Latest / truthunedited / IS JESUS GOD_ Understand what the Bible says

Transcript

IS JESUS GOD_ Understand what the Bible says · truthunedited

0:00
Speaker 1: Why did Jesus pray to God if he is God?
0:03
When we read the Gospels, we see Jesus often retreating
0:07
to pray. For example, in the Book of Luke, it
0:10
is told, but he would withdraw to desolate places and
0:13
pray Luke five, verse sixteen. If Jesus is God, wouldn't
0:18
he be engaging in a conversation with himself. It's a
0:22
fair and curious question that invites us to explore the
0:25
depths of Jesus's humanity and divine nature. There is one
0:30
God who exists eternally as three distinct persons, the Father,
0:35
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This does not mean
0:37
there are three Gods, but rather one God in three persons.
0:41
Just as water can be ice, liquid or vapor and
0:45
still be water. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
0:48
and yet one God, but the Helper, the Holy Spirit,
0:52
whom the Father will send in my name. He will
0:55
teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all
0:58
that I have said to you. John fourteen, verse twenty six.
1:02
Here Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as a distinct person,
1:05
yet sent by the Father and acting in Jesus's name,
1:09
showing the unity and distinct roles within the Trinity. Now,
1:13
within this understanding arises a question that has puzzled many.
1:17
If Jesus is God as part of the Trinity, why
1:21
did he need to pray? This question goes to the
1:24
heart of Jesus's earthly ministry and mission. Jesus, fully God
1:28
and fully man, spend time in prayer. Let's look at
1:31
how his prayers reveal his relationship with the Father, fulfill
1:35
his role on earth, and teach us about the nature
1:38
of communication with God. Join us as we seek to
1:42
understand the beautiful complexity of Jesus's prayers and what they
1:46
mean for our own spiritual lives. The nature of Jesus,
1:51
Jesus is someone extraordinary and unique because he is both
1:55
God and a person like us at the same time.
1:58
This means Jesus is one hundred percent God. He can
2:01
do things only God can do, like special miracles and
2:05
uniquely rescuing people, but he is also one hundred percent human.
2:09
He felt hunger, pain, and died. It's like having two
2:13
complete sets of everything in one person. Imagine having all
2:17
superpowers but also living as a regular person going through
2:21
everything we go through, except he never did anything wrong.
2:25
We believe in this because it helps to understand how
2:28
Jesus could do incredible things, but also know what it
2:31
is to be a person. The nature of Jesus is
2:34
one of the central mysteries of the faith. It's by
2:37
understanding both his divinity and humanity that he accomplished through
2:42
his life, death, and resurrection. Jesus showed us the best
2:46
way to talk and live with God, dependence on the Father.
2:50
Jesus lived in a way that showed us he did
2:52
nothing on his own initiative. He said, truly, truly, I
2:56
say to you, the son can do nothing of his
2:59
own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.
3:02
For whatever the father does, that the son does likewise
3:06
John five, verse nineteen. This means Jesus waited for God
3:10
to show him the way before doing anything. It's like
3:12
a child observes and learns from his father and doesn't
3:16
try to do things on his own. And when things
3:18
got really tough, just before being taken to the cross,
3:22
Jesus prayed intensely. He said, Father, if you are willing
3:26
remove this cup from me, nevertheless, not my will, but
3:30
yours be done Luke twenty two, verse forty two. This
3:33
shows he trusted in God's plan more than his own feelings,
3:37
even when he was afraid. Another purpose of Jesus's prayers
3:41
was to teach the disciples to pray. Jesus didn't keep
3:45
his prayer life a secret. He shared it with his friends,
3:48
the Disciples. One day, they asked him to teach them
3:51
to pray. He said, when you pray, say Father, hallowed
3:55
be your name, your Kingdom. Come give us each day
3:58
our daily bread, Forgive us our sins for we ourselves.
4:02
Forgive everyone who is indebted to us, and lead us
4:05
not into temptation Luke eleven, verses one to four. In
4:09
this simple prayer known as the Lord's Prayer, Jesus showed
4:12
them that praying is talking to God about everything, saying
4:15
his name is special, asking for what we need, asking
4:19
for forgiveness for the mistakes we make, and asking for
4:22
help to live rightly. In this way, Jesus's prayers are
4:26
a perfect guide for us on how to live close
4:29
to God, talk to him about everything, and trust him
4:32
with our lives. Another purpose of Jesus's prayers was the
4:37
expression of human emotion and need. Jesus showed us that
4:41
he experienced human emotions and needs just like any of us.
