Jesus, Coming to the Earth as the Savior
Reading Scripture: John 1:1-4
Scripture to Memorize: John 3:16 Reference: Philippians 2:6-8 Goal: to let readers know that Jesus, who existed in the form of God the Origin, came to the earth in flesh to fulfill the duty as the Savior and let them feel the love of God.
The key word of the Bible is 'Jesus Christ'. The Old Testament of the Bible prophesies that Jesus would come to the earth as the Savior. And the New Testament describes the ministry of Jesus Christ who fulfilled the prophecy recorded in the Old Testament and performed the work of salvation. The Gospel of John lets us understand the origin of Jesus.
That is, we can realize that Jesus is God through John 1:2-3. If you say you believe God but you don't know the origin of Jesus and you don't believe Jesus is the Christ how can you expect to receive salvation? If you think Jesus is just one of the famous saints or one of the great prophets, you can never be saved.
To become a true Christian, you have to know that Jesus is the Christ, clearly understand why Jesus is our only Savior, and believe. Then, for better understanding, let's delve into the origin of Jesus by back dating to the time that was in the beginning.
- 1. The mystery that started in the beginning
John 1:1-3 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being." Here, 'the Word' refers to Jesus who was with God and 'the beginning' refers to the time far back in the past that men can't understand with their concept of time. Before God created the heavens and the earth and all things in them, there was a universe and nothing but God.
At that time, there was no earth, no blue sky; there were no stars, no men, no animals, and nothing. It was God who only existed in the universe as its owner. As said, 'in the beginning', God existed in a form of the bright light without any specific form. The Light embraced the whole universe and contained the sound which is the Word. God ruled over the universe alone for an inexpressibly length of time. In the meantime, God came up with a plan. 'How happy and touching it would be for me to have beings who understand each other's hearts and can share love in this vast and mysterious space!' The plan was to 'gain true children' whom God would be able to share love with forever. That is, He made a plan for 'human cultivation' to gain His true children who resemble Him. He planned for it like a farmer who sows the seeds and diligently tends to them in anticipation of harvesting fruits.
And God the Origin, who had existed in the form of brilliant light while He also existed as sound, came to exist in the form of God the Trinity, that is, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God the Father supervises and directs the grand plan of 'human cultivation'. God the Son works as the Savior who is the Way of Salvation for all mankind. God the Holy Spirit fulfills the duty of the Helper who guides saved people to Heaven. As the time came, God the Trinity said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). And He formed man of dust from the ground in His image and breathed into his nostril the breath of life that contained the power of God. By doing so, God created man as a spiritual being whose heart resembles that of God. And God made the Garden of Eden that is of beauty and abundance and put the first man Adam in it. He also blessed him to live a life as the lord of all creation. In the course of time there was one thing that God prohibited the first man Adam from doing. It was that God told him simply not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of the good and evil. Genesis 2:16-17 reads, "The LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.'"
If he eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that symbolizes the sovereignty of God the Creator it will lead him to death since it is the sin of disobedience to the Word of God. So, God commanded Adam not to eat from the tree. And the God of love made a helper suitable for him who is a woman, thinking that it didn't look good for the man to be alone. Then, the first man Adam and Eve delivered many children in the Garden of Eden and lived a life there for a length of time beyond imagination. But one day Eve was tempted by the crafty serpent and she ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and also gave its fruit to Adam, too. Failing to keep the Word of God in his heart, Adam ate the fruit as written in Genesis 3:6. By this, their spirits died just as God said "For in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." They lost the image of God who is spirit and could no longer live in the Garden of Eden. In the end, Adam and Eve lost the God-given authority and blessing because they had committed sin and they were driven out from the Garden of Eden. They came to live a difficult life in hardship.
All the descendants of Adam who had sinned couldn't help but to fall into the eternal death, Hell because they inherited sinful nature from Adam. For them, God pre-prepared, in advance, the way of salvation for mankind in the beginning when He planned for human cultivation and came to exist as God the Trinity, that is, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The way of salvation is 'Jesus Christ'.
