Lent 2012: Jesus is...

I'm journeying through the season of Lent the next 37 days. As part of the experience, I'm reading short devotionals. A recent one asked me to answer this question: Who do I think Jesus is? The author, Rev. Wayne Palmer, then shared this considerable statement: That is a question we each need to ask today and each day of this journey together. It is a question that will shape our life on earth and our eternal future when this earthly life is over.

I began to write down the following words of who I think Jesus is to me:
1. The son of the living God
2. The Messiah of the entire world
3. The second member of God's Holy Trinity
4. My redeemer
5. My healer
6. My friend
7. My Savior
8. My Lord
9. My hope
10. My Prince of Peace
11. God the Son
12. The resurrected one
13. The returning one
14. My deliverer
15. The sinless one
16. My comforter
17. My warrior king
18. My sin killer-defeater-conqueror

In writing who I think Jesus is, I was reminded of a beautiful song by Sound of The New Breed, which is fittingly titled "Jesus Is." I loved this song when I first discovered it about four years ago and listening to it this morning made it even more sweet. I also began to write down how this song answers the question who do I think Jesus is, based on the lyrics that anchor the melodies:
19. Heavens cry, my heart sings, Jesus is
20. Lord of all, heaven and earth, Jesus is
21. Jesus is ALL
22. Strength
23. Comfort
24. Power
25. Wisdom
26. He is Lord
27. He is Lord
28. He is Lord
29. Glorious
30. The greatest of all
31. Evermore
32. The King above all
33. Hope
34. Bridge
35. Faith
36. Shelter
37. Peace
38. Love
39. Divine
40. Joy
41. Courage
42. Bread
43. Water
44. Wisdom
45. EVERYTHING

Simply put and aptly said, Jesus is EVERYTHING. Not just because I think he is, but because I know he is. He's proven himself to be EVERYTHING to me and for me, even when I didn't want him to be. He's been faithful to be EVERYTHING to me and for me. And he's EVERYTHING for the people of this world who humbly choose to"... find rest for their souls in Christ alone, knowing his power in quietness and trust..."

~ m