4:46
Here are some ways he expressed those very human traits,
4:50
sadness and anguish. In a garden called Gethsemone, which is
4:54
like a quiet park full of olive trees. Jesus felt
4:57
a very deep sadness, the kind you feel when and
5:00
your heart is so heavy it's hard to carry. The
5:02
Bible says. Then he said to them, my soul is
5:05
overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here
5:09
and keep watch with me. Matthew twenty six, verse thirty eight.
5:13
Imagine Jesus, known for healing and helping others, now overwhelmed
5:18
with a sadness so deep he said it could nearly
5:20
kill him. He went a little farther into the garden,
5:24
fell with his face to the ground in prayer to God,
5:27
and said, my Father, if it is possible, may this
5:30
cup be taken from me? Yet not as I will,
5:32
but as you will Matthew twenty six, verse thirty nine.
5:36
This cup he spoke of was like a symbol for
5:39
the difficult task he knew he had to do. Die
5:42
on the cross. He didn't want to suffer, but he
5:44
was willing to do what God wanted. Seeking strength and
5:48
guidance In another part of the Bible, Luke six verses
5:52
twelve to thirteen shows Jesus seeking strength and counsel. It says,
5:57
in those days, he went out to the mountain to pray,
6:00
and he spent the night in prayer to God. And
6:03
when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve
6:06
of them, whom he also named apostles. Before making a
6:11
big decision choosing his twelve closest friends who would help
6:15
him share his teachings, Jesus spent the entire night talking
6:19
with God. It wasn't just a quick chat, but ours
6:22
asking for help and guidance. By praying all night, Jesus
6:26
showed that he too needed support, wisdom, and strength, and
6:30
he found that by connecting deeply with God. These stories
6:34
remind us that Jesus was not just a spiritual figure,
6:38
but also a person who felt deep emotions and had
6:41
needs like any other person. He felt overwhelming sadness and
6:45
sought quiet places for guidance, showing it's okay for us
6:49
to do the same when we're facing tough times or
6:52
important decisions. Fulfilling human righteousness living the perfect human life
6:58
we cannot when we delve into the stories and teachings
7:02
of the Bible. We discover that Jesus did not just
7:06
live an exemplary life. He lived the perfect human life,
7:10
fulfilling all righteousness. This means he lived in complete obedience
7:14
and submission to God, his Father, something we find difficult
7:18
to do every day. The Bible tells us in the
7:21
Book of Hebrews, during the days of Jesus's life on earth,
7:25
he offered up prayers and petitions, with fervent cries and
7:28
tears to the one who could save him from death,
7:32
and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although
7:35
he was a son, he learned obedience from what he
7:38
suffered Hebrews five, verses seven to eight. That is how Jesus,
7:43
even being the son of God, learned to obey through
7:46
the things he suffered. His prayers were not just whispers
7:49
in the silence, but passionate please filled with real tears.
7:54
Yet he always obeyed, no matter the cost. Philippians two,
7:58
verse eight adds another layer to this. By saying and
8:02
being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
8:05
by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
8:10
Jesus didn't just obey when it was easy he obeyed
8:14
to the point of dying a painful and humiliating death
8:17
on the cross. His life wasn't a series of easy choices.
8:21
It was a constant submission to God's will, even when
8:24
that will lead him to the cross. What is truly
8:27
remarkable about Jesus's life is that he was fully human
8:31
like us, with the same feelings, the same temptations, and
8:34
the same pains. However, unlike us, he never failed in
8:39
his obedience and submission. Every action, every word, and every
8:43
thought were in perfect alignment with what God wanted. He
8:47
didn't live for himself, but for God and for us.
8:50
Jesus's perfect life is significant because he did something extraordinary
8:55
for us where we failed to be righteous. His life
8:59
offers us the chance to be seen as righteous before God.
9:02
It's as if he took the test of life and
9:05
passed with honors on behalf of humanity. So when we
9:08
believe in him, it's as if his perfect score is
9:11
credited to our record. Imagine trying to follow a recipe
9:15
perfectly without making a single mistake. For us, that's impossible.
