Are You Missing Something?

 

Old man comes into a restaurant, sits at his usual table, and orders the usual — matzoh ball soup. The waiter sits it down in front of him and stands back to watch him enjoy it.  But the man just sits there. "Is there something wrong?" the waiter asks. "I can't eat this soup," the man replies. "Is it too hot?" the waiter asks. "No." "Too cold?" "No." "Too salty?" "No." The waiter calls for the maitre d', and for the chef, and each goes through the same routine: "Too hot?" "Too cold?" "No, no, no." Finally, the chief, at his wits end, says, "Sir, I will taste the soup myself. Where is the spoon?" Says the old man: “A-ha!"

[John 1:1-5] Jesus is eternal, yet He clothed Himself with human nature and walked among us (John 1:14). In so doing, He experienced the frailties and limitations of mankind. He became thirsty, He knew hunger, He grew tired, He experienced pain, and He was limited by time and space. It is amazing that, though Jesus was involved in the creation of the universe and enjoyed a glorious relationship with the other two members of the Godhead, He left heaven and came to earth and lived as a human being for 33 years. His story remains the most intriguing and compelling story in history.

We’re introduced to Him at a very critical moment in history. Adam and Eve had sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil that was in the midst of the Garden of Eden. The blight of sin, disobedience, was introduced to the human race. God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden because sin cannot rest in the presence of God. Their sin carried the penalty of death, both physical and spiritual. However, in His mercy and compassion for man, God promised a Deliverer who would inflict a fatal blow to Satan, man’s adversary (Genesis 3:15). This deliverer is Jesus Christ.

Every event recorded in the Old Testament proved that man needed a deliverer. He found it impossible to live above sin. Not even the Law God gave Israel (Moses) on Mt. Sinai could deliver man from sin (Acts 13:39), for that law demanded perfect obedience and man is incapable of living such a life.

This situation produced a real dilemma. The cry of man’s soul became, “How can I, a sinful creature, escape suffering the consequences of my sins?” The blood of animals offered upon a thousand alters could not accomplish that need. If we listen carefully, we can hear that same cry of the human soul today.

The answer to the cry is found in Jesus Christ alone. Paul testified, “…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole. This is the stone, which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12).

He was born to poor parents in a stable. Yet, He made many spiritually rich. He never owned a piece of real estate where He might lay His head. Yet, He has comforted many and provided them with rest for their soul. He was not a world traveler. Yet, He has affected the world as no other person has ever done. He allowed Himself to be ill-treated by man and become the object of scorn. He was shamefully treated and ultimately crucified on a cross. Why? Because, being a sinner, man could not save himself. Jesus died in our place. Jesus paid the debt we owed God for our sin by becoming sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and dying in our place (Romans 5:6-21). What a Savior! One cannot eat of the fruit of the spirit without Jesus in their life. One cannot be forgiven of sin without Jesus in their heart.