Meet with Jesus by Bill Hunt

You want to walk and talk with Jesus? Ask him.

Calling the Fishermen

(Art by James Tissot, French, 1886-1994)

 

Sitting on the banks of the Jordan River one day, I watched the rustic looking John baptize people in the water, dunking them one by one. He baptized me, praying. I cried for my sins.

Several men and women around, sitting and standing, curiously enjoyed the sight. In the bright sun I saw this imposing man approach along the shore.

Later, I learned his name, Jesus.

John and he looked at each other. Jesus lay aside his main tunic and entered the water. This tremendous spiritual presence filled the air as John baptized him. It was remarkable. A beautiful, commanding voice from the Heavens sounded all around.

“You are my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

We watched astounded as Jesus put on his garment and walked away. No one moved, as if frozen. I felt my whole being filled with God. Soon after, I heard John was arrested and put in prison by that tyrant, King Herod. I didn't hear anything about Jesus, either, for several weeks.

I found him again in the regions of Galilee. I felt strongly compelled to join other men watching Jesus. The heavenly voice I heard still burned alive in my heart.

“The time is now,” preached Jesus. “Repent of your sins and believe the good news of God's Kingdom.”

I watched him when he approached the two fishermen brothers, Simon and Andrew, at the lake.

“I will make you fishers of men.”

They looked at him, folded their nets, and placed them in the boat. They followed him. A little group of us walked along the shore and watched him. We didn't want to leave.

He also called the brothers, James and John. They stepped out of their father's boat, left the crew, and walked in the slapping waves to the shore to join Jesus. It was a beautiful moment. The rest of us all smiled at the new “fishermen of men,” wondering what might be in store for them (Mark, Chapter 1).

*****

As a young man, I walked alone down the long curvy drive under the trees in the dark. Overhead, a billion stars twinkled in the night. Suddenly, I felt a presence now walking with me.

“Is that you?” I asked.

“I didn't know you watched me.”

“Yes,” he said.

“I want to talk with you”

“I've long hoped to talk with you,” I said.

“I'll always be with you,” he said.

– Bill Hunt

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21 NKJV).

Q. What was it like when Jesus revealed himself to you?

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Meeting the Real Jesus!

Have You met the Real Jesus face to face?

"Walking with Jesus on the Road to Emmaus."

  (Unknown Artist, ChristiansUnite.com)

A personal encounter with the real Jesus is something special, something wondrous, something a person can never forget! Think of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus that first Resurrection Day. An unknown traveler joined them. He explained the scriptural significance of the Messiah's suffering, death, and burial over the last few days. The disciples, so intrigued, asked their guest to stay and spend the evening with them. They even offered to pay his motel bill.

“When he was at table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:30-32 NIV).

The apostle Nathanael did not accept Philip’s words about Jesus at first meeting. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”

“Come and see,” said Philip.

But Jesus saw him coming and honored him, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is nothing false.”

“How do you know me? Nathanael asked.”

“Jesus answered, I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered overwhelmed, “you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel” (John 1:44-49 NIV).

Hearts burn when Jesus is present. When some of John’s disciples first saw Jesus coming toward them, John pointed the Messiah out to them.

“Look, the lamb of God, 

"...who takes away the sins of the world. This is the one I meant when I said, A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel” (John 1:29-31 NIV).

As a nine year old boy, a Shriners Hospital surgically straightened my clubfoot. I saw a dark vision during the operation of a whirling black hole in the universe. As people came near it, they were caught by the force and sucked downward into the abyss screaming. Frightened, I felt its pull grab me. I asked, 

“Do I have to go down there, too?”

“No, you’re not going down there! I have use for you,” said the great, gentle voice of the Master ringing through the cosmos. I could see only his sandals and the garment to his knees.

About eight weeks later, orderlies cut the cast off my leg. I was under no medication. The whirring electric saw felt like it was cutting through my very sensitive leg. During my years of childhood medical care and pain, my Air Force officer father always taught me to grit my teeth and offer the pain to Jesus. So I did it once again. I uttered not a sound as tears of pain rolled down my cheeks.

I saw the crucified Jesus before me in living color. All his head swollen, wrapped in thorns, blood running down from his wrists along his arms, his face tilted to his right shoulder in unbearable agony. 

 

As a small boy I was greatly horrified by the site of our suffering Lord in bloody agony. From out of that agony, he slowly turned his face toward me, and smiled!