- 2. Jesus who came to the earth to fulfill the duty of the Savior
God the Son became the flesh and came to the earth to give true life to mankind who was on the way to death. He is Jesus who came to the earth as the true light that shines the whole world and all men. Around 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in a shabby stable in Bethlehem, Israel and was laid in a manger. Why was the Son of God the Creator born in a shabby stable? The first man Adam was created as a being with spirit, soul, and body, so he could communicate with God who is spirit. But, he disobeyed the Word of God that commanded him not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As a result, his spirit who had played a role as a master died as God said, "You will surely die." That is, his communication with God was severed.
Afterwards, Adam's descendants lived a life which is like that of beasts following their lust as read in Ecclesiastes 3:18. To redeem such mankind from sins and save them, Jesus was born in a stable in which animals are kept. As said in John 6:51, Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh." To 'eat the living bread that came down out of heaven' means to make the Word of God 'bread' for our hearts. Just as men can maintain their lives by eating, spirits of men can survive only when they 'eat' spiritual food. That's why Jesus who is one with God and the Word itself (John 1:1, 1:14) came to the earth in flesh and became the bread of life for mankind who was now no more than the beasts. In the sight of men, Jesus was born in a shabby surrounding. But in real the place was filled with the light of God's glory and countless heavenly hosts and angels rejoiced together over the birth of the Savior.
At the night, some shepherds kept watch over the flock and heard from an angel about the birth of the Savior. They came to the Baby Jesus and worshipped Him as written in Luke 2:8-20. Although Jesus was born in a form of man, He was not conceived through the combination of a sperm and an egg but by the Holy Spirit's power. So, He is not a descendant of Adam. Thus, He didn't have original sin that is inherited from parents. He didn't commit any sins so he had no self-committed sin. He lived only by the Word of God. Even in early childhood, He prepared Himself to fulfill His duty as the Savior by praying and meditating on the Word of God all the time. When He turned 30, Jesus spread the gospel of Heaven and healed those who had pain due to diseases. He made the demon-possessed whole and fed around 5,000 people with two fish and five barley loaves. He also walked on the sea and made the wind and the sea calm. He did things that are impossible with men's ability.
But there were still people who didn't acknowledge that Jesus came from God though they were amazed by the authority and strength of His messages. One day, Jesus said to His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Then, Jesus revealed before His disciples that He is the Christ.
Yesu Alikuja Duniani Akiwa Mwokozi
Andiko la Kusoma: Yohana 1:1–4
Andiko la Kukariri: Yohana 3:16. Rejea: Wafilipi 2:6–8. Lengo: Kumsaidia msomaji kuelewa kwamba Yesu, aliyekuwako katika umbo la Mungu tangu mwanzo, alikuja duniani akiwa mwanadamu ili kutimiza wajibu Wake wa kuwa Mwokozi na kutufunulia upendo wa Mungu.
Neno kuu la Biblia ni “Yesu Kristo.” Agano la Kale linatabiri kwamba Yesu angekuja duniani akiwa Mwokozi. Agano Jipya linaeleza huduma ya Yesu Kristo, aliyetimiza unabii ulioandikwa katika Agano la Kale na kufanya kazi ya wokovu. Injili ya Yohana hutusaidia kuelewa asili ya Yesu.
Yohana 1:2–3 hutufundisha kwamba Yesu ni Mungu. Ukisema unamwamini Mungu lakini hujui asili ya Yesu wala huamini kwamba Yesu ndiye Kristo, unawezaje kutarajia kupokea wokovu? Ukimwona Yesu kuwa mtakatifu maarufu tu au nabii mkuu mmoja tu, huwezi kuokolewa.
Ili uwe Mkristo wa kweli, unapaswa kujua kwamba Yesu ndiye Kristo, kuelewa wazi kwa nini Yesu ndiye Mwokozi wetu pekee, na kumwamini. Ili kuelewa vizuri zaidi, na tuchunguze asili ya Yesu kwa kurudi nyuma hadi wakati wa mwanzo.
