“THE UNTOLD STORY OF JESUS” SEPTEMBER 2017 PART 1

        Across the broad expanse of Christendom, the accepted doctrine concerning the Lord Jesus Christ is well known, and continues to be preached. The personal profile of Jesus Christ can be illustrated as follows: He is the son of Joseph and Mary; and Mary is the accepted mother of our Lord. He is also the son of David, and was born King of the Jews. I think there is a publication being sent in the mail in the form of a newsletter titled: “Finding the Jewish Jesus.”

Any link with Christ to the Jews becomes an open door, and a good reason to publicize the good fortune of the Jewish nation, in their preference by God over the Gentile nations (meaning all nations that are not Jews.)  Even standing before the governor in the trial for his life, Jesus was asked: “Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And the sign nailed on the cross above his head said in big bold letters: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” Matthew 27: 11, 37. Therefore as Christians, preachers and teachers of the scriptures, we are well within the realm of truth when we present Christ as all of the above, featured in his personal profile. But what if we bring his own story before the Lord himself, and ask him to articulate his origin, his human genealogy, and many other components about his earthly life that we preach and teach every day?

          Surely, his personal testimony about himself must take precedence over all other accounts. But before we ask Jesus to take to the witness stand and speak in his defense, we will make our case which is the accepted facts as we know them to be; under-written and catalogued in the narrative of the holy scriptures. It stands to reason that the story that we have been telling about Jesus, although founded and underscored in scripture, is only a portion of what his real story is. What if we bring Christ to the witness stand and ask him to account for his being, his family traits, and his origin as it is known to him? What do you think he would say on his own behalf? Before we bring Christ forward to speak for himself—about himself, let us reiterate some facts as they pertain to him. These facts that we will review have become a part of the gospel of salvation being offered to mankind the world over. First, he was called the son of Joseph: and as he stepped forward to be baptized by John in the Jordan River, we read: “And Jesus himself began to be thirty years of age, (meaning it was just past his 29^th birthday) being (as it was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli.” Luke 3: 23.

As stated here, it was only a supposition (a speculation or assumption) that Jesus was the son of Joseph; but the actual facts do not subscribe to his fatherhood, or his sonship as being the son of Joseph. As we move forward, we note that Jesus was called the son of David. “And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging. And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. When they tried to quiet the man, he cried out a second time: Thou son of David, have mercy on me.” Luke 18:35-39. Even in the last book of the bible, (Revelation) Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Revelation 5: 5.

 Again, we read what the prophet foretold concerning Jesus Christ. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” The Hebrew term is YAH TSIDKENU. Jeremiah 23:5, 6. As another witness to the same truth, we read again: “In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, the Lord our righteousness. The same word YAH TSIDKENU. Jeremiah 33: 15, 16. All of these scriptures serve to establish the link between David and Jesus Christ. But later on, we will see how Jesus handled this subject.    

 As a footnote, we should observe that although the prophecy said that Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; none of this was fulfilled during Christ’s earthly ministry. In fact Jerusalem and the Jews were destroyed in about thirty seven or so years after Christ’s death and resurrection. In view of the historical facts on the ground, we must assume that these prophecies will be fulfilled in a different age and under different circumstances. It is important to note that what we believe and teach about Jesus as found in scripture, has all the merits that it deserves. The missing piece to the puzzle comes into play when we miss or ignore the second nature of Christ. This is because the second nature of Jesus is relevant to our redemption, and to us inheriting eternal life. At this point, we will bring Jesus himself into the picture and see how he reacted to his mother, father, and brethren coming to speak with him. “While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?  And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12: 46-50. Can you picture the scene in the midst of this gathering to hear Jesus preach? He lifted his hand toward his disciples and announced that they (and along with all doing will do the will of the Father; those are his mother, and his brother, and his sister. Standing there among the people and hearing what Jesus just said, how would you wrap your arm around this truth that was brand new to all who heard it? In that single statement, Jesus eradicated all logic tying him to David through a “blood-line.” He had no earthly blood-line by not having an earthly father. His blood was called God’s precious blood. Acts 20: 28. (please read.)

