CHRISTOPHANY - APPEARANCE OF JESUS BEFORE HE WAS BORN - IITB 02.06

 

Chapter 2.6

CHRISTOPHANY

Appearance of Jesus before He was born.

 

 

First Word

     Question:  Has Christ appeared as an angel or someone else?  I say YES.  We believe as Christians that Christ came to earth at various times before the New Testament.  He is many times referred to as “The angel of the Lord” or “like the Son of God” and in Genesis as “the Word”. 

     The appearances in visions of the Lord looked different to each human mind as they perceived their concept of God.  Ezekiel saw a wheel, Isaiah saw a lofty throne with a robe with a long train that filled the temple.  He appeared as the High Pries Melchizedek who had no beginning nor end.

     He appears often as; “The Angel of the Lord”.   An angel wrestled with Jacob and Jacob told him "I will not let you go unless you bless me." And the angel did, and he named the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." 

     Isiah saw the Glory of Jesus.  Jesus appears as the Commander of the Lord’s Army.  Jesus was the Fourth Man in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  A man named Manoah talks with Jesus, the Angel of God and ask His name; He responded that it was beyond his understanding.[1]

 

The Take Away

     What do you think?  Students of the word have varying opinions about The Angel of the Lord.  Some take the Bible literally and believe the angel of the Lord is just as it says, AN ANGEL; while others believe it was JESUS.   Depending on the scripture and translation I am reading, I vacillate back and forth.  Can the word Lord be the same as God or is it Jesus; but then Jesus was God.  While this does not change our salvation, it sure is interesting.  Right or wrong doesn’t apply here, it’s just fun studying about our Lord… and He delights in it.

 

Psalm 37:23 - God delights in the person that seeks more of Him
23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly.

HE DELIGHTS IN EVERY DETAIL OF THEIR LIVES. (NLT)

Acts 17:11 – The Bereans were commended for examining the Scriptures
11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness
AND

EXAMINED THE SCRIPTURES EVERY DAY

TO SEE IF WHAT PAUL SAID WAS TRUE. (NIV2011)

 

It’s in the Book[2]



[1] Ezekiel 1:3-10 – Ezekiel’s mind/spirit saw Christ as a wheel -- Isaiah 6:1 – Isaiah’s mind/spirit saw Christ in a long robe -- Genesis 14:18 – Appears as Melchizedek King of Jerusalem. -- Psalms 110:4 – Jesus; Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek -- Hebrews 7:3 – Without Genealogy – Without Beginning or End or mother or father -- Genesis 16:7 – Appears as the Angel of the Lord -- Genesis 32:24-30 - Jacob wrestles & sees the Glory of Jesus -- Hosea 12:4 – He struggled with the Angel of the Lord -- John 12:41- 42 – Isaiah see the Glory of Jesus; Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. -- Revelation 19:10 – Angels should not be worshipped, only Jesus. -- Joshua 5:13-14 – Joshua worships Jesus; the Commander of the Lords Army -- Daniel 3:25 – Jesus was the Fourth Man in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego -- Judges 13:2-18 – Manoah talks with Jesus, the Angel of God

[2] Joshua 1: This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall MEDITATE ON IT DAY AND NIGHT, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good succes

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