- 1. Siri iliyoanza hapo mwanzo
Yohana 1:1–3 inasema: “Hapo mwanzo kulikuwako Neno, naye Neno alikuwako kwa Mungu, naye Neno alikuwa Mungu. Huyo mwanzo alikuwako kwa Mungu. Vyote vilifanyika kwa huyo; wala pasipo yeye hakikufanyika cho chote kilichofanyika.” Hapa “Neno” linamrejelea Yesu aliyekuwako pamoja na Mungu. “Mwanzo” ni wakati wa zamani sana ambao wanadamu hawawezi kuuelewa kwa dhana yao ya wakati. Kabla Mungu hajaziumba mbingu, dunia na vitu vyote vilivyomo, kulikuwako ulimwengu na Mungu pekee.
Wakati huo hapakuwa na dunia, anga la buluu, nyota, wanadamu, wanyama wala kitu kingine chochote. Mungu pekee ndiye aliyekuwako katika ulimwengu, akiwa mmiliki wake. Hapo mwanzo Mungu alikuwako katika umbo la nuru angavu lisilo na umbo maalumu. Nuru hiyo ilijaza ulimwengu wote na ilikuwa na sauti, yaani Neno. Mungu alitawala ulimwengu peke Yake kwa muda mrefu usioelezeka. Kisha akafanya mpango: “Ingekuwa furaha na jambo la kugusa moyo kuwa na viumbe wanaoelewana na kushiriki upendo katika nafasi hii kubwa na ya ajabu!” Alitaka kupata watoto wa kweli ambao angeshiriki nao upendo milele. Hivyo akapanga kulea wanadamu ili kupata watoto wanaomfanana, kama mkulima anayepanda mbegu na kuzitunza kwa bidii akitarajia kuvuna matunda.
Mungu wa Asili, aliyekuwako kama nuru angavu na pia kama sauti, akawa Mungu Utatu: Mungu Baba, Mungu Mwana na Mungu Roho Mtakatifu. Mungu Baba husimamia mpango mkuu wa kulea wanadamu. Mungu Mwana ndiye Mwokozi na Njia ya Wokovu kwa wanadamu wote. Mungu Roho Mtakatifu ni Msaidizi anayewaongoza waliookolewa kwenda Mbinguni. Mungu Utatu alisema, “Na tumfanye mtu kwa mfano wetu, kwa sura yetu” (Mwanzo 1:26). Mungu akamfanya mwanadamu kwa mavumbi ya ardhi kwa mfano Wake, akampulizia puani pumzi ya uhai yenye nguvu Zake. Hivyo alimwumba mwanadamu akiwa kiumbe wa kiroho mwenye moyo unaofanana na wa Mungu. Mungu akaumba bustani nzuri na yenye tele ya Edeni, akamweka humo Adamu, mwanadamu wa kwanza, na kumbariki atawale viumbe vyote. Mungu alimkataza Adamu jambo moja tu: asile matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya. Mwanzo 2:16–17 inasema: “BWANA Mungu akamwagiza huyo mtu, akisema, Matunda ya kila mti wa bustani waweza kula, walakini matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya usile, kwa maana siku utakapokula matunda ya mti huo utakufa hakika.”
Kula matunda ya mti huo, unaoashiria mamlaka ya Mungu Muumba, kungemletea Adamu mauti kwa sababu kungekuwa kutomtii Mungu na Neno Lake. Mungu wa upendo akamfanyia Adamu msaidizi anayemfaa, mwanamke, kwa maana haikuwa vyema awe peke yake. Adamu na Hawa wakapata watoto wengi na wakaishi Edeni kwa muda mrefu sana. Lakini nyoka mjanja akamshawishi Hawa. Akala tunda la mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya, kisha akampa Adamu naye akala (Mwanzo 3:6). Kwa kutotii Neno la Mungu, roho zao zikafa kama Mungu alivyosema. Walipoteza mfano wa Mungu aliye Roho na hawakuweza tena kuishi Edeni. Kwa sababu ya dhambi yao, Adamu na Hawa walipoteza mamlaka na baraka walizopewa na Mungu, wakafukuzwa Edeni na kuanza maisha magumu.