I told what I had just seen to the two hospital orderlies sawing off my cast. One did not believe me, the other did. The one who believed took the electric saw from the other and more carefully finished cutting the cast from my leg with a non-powered hand saw.

Believing in Jesus is a matter of experience for me. I saw him. I’ll never forget his suffering smile.

Have you an encounter with the real Jesus?

--Bill Hunt

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Who Witnessed the Resurrection?

The absolute evidence of our Christian Faith is the Resurrection of Jesus. If Christ has not risen, stated the Apostle Paul, our Faith is futile.

"He has risen! He is not here."

  (Art by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1825-1905)

Paul writes a powerful epistle about AD 55 to the Corinthians at the end of his three year ministry in Ephesus. He lists the witnesses who saw the resurrected Jesus: Peter, the apostles, 500 men and women, James, the apostles again, and himself, Paul. 
 
v3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (1 Cor 15:3-8 NIV).


“Very Early on the First Day!”


Mark writes his gospel AD 55-65 to the Christians in Rome. He lists Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (Mark 16:1-8) as visiting the tomb on the first day of the week. An angel spoke to them. 
 
v6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6 NIV).
 
Early Christians likely added the closing affirmations (Mark 16:9-20) to Mary Magdalene and the Eleven, but these are listed in the other gospels, as well.

The Physician Luke writes AD 60 to the Gentiles. He repeats the initial discovery at the tomb involving Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and others who were with them. 

 

He also mentions Peter's visit to the tomb. In detail, he relates the story of Cleopas and the other disciple on the road to Emmaus who meet Jesus.

“Stay With Us, For it is Nearly Evening!”

v30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:30-32 NIV).

Luke writes how surprised the apostles were to see Jesus when he appeared to them in the upper room.

v44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24: 44 NIV).

“There Was a Violent Earthquake!”

Matthew writes AD 60-65 to the Jews. He re-mentions Mary Magdalene and the other Mary joyfully meeting Jesus at the tomb.

v8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him (Matt 28:8-9 NIV).

John writes AD 85-90 to the Early Christians. He relates the initial discovery of Mary Magdalene, the resulting visit of Peter and John, himself, to the tomb. He tells of Mary Magdalene, thereafter, meeting Jesus outside the tomb and then of Jesus appearing to the apostles in the upper room.

“My Lord and My God!”

Thereafter, Thomas enters doubting and in a touching scene Jesus appears to him.

v26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20: 26-28 NIV).


“Throw Your Net on the Right Side of the Boat!”


While the apostles were fishing at the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee), Jesus appears to Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John, and two others. Jesus feeds them breakfast and reaffirms Peter.

v15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15 NIV).

--Bill Hunt

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Jesus Meets People

If you suddenly meet Jesus face-to-face, what would you say?

"The Wonderful Catch of Fish"

 (Painting by Anton Losenko, Russian 1762)

That's what I want to ask you! What would you do walking up the street, down the sidewalk, or across the park, and you meet Jesus? What would you say to him? What would he say to you?

I'm sure people are surprised. In fact, 150,000 people die everyday and hardly one expected it. Some of 'em meet the Son of God; some of 'em don't. Those that enter the Heaven of Lights are wonderfully glorious! Those that enter the isolation of Hell, the Lake of Fire, are not. They don't meet their friends there, either. They are all alone, forever. Yes, they planned it. Every person makes his very own lifetime choice.

But let's back up. I'm walking across the park and I meet Jesus. Now, I'm a big guy. I fall to the ground with a thump. I'm in absolute awe and I'm overcome. This loving Jesus takes my arm and raises me to my feet. He's all smiles, the joyful Jesus! His brightness and cheer make me smile. I can't help it!

Most people miss the joy of Jesus in scripture. They think he walks around in solemn prayer all the time with a pale face, a British accent, and head bowed. Take another look. Yes, there's one question I just have to blubber out!

“May I follow you?”

“Yes!” he laughs with a loud, cheerful laugh. “Follow me.”

Well, what would you say if you meet him? Look at what people did in scripture.

Jesus returns from the desert encounter with Satan “on the scene.” He announces himself in the synagogue in his hometown, Nazareth. Jesus' problem is he always tells the Truth. They take him up to a cliff to throw him down. Not time to die yet, he walks away.

But the devil's still around. Next Sabbath, he meets a man in the synagogue in Capernaum. This fellow is possessed with demons.

“Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? 

  Have you come to destroy us (Luke 4: 34 NIV)?”

“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him (4:35 NIV)!”

So, if you've got serious demon problems, Jesus is the right one to meet.

