Seeing Jesus: The Suffering Hero

Seeing Jesus:  The Suffering Hero King

Worship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEJrjGa106U

[John 12:21 NASB] 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and [began to] ask him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."

[Gen 3:15 NASB] 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."

[Gen 49:10 NASB] 10 "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him [shall be] the obedience of the peoples.

To have a trust and reliance in the person of Jesus of Nazareth as the divine saving Messiah, we need to gain a deep intellectual and inspiring vision of HIM so that our soul can respond both with mind and heart to Jesus.    Only then will we have a good foundation for interacting with HIM as a resurrected and living present reality. 

The main claim of the Christian faith is that Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary was God the Son who became the Son of God (Psalm 2).   This claim is that HE is the promised Messiah of Israel as promised by their prophets.  While this Messiah would come through Israel, the Messiah was always a universal Hero/Savior for all nations and all humanity. 

So one of the lenses that we need to see Jesus through, if we are to understand and know HIM, is that of the God’s Messianic Hero sent to save the universe from evil at great cost to HIMSELF. 

The Messiah is given HIS first title in Genesis 3:15, being called “the seed of the woman”.  The morally fallen angelic serpent has tempted humanity into rebellion against God, bringing condemnation and death.  How can there be hope now that humankind has followed evil instead of good?  It would seem that the dark lord has won in bringing death to God’s creation.

But, no this will not happen.  There will come a faithful man, the “seed of the woman” who will crush the dark and evil angelic serpent though at the cost of HIS own life.  A second Adam is promised, one who will not be defeated by the dark lord but one who will demolish the designs of darkness at great personal cost. 

It should be noted that the idea of “the seed of the woman” seems to hint at the virgin birth described in the historical gospels of Matthew and Luke, since “seed” is normally a poetic description of the man’s participation in conception, yet here it is the woman who has the seed. 

Now this promise is expanded through Genesis in which one is coming who will remove the curse of sin and who bless all nations of humanity with a return to Eden.

[Gen 5:29 NASB] 29 Now he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands [arising] from the ground which the LORD has cursed."

[Gen 22:17-18 NASB] 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

[Gal 3:16 NASB] 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as [referring] to many, but [rather] to one, "And to your seed," that is, Messiah Jesus.

Eventually this promise becomes focused on the tribe of Judah. 

[Gen 49:10 NASB] 10 "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him [shall be] the obedience of the peoples.

The Messiah is now given another name which is “Shiloh  שִׁילֹה  “.   This name seems to mean the one who makes peace.   The Messiah will restore God’s peace to the universe and bring back a right relationship between the Creator and the creation.   The Messiah is the great peacemaker.  All nations will follow HIM (Isaiah 2:1-6). 

So here the Messiah not only saves us through HIS death to give us victory over evil but lives again to rule the world in a reign of peace, tranquility, and harmony. 

Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary, is the seed of the woman, virgin born who has defeated the dark evil serpent by HIS death on the cross and has been resurrected to have all nations follow HIM in a kingdom of true peace (Matthew 28:19,20).   Jesus is Shiloh, the great peacemaker, and the one who will restore Eden on steroids to us. 

Jesus is God’s suffering, conquering, and victorious HERO. 

Is Jesus my HERO?  Do I respond to HIM as a HERO/KING? 

Prayer:  Holy Spirit reveal to my head and heart a fresh vision of Jesus as the great King/Hero.  Excite my heart to respond to HIS victory over the devil and the return of Eden by the King of peace.  Give me hope that God’s will and kingdom will be done on earth as in heaven as all nations are discipled and KING Jesus returns.  LORD. Let me see YOU today.  Increase my vision of YOU.  Amen

Video:  https://thebibleproject.com/explore/the-messiah/