Light Of The World

The difference between Christianity and many other religious beliefs is that of who Jesus is and was. Many people look at Jesus as a myth or a good teacher. Maybe He was a prophet? Ministering to the Boulder community shows me how many different views of God and Jesus there actually are. Boulder was once known as the New Age Capital of the world. Freethinking runs wild in this mountain college town. If you look at Matt. 16, Jesus and His followers were in Caesarea Philippi. This was a town very similar to Boulder. It was a melting pot of beliefs so to speak. This is where the Greeks considered the gates of Hates (the underworld) to be. This is why Jesus refers to the gates of Hates later in the chapter. It was a town of marble statues to gods. this is where they would have worshipped to the goat god "Pan". The worship usually involved sexual rituals. Jesus bring his young Jews disciples here would be like a pastor bringing his just graduated seniors to a strip club. Imagine what was going through the disciples minds. Jesus asked, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

I can spend time trying to prove to you who Jesus was and is, but He already did that. I will then point you to Him. He will direct your thoughts and understanding and eventually, you will come to the truth. He was who He said He was. I love how Jesus would talk in ways that would excite people. “I am the bread of life…” Just being in a room with the smell of bread baking is comforting and warming. John 1 says, “the Word because flesh and dwelt among us.” The presence of God came and moved in and became a friend to the sinners. How exciting is this?! Jesus said, ”I am the light of the world.” The people of Israel were in darkness and ruled by the Romans. There were 400 years of silence before Jesus came, and He brought the bright light of who He was and is, and the message of the The Kingdom of God that He offers.

I encourage you; if you are not sure about who Jesus is, open up John and start asking questions.