           There is no record in scripture where Jesus ever called Mary, mama or mother. Whenever he directly addressed Mary, he called her woman. At the marriage feast at Cana of Galilee, it is said that they ran out of wine, and Mary stepped forward to notify Jesus of the situation. “And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus said unto him, They have no wine. Jesus said unto her, WOMAN, WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH THEE? MINE HOUR IS NOT YET COME.” John 2: 3, 4. Let us consider this fact and apply the truth to ourselves. We read the following! “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law---that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father.” Galatians 4: 4-6. While we are justified in preaching and teaching the accepted versions of who Jesus is, we can certainly take the matter a step further by reading Christ’s own version about his origin and personality. What he said of himself, should hold precedent over every other version, spoken by any other writer or teacher. There is a “bloodline to Christ—God’s precious blood.”

          It should be understood, that the version that Christ gave of himself, does not minimize or eliminate the many versions spoken by the prophets; Moses; the Psalms; and the apostles. It is generally said that there are two sides to every story: thus, this study is to examine the story Christ gave of himself. As we have said before, throughout scripture, Jesus Christ was announced and confirmed to be “the  son of David.” However, as we just proved above, Jesus did not identify himself with his biological mother (thus, calling her WOMAN) or with his natural brethren. Instead, he pointed to his disciples; indicating that only those who obey the Father’s will are his mother, father and brethren. In so doing, Jesus bypassed, or set aside everything that was spoken of him from a spiritual perspective. So as we proceed, we must bear in mind that it is from a spiritual perspective that we are studying Jesus. Also, we will observe what restriction (if any) was placed upon Christ by his humanity: and all of what we find should suffice and support our position in him as being the sons of God.

Let us observe how Jesus applied himself concerning the idea of him being the son of David. “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thy foes thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he then his son”? Matthew 22:41-45. Obviously Jesus did not embrace or subscribe to the idea of him being the son of David.

In fact, Jesus boldly set aside the idea of him being the son of David. He reasoned that if David was in fact his father, he would not have called him Lord. But why does the scriptures place Jesus in the direct lineage of David?  Peter gives us a qualified answer in his sermon on the day of Pentecost before thousands of people attending the feast in Jerusalem. Here is the crux of the sermon, and its core message. “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, (although David is not listed among the prophets—among the minor or major.) and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne (To sit on David’s throne) He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ (not of his second coming) that his soul was not left in hell, (in the grave) neither his flesh did see corruption. Acts 2: 29-31.

 Paul writing to the Romans said: “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David ACCORDING TO THE FLESH; to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:3, 4. Thus we see the importance of using the term “according to the flesh.” According to God’s promise to David, Christ would be raised up from the grave to sit on David’s throne. But Peter rendered null and void the idea of Christ sitting on David’s throne in Jerusalem.

 Christ was the son of David, according to the flesh; but he was also the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. For the purpose of redemption, Christ did not take upon himself the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham. Hebrews 2: 16. Peter went on: For David is not ascended into the heavens: (but Jesus has) but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ—and we can add the word King. Acts 2: 29-36. But what is the truth concerning David’s throne? Let us use the tabernacle in the wilderness as a reference point.

 We are told that it signified the Holy Ghost, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest. Which was A FIGURE OF THE TIME THEN PRESENT. Hebrews 9: 7-9. So the tabernacle, its trimmings, and priestly ordinances was a pattern of a heavenly reality. This reflects completely what David’s throne upon the earth represented in reality. Here is the truth behind David’s throne. “Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord, as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.” 1^st Chronicles 29: 23. Notice that Solomon did not sit upon David’s throne: He sat upon the throne of the Lord.

And again we read: “Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice. 2^nd Chronicles 9: 7, 8.  Let us observe how Jesus was figured in the status bestowed to David.

          “And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. They shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children forever: and my servant David shall be their prince forever.” Ezekiel 37: 24, 25.

           This was a prophecy given about the year 587 B.C. and to infer that David would be their prince forever, takes the matter to a whole new level that supersedes any, and all human connotation. In Old Testament times, especially prophecies that seemingly refers to Israel, should be understood in terms that pertain to the Church and the person of Jesus Christ.

