Who Is Jesus?

As a true follower of Christ, is it really necessary to ask or consider this question anymore? Isn't the fact that I have acknowledged my sin, a need for a Savior, and placing my faith in Him as such...enough to move one from the question of who He is? You would think.

But then what do we say about Peter who, after having been chosen as one of the twelve and already showing his commitment to Christ by leaving his boat and net, gets asked the same question? I think Peter was taken back after the ask as well. "Is this question really necessary at this point in our relationship Jesus?".

Might I propose that the question needs to be asked daily. The question doesn't negate or disqualify your faith or salvation. The question actually affirms it. Did it not when Peter said "You are the Christ?" I don't think Jesus needed help knowing who He was. The question and answer was for Peter himself. And so it is for me...when I ask it.

We are way more attracted to the "how" questions:

• How is God present in Jesus?
• How is Jesus both human and divine?
• How does God atone for the the sins of the world in Jesus?

But the how questions cost me nothing. You can answer all of the how questions and still never believe. The how questions lead you to knowledge...but they may never lead you to trust. The how question always leads me away from Christ and eventually away from everyone else. The how question is the serpents question. The how question has little effect on my "being".

But "who" is the question of a personal, relational encounter with the Christ. And who can only be answered by the Christ who is present in the world. Any answer from an unattainable heavenly location or reality is useless to me in the Bronx.

Clifford Green said "Christology is not concerned with an ideal of Christ nor with the historical influence of Christ...but with the resurrected Christ, the living God, who is really present."

Who is Jesus Christ? I'm asking that today, again, to the Christ that is present as person, not in isolation...but only in relation to persons. This questions continues to echo down from the Emmaus Road to Castle Hill Ave. It is asked of believers who were with Him and believers who continue to walk with Him 2000 years later.

I'm looking forward to Resurrection Sunday at Crossroads. Rumor has it that The Worship Arts (TWA) is going to ask me the same question. And this asker is ready hear from the Incarnate One.

-Joseph Cortese

What happened yesterday? Is PJ ok?

PJ is fine. As a matter of fact...PJ is doing great. I am the happiest person on the planet. Didn't you know that all pastors are? At least they should be according to Dallas Willard; and I agree. But there is a huge target sign on the back of my wife and I. We knew that. "Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter" (Zech). No surprises there. But lets talk about this for a minute.

The spirit of confusion visited our church yesterday. It appeared at first to be the HVAC unit. Right? But that was just the early, physical manifestation. It moved from there into other things which we won't get into. But who picked up on this PJ? Any one who has the gift of discernment. The Elders could cut it like a knife. They were not taken by surprise. Some are gifted by the Holy Spirit to see the pockets of confusion settle over various areas of the church.

This kind of moment is not unique to the church of Christ. God allows many things to happen to quicken His church to new places and new postures. Sometimes it's for the purpose of exercising the authority we have in Jesus' name. Sometimes God is exposing His church to dullness, spiritual lax, lukewarmness, willful sin, status quo-ness, etc. He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. And He is also sovereign.

So my question to those present is this: How are you doing? Were you able to discern what was happening or were you just thinking that something was happening to PJ? Was everything going just fine until I mentioned a spirit of confusion? We can no longer be whatever we were prior to yesterday's 11 AM service.

If you were at the 9AM service, you're wondering what this is all about. Don't worry about it. The enemy will return "at a more opportune time" to try and confuse the 9AM crowd :-)

Thank you for the concern you have extended to my wife and I. You folks are the best. But I especially want to thank those who walked away more concerned and convicted about their own prayer and intercessory life that must change right now, taking on new forms to war against what happened yesterday. One of my Deaconess' "knew PJ was gonna be fine" because this wasn't about PJ. It was about her! I feel you sister. You get it.

So what is the takeaway of yesterday's drama? It's this:

The father "could not" have the prodigal at his table with the rags of the world on him. He "could" go to meet him in those rags. He "could" embrace him and kiss him in those rags...because it was worthy and completely characteristic of His grace to do so; but to then seat him at his table in the rags? That would never do. It would be setting aside the righteous requirements of His house. Remember that "grace reigns through righteousness" (Romans 5:21) and never at the expense of it.

The grace that brought the father out to the prodigal reigns through the righteousness that brought the prodigal in to the father. It would not have been grace had the father waited for the son to deck himself in robes of his own providing. It was provided and furnished for him by the father. God, in Christ, stooped to the very lowest point of man’s moral condition, that by stooping, He might raise man to the very highest point of blessedness, in fellowship with Himself.

The spirit of confusion was furious with this truth because it saves...and he attacked. But the message broke through anyway. Did you notice that part? Thank you Elders for making sure we pressed in. We will not be silent about the good news of the loving Father, his finest robe for us in Jesus Christ or the seal of the ring in Holy Spirit.

Who dressed you today?

PJ

Funeral Arrangements and Service Times for Mario Vazquez

Service times for funeral of Mario Vazquez will be held at:

Rehoboth

164 East 118th Street between Lexington & Third Avenues

Saturday, March 10 at 5PM-9PM Service at 7PM

Sunday, March 11 at 3PM-9PM at 5PM

Interment: Monday, March 12 at 10AM

Mount Hope Cementery

Jackson Avenue & Saw Mill River Road

Hasting on Hudson, NY