We Have Found Him — The Christ
The Message of the Gospel
After the shepherds left, the wise men from the East came to Bethlehem where they presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, (Matthew 2:1-12). After the wise men from the East left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” (Matthew 2:13). Mary had completed the seven days of her purification (Leviticus 12:2-8) and at eight days old Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple at Jerusalem to be circumcised, (Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:21). While there, Simeon and Anna prophesied over the Child and gave thanks for the redemption that God had provided through His Son. History shows that Herod the Great died about a year after Jesus was born and an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in Egypt and told him to take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, (Matthew 2:19-23). Joseph settled in Nazareth where Jesus grew up into manhood in a carpenter’s home and was called a Nazarene, (Matthew 2:23).
Luke 2:40 NKJV And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
During the years of his childhood, his parents went every year to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem and after three days they found Him sitting in the Temple in the midst of of the teachers, both listening to them and asking questions, (Luke 2:41-46). Everyone who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers, (Luke 2:47). From the Temple, Jesus went down to Nazareth and was subject to Joseph and Mary.
Luke 2:52 NKJV And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Very little is said about the first thirty years of His life until the day when Jesus went down to the Jordan River to be baptized of John.
While John the Baptist was preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and was baptizing in the Jordan, he recognized Jesus, the Lamb of God.
After he saw the Spirit descend from heaven in the form of a dove and remain on Jesus, John said: “This is the Son of God.” (John 1:29-34) After that declaration, two of John’s disciples started following Jesus.
John 1:40–41 NKJV One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).
John 1:42–43 NKJV 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). 43The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
John 1:44–45 NKJV 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.”
What does it mean to find Him?
To find Him is to find the Alpha.
You will find the beginning of all things when you find Him. He is the Source, for the Word was with God and the Word was God.
In Him is the Life and the Light.
When God created man, He breathed the breath of life into his nostrils.
To find Him is to find the way, the truth and the life.
Jesus is the only path to the Father. He is the Door, He is the Way, and He is the Path of Life. He is the only access to God’s salvation, redemption and blessing.
To find Him is to find the glory of God.
The disciples saw Him and declared “we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
To find Him is to find the Maker, Creator and Son of God.
To find Him is to find the Mediator and Savior.
There is no other mediator between God and man but the Man, Jesus Christ.
To find Him is to find Salvation, for there is no hope of salvation without Jesus.
Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ. He is the One sent from God to bring God’s love and salvation to man.
To find Him is to find the Omega.
All things find their conclusion and fulfillment in Him. Everyone will stand before Him and give account.
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:7 NKJV Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
What does it mean to find Him?
When God sent His Son into the world, people were facing the same perplexities and difficulties of sickness, disease, and death. They had family and social issues, separations, death and heart breaks. They knew the struggle of lost fortunes and friends. They were troubled with the oppression of slavery, bondage and many experience the chains of servitude. Families experienced the pain of loved ones being carried away to strange lands. They faced the heart break of loss, grief of death, and heaviness of unfulfilled promises. They experienced the loss of life, property, dreams and security. There were many sick, diseased, oppressed, depressed and afflicted. Hope was almost gone.
Just like you, they needed real solutions for the real problems of life.
When God sent His Son into the world, their religious systems had failed to give real answers. The Roman and Greek gods and goddesses were powerless. Neither Diana, Artemis, Zeus nor Apollo could help them. The Philistine’s gods could not relieve their distresses. Their gods of wood and stone had no answer. All they gained from their many religions was greater sorrow and bondage. Their sages, seers or soothsayers brought no relief. None of their wise men or doctors had real answers for life’s difficulties and dilemmas. Their remedies and therapies were empty promises filled with little or no relief. Their stories and riddles could not bring release.
Even the religion of the Jews had become a system of laws and codes without the power of God’s presence.
They offered numerous sacrifices and offerings that produced no lasting changes. Their ceremony and sacrament continued, but they found no relief. Even God became weary with their sacrifices. Every year they came for atonement, but all they got was a temporary judicial reprieve. Guilt and shame still lay heavy on their souls.
All humanity needed a Redeemer, Savior and Messiah.
They needed someone who could bring true relief for their heavy and dark hearts, but they could not find Him. They needed someone who could remove their burden, guilt, and shame, but no one could help. There was no savior or redeemer for sinful men. Even God the Father searched throughout the lineage and ages of man and could find no one worthy or able to redeem mankind from sin.
All humanity needed a Savior.
What does it mean to find Him?
The Old Testament foretold the Messiah’s coming and the prophets kept the expectations of the Jews alive. They said: “In the fullness of the times, the Messiah would come.” The whole world had hope that He would come at the right time with the answers that were needed to resolve the issues in their lives. When He would come, life would be better. He would come with blessing and deliverance. He would bring redemption, salvation, and restoration. He would bring reprieve, peace, and hope.
Galatians 4:4–5 NKJV But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Andrew found Him and then introduced Simon Peter to the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. The next day, Philip met the One that Moses and the prophets wrote about and he told Nathanael, “We have found Him.”
What did they find?
- They found the Messiah who is called the Christ.
- He is the One the angels announced. “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace toward men.”
- He is the One the wise men found and came to worship.
- John came before Him announcing that He is the One.
- He is the Christ, the Anointed of the Father.
- He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our provider, John 1:29.
- He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our healer, Matthew 8:16-17.
- He is Jehovah Mekoddish, the Lord our Sanctifier, Hebrews 10:10-14.
- He is Jehovah Raah, the Lord my Shepherd.
- He is the Lord of Hosts, Matthew 26:53
- He is our Peace, Luke 1:78-79
- He is the Lord our Shepherd, John 10:11
- He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness, 1 Corinthians 1:30.
- He is El Olam, the everlasting God.
- He is El Shaddai, the Lord almighty.
- He is Jehovah Shalom, the Lord is Peace.
- He is our Savior, Matthew 1:18-25
- He is Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there.
- He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Andrew said, “We have found the Messiah.”
He is the One that the Father appointed to break the oppression of sin and release captives. He is the One who came to remove heavy burdens and redeem our souls from destruction.
Have you found Him?
Philip said: “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote.” Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip and Nathanael found Him.
Here is the invitation for you today.
- If you have not found Him…
- If Jesus Christ is not real in your life…
- If your life has not been changed by the power and glory of the Messiah…
- If you are still struggling with guilt, shame, and the bondage of sin…
You must come and see.
Come and see what Jesus Christ can do for you. Come and see how He will save your soul, forgive your sin and heal and cleanse. He will take and lift your heavy burden and give you rest. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit, sanctify your soul and provide your need.
If you will openly respond to Jesus Christ, your life will truly change.
If you truly find Him today, you will be changed. Your bondage is about to break and your burden is going to fall away and you will find true joy and peace.
Jesus can really change things in your life.