Wazao wote wa Adamu walirithi asili yake ya dhambi, kwa hiyo walikuwa kwenye njia ya mauti ya milele, yaani Jehanamu. Lakini tangu mwanzo Mungu alikuwa ameandaa njia ya kuwaokoa wanadamu: Yesu Kristo, Mungu Mwana katika Utatu Mtakatifu.
- 2. Yesu alikuja duniani kutimiza wajibu wa Mwokozi
Mungu Mwana alitwaa mwili na kuja duniani ili kuwapa uzima wa kweli wanadamu waliokuwa wakielekea mautini. Yesu ndiye nuru ya kweli inayomwangazia ulimwengu na wanadamu wote. Miaka takriban 2,000 iliyopita alizaliwa katika zizi duni la wanyama huko Bethlehemu, Israeli, na akalazwa horini. Kwa nini Mwana wa Mungu Muumba alizaliwa mahali duni? Adamu aliumbwa akiwa na roho, nafsi na mwili ili aweze kuwasiliana na Mungu aliye Roho. Lakini hakulitii Neno la Mungu, na roho yake, iliyokuwa imetawala maisha yake, ikafa. Hivyo mawasiliano yake na Mungu yakakatika.
Kama Mhubiri 3:18 inavyosema, wazao wa Adamu waliishi kama wanyama, wakifuata tamaa zao. Ili kuwakomboa kutoka dhambini na kuwaokoa, Yesu alizaliwa katika zizi la wanyama. Alisema katika Yohana 6:51: “Mimi ndimi chakula kilicho hai kilichoshuka kutoka mbinguni; mtu akila chakula hiki ataishi milele; na chakula nitakachotoa mimi ni mwili wangu, kwa ajili ya uzima wa ulimwengu.” Kula chakula hicho kunamaanisha kulifanya Neno la Mungu kuwa chakula cha mioyo yetu. Kama mwili unavyohitaji chakula, roho ya mwanadamu huishi kwa chakula cha kiroho. Yesu, aliye mmoja na Mungu na ambaye ndiye Neno lenyewe (Yohana 1:1, 1:14), alikuja akiwa mwanadamu na kuwa chakula cha uzima. Ingawa alizaliwa mahali duni machoni pa watu, mahali hapo palijaa nuru ya utukufu wa Mungu, na makutano ya mbinguni pamoja na malaika walifurahi kwa kuzaliwa kwa Mwokozi.
Usiku huo wachungaji waliokuwa wakilinda mifugo yao walisikia kutoka kwa malaika habari za kuzaliwa kwa Mwokozi. Wakaja kwa Mtoto Yesu na kumwabudu, kama ilivyoandikwa katika Luka 2:8–20. Ingawa Yesu alizaliwa akiwa mwanadamu, mimba Yake ilitungwa kwa nguvu za Roho Mtakatifu, wala si kwa kuungana kwa mbegu ya mwanamume na yai la mwanamke. Kwa hiyo hakuwa mzao wa Adamu na hakurithi dhambi ya asili. Hakutenda dhambi yoyote; aliishi kwa Neno la Mungu pekee. Tangu utoto Wake alijiandaa kutimiza wajibu wa Mwokozi kwa kusali na kutafakari Neno la Mungu daima. Alipofikisha miaka 30, alihubiri Injili ya Mbinguni na kuwaponya wagonjwa, akawaponya waliokuwa na pepo, akawalisha watu wapatao 5,000 kwa samaki wawili na mikate mitano ya shayiri, akatembea juu ya bahari na kutuliza upepo na bahari. Alifanya mambo yasiyowezekana kwa uwezo wa mwanadamu.
Hata hivyo, baadhi ya watu hawakukubali kwamba Yesu alitoka kwa Mungu, ingawa walishangazwa na mamlaka na nguvu ya ujumbe Wake. Siku moja Yesu aliwauliza wanafunzi Wake, “Ninyi mwaninena mimi kuwa ni nani?” Simoni Petro akajibu, “Wewe ndiwe Kristo, Mwana wa Mungu aliye hai” (Mathayo 16:16). Ndipo Yesu akawafunulia wanafunzi Wake kwamba Yeye ndiye Kristo.