Jesus wasn’t kidding when He said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44)
He wasn’t kidding when He said: “No one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” (John 6:65)
In other words, knowing who Jesus is can only be accomplished through and by the SUPERNATURAL work and permission of the Father. It’s just not something we can understand by our own intelligence or wisdom. Why? Because that’s the way God set it up.
That’s why Jews and Muslims and atheists and agnostics and everyone else in between cannot see the many plain-as-the-nose-on-the-face Biblical texts of the Old Testament that speak of Jesus.
For example, the Jewish prophet Isaiah wrote his prophecy seven CENTURIES before Jesus was born. Here are only a few of the things he wrote about Jesus:
“Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14). The Hebrew name, “Immanuel’ means, ‘God with us.’
A little later, he followed with this text: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
I mean, how can ANYONE miss that? The child the prophet spoke of in chapter seven will be called “Immanuel – God with us”. In chapter nine He is also called Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” And there will be no end to His divine government (which will occur when He returns – but I digress).
And then there’s this text in the 30th chapter of Proverbs: “Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!” (Proverbs 30:4)
Clearly this text in Proverbs is about God (the Father) who gathered the wind in His fists and established all the ends of the earth. But then the writer asks: “What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know.”
Yeah, we know His name – but only because God has permitted some to know that name, even though that name flashes like a neon sign across the pages of the Old – and New – Testaments. His name is Immanuel. His name is Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
His name is called Jesus.
And the singular event in the history of humanity that proves to everyone with eyes to see and ears to hear – the singular event that proves Jesus is God With Us, that He alone is Mighty God and Everlasting Father in the flesh of a man – that singular event is His resurrection from death.
But, as the Lord Jesus said, no one can come to Him unless the Father draws him or her.
Jew? Muslim? Atheist? Agnostic? Do you desire with your whole heart to know Truth? Do you want the Father to draw you to Truth? Then you need to ask Him to do so. And you need to OBEY Him when He does.
We are now in the season of Christmas, the time Christians celebrate the birth of Immanuel – God with us. I hope – whoever you are and whatever you are – I hope you will ask the Father to draw you to Truth. This is a good time to join the celebration.
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