9:20
We might mix the wrong ingredients, or measure incorrectly, or
9:23
overcook the meal, but Jesus, in the kitchen of life,
9:27
followed God's recipe without error. He lived the life we
9:31
should live and offered us the reward as if we
9:34
were the ones. By understanding Jesus's perfect obedience and submission,
9:39
we can appreciate the incredible gift that is offered to
9:42
us through faith in him. It's a gift that encourages
9:46
us not because we can earn it, but because it
9:48
is freely given a testimony to the perfect life he
9:52
lived on our behalf the importance of prayer in Jesus's life.
9:57
In Jesus's life, prayer was not just something he did
10:00
out of religious duty or as a public display. It
10:04
was natural and essential, as breathing a life line to
10:07
his father, maintaining communion with the Father. For Jesus, praying
10:12
was about staying connected. It was like the unbreakable bond
10:16
between a child and a parent. Even though he was
10:18
the son of God, he still talked to God, showing
10:21
that he depended on that connection for strength and guidance.
10:25
This tells us something powerful about prayer. It's not about
10:29
asking for things. It's about keeping our relationship with God
10:33
fresh and alive. Look what happened Right after Jesus was baptized,
10:37
and as he was praying, Heaven was opened Luke three,
10:41
verse twenty one. At that moment, Heaven itself seemed to open,
10:46
affirming this deep relationship. Jesus was in constant contact with
10:50
his father, and it was during these conversations that some
10:54
incredible things happened. Decisions were made, strength was given, and
10:59
life love was shared, an act of love and trust
11:03
within the Trinity. Prayer was also an act of love
11:06
and trust within the Trinity Father, son, and Holy Spirit.
11:11
Jesus being God, expressed his trust in the Father through prayer.
11:16
For example, when he was about to raise Lazarus from
11:19
the dead, he said, Father, I thank you that you
11:22
have heard me. I knew that you always hear me
11:25
John eleven, Verses forty one to forty two. The thanksgiving
11:29
was not for show. It was the son talking to
11:32
the Father, confident that he was heard, an intimate exchange
11:36
of trust and love. This shows us the heart of prayer.
11:39
It's about trust. When we pray, we are entering into
11:43
that circle of love and trust that exists since before time.
11:47
We are telling God, I depend on you, I trust you,
11:50
just as Jesus did Finally, prayer was how Jesus fully
11:54
embraced being human. The incarnation is a fancy word for
11:58
God becoming man. In Jesus, this wasn't just God wearing
12:01
a human suit. He became fully one of us. And
12:04
part of being human is acknowledging that we are not
12:07
all powerful. We need help, we need God. Jesus showed
12:11
this when life got tough. Before he was arrested, he
12:15
went to pray in a garden called Gathsemone. He was
12:18
deeply troubled about what he was about to face death
12:21
on the cross. He prayed, Father, if you are willing
12:24
take this cup from me, yet not my will, but
12:27
yours be done Luke twenty two, verse forty two. Here
12:32
he was struggling, showing us it's okay to bring our
12:35
deepest fears to God, but also showing us that in
12:38
the end, prayer is about saying, God, I trust your
12:41
way more than mine. Thus, prayer in Jesus's life was
12:45
his way of staying close to God, showing trust and
12:48
love within the family of God, and fully living his
12:52
human life with all its highs and lows. When we pray,
12:56
we are following in Jesus's footsteps, getting to know God
12:59
up close and personally, trusting him with our lives, and
13:02
embracing what it means to be truly human, just as
13:06
Jesus did the intercessory role of Christ. Jesus praying for others.
13:11
Specifically in the Book of John seventeen, verses nine to
13:14
twenty three, we find a truly touching moment when Jesus,
13:18
called the Son of God, speaks to his Father on
13:21
behalf of his friends, which includes not just the Disciples
13:25
with him at that moment, but all of us who
13:27
would believe in him. He prays for their protection, their joy,
13:32
their unity, and that they would be set apart and
13:35
pure in the truth of God's word. Jesus says, I
13:38
pray for them. I am not praying for the world,
13:41
but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
13:44
John seventeen, verse nine. This shows us that Jesus had
13:48
a special concern for his followers. He knew the challenges
13:52
they would face in the world and ask God to
13:55
take care of them. But he doesn't stop there. He
13:58
also prays for all people who would believe in him
14:01
through the Disciples message. My prayer is not for them alone.
14:06
I pray also for those who will believe in me
14:08
through their message. John seventeen, verse twenty. This means Jesus
14:13
thought of each one of us a long time ago.
