Joshua Bell is considered one of the greatest violinists of our time, playing to standing-room-only audiences around the world, where the worst seats often cost more than $100. His violin, a 1713 Stradivarius, is worth $3.5 million and is called one of the most amazing instruments in the world. In January of ‘07 he stood and played his violin at a metro station in Washington, D.C. In 45 minutes, 1097 people passed him by. 27 gave money totaling $32 and change, and only 7 people actually stopped for a moment to listen.
Too often, we pass by moments with Jesus simply because we do not savor Him for who He really is. During the study and writing phase of the Exalted Lord project, I realized that throughout my entire life, I had placed Christ on the right as I envisioned the throne room–my right, not the Father’s right! How often do I position Christ where He simply doesn’t belong? The reality is He is more than a friend and daily companion. He is reigning magnificently at the Father’s right hand, ruling powerfully over sin, death and unbelief.
Jesus is God, claiming for Himself the same honor and glory belonging to the Almighty (John 17:5). He is equal with God, yet has reverence for the Father (Phil. 2:6). They glorify each other (John 13:31). Jesus is the Creator, having never had a beginning (Rev. 1:17-18). All nature bows to His authority (Matt. 8:26-27) while He upholds the universe with His mighty power (Heb. 1:3). He holds all things together (Col. 1:17). He is the Great High Priest who sympathizes with us (Heb. 4:15). He meets our needs not only because He is God, but because He was man.
Jesus is God’s chosen sinless substitute for sin prophesied about throughout the Old Testament. We are forgiven because of the blood He shed on our behalf (Heb. 9:18-26). He is mediating for His children before a holy God (1 Tim. 2:5). He never changes (Heb. 13:8). Christ is the coming King (Is. 9:6-7, Matt. 24:27, Heb. 9:28) and the final Judge of mankind (Matt. 25:31-46, Acts 17:30-31). Jesus is this and ever so much more!
We cannot fit Christ into some mold according to the parts of Him that work best with our lifestyle or agenda. He is who He is without you or me. What a loss in our lives to simply pass Him by. One theologian said, “Christ does not exist to make much of us. We exist in order to enjoy making much of Him.” How much are we making of Him?
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