Don't laugh, more people have, than you recognize!

As Simon's guest, Jesus meets his mother-in-law, she's sick in bed with fever. I love to watch Jesus when he meets a man or a woman. He has profound respect for them, for the humble. He instantly healed her. She rose up and began serving her guests as a woman does. So, if you're not feeling well, he knows what to do. That evening, he laid hands on all the sick who crowded in, and he cast demons out of those restrained.

Are you ready to answer, what would you 

say, if you suddenly meet Jesus?

Jesus is preaching from a boat slightly rolling in the water's edge from the breezes at Lake Gennesaret. When he finished the lesson, Jesus took sympathy for poor Peter who fished all night long, to no avail.

“Put out in to deep water, and let down the nets for a catch (Lk 5:4 NIV).”

The nets began to break and an extra boat helps to load the overflowing fish.

“Go away from me, Lord; I am

a sinful man (Lk 5:8 NIV).”

Peter spoke from his knees in the sand.

“Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men (Lk 5:10 NIV).”

If you met Jesus face-to-face, would you stand or get on your knees or just pass out? What would you say to him? What would he say to you. I know he will speak Truth to you whoever you are. I know he will know everything about you. He already does.

The most amazing thing is he Loves you with the same Love the Father Loves you, your Creator, even with all your sins. You need to know Jesus paid the price for all your sins on his painful cross. He wants you to turn from your sins and trust your life to him for eternity. When you do, this perfect God forgives perfectly and forgets your sins, perfectly. Once more, he Loves you perfectly!

Now, again, what would you say to him?

--Bill Hunt

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Jesus Taught the Beatitudes

Can we claim we really follow Jesus? Do we really obey his teachings? Do we even understand these opening points, the Beatitudes, of the Sermon on the Mount?

Jesus Teaches Sermon on the Mount.

(Art by Carl Heinrich Bloch, Danish, 1834-1890)

Jesus, I think, was very interested in teaching us right behavior before God and man. In the beginning of his ministry, he gathered a crowd on a mountain side and taught his great sermon with a few brief and very important opening points, the Beatitudes, too easily overlooked.

Blessed are the poor in spirit.

The poor elderly widow walked into the temple and contributed a few pennies, showing us a lesson. Jesus, standing aside, pointed out she gave all the money she possessed. I have a feeling this lady knew that if she gave generously, even all to God, he would take care of her. This is not a matter of money, rather faith and dependence on God.

Blessed are those who mourn.

How many times do we find people in the life of the Gospel mourning, even as in modern life. The widow of Nain in the funeral of her son; Jairus, the synagogue leader, whose daughter had died; Martha and Mary whose brother lay buried for four days. All were mourning until Jesus arrived.

Blessed are the meek.

Zacchaeus was such a short, humble man. He was forced to climb a tree to catch sight of the Master walking by in a large crowd. But Jesus stepped over to him and arranged to dine with Zacchaeus in his home that evening.

Blessed are those who hunger 

and thirst after righteousness.

Righteousness is another word for goodness before God. Nicodemus hungered after righteousness. He questioned Jesus for more understanding. “How can a man be born again when he is old?” After Jesus explained a man must be born of water and the Spirit, he asked for more. “How can this be?” He was determined to learn.

Blessed are the merciful.

Jesus told the story of the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. The priest and the Levite passed by the man beaten and robbed and lying on the roadside. But the Samaritan rendered aid, poured oil on his wounds, took him to the inn, and paid for his keep.

Blessed are the pure in heart.

Surely, we must see John the Baptist. He dared to condemn the king, Herod, for marrying his brother's wife. Indeed, after the licentious dance of the daughter, she and her mother asked for the head of John on a platter. The Baptist was put to death as a result of their lust.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

The father of the prodigal son should be honored here. When his prodigal son returned, the other brother resented the welcome home feast and favors. The father gently explained to his son that his home position would not be threatened. Rather, they should rejoice together for the return of the lost brother.

Blessed are the persecuted.

The darkness hates the light, always. Look at Paul, the great missionary Apostle! Forced to escape numerous times, slandered, hunted, beaten, stoned, left for dead, sentenced, ship wrecked, and finally martyred. A disciple today can judge his Christian witness by the degree of persecution he receives.

You are the salt of the earth! 

You are the light of the world!

Jesus taught our example before men should be strong and fresh like salt. The light of our witness for him must shine unmistakably in the World, that men may give praise to our Heavenly Father. Jesus taught us, and Jesus, himself, led the way.

– Bill Hunt

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