14:16
He asked his father that we all may be one,
14:19
just as he and the Father are one. It's as
14:21
if he wanted everyone to be part of the same family, united,
14:25
working together in love. The role of Jesus as mediator
14:29
between God and humans. In another part of the Bible,
14:33
in the First Letter, Paul writes to Timothy, chapter two,
14:36
verse five, we get a clear explanation of a great
14:39
work that Jesus has. It says, for there is one
14:42
God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ,
14:47
Jesus one Timothy two, verse five. Now, a mediator is
14:52
like a bridge, or someone who stands in the middle
14:54
to help two other people understand each other and resolve things.
14:59
Before Jesus, people were separated from God because of their
15:03
mistakes or sins. Jesus came to bridge that gap. He
15:06
lived a perfect life, then died for our sins and
15:09
rose again, showing he has power over sin and death.
15:13
By doing this, he became the only intermediary between us
15:17
and God. When we err or do things we shouldn't.
15:20
Jesus is there to speak with God on our behalf.
15:23
It's as if he's saying, I've already resolved this Father,
15:26
I paid the price for their mistakes. This is something
15:29
incredible because it means we can go directly to God
15:32
through Jesus. We don't need another personal thing to speak
15:36
to God for us. Jesus is our direct line to Him.
15:40
When we pray, we can pray in Jesus's name and
15:43
he will speak for us, ensuring we remain connected with God. So,
15:47
in simple terms, Jesus deeply cares about us to the
15:51
extent of speaking with God about our needs, our protection,
15:55
and our unity with each other. And with him as
15:58
our mediator. He is the rea and we can have
16:00
a personal relationship with God. He stands in the middle,
16:04
ensuring that despite our flaws, we can still be close
16:07
to God. Prayer as a means to fulfill his mission.
16:11
Prayer is like a secret meeting place where we sit
16:14
with God to talk about everything in our hearts, including
16:18
the great work He has for us. It's where we
16:21
get the strength to do things that seem too big
16:23
for us, choose the right friends to help us, and
16:26
even do incredible things that show everyone how great God is.
16:32
Strengthening for tasks. Imagine being so stressed and worried that
16:37
you sweat as if it were raining from your forehead.
16:40
That's how Jesus felt one night. He knew he had
16:43
to go through something super difficult. So what did he do.
16:47
He didn't just try to be brave on his own.
16:49
He prayed, and when he did, an angel from heaven
16:53
appeared to him and gave him strength. The Bible tells
16:56
us this in Luke twenty two, verse forty three, saying
16:59
an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
17:03
This shows us that when we have great tasks to do,
17:07
we can pray like Jesus did, and God can send
17:10
us help like a coach giving a motivational talk to
17:13
a player about to score the winning goal. Choosing disciples, now,
17:18
choosing your team is super important. You want friends who
17:22
will be with you through thick and thin. Jesus had
17:25
a big decision to make when choosing his disciples. These
17:29
were the men who would continue his work after he left,
17:32
so he didn't just pick any John or Bob. He
17:35
spent an entire night talking with God about it. The
17:39
Bible tells us in Luke six, verses twelve to thirteen.
17:43
One of those days, Jesus went out to a mountainside
17:46
to pray and spent the night praying to God. When
17:50
morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose
17:53
twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles. Jesus is
17:58
all night with God. It was his way of making
18:01
sure he had the right team. When we have big
18:03
choices to make, like choosing our friends or assembling a team,
18:07
we can hit the pause button and talk to God
18:10
about it, just as Jesus did glorifying the Father through miracles.
18:15
Then there are those times when you need something huge
18:18
to happen, like a real life miracle. When Jesus was
18:21
about to bring his friend Lazarus back from the dead,
18:23
he didn't just snap his fingers. First, he spoke to God.
18:27
He thanked God for always listening to him, which was
18:30
like a son giving thanks to his father for always
18:33
being there. This is what he said in John eleven,
18:36
verses forty one to forty two. So they took away
18:39
the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, Father, I
18:43
thank you that you have heard me I knew that
18:46
you always hear me, but I said this for the
18:48
benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe
18:51
that you sent me. Jesus showed us that even when
18:55
we're about to do something incredible, it's not about showcasing
18:58
our abilities, about showing God's goodness and love. He spoke
19:04
with God first to make clear that the incredible things
19:07
about to happen were thanks to God, not just to him. Therefore,
19:11
prayer is not merely about requesting things. It's about preparing
19:15
to accomplish significant deeds, making wise decisions, and attributing credit
19:20
to God for the incredible things He accomplishes through us.
