revelation that Jesus is indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God comes confession. Remember in the tenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew that Jesus declared that whoever confesses Him before men they would themselves be confessed by Him before His Father and all the holy angels which were in heaven. Conversely, however, those who denied Him before men would themselves be denied by Jesus in the presence of His Father and all His holy angels. We dare not and must not miss this for in the tenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle John we find that the Jews agreed that whosever confessed that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. Thus that which the Jews deliberately and intentionally sought to do was silence and cancel the confession of Jesus being the Christ and the Son of the living God. This is something we must needs recognize for revelation concerning Jesus as being the Christ and the Son of God necessitates confession and profession. Those who have had personal revelation of Jesus as the Christ and as the Son of the living God have a responsibility to confess and profess Him as both the Christ and as the Son of the living God. It is absolutely unmistakable and undeniable when reading the words found within the gospels—and not only the gospels but even the New Testament book of Acts—that fellowship with Jesus and the revelation that He was the Christ and the Son of the living God necessities and requires confession that He is both Christ and the Son of the living God.

 

            We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this particular truth for when we come to the narrative of Jesus and the disciples at Caesarea Philippi we find Jesus asking His disciples whom men said that He the Son of man was. After hearing the opinions and thoughts circulating among men concerning whom they believed Jesus to be He would turn the question to the disciples themselves and make it person. Jesus would ask the disciples who they themselves believed Jesus the Son of man to be. It would be in this moment when the opportunity for confession and profession would indeed be manifested unto and among them. There is a great need for us to recognize and pay attention to the words which are found in this passage of Scripture for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the confession and profession that Jesus was indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God. There is a great need for us as the saints of God and as the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to indeed be those who not only confess but also profess that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the living God. What’s more is that if you read the sixteenth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as written by the apostle Matthew you will find that this revelation of Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God came not from men but from the living and eternal God Himself. This is something we must needs understand and acknowledge for it was revealed unto John the Baptist that Jesus was indeed the Messiah and the Christ—and not only the Messiah and Christ but also the Son of the living God. It is with this in mind I invite you to consider the following passages of Scripture and the truly wonderful and powerful accounts of Jesus as being confessed and professed that he was indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God:

 

            “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of man am? So they said, Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to Him, Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven. Then he commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, Far be it from you, Lord; this shall not happen to you. But he turned and aid to Peter, Get b e hind Me, Satan! You art an offense to me, for You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whosever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:13-23).

 

            “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, After me comes a man who is preferred before me, For he was before me. I did not. Know him; but that he should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water. And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from. Heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34).

 

           

            “One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, We have found the Messiah (which is translated, the Christ.) And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas (which is translated, A stone)” (John 1:40-42).

 

            “The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to. Him, Follow me.  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said to him, Behold, an Israelites indeed, in whom is not deceit! Nathanael said to Him, How do. You know me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered and said to Him, Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these. And He said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man” (John 1:43-51).

 

            “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can understand it? When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  But there are some of you who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the beginning w ho they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And he said, Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to me unless it has been granted to him by my Father. From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, Do you also want to go away? But Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he would betray him, being one of the twelve” (John 6:60-71).

 

            That which we is presented before us within these passages brings us face to face with different declarations that Jesus was the Christ, that Jesus was the Messiah, that Jesus was the Son of the living God and even that Jesus was the King of Israel. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely wonderful reality surrounding the confession and profession of Jesus as the Christ and as the Son of the living God. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this for revelation always demands and necessitates confession. When speaking unto Simon called Peter after hearing his confession and proclamation that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the living God Jesus went on to emphatically declare unto him that he was blessed because flesh and blood had not revealed this unto Him but His Father which was in heaven. Thus far within this writing we have examined revelation that comes from the Law and the prophets and what was written concerning Jesus, we have examined revelation that comes from walking with and following the Lord Jesus and we have now examined revelation that comes directly from the Father which is in heaven. There is a revelation that comes directly from the Father that is in heaven and it is this revelation we must needs recognize and understand as the saints of God and as the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a revelation that comes not from flesh and blood nor from the opinions and thoughts of man but directly from the living and eternal God Himself. There is a revelation that is released within the hearts, the souls and the spirits of those who walk with and follow the Lord Jesus and that revelation brings them into the reality and understanding that Jesus is indeed the Christ and the Son of the living God. There is a revelation that comes directly from the very heart and mind of the living God and is released into the hearts and spirits of those who walk with and follow Him. It is this revelation that not only reveals who Jesus is but also enables men and women to come unto Him and to confess that He is the Christ and the Son of the living God.

