K086. Jesus is the Word who came in the flesh (6)

This is the sixth time I write on the Word who came in the flesh. I quoted the following Bible verses and explained why the law and the prophets could be the picture of the cross which could also be the picture of the summary of God's commandments (or the Ten Commandments):
1. Mat 22:38-40 KJV  This is the first and great commandment.  (39)  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  (40)  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (In the prophetic words of the Lord, the Two commandments or 十 is a clear pictorial summary of the Ten Commandments. In Chinese,  十 is also a word for 'ten'.)
2. Mat 10:38-42 KJV  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  (39)  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  (40)  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  (41)  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.  (42)  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

The law and the prophets became one in Christ
But now I see another picture of the cross as the fulfilment or integration of the law and the prophets through the body (blood) of Jesus Christ when He was hung on the cross. In the past, in the Old Testament, the law and the prophets were always two separate entities - the law cannot be the prophets, and the prophets cannot be the law because:
1. The law was a type of the words of God and the words were sent by God
2. The prophets were a type of the men of God and the men were sent by God too

However, I believe that something happened both physically and spiritually when the law and the prophets appeared with the Lord in the supernatural transfiguration (probably one of the greatest miracles in the whole universe other than the resurrection of Jesus Christ). It could be the fulfilment or integration of the law and the prophets when the Lord was hung on the cross later. That gave us the picture that the law and the prophets became one cross or one entity in one flesh too through the body (blood) of Jesus Christ. According to what John saw and wrote in the gospel, we may say that the Word of God has now 'merged' with the Man of God and became one flesh (seen physically and spiritually) in the cross.
Joh 1:1-15 KJV  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  ..  (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men .. (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  (15)  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

When Peter said that he needed to build three tabernacles for the law, the prophets, and Jesus Christ, he did not know why he said it. But God knew what that question means. It means three different tabernacles for three different entities. Peter saw the three of them as three; but God saw them as one. That's why God answered Peter:
Mat 17:2-6 KJV  And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  (3)  And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.  (4)  Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.  (5)  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.  (6)  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

Luk 24:44-45 KJV  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (45)  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

I know that it is difficult to convince and explain how the law or the words of God can combine with the prophets in the Lord's transfiguration or crucifixion. It is beyond our understanding or answer to describe what had happened whether it is the physical integration of the law and the prophets or the spiritual transfiguration of the Word of God and the Spirit of God's prophets. Anyway, it is clear to us that John saw Jesus as God. John saw Jesus as someone greater than the prophets and the words after seeing the Lord's glory or transfiguration. John saw Jesus as someone who has both the Word of God and the power of the prophets and the Holy Spirit.

We are now one in Christ through the baptism of the water and Spirit too
We are now one in Christ when we are baptised into His death through the cross (or through the Words and the Spirit of God) too:
Joh 3:5-6 KJV  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
1Jn 5:5-9 KJV  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  (6)  This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  (7)  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  (8)  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.  (9)  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

Jesus did show us why we need to be baptised by the water and the Spirit just before He started to preach.
Mat 3:16-17 KJV  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:  (17)  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
We need to be baptised to become the children of God with the Word of God and with the Spirit of God. However, this is still not enough because there is no blood. But when we believe in Jesus Christ and in His cross, we are baptised not only with the water and Spirit, we will be baptised into His death through the blood of Jesus Christ. The witness of His blood would be powerful enough to make us one in Christ.
1Co 12:13 KJV  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Act 2:37-38 KJV  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  (38)  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Hence, if we want to truly (or completely) believe in Jesus, we must be baptised into His words (water), into His Spirit (power), and into His death (blood or the cross). Of course, don't forget to repent too.

By now, you may know that those preachers who try to simplify everything and preach without repentance or God's commandments will be accountable to God. They may not need to wait long enough to be questioned by the Lord 'in that day (Mat 7:22)'; they have already found that the words of God are 'jumping' out to question them now. They will know that the words of the Lord are spirit and life (Joh 6:63) and know why God said that we hear Him.


Jesus showed how He went through the water baptism and transfiguration
By now, we should notice that God had spoken "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" twice, in Jesus' water baptism and transfiguration. Have you thought of the similarities and differences between both occasions? I believe that there are many similarities and differences, but I do not have time to describe each one of them. However, I can describe one main difference: In the water baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon or rested on Him, descended like a dove. I do not want to debate on whether the Holy Spirit was already in Him before, or only after, He was baptised. I just want to point out that He went through both the water baptism and transfiguration as an example for us to follow and to know that we can experience the power of God's Word and God's Spirit too. He showed us that :
1. the baptism of water is a picture of spiritual rebirth (shown in a dove from above); whilst
2. the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a picture of spiritual empowerment (shown in a transfiguration from the Word)

John saw the picture of a dove; but the disciples saw light (fire)
Of course, I must point out again that Jesus did not need to go through any baptism to be God or to be filled with the Spirit. I have said that He did it as an example or fulfilment of the scripture for us to follow, see, and teach.
Mat 5:17-19 KJV  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  (18)  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  (19)  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

In His water baptism, John saw the Spirit of God coming upon Him (like a dove); but in His transfiguration, the disciples saw great light of fire shinning from Him (like the sun).
But the Spirit of God must be upon Him first before He started to preach the gospel:
Luk 4:18-19 KJV  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives ..
Joh 1:33-34 KJV  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  (34)  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
Mat 4:17 KJV  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Before His water baptism or transfiguration, He was already God. He was a man and yet He was more than man. He was the only man (in the whole universe) who has both the nature of God and the nature of man. Of course, He is still God and man now.
But I must stop now. I do not intend to discuss further on this because there are already many books which can answer all kinds of questions related to His nature. The only thing that I must warn and emphasize here is: Do not let any man, preacher, creature, and beast reduce His nature, His words, His doctrine, His laws, and His commandments to that of a man or an 'obsolete god'.
They preach Jesus, but they do not love Jesus:
Joh 14:15 KJV  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

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