19:24
It's akin to a superpower hotline that's perpetually open, regardless
19:29
of the situation. In our quest to comprehend why Jesus,
19:33
acknowledged as God prayed to God, we've unraveled some crucial points.
19:38
Let's summarize. Initially, we delved into Jesus's dual nature as
19:43
fully divine and fully human. Understanding this duality is vital
19:48
for grasping the reasons behind his prayers. As God, Jesus
19:52
represents the second person of the Trinity, yet as a
19:55
human he experienced the limitations of humanity Philippians two, verse
20:00
six to eight. Secondly, we explored the trinity concept, God
20:05
the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit,
20:08
three distinct entities yet one in essence. Jesus's communication with
20:13
God the Father exemplifies the perfect relationship within the divine
20:18
John ten, verse thirty. The significance of Jesus's prayers is profound.
20:24
They showcased his trust in God the Father, exemplifying reliance
20:28
on God's wisdom and strength, even amidst challenges. His prayers
20:34
such as the one in the Garden of gathsemone, Father,
20:37
if you are willing take this cup from me, Yet
20:40
not my will, but yours be done Luke twenty two,
20:43
verse forty two, illustrate his submission to God's will, offering
20:47
insights into his mission to redeem humanity. Furthermore, Jesus's prayers
20:53
provided an intimate view of his ministry. He prayed for
20:56
his disciples and all believers, seeking unity and protection. John seventeen,
21:02
verses twenty to twenty three. This highlights his intercessory role
21:06
and reveals the depth of his love and commitment to
21:09
his mission. I invite you to reflect on Jesus's example
21:12
and ponder the role of prayer in your own life.
21:15
Jesus frequently retreated to solitary places to pray Luke five,
21:20
verse sixteen. If Jesus, the Son of God felt the
21:23
need to pray, how much more do we his followers
21:26
need to cultivate a life of prayer. His example is
21:29
not merely a ritual to emulate. It's an invitation to
21:33
foster a personal relationship with God where we can unload
21:36
our burdens and seek guidance and solace in the tranquility
21:40
of our moments with God. Bear in mind that prayer
21:43
is a gift, a dialogue, and a peace offering in
21:46
which you are warmly invited to partake. Reflecting on Jesus's life,
21:51
consider how your prayer life aligns with his example. May
21:55
his life inspire you to earnestly seek God, to listen
21:59
and to speak, to request and to submit, And through
22:02
this may you come to know the profound love and
22:04
presence of God in your daily journey. Let's pray, Heavenly Father,
22:09
we approach you in humble adoration, acknowledging your infinite wisdom
22:14
and the depth of your love, which often transcends human comprehension.
22:19
As we ponder the life of Jesus, your Son and
22:22
our Savior, we find ourselves reflecting on the mystery of
22:25
his prayers to You Lord. We recognize that in Jesus's
22:29
prayers we see a perfect embodiment of humility and dependence.
22:34
Just as he looked to You, We too raise our
22:36
eyes and hearts in prayer, seeking guidance, strength, and a
22:41
more intimate relationship with You. In moments when we grapple
22:44
with the complexities of the divine we ask for a simple,
22:48
childlike faith that trusts in Your goodness and plan. Teach us,
22:53
O God, to mimic Jesus in his prayerful demeanor, recognizing
22:58
that even as God, he is engaged in communion with You,
23:02
inviting us into this sacred space of conversation and intimacy
23:06
with You. Through his example, May we grasp the significance
23:11
of prayer as a means to express our love, our needs,
23:15
and our gratitude in our day to day lives. As
23:18
we encounter our own challenges and joys, let us remember
23:22
Jesus's precedent that, in every instance, be a triumph or trial,
23:27
we should turn to You in prayer, just as he did.
23:31
May his life remind us that in our frailties we
23:34
find your strength. In our inquiries we find your wisdom,
23:38
and in our solitude we discover your comforting presence. Bless
23:43
us with the peace that comes from knowing you are
23:46
always accessible, attentive to the whispered yearnings of our hearts.
23:51
Empower us with the same spirit that resided in Christ Jesus,
23:55
so that in all situations we may find the bravery
23:58
to say, not my mine I will, but yours be done.
24:02
In the holy name of Jesus, we pray Amen.