Who is Jesus? Part 17 "Consider Jesus the Creator"

 

Who is Jesus? Part 17 "Consider Jesus the Creator"

John begins his gospel in chapter one by referring to Jesus as the "Word;" In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.   John also calls Jesus the creator who made all things and without him not anything was made. Christ Jesus who is Life it's self, is the one who brings light and life to men. Jesus is willing to take a person out of death and darkness and bring them into the Light and life of His Kingdom.

John continues to speak about Jesus as the Word saying "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John is giving testimony that he and others had been physical witnesses of Jesus and the mighty works that He had done. As we go on, it is important for us to remember that John called Jesus - God; and he also stated that Jesus is "The creator of all things."

As Jesus ministered and healed many people, there were multitudes that surrounded him, pressing and pushing. I am reminded that Jesus would often retreat to a desert place or a mountain, to rest and pray to His Father God. We understand that His Father God loved the world so much that His plan in the beginning of time was to send His only begotten Son; Jesus - - into the world (to die as a sacrifice for our sins) so that we could have eternal life and not perish.

One day by the sea, as the crowd circled Jesus, he spied two ships as the fishermen were washing their nets. Jesus asked if he might sit in one of the boats while he taught the multitude. They willingly gave Him permission. This would give Jesus relief from being poked and pressed upon, but yet he was able to minister from a safe place. After teaching for several hours, Jesus requested Peter to launch out into the deep and cast out his net. Peter replied, we have toiled all night and caught nothing nevertheless at your word we will do this."

These men probably realized how ridiculous this was, but again they decided; "Why not?"  So they threw their nets over the side and suddenly their nets were full of fishes, so full they had to call others to help them bring the nets in, lest they break. Peter, with James and John the sons of Zebedee and the others with them were astonished, and Peter fell down at Jesus feet saying, Lord I am a sinful man. Jesus was all knowing and he was able to see something great in Peter and the others, so Jesus told them, “Don't be afraid, because from now on you shall become fisher's of men.” And they forsook all and followed Jesus.

As we consider what just happened - - you might ask, “How did those fish get into that net?” May I remind you that Jesus is the Creator. Two things could be what happened. Either Jesus was like a "Fish Whisperer" and called all the fish to come jump into the net, or I prefer to believe Jesus created fish from nothing and placed them into the net.

Now the King had put John the Baptist in prison because John told the king it was wrong to take his brother's wife for himself. As things happened, the wife and her daughter schemed to have John the Baptist executed, and when it was accomplished the sad message came to Jesus about the death of his cousin. This was terrible news, and Jesus needed to get away from the enveloping crowds, so he said to his disciples, let us take a boat and go to the other side of the lake to a desert place and rest.

The people were quick to see Jesus shipping out, so they decided to go on foot and perhaps get there soon after Jesus arrived. Sure enough they found him, and Jesus had compassion on them and began to teach them many things until it was getting late. His disciples came to him saying, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now quite late.  

Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  But Jesus answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy four thousand dollars worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And Jesus said to them, “Go and see how many loaves do you have?” And when they had found out, they said, “Five small loaves, and two tiny fish, but what is that among so many people.”

Then Jesus commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.  And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and broke the fish giving them to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied.  And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces of bread and fish.  And those who ate the loaves and fish were five thousand men. Notice the five thousand did not include women and children. Also notice there were 12 large fishing baskets full of left over food.

Where did all of this food come from? Again we are reminded that Jesus is the creator, and as he broke the bread and fish into pieces, it was created and multiplied, and was enough to feed a large multitude of people.

 Immediately Jesus commanded his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.  And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray to His Father God.  And when darkness fully came, the boat was out on the sea, and Jesus was alone on the land.  Jesus could see that they were painfully making little headway, for the wind was against them.

And about three o'clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.  He acted like he meant to pass by them,  but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out,  for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Fear not; it is I; Do not be afraid.” Matthew's gospel includes about Peter calling to Jesus, “Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter stepped over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. And they all were utterly shocked and amazed, because they were still puzzled about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened. Then the disciples worshiped Jesus saying; “You really are the Son of God!”

You might say; "How could Jesus walk on water?" Using my vivid imagination, I wonder if; since He is the creator, could Jesus have made a firm pathway over the water so he could reach their boat? And if the path was firm, why did Peter sink as his pathway seemed to collapse.

We realize it was because he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the circumstances of life instead. But Jesus was there to take his hand and lead Peter back to the boat safely. In the meantime, I chose to believe as John told us that Jesus is God and He is the creator of all things.

The Bible tells us that Jesus the creator is able to make the sinner clean and create in him or her a clean heart for those who will come to him. 

Jesus the creator is able to create for you a new future. If you have never done so, today is a good day to receive Jesus into your life and allow him to be your savior and friend. Just speak to Jesus and tell him that you Believe He is the Son of God, you believe He died on the cross for your sins, you believe He rose from the dead, and you will follow him all the days of your life.