March 13- Calling Jesus Anything Less

Numbers 19:1-20:29
Luke 1:1-25
Psalm 56:1-13
Proverbs 11:8

Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!

In Numbers 20 when Moses struck the rock, he quickly learned that doing so would prevent him from entering the promise land. Why? Simple. Because such blatant disobedience showed the Israelites that Moses saw himself as equal with God. "God says give the water this way, but I in my holy anger will give you water from this rock!" With the flick of his wrist and the power of his hand, Moses poured water out from a rock, providing Israel with their needed drink. See, when anyone comes and claims to be God, there is punishment to be had. Claiming that one can provide water, when God is the provider, is blasphemy.

Isn't it interesting that Jesus came on the scene saying that he was the rock, that he was the living water, that those who drink from him will never be thirsty? Jesus told the woman at the well to drink from him and called the hungry to eat of him and be satisfied. Why could he do it? Why could he make such claims and be honored at the right hand of God? Well, because he was God! Jesus is the living water, Jesus is the rock, Jesus does quench the thirsty! So, its perfectly fine to acknowledge that Jesus is God. In fact, it is right to do so. Calling Jesus anything less would be... blasphemy.