           Please pay close attention as we look at prophecies, their language, and their ultimate meanings. “And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever. 1^st Kings 2: 45. If David was to be prince or king forever, and his throne should not end, it would mean that David would have to be alive today. But since these prophecies were spoken by the prophets, Israel was divided into two distinct kingdoms namely, Judah located in the south of Palestine; and Israel located in the north. Before long both Israel and Judah were taken by force into captivity. The angel Gabriel brought a solemn message to Mary and he outlined what God’s intent was concerning the baby that she would bring forth in a matter of a few months. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.

 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: (El Elyon) and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1: 30-33. That is 1014 years since David wrote the Psalms, and about 587 years since Ezekiel uttered his prophecy. But even today, from our vantage point in our own time frame, we have to conclude that based upon World or Jewish history, of the things that Gabriel spoke to Mary: all were not fulfilled in the earthly ministry of Christ that lasted for about three and one half years.

He was baptized just after his twenty ninth birthday, (even though history and a great portion of the clergy point to A.D. 27 as the year in which Christ was baptized. But Luke said that Jesus began to be 30 years old when he was baptized, and in the space of another three and a half years he was crucified. But Christ’s departure from the scene here on earth, did not eclipse or subtract from the promises that God made to be fulfilled in a people.

As Israel’s 70-year captivity drew close to its end, Daniel who lived through it from his teenage years saw something beautiful and wrote that after four world kingdoms rose and later fell: “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Daniel 7: 18, 27.

          Here we see the far end of how God’s words spoken by Gabriel both to Daniel and to Mary will be fulfilled in a people to whom Jesus as the certain good man who left to seek a kingdom in a far-off place told his servants to “OCCUPY TILL I COME. This is the primary reason for Jesus to be born within the lineage of David that gives him legal right to David’s throne. (In the case of human contention and human challenges.)

 As Peter explained in his sermon, David has not ascended into heaven, but Jesus has: and he has been sitting on David’s throne ever since he ascended back into heaven. But Jesus qualified the statement concerning him being the son of David. If it is to be taken literally, David could not call him Lord if he is indeed his son. The angel said that his name shall be called “Emmanuel” meaning “God with us: and we read in 1^st Timothy 3:16: “Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh (the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:14) justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 

In defense of his true identity amid great opposition from unbelievers, Jesus said: “Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.” John 8:23. Jesus was born much like any other baby, and grew up in lowly circumstances like others in Nazareth. But he never once attached himself to this world, its environs, or its influences. I want you to get hold of this point, if it is the only part of this lesson that you will lay hold upon. Jesus wept! He got tired and hungry like anybody else. But he never allowed his humanity to hinder his ministry, or betray his true identity.

He always knew where he came from, and who he really was. So many times we hear someone under pressure, and caving in, remark: “So what do you want me to do? I am only human.! The human side of Christ did not play any role in what he did and how he lived. We read: “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which IS IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER, he hath declared him.” John 1: 18. It did not say “was in the bosom of the Father” because while Jesus walked the earth he was still in the bosom of the Father. He declared that it was the Father living in him that does the work.

 “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth IN ME, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” John 14: 10, 11.

 This man Jesus was “The Lord from heaven. 1^st Corinthians 15:47. It is no wonder then, that the winds and the waves obeyed him: that demons cried at him in recognition as he walked down the street saying, “We know thee who thou art.” He spoke to a fig tree with no fruit thereon and in three days, it was seen withered and died. But as for us, we are told that as Jesus IS, so are we IN THIS WORLD. 1^st John 4:17. We must live above and apart from the influences of the flesh; and not allow it to be a liability to us, because he that is joined to the Lord is ONE SPIRIT.

 Jesus came into the world as a Son of God, because as Adam was a son of God, so Christ was of necessity also a Son of God. In this transaction, it was meant for Christ to redeem and restore all that Adam lost as a son of God. This second Adam came to rescue and restore all that the first Adam forfeited in his fall from grace.

                The physical body of Christ was meant to make us him, and him us. This grand mixture of flesh and Spirit can be viewed and understood from this letter of Paul to the Corinthians: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2^nd Corinthians 5: 21.

Royce O. Kennedy           

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