IN SEARCH OF JESUS: AN INTRODUCTION by Femi A. Falade

IN SEARCH OF JESUS: AN INTRODUCTION 

by Femi A. Falade

BROTHER Segun Ariyo, the privileged founder of the Potter’s House Missions, in a Word Conference held at Anglican Students’ Fellowship, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, where I was privileged to be the Bible Study Unit Coordinator at that time, opened our eyes (and for the very first time my eye) to the fact that, there could be a wrapped Jesus. His emphasis was that, many people carry different kinds of “Jesus”, that is, the way they see Jesus or the way He appears to them. The Word Conference was held between Friday 17th to Sunday 19th in the year of the Lord, 2016.

Brother Segun spoke in the manner of the birth of Jesus when he was wrapped in a sack cloth at the manger. Of course, and indeed, some people could not see Jesus more than that:

“The Jesus you see is the Christ you get”

One day in the year 2013, during my personal study, I discovered from scriptures that, there could be an unborn Jesus or, “foetus Jesus” in the womb. I only understood that scriptures where Mary was pregnant and her “foetus Jesus” baptised another foetus  (“foetus John”) in Elizabeth’s womb. I expressed it to mean that even the unborn-Jesus is powerful and that, if He is as powerful as this in the womb how powerful is He when He has grown up.

Beyond all contradictions, and up to this time, we are still finding Jesus. We are looking for Him yet, the more we think we have come to the end of the finding the more we discover we are lost-finding.

“The lost cannot find the found”

“Only the found can find the lost”

There is no doubt, at all, no arguments, in the fact that, the scriptures are all about Him. From the old to the new testament, every story-lines, events, actions, or inactions, ups and downs, sorrow or happiness, war or peace, crises and zero-crises, seen and unseen, record kept and omissions, likes and dislikes, are all, in all, and by all focusing on JESUS. They all speak about Him. Others attempted to describe Him and, perhaps, others wish that they show Him to us more virtual.

The bible told us that for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. Col. 1:16-18

At age twelve, for example, His biological parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mary and Joseph Davids sought Him. The bible told us that for three days, they could not find Him and when they found him after the third day, they found out that He was not lost, they were the ones that were lost. What a paradox:

…and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:…and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. Luke 2:46-50

For John the beloved who was with Jesus for more than three years in His earthly ministry saw Him at Patmos and was confused at the appearance he saw:

I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus….. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle. And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. Rev. 1:9, 12-15

We are always in search, in search of who Jesus is and whether we like it or yes, we will always be in need to find Him, to know Him. He is both the lion and the lamb, the High Priest, the Apostle of our Faith, the Consuming Fire and at the same time a purifying fire, the Rock, Rock of Stone Age, Rock of Bronze Age, Rock of Iron Age, Rock of New Age, in fact, the Rock of all Ages now and ever, the river and the Water of Life, the Breath Himself and the Light of the life of men or call Him the life of the light of men. Oh, let stop here!

We have business to trash out here. We need to search for Jesus from the bible and biblical points. How he appeared, what he appeared has, where he appeared and why he appeared that way. We want to see, why is Jesus the central focus from the beginning to the End of biblical stories. What are the significance of His appearances in these places and what dimension should we expect in our days.

Will you sit and study God's word to know Jesus personally?

We are still searching, we are in search of Jesus!

Femi A. Falade

(Lead Author, IN SEARCH OF JESUS: AN APOCALYPSE OF JESUS FROM OLD TO NEW TESTAMENT)