 

            It is written in the Scripture that no man can come unto the Son unless and except the Father of lights draws Him into such a relationship. It was the apostle Paul who described unto the Corinthians that no man can call Jesus Lord except by the Spirit and this is something we must needs realize and understand. If we have been drawn to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and/or if we are being drawn to the person of the Lord Jesus we must recognize that it was the living and eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has indeed and has in fact drawn us. This is something which warrants strong consideration for when speaking unto Simon called Peter Jesus emphatically declared that flesh and blood had not revealed this unto him but His Father which was in heaven. What we must needs acknowledge within our hearts and our spirits is that it is the Father that not only draws us unto the Son but it is also the Father who reveals unto and confirms to our spirits that Jesus is both the Christ and the Son of the living God. It is this revelation that Jesus is both the Christ and the Son of the living God that demands and requires us to confess that knowledge unto and before men. We dare not and must not be those who have received revelation that Jesus is indeed the Christ and that He is indeed the Son of the living God and hold that revelation to ourselves. Such a revelation should so burn within our hearts that like Jeremiah wrote—“it is like a fire that is shut up in our bones.”

 

            As I prepare to bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the words which are written in the first and second chapters of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia. If you take the time to read the words presented in these passages of Scripture you can and will encounter the absolutely wonderful reality surrounding the revelation the apostle Paul received directly from Christ Himself. What we must needs understand is there was indeed the initial encounter which the apostle Paul had with Christ on the road to Damascus, however, the apostle Paul writes and speaks about additional time of revelation with Jesus during his tenure in the wilderness and desert. The apostle Paul had indeed encountered the risen and exalted person of Jesus on the road to Damascus and it was Jesus who not only revealed Himself as Jesus of Nazareth but also Jesus of Nazareth whom he was persecuting. This is something which warrants strong consideration on our part for the gospel which the apostle Paul preached was not a gospel which he received from man nor was it something that came by revelation from man. Much like the revelation which Simon Peter received concerning Jesus being the Christ and the Son of the living God came not from flesh and blood so also did the gospel which the apostle Paul preached not come by, from or through flesh and blood but directly from the person of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. There is a great need for us to recognize and pay attention to these words for they call and draw our attention to the incredible need for personal revelation within our lives. The confession we make concerning Jesus being the Christ and the Son of the living God and even the gospel we preach must not come from the opinions, views, thoughts and even the rumors of other men concerning Jesus of Nazareth. That which we preach and that which we confess must needs come directly from and through revelation from the Father, from the Son and even from the Holy Spirit. It was Jesus Himself who declared that when the Holy Spirit would come as the divine Comforter He would remind the disciples and followers of Jesus of the words which He spoke and would guide them into all truth.

 

If you read the words which are found in the first chapter of this epistle written by the apostle Paul you will find and discover him declaring that the gospel which was preached by him was not received nor was it taught according to man. What’s more is the apostle Paul would go on to declare that he did not receive it from man, nor was he taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. If you continue reading in the first chapter you will find that when it pleased God—who separated Paul from his mother’s womb and called me through His grace to reveal His Son in him that He might preach Him among the Gentiles—he did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did he go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before him. That which the apostle did instead was go into Arabia and then return to Damascus. After three years the apostle Paul went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him fifteen days. We have a great need to recognize and pay close attention to this for when we recognize the call of God upon our lives to teach and preach the gospel concerning Jesus and His being the Christ and the Son of the living God who suffered in the flesh and was crucified according to the Scripture before being raised from death to life we must not receive our revelation from flesh and blood. There are those who get the “gospel” they preach from others and who base everything they teach and preach on the opinions, the thoughts, the teachings, the preaching and the rumors of others concerning Jesus the Christ and the Son of the living God. If you or if anyone else wishes and desires to preach the gospel concerning Jesus Christ there is a great need for you to study and examine what was written concerning Christ in the Law, in the prophets and in the New Testament. Moreover there is a great need for you to walk with and follow Him and get to know Him for yourself rather than basing your beliefs and your convictions about Him on the opinions and thoughts of man. Not only this but you must be such who receive revelation directly from the Father of lights who desires to not only call you unto the eternal and only begotten Son but also to reveal and make Him known unto you that you might effectively teach and preach the word, the gospel and the name of Jesus who is both Christ